podtour
Around the Acropolis
Walk around the Acropolis on its outer paths to discover what happened to Athens' most famous rock. Its story begins before you enter.
Athens audio tours and self-guided walks
Athens did not stop at antiquity.
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Walk through Athens, story by story
The Acropolis dominates the view, but the city around it kept changing. Between agoras, neighbourhoods and squares, meet philosophers, newcomers and the making of a modern capital beside ancient ruins.
Start with “Around the Acropolis”. You start on the glass floor outside the museum, above a neighbourhood first lived in more than five thousand years ago, and look up at the gallery turned to line up with the temple. Then you follow the pedestrian promenade: the theatre where Athens saw its court being born, the bastion where two students tore down the swastika in 1941, the allies' money that paid for the Parthenon, and the odeon a millionaire dedicated to the wife he was accused of killing.
Then there’s “In the Footsteps of Socrates”. You start on Adrianou Street, facing a neighbourhood that was knocked down wholesale to find the Agora. Across the street, the painted stoa where a shipwrecked man called Zeno paced up and down teaching; beside the railway line, the altar from which Athens measured its distances, the portico where Socrates waited because he'd been charged, and the railway that opened up the Agora before the archaeologists did.
For another side of the city, try “Athens Learns to Be a Capital”. You start in the square where Greece's first king lived as a tenant in a banker's house, a square that ended up being called "the square of weeping". You climb to the avenue of three marble buildings: Socrates and Plato seated outside the Academy, and the house Schliemann used to show off Troy.
Choose by neighbourhood or by the stories that interest you: each route shows its distance, stops and approximate duration before you set off. The audio is written for walking, with a clear distinction between documented events and local legend. Download it in the app, put on your headphones and pause whenever something catches your eye. English and Spanish are included.
Start for free
Around the Acropolis
The world's most famous rock without buying a ticket: who paid for the Parthenon, where the other half of its sculptures are, who took down the swastika in 1941 and who might have fired the bomb that split it in two.
Explore the free walkFind your Athens walk
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Athens, before you go
Shade helps shape the walk here. Between city pavements, smooth rock and lanes beneath the Acropolis, a flexible plan and a bottle of water go a long way.
Before visiting Athens
How many days do I need in Athens?
Our Athens guide has suggestions for one, two and three days. Start with one area rather than trying to fit every walk into a day; leave room for travel between neighbourhoods and any indoor visits.
Can I explore Athens on foot?
Gradients. Broad promenades beneath the Acropolis give way to slopes; Plaka and Anafiotika include steps. A hill is not automatically a useful shortcut. Underfoot. Uneven pavements and ancient paths of polished stone and marble can be slippery even when dry. Wear shoes with grip and save the flip-flops for another outing.
Which Athens route is free?
“Around the Acropolis” is the free route: 12 stops over 1.01 km, with an approximate duration of 46 minutes. You can see its map and stops on the route page.
When is a good time to visit Athens?
For comfortable walking: spring and autumn usually allow longer walks, though mild weather is not guaranteed every day. For outdoor atmosphere: June and July bring summer performances and cultural activity. August can be very hot; keep exposed walks for cooler parts of the day.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
