Alternative Athens

Alternative Athens is an experiential travel company based in central Athens that designs and runs its own tours and activities. The official convention bureau of the city describes its aim as helping travellers discover local life in Greece, and it has been running tours under the same name for more than a decade. It is licensed by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, and its office is on Halkokondili Street in central Athens.

The range is wide. In the city, there are city tours, Acropolis and mythology tours, food tours, nightlife tours, local experiences and activities for children and families. Themed walks have included food and wine, mythology and ancient Athens, street art, and Greek fashion and design shopping, as well as more playful formats such as a street food treasure hunt and a mythology storytelling walk. Beyond Athens, the company runs day trips, multi-day excursions and self-drive tours to places such as Nafplio, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, Hydra and Aegina.

Tours are run in small groups, which makes it easier to ask questions and to move through busy places such as the central market or Monastiraki. The company has collected a long list of industry recognition, including Tripadvisor awards, a Viator Badge of Excellence, GetYourGuide Top Partner status, a Booking.com award for sustainable tourism practices in 2017 and two awards at the 2019 Greek Tourism Awards.

Alternative Athens suits travellers who have seen the main monuments, or want to combine them with a broader picture of the modern city, as well as families looking for activities that keep children engaged. It also arranges tailor-made tours and team-building events for companies, including creative workshops and role-playing games set in the city.

Book online in advance, especially in spring, summer and autumn, and check the meeting point and what is included in each tour, as this varies by experience. Food tours are best done on an empty stomach. The office is open from 09:00 to 18:00 on weekdays for enquiries by phone or email. Wear comfortable shoes, carry water in summer, and bring a hat for tours that spend time outdoors around the archaeological sites.