Ancient Olympia Site & Museum from Athens or Nafplio: Fully Private Day Tour Including Authentic Lunch & Drinks
A private tour to Ancient Olympia from Athens to experience the birthplace of the most important athletic event of all time, the Olympic Games, but also authentic Greece, from a local point of view. A full-day trip to the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece, Ancient Olympia, the “Valley of Gods”.
Firstly, as a visitor to Olympia, you will have the opportunity to run the original Olympic track and visit the museum. The Olympic Games were held at this location every four years throughout Classical antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD.
The unique site of the first Olympics [© Photo: Eudaimonia Private Tours Athens Greece]
Day Trip Overview
Our first stop after leaving Athens behind will be the Corinth Canal. This is a quick stop for you to see the impressive 18th-century canal and stretch your legs.
Next, we will drive to Ancient Olympia, where you will explore the world-famous archaeological site and museum.
Finally, your tour leader will take you to the best location for an authentic lunch. Food is a key part of our tours, and we have carefully selected special locations for you to experience authentic Greek cuisine.
Additionally, you can also consider the add-on option of returning to Athens via the Arcadian Mountains. This route takes longer but will enable you to see the beauty of the Greek countryside. You will also be able to enjoy a farm-to-table lunch at a very special location.
Overall, this one-day private tour to ancient Olympia is an excellent way to experience real Greece. Without the typical touristy feeling!
To summarise, you will enjoy this private tour to Ancient Olympia with our personalized service from a very likable driver/tour leader.
Key Tour Facts
Duration: 8 – 9 hours
Language: English
Departure: 8:00 a.m. from Athens
Finally, you can book this tour online now. The pricing shown is for 1 or 2 people (not per person).
For more pricing details & options, please see the “Pricing” tab below. Contact us to get a quote for more than 2 people.
Private Tour Plan
Meet your private driver/tour leader for your 8:00 a.m. departure but no later!
Starting from Athens, we drive towards the Corinth canal and make a quick 10-minute stop to see it.
Next, we head for Olympia. A small town on the west side of the Peloponnese peninsula, famous for the nearby archaeological site of the same name, which was a major Panhellenic religious sanctuary of ancient Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held. The site was primarily dedicated to Zeus and drew visitors from all over the Greek world which helped to build the identity of the ancient Greeks as a nation. Despite the name, it is nowhere near Mount Olympus in northern Greece, where the Twelve Olympians, the major deities of Ancient Greek religion, were believed to live.
The archaeological site held over 70 significant buildings, and the ruins of many of these survive, although the main Temple of Zeus survives only as stones on the ground.
You can walk through the impressive ruins of the area where athletes trained and ran in the ancient stadium; just as the ancient Olympians did after their victory 3,000 years ago. In front of the Temple of Hera burns the Olympic Flame during the modern-day Olympic Games. Tour the monuments of the archaeological site, including the former gymnasium and Palaestra (where athletes practiced before competing), stadium, hotel & crypt. Let your imagination run to the times when Greece’s finest athletes strove to honor the gods through the Olympic ideal.
You will also visit the world-famous Olympia museum and get the chance to see some unbelievable sculptures such as the sculpted decoration of the marble temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the famous Hermes carved by the ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles.
Then, let your tour leader treat you to a great lunch & drinks before heading back to your Athens accommodation but with a few stops to stretch and have a drink. [© Eudaimonia Private Tours Athens Greece]
- Private tour.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
- Private driver/guide.
- Non-smoking vehicle & driver.
- Lunch & drinks.
- In-car bottled water & tour information booklet.
- Each person is allowed one small carry-on bag.
- Flexible itinerary.
- Optional: Vegetarian lunch can be arranged in most cases. Please let us know in advance.
- Pickup and drop-off in areas outside of Athens (additional cost).
- During lunch: Seafood or fish is excluded due to variable pricing.
- Excess luggage not allowed.
- Entrance fees to the sites (Olympia €12 and €6 during off-season – Children under 18 are free).
- Professional guide (optional).
