Athens Jewish Tour with famous memorials

Description

Greek Jews played a very important role in early Christianity and Greek history. Their communities became a source of education and commerce in Byzantine and Ottoman-ruled Greece until their almost complete devastation during the Holocaust when Greece was invaded by Axis forces.

Before World War II, approximately 80,000 Jews lived in Greece in 31 different communities. By war’s end, only 10,000 Jews survived. Two-thirds of the Jewish population (approximately 55,000 Jews) lived in Saloniki. There are approximately 5,500 Greek Jews today living in Greece with 2,500 living in Athens and the rest spread out in other areas of Greece but with the highest concentration in Northern Greece.

In 1943, 46,091 Greek Jews from Thessaloniki were sent to Auschwitz. Only 1,950 survived. The Greek community and the Greek Orthodox church fervently tried to protect the Jewish community that was being hunted down by the Nazis during the Second World War. Some were saved and some escaped to cities that were under Italian Axis rule or to the United States.

The Jewish landmarks in Athens are the Ancient Synagogue in the Ancient Agora, the Beth Shalom Synagogue, the Etz Hayyim Synagogue built-in 1904, the Jewish Museum, the First Cemetery of Athens, the Cemetery and Monument for the Victims of the Holocaust, the Monument to Young Jews, the Jewish Elementary School, the Cultural Center of the Jewish Community and the Holocaust Monument.

Start: Pick up from your hotel in Athens, address in Athens, or cruise ship pier at Piraeus port. Pass by several areas on the way to the Acropolis depending on where you’ll start!

• Duration: 20 Minutes average

Stop at the 2 Synagogues

Best Greece Tours will drive you to the Old Synagogue (Etz Hayyim) in the morning, which was built in 1904, and the smaller of two synagogues which are no longer in use. However, right across the street, you will find the larger New Synagogue (Beth Shalom), a Sephardic synagogue built in 1935 and renovated in the 70s, which is in use today.

Admire an exterior of white marble with neoclassical elements, as well as the spacious interior. Now it’s time to unveils the Holocaust memorial in Athens! The Holocaust memorial in the shape of a broken Star of David. The site is close to the synagogue where Jews were captured!

• Duration: 60 Minutes
• Admission Ticket: Not Included

Stop at Ancient Agora

Visit its wonderful Temple of Hephaestus (best-preserved temple in Greece), the Byzantine church of holy Apostles, Museum of the Ancient Agora (Stoa of Attalos) while you will have an excellent chance for a short walk through the beautiful neighborhood of Thiseio.

Right in the heart of the Ancient Agora at the foot of the Acropolis stood an unusual building believed by some scholars to have been the first synagogue in Greece dating back to the 5th century B.C.E. The Romaniotes, also known as “Greek Jews” are the oldest recorded Jewish community in Europe and the oldest and most characteristic Jewish group that has inhabited Greece ever!

• Duration: 45 Minutes
• Admission Ticket: Not Included

Pass by: Theseion, Ancient Agora, and Monastiraki (the flee market), the constitutions square, the orthodox Russian church.

• Duration: 20 Minutes

Stop at Jewish Museum;

Best Greece Tour will continue in Athens visiting Plaka (the old historical neighborhood of Athens), right on the steps of the Acropolis. The oldest street in Athens (Adrianou) is still in use, home to many tourist shops. Right on the edge of the Plaka, you will find the new Jewish Museum, one of the finest Jewish museums in Europe. Experience a private tour from a museum representative, viewing items that had been confiscated from Greek Jews during the war, Ancient Hebrew books, and other items commemorating the Holocaust.

• Duration: 60 Minutes
• Admission Ticket: Not Included

Pass by: The Anglican church, Hadrian’s arch, Melina’s Mercury statue, Areopagitou street that leads you to the Acropolis museum and the Acropolis.

• Duration: 15 Minutes

Stop at the Acropolis

Of course, Best Greece Tours will take you to 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 will 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. At the foot of the Acropolis admire the Odeon theater and the ancient theater of Dionysus.

