Espa
our team

Elena

Tour leader Photo of Tour leader Elena

My name is Elena, and I have a deep love for travelling and learning about different cultures.

One unforgettable moment in my life was my first trip abroad, which sparked my passion for exploring new places and meeting people from diverse backgrounds.

I pursued my studies at the Ionian University of Greece, where I focused on Translation and Interpreting. This allowed me to better understand how language connects people and cultures. That also marked the beginning of my journey towards becoming a bridge between different languages and cultures.

The moment I stepped into the Louvre for the first time it was then that I knew that translation was not the only thing for me and I began to dream of one day becoming a guide myself.

Now, as a tour leader, I get to pursue that dream and be the personal connection between travelers and my city.

Even in today's digital age, I believe in my role of offering a human touch, guiding visitors beyond GPS and online resources. I aim to share the heart and soul of my city.

Photo of Founder Tina.

Tina

Founder

In 2010, the Greek crisis hit and the country went into freefall. From there begun a great and long adventure...

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Photo of Finance Fairy Elli.

Elli

Finance Fairy

Elli doesn’t really like to talk about herself, so we’ll do it for her!

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Photo of tour Leader Andreas.

Andreas

tour Leader

I grew up in a neighbourhood called Nea Smyrni. The first settlers here were refugees from Asia Minor. People in our neighbourhood are proud of where they come from.

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Photo of Reservations & Operations Manager Iro.

Iro

Reservations & Operations Manager

As a child, my diet was limited, primarily consisting of soutzoukakia - meatballs in tomato sauce, a traditional Greek dish.

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Photo of Tour leader Elissavet.

Elissavet

Tour leader

They say the ignorance is a bliss, and I couldn’t agree more.

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Photo of tour leader Pavlina.

Pavlina

tour leader

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain

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Photo of certified guide Vassia.

Vassia

certified guide

There is a book I like a lot. Its final sentence reads: “It is never too late to have a happy childhood”. 

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Photo of tour leader Niko a.k.a. Rude.

Niko a.k.a. Rude

tour leader

It must have been at the end of middle school when I discovered graffiti. My new hobby began stealing ‘precious’ time I could have used for studying for school. I realised that action had to be taken...

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Photo of tour leader antigoni.

antigoni

tour leader

There is a theory that claims that your name determines who you are. Antigone, the famous heroine of a Greek tragedy, defied the rules and for that she faced death.

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Photo of Tour leader Maria-Katerina.

Maria-Katerina

Tour leader

No matter the plans made or expectations set, things seldom unfold as anticipated, and that's perfectly okay.

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Photo of tour leader katerina.

katerina

tour leader

I am a fan of poetry. Poems have the ability to paint a picture in just a few words… especially while traveling.

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Photo of Tour leader Eleni.

Eleni

Tour leader

‘’We dream in colours borrowed from the sea’’

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Photo of tour leader Elizabeth.

Elizabeth

tour leader

The French poet Arthur Rimbaud once wrote that "Eternity is the sea mingled with the sun " and I guess there' s a little bit of truth of that in me.

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Photo of tour leader Tania.

Tania

tour leader

I was about five, and I was taking part in a school celebration. When I stood behind the microphone, my mind went blank and my mouth went dry. Tears welled up in my eyes.

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Awards & Accolades

Testimonials

"Taking the walking and food tour with Alternative Athens was one of the highlights of a 3 day tour of Athens. It was the best introduction to the city and local neighborhoods. We had tastings of wine, cheese, meze, coffee, and chocolate in a variety of local restaurants and stores that we would not have found on our own. At each stop we were treated as VIPs. We highly recommend this tour to people who want to experience life in Athens beyond the tourist spots."

Diane B

"Our guide was Nikos, and he made this our favorite part of visiting Athens! We talked and laughed and had a great time! We met so many amazing local people in Greece, and fell in love with it because of the people that live there! Nikos was by far our #1 favorite local! He went above and beyond to make sure we had a good time. Thank you, Nikos!"

Mylissa R

"Fantastic Night! We told our guide what kind of drinks we liked and the type of atmosphere that makes us the most comfortable and she did amazing job finding bars to fit us best. If we ever make it back to Greece, I would definitely do this tour again!"

laineyjanexo