- Shopping stops unless required by yourselves.
- Gratuities (optional).
The price for this tour is €690, which is the total for 2 (two) people.
Discounted pricing: We offer alternative payment methods (family rates, solo travelers, small booking payments, pay on the day of the tour, etc.). Please get in touch with us to get the best rate based on your payment method, number of people, and age.
PS. Payments made by PayPal are subject to an additional 6% (the approximate fee PayPal charges on all transactions), and payments by AMEX are subject to an additional 2.80%-3%, which the client must pay to Eudaimonia on the day of the booked tour. There is no extra charge if you pay by any other credit card.
© Eudaimonia Private Tours Athens, Greece
From your Athens hotel or cruise ship (Piraeus port). For other starting locations please contact us.
These are useful reminders of things you have already read in other sections
All our tours include lunch and drinks, and all multi-day tours include quality accommodation. Professional guide, dinner (on multi-day tours), and all kinds of tickets (sites, trains, boats, etc) are not included. You can read more about What is included & excluded in our tours and why! from our FAQs-not-4-DUMMIES.
☼ To keep our vehicles fresh and comfortable, we ask that guests avoid eating or drinking (except water). Water is always available, and we’ll stop along the way as needed if you need to snack.
☼ Fish and seafood are not included in our budget, as their costs cannot be estimated with sufficient accuracy in advance. Pescatarian guests are invited to enjoy our delicious vegetarian cuisine during the tour. In the evenings, we’ll recommend the best spots for fresh seafood so you can experience it at your leisure. Got allergies, several restrictions, or foods you don’t enjoy? Tell us in advance, and we’ll do our best to please you!
☼ After you book, we will ask for some of the following: any food allergies, a single passport number (required by local authorities), names of all passengers, luggage details, pickup/drop-off locations, and a WhatsApp number, which is very helpful during the tour.
☼ Luggage is typically not included on day tours. In other situations (multi-day tours or transfers), we expect a maximum of one checked bag per person [65x40x25 cm or 26x16x10 inches] and a carry-on or backpack. We do not allow luggage on the vehicle’s seats or in your laps to protect both our passengers and our vehicles. If you have additional luggage, please let us know in advance. We can arrange for a larger vehicle or help you store part of it. We may have to cancel if you ... surprise us!
☼ If you are too tall or heavy, we need to know in advance! If we have advance notice, we can arrange the appropriate vehicle. Please use 225 lbs (105 Kg) as the maximum weight you need to inform us of. If in doubt, please let us know your weight and height before you book, and we'll get back to you. It’s not a personal question, but for your own comfort! We can use a larger vehicle if we have advance notice.
☼ An adult must always accompany children (minimum age is 8 years). Please let us know if anyone gets car sick! Greece is not flat!
☼ Due to uneven surfaces, most tours are not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. We apologize for this, but if the sites don't or can't accommodate people with mobility issues, we can't help.
☼ We are flexible on tour duration, so there is no rush during the tour. We also expect you to be reasonable and respect your driver/tour leader's efforts. Sometimes there are specific restrictions (like not missing the sites' closing times during the off-season or catching a train, boat, etc.) which will "dictate" our itinerary/timing and require your full cooperation!
‘Eudaimonia’ is the trading name of Eudaimonia Private Tours & Experiences Private Company (IKE), a tour provider officially registered under the Greek National Tourism Organization (G.N.T.O.) with number/MH.T.E: 1245Ε70000034300, and Business Registry License Number (EUID): ELGEMI.181573613000.
The ‘client’ is the person or persons who have made a confirmed booking with “Eudaimonia Private Tours & Experiences Private Company“.
CANCELLATION POLICY FOR TOURS, TRANSFERS, AND SERVICES
(a) Cancellation Policy for day tours, half-day tours, and transfers:
☼ Cancellations made more than 60 days before the scheduled tour date will be fully refunded, minus service fees, as outlined below.
☼ Cancellations made between 60 and 30 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 75% of the agreed total tour fee minus service fees.
