ARGYRAKI MARIA

Welcome to my personal web page!

"It made all the difference!" That is the comment I hear most often from my clients after a tour. It is perhaps the greatest compliment a licensed guide can receive. Accredited members in good standing of the Association of Licensed Tourist Guides are professionally qualified to conduct tours throughout Greece, and I am proud to have been one of them for more than four decades.

I was born and raised in Athens, but after high school I lived, studied, worked, and traveled extensively abroad. Following my graduation from the National School of Tourist Guides, I began guiding throughout Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, a profession that has remained my passion ever since.

Alongside my guiding career, I earned a BA in English Language and Literature from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and an MA in Advanced Japanese Studies from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.

My role is not simply to explain monuments and works of art, but to bring to life the spirit of the age that created them. Through storytelling, I weave together history and mythology, archaeology and daily life, customs and traditions, the ancient and the modern, helping visitors understand why Greek civilization continues to speak to people from every corner of the world.

I specialize in private tours for discerning travelers with high expectations, yet I value equally every curious visitor who wishes to share my knowledge, experience, and genuine love for Greece.

Based in Athens—the ideal starting point for exploring the country—I offer everything from introductory city tours to in-depth visits to the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, and many other archaeological sites. During lunch, over coffee, or while strolling through a neighborhood, I also enjoy discussing contemporary Greek life, society, politics, traditions, and culture. If you have visited Greece before, I will be delighted to suggest places that lie beyond the usual itinerary.

Athens also provides easy access to wonderful nearby destinations such as the Athens Riviera, Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, Marathon, and Vravron. For those who enjoy longer, more in-depth excursions, I highly recommend Delphi, Mycenae and Nafplion, Ancient Corinth, Ancient Epidaurus, Sparta and Mystras, and the outstanding Archaeological Museum of Thebes.

From the port of Piraeus, we can also reach the beautiful islands of Aegina, Poros, and Hydra by ferry. Alternatively, if you are unable to find a suitable local guide elsewhere in Greece and are willing to cover my travel expenses, I can accompany you to destinations such as Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, or Crete.

If you are planning a private tour and would appreciate reliable advice on transportation, ticket reservations, or other travel arrangements, I will be happy to help you design an itinerary tailored to your interests, budget, available time, and level of mobility.

The cost of the guide's services should not be a concern. The Association of Licensed Tourist Guides of Greece is committed to maintaining fair and reasonable professional rates.

Please note that the guide fee covers guiding services only. Admission tickets, transportation (taxi, private vehicle, ferry, domestic flights, etc., where applicable), meals, and—for multi-day tours—overnight accommodation for the guide are the responsibility of the client.

To ensure a smooth visit and avoid disappointment, I strongly recommend pre-purchasing admission tickets to the Acropolis and other major archaeological sites and museums, particularly during the high season, as many now operate with timed-entry tickets.

If you would like to discover Greece beyond the guidebooks and experience the culture that has shaped so much of the Western world, I would be delighted to hear from you. personally answer every enquiry addressed to me, usually within 24 hours. Please feel free to contact me by email or WhatsApp.