• Duration: 80 Minutes
• Admission Ticket: Not Included

Pass by: Drive & see Handrians arch, Syntagma Square, the tourist core of the city that is dominated by the ex-Royal Palace, now the Greek Parliament.

• Duration: 20 Minutes

Stop at the Greek Parliament

We’ll have a stop at the Greek Parliament where you can see the changing of the guards in front (every hour on the hour!) and the tomb of the unknown soldier.

• Duration: 20 Minutes
• Admission Ticket: Free

Pass by: Drive along Panepistimiou Avenue and view the Catholic Cathedral, the “Neoclassical Trilogy,” (Academy, University, National Library), the statue of General Kolokotronis who led the Greeks against the Ottomans in 1821, The Museum of the Greek history (first parliament of Athens after the revaluation against the Ottomans in 1821), The constitution square, The Orthodox Russian church of Athens, The Anglican church of St, Paul of Athens and the temple of the Olympic Zeus.

• Duration: 20 Minutes

Stop at The Panathenaic Stadium or Kalimarmaro

The Panathenaic Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896). Take some pictures and we’ll continue.

• Duration: 10 Minutes
• Admission Ticket: Not Included

Pass by: Statue of the USA president Truman, Pinakothēkē

• Duration: 15 minutes

Stop at: Time for lunch at a traditional Greek restaurant to try delicious home-cooked food, like the Greeks cook at home! (not included).

• Duration: 50 minutes

Pass by: After lunch, pass by the runner, the statue made of glass, the Megaron (the modern music hall of Athens), and Best Greece tours will drive you to Lycabettus hill.

• Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At Lycabettus Hill

The spectacular view from the highest hill in town, Lycabettus. The hill will amaze you with panoramic views of Athens, the port of Piraeus, and the Saronic gulf.

• Duration: 15 Minutes
• Admission Ticket: Free

Pass by: Ending your tour of Athens, your private chauffeur will drop you off at the same spot he picked you up!

• Duration: 15 minutes

Please note that on this private tour, your Best Greece Tours private chauffeur is not licensed to accompany you on your climb to the top of the Acropolis or inside any other sites.

This Best Greece Private Tour can run both on Saturdays and Sundays, but please be aware of the following: on Saturdays, the Jewish Museum is closed but the New Synagogue holds services for Sabbath. On Sundays the museum 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!

• Transfer offerd; Travelers pickup/drop off is offered.
• Pick up from; We will pick you up from any hotel or apartment in Athens center and Piraeus cruise port at the cruise ship pier!
• Info needed When booking make sure to include the address of your accommodation, or the name of the cruise line and the cruise ship!
• Pick up time; We propose to pick you up at 8 am in order to avoid traffic and crowed at the Acropolis.
• Drop off; We will drop you off at the same place we have picked you up or at any hotel in Athens center or cruise ship pier!

What is Included

• Professional driver with good knowledge of history and culture in Greece
• Transport by air-conditioned vehicle appropriate for the size of your group
• Accommodation is based according to availability (for multiple day tours only)
• Flexible pick up time on request (proposed 08:00AM)
• Free Pick-up from and return to your hotel
• Free Pick-up & drop off from Piraeus cruise port
• Athens Airport transfers or pickup locations outside Athens: arranged on request with surcharge
• First class transport: By Mercedes E-Class or similar; Mercedes minivan or Mercedes minibus according to the size of your party. All new models come with full leather and A/C.
• Road tolls and local taxes
• Our terminal: Leof. Andrea Siggrou 37, 117 43 Athina, Greece.
• Official licensed tour guide for guiding in archeological sites. Available on request with surcharge
• The private tour is 100% exclusive for your party

What is Excluded

• Entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museum
• Wine tasting fee (wine tours)
• Athens Airport transfer: arranged on request with a surcharge
• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and beverage
• Your private chauffeur/guide will discuss a program best suited to your interest and mobile abilities. Option for a professional tour guide with a state license at an extra cost.