☼ Cancellations made between 30 and 7 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 50% of the agreed total tour fee minus service fees.
☼ Cancellations made 7 days or less before the scheduled tour date will incur a 100% charge.
EXPENSES: Additionally to the above but only after the 60-day whole refund period, all of Eudaimonia’s expenses agreed upon through the email exchange of communication concerning or are part of the day or half-day tours or transfers, such as site tickets, train/boat tickets, or any other bookings for the client (wine tasting, restaurants, etc) will be deducted from the amount to be refunded.
SERVICE FEE: Finally, a service fee of 9% (of the total amount agreed) will also be deducted from any refundable amount, including the 60-day full refund case. This corresponds to the time spent on the client’s booking.
(b) Cancellation Policy for multi-day tours (at least one night stay/overnight or more):
☼ Cancellations made more than 90 days before the scheduled tour date will be fully refunded, minus expenses and service fees as outlined below.
☼ Cancellations made between 90 and 60 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 75% of the agreed total tour fee minus expenses and service fees.
☼ Cancellations made between 60 and 30 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 50% of the agreed total tour fee minus costs and service fees.
☼ Cancellations made 30 days before the scheduled tour date will incur a 100% charge.
EXPENSES: Additionally to the above, but only after the 90-day whole refund period, all of Eudaimonia’s expenses agreed upon through the email exchange of communication concerning or are part of any multi-day tour, such as site tickets, train/boat tickets, hotels booked for the client, or any other bookings (wine tasting, restaurants, etc), will be deducted from any amount to be refunded. This will be approximately 25%-30% of the total tour cost.
SERVICE FEE: Finally, a service fee of 18% of the total amount agreed will also be deducted from any refundable amount, including the 90-day full refund case. This corresponds to the time spent on the client’s booking.
(c) Special client-specific arrangements/agreements & cancellation policy:
There may be client-specific payments & bookings (full or partial) agreed upon through e-mail communication mentioned -for example, as “non-refundable” or different from the main cancellation policy “refund dates”. Then, these client-specific agreements will take precedence over any interpretations of this main cancellation policy. Therefore, it is the specific written (email) agreement between each client and Eudaimonia that can only precede this main cancellation policy -if it is different- and determines the cancellation policy for each client.
(d) Other issues:
Eudaimonia reserves the right to make subtle changes to tour itineraries. Eudaimonia reserves the right to substitute vehicles and/or drivers should they arise. Eudaimonia reserves the right to change or cancel your booking without penalty, except by offering a full refund. Should change and/or cancellation prove necessary we will give you -if possible- reasonable notice & where available, offer you a comparable alternative. If an alternative is unavailable or unacceptable, you will be entitled to a full refund.
Eudaimonia encourages all clients to communicate as early as possible concerning cancellation issues, which could allow the agency to offer a better refund – partial or complete- to a client despite the standard cancellation policy described in this document. This is a decision not to be discussed with or disputed by the client, and will be made entirely by Eudaimonia to serve the client better, if possible.
Eudaimonia itineraries are flexible, and if possible, the requirements of clients will be facilitated. Eudaimonia reserves the right to vary, modify, or cancel any itinerary, either partly or wholly. Itineraries published are sample itineraries only and may be amended without notice. Eudaimonia also reserves the right to use alternative vehicles to those advertised.
Eudaimonia is not responsible for the costs of any other travel arrangements affected due to our cancellations or rescheduling of any tour departure.
Bookings can only be used by the client (s) to whom the booking was initially arranged; no other person may use the booking under any circumstances.
The client will be asked to provide a valid photo and/or passport number for identification, which is required both for our documentation and for local authorities during random police checks.
(e) Force Majeure
It is only at Eudaimonia’s discretion to refund fully, partly, or not at all if a customer cancels under certain conditions, including even “Force Majeure”, medical, etc. Disputing credit card or other means of payment is not permitted. Eudaimonia strongly recommends that the client purchase travel insurance.
