private guide for athens city tours

I have never done a pvt guide, myself, but have often recommended a well-reviewed source, Viator. Here's the website: https://tourguides.viator.com/Listing.aspx?type=tourguide&Country=&Region=&City=Athens I like it because you get to see their whole list of available guides -- photo, bio, credentials, prices, AND reviews from previous tourists. -- Usually the rates are around €60 per hour, with a certain minimum, but When there are 4 of you, it becomes more affordable ... and these guides of course are licensed and highly educated, and can take you through ruins sites & museums explaining everything. Do NOT fall for "taxi tour" promos -- what these amount to is hiring a taxi for 400€ per day, with a guy who will hand you brochures outside a site or museum. And then take you to a restaurant owned by his uncle. Greek govt. reg requires long & intensive study and passing of a very rigorous test, to qualify as a licensed guide.

My wife and I booked Maria Tsami for a private half day tour of the Acropolis and surrounding area in 2015. She was excellent- one of the most engaging and knowledgeable guides I’ve encountered. She lists on Viator guides, https://tourguides.viator.com/tour-guide-maria-tsami-1181.aspx.

We used George’s Taxi in 2017. Look them up on trip advisor and you will see excellent reviews. Our guide ( sorry I forget his name) was awesome! He was early to pick us up, he knew the exact schedule to get us to sites before the crowds, moved us perfectly to have a front row experience with changing of the guards, took us to a fabulous sea side restaurant for lunch, and was well educated on our our sites as well as anything else we asked! Really, could not have been better!

I should add, they offer to bring a “tour guide” if you want to hire one to come along. But after our experience I felt he was very knowledgeable even though he wasn’t an official tour guide. And they don’t claim to be guides. I highly recommend them.

The George's Taxi service is an overpriced car-hire .... they can only give you brochures, not enter museums or ancient sites. If you seek a real experience of these places, get a REal guide. You do NOT need a taxi driver... once you get to central Athens & the Plaka area, everything is walkable. I notice that when people promote "George" they never mention the cost. It's pricey for a driver who tells anecdotes.

We used Aristotle who is listed on Viator site. I choose him because I had read on this forum about him. The woman posting had 13 year old twins. We had a group of 7 with different levels of interests. Everyone really enjoyed him. I would recommend him.

We walked everywhere. The central Athens sites are all walkable. Unless you have mobility issues, I would not use transportation.

I think Beth meant to type Viator (the site for licensed guides) -- Vivitar is a camera I think.

I did! I fixed it. Thanks!

Hi!,
I would suggest the red buss to see the city and guides in museums and Acropolis. There is no meaning to take taxi as there is metro also.
They usually take you to prearranged touristic places for food. Athens is too easy.
Go to Acropolis, main museums and walk a lot. Take the red bus to take you out of main center like glyfada, Faliro, niarchos foundation. It is a unique experience also to watch an Ancient Drama performance.. Not in tourist guides as it is sth new. (Fimonoi theater eg)
Have perfect time