Tour Type

• Private tour - Shore Excursion
• Activity level: Moderate
• Departures: Daily

Restrictions

• Due to the high complexity and uncertainty of contemporary transportation, as well as unexpected situations, the planned itinerary can change at any moment and our choices may be affected by any social, economic or environmental phenomena!

Guaranteed Departures

• Best Greece Tours is proud to be the first in the industry to offer Guaranteed Departures . A guaranteed departure means; There is no minimum number of bookings required on a trip to run and that the tour will definitely operate on the day it is scheduled and will not be cancelled. All guaranteed departures will run except in the event of a natural disaster or other similarly disruptive event that is beyond our control. Our current collection of tours can take you to exciting places in Athens and around the world.

How will we use the information you wll give us about you!

• Passenger Detail; We need basic contact details so we can send appropriate booking information to you as well as make sure the supplier can contact you should they need to.
• Flight Details; We will need to know your exact travel details so they can track flight time as well as make sure they get you to and from your destination with no delay.
• Accommodation Details; We need to know your pick-up and drop-off address to ensure the right price and that we know exactly where to meet you or take you.
• Payment Details; We will pass your payment details to our secure payment provider, but we do not see or store any of these details on our website payment details.

Importantant information!

• Dress: religious and memorial sites: shoulders and knee must be covered.
• Terms & Conditions, F.A.Q , Privacy policy & Cookies
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• A voucher will be emailed to you with our contact numbers and all necessary information for your tour.
• This is your ticket and proof of purchase. On the day of tour please present a paper voucher in order to redeem your tour/activity.
• Itinerary (break-down)Due to the high complexity and uncertainty of contemporary transportation, as well as unexpected situations, the planned itinerary can change at any moment and our choices may be affected by any social, economic or environmental phenomena!

Persons with Disabilities

• Due to uneven surfaces, certain sites are not recommended for persons with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Such sites are the Acropolis, the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, Mycenae, Delphi and Meteora.
• In all cases, we recommend comfortable flat-solid walking shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• For guests who are full-time wheelchair users a ramp vehicle will be needed. Guests may remain in their wheelchair or scooter for the duration of the excursion. Wheelchair or scooter dimensions are required in order to confirm the correct vehicle!
• Wheelchair or small scooter folding type only. (Please note that disabled passengers must be able to board the vehicle independently or with the assistance of those in their party.)

Opening hours & Admission fees

• Opening Hours: Summer April 1st to October 31st from 08:00 AM to 07:30 PM
• Winter: November 1st to March 31st from 08:30 AM to 03:00 PM
• Free admission fees: Children under 18 & Students from E.U.
• Reduced admission fees: Citizens of the E.U. aged over 65 & Students from countries outside the E.U.

Free admission days

• March 6: In memory of deceased Minister of Tourism & visionary Melina Mercouri
• June 5: Environment international day
• April 18 : International monuments day
• May 18: International museums day
• September 27: International tourism day
• The last weekend of September annually (European Heritage Days)
• National Holidays
• Sundays in the period between 1 November and 31 March
• The first Sunday of every month, except for July, August and September
• NOTE: If the first Sunday is a holiday then the second is the free admission day

Holidays in Greece

• January 1: closed
• January 6: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• Shrove Monday: 08:30AM - 03:00 PM
• March 25: closed
• Good Friday: 12:00 PM - 03:00 PM
• Holy Saturday: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• Easter Sunday: closed
• Easter Monday: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• May 1: closed
• Holy Spirit Day: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• 15 August 15: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• October 28: 08:30 AM- 03:00 PM
• December 25 & 26: closed

• Sedans; Within 24 hrs of travel 100% fee will apply. Outside of 24 hrs a €2 per person cancellation charge will apply.
• Minivan; Within 36 hrs of travel 100% fee will apply. Outside of 36 hrs a €2 per person cancellation charge will apply.
• Minibus 10-20 seats; Within 96 hrs of travel 100% fee will apply. Outside of 96 hrs a €2 per person cancellation charge will apply.
• For all vehicles; No show mean, no refund