Responsibility Clause
Eudaimonia Private Tours, shall not be or become liable or responsible for any loss, injury, or damage to person, property or otherwise in connection with any accommodation, transportation, or other services resulting directly or indirectly, from acts of God, danger, incident to the sea, fire breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or de facto, wars, thither declared or not, strikes, riots, customs regulations, delays or cancellations, or change of itinerary of schedules.
Baggage is at the owner’s (client’s) risk throughout the tour. Small articles, coats, wraps, cameras, phones, and other hand baggage are entirely under the passenger’s care, who is cautioned about the risk of leaving them in conveyances.
Clients wishing to join a tour or transfer are requested to arrive at the agreed departure point no later than 5 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This applies to all tours and transfers.
The client accepts that certain activities and aspects of Eudaimonia tours are weather-dependent and that under no circumstances can Eudaimonia be held responsible for weather conditions. The client will be informed by email of any potential weather issues and will be asked to decide, in agreement with Eudaimonia, whether to proceed with the tour. In this case, if the tour is completed or attempted, the client will not claim a refund. Rain or even snow is not considered a reason to cancel. Strikes can be grounds for cancellation if they really prevent the tour’s route. Windy weather and port authorities not allowing a boat to run are also reasons to cancel a day tour (but only in the case of a day tour), which is 100% dependent on the boat. A multi-day tour that includes a boat tour will not result in the cancellation of the whole tour, but only in an adjustment or an alternative option to replace the boat tour.
Passport Number
A valid passport must be carried by at least one client when traveling with us. This should be the lead traveler or the person who made the booking/communication, or payment.
Special Requirements and Conditions
At the time of booking, it is the customer’s responsibility to advise us of any special requests and circumstances, such as the need for a child car seat, mobility requirements, passengers who are much taller or heavier than average, food issues, car/boat sickness, excess luggage, etc. Then, we will notify the client in advance if we can accommodate their needs (larger vehicle, alternative options, etc.) and any possible extra costs.
Luggage is not allowed inside the vehicle; it must be stored in the trunk. Even backpacks need to be in the trunk, and it is the passengers’ responsibility to hold them on their laps and avoid scratches to the vehicle’s interior. We ask passengers to “keep their feet on the car’s mats” and not make a mess of the interior, which is kept in excellent condition, as you will see at the start of the tour.
For safety and a comfortable experience, we ask that you let us know in advance the approximate weights/heights of all passengers, as well as the corresponding luggage. This information is used only for vehicle allocation and will remain confidential. Failing to let us know can be grounds for canceling a tour, even when we meet.
Client Behavior
Eudaimonia reserves the right to terminate the transfer if a client’s behavior or conduct is disruptive towards the driver or any of our service providers (hotels, restaurants, etc).
Our drivers/tour leaders are carefully selected individuals who are genuinely polite and well educated. We expect you to treat them with respect. They will be there for you even after their typical 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but please do not take advantage of our “under-promising but over-delivering” attitude. They need their personal time and rest, plus some reporting to us and planning for the following days.
Passengers are forbidden to consume food or any drinks (except water) in our vehicles. Any costs incurred by you or your party due to damages on a tour or transfer must be paid by you (the passenger) or your party at your destination, and we or the supplier will not be liable for these costs.
Eudaimonia operates a strict no-smoking policy on all its vehicles and tours.
Liability
Eudaimonia has no liability for any tour or transfer arrangements, and in particular, for any illness, personal injury, death, or loss of any kind, unless caused by our negligence. Any claim for damages for injury, illness, or death arising from your use of the transfer services must be brought against the operator of the transfer services and will be under the jurisdiction of Greek Law. Eudaimonia operates under a Civil Liability insurance policy as required by Greek Law.
Validity & Disputes
Any disputes will be resolved by the Greek legal system and its laws without the need for any arbitration. If a client is unsuccessful in any legal action instituted against us, the client agrees to pay all our costs, including, but not limited to, legal fees.
The Client agrees to all the above when booking any of Eudaimonia’s tours, transfers, or services.
As of December 1st, 2025
