Overview
Athens is home to a wonderful Jewish community, and many interesting Jewish sites.
Athens is home to a wonderful Jewish community and many interesting Jewish sites. This tour takes you to the New and Old Synagogues, as well as the impressive Jewish Museum of Greece. Your driver is not a licensed guide, but he is so informative and personable that you'll feel like he is!
Your memorable day begins with a visit to the Old Synagogue, Etz Hayyim, built in 1904. This is the smaller of the two synagogues and is no longer open for use, although your driver can have it unlocked especially for you. Right across the street, you'll find the larger New Synagogue, Beth Shalom, a Sephardic synagogue built in 1935 and renovated in the 1970s. Featuring a white marble exterior with neoclassical elements, as well as a spacious interior, this is the synagogue that is used today.
Next, we'll arrive at the Plaka, the old historical neighbourhood of Athens, located just under the Acropolis. Adrianou is the oldest street in Athens that is still in use, and is now home to many tourist shops. Right on the edge of the Plaka, you'll find the new Jewish Museum of Greece, one of the finest Jewish museums in Europe. Enjoy a one-hour tour by a museum representative, viewing items that were confiscated from Greek Jews during the war, Ancient Hebrew books, and other items commemorating the Holocaust. You'll also visit the Jewish cemetery.
In addition to the fascinating Jewish sites, you'll also discover the must-see sites of Athens, including Syntagma Square, the tourist core of the city that is dominated by the former Royal Palace, which is now home to the Greek Parliament. Here you can see the changing of the guards every hour on the hour!
Of course, you won't want to miss the Acropolis, the trademark of Athens. The ancient "high city" is topped with marble temples dedicated to the city's goddess, Athena, and dates back to the Late Bronze Age. Following your climb to the top, you'll be rewarded with a visit to the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and, finally, the Parthenon.
- Please note that your driver is not licensed to accompany you on your climb to the top of the Acropolis or inside any sites.
- The price of this tour includes a great driver for the day and a guided tour of the Jewish Museum of Greece.
- Food, drink, gratuities, and entrance fees to the Jewish Museum of Greece and the Acropolis are not included.
- The Synagogues do not have entrance fees, but you will be asked to make a donation.
- This tour can run on Saturdays and Sundays, but please be aware of the following: The Jewish Museum is closed on Saturdays, but the New Synagogue holds services for Sabbath. Your guide will try to get you inside during the services. On Sundays, the Jewish Museum of Greece is open, but the New Synagogue is closed. The Old Synagogue is closed on both Saturdays and Sundays, but can still be viewed from the outside.
- ShoreTrips and our partners do our best to ensure that every stop described is available for your visit. There are some times when a site or building is closed at the last moment with little to no warning. We assume that those in charge make those decisions based on external information and for the visitors’ safety and we apologize when this causes inconvenience and disappointment.
Days offered: 7 days a week
Departures:- 09:00 AM, duration: 6 hours If you need to adjust your time, please call ShoreTrips prior to placing your reservation.
