Ancient Olympia · VR glasses tour with audio guide

Olympia lies in ruins. Put on the glasses.

Pick up a VR headset at our shop, five minutes from the site. At every monument, the temples, the athletes and the 12-metre Statue of Zeus appear where they once stood, with stories in your language.

Choose a time

€20 per headset · up to 4 hours

Made in Olympia by Achilles & Vasia

Time
1.5–3 hours
Stops
15 monuments
Audio
8 languages
GetYourGuide
4.8 ★ · 802 reviews
Tripadvisor
4.9 ★ · 340 reviews

How it works

Three steps, at your own pace

No group to keep up with and no guide to wait for. You walk the site the way you want and spend as long as you like at each monument.

  1. Visitor putting on a VR headset at the site

    1

    Pick up your headset

    Come to our shop opposite the church in Olympia. Leave an ID as a deposit, get a two-minute demo and you're ready to go.

  2. Visitor at an info board with the VR headset

    2

    Stand where it stood

    Find each monument with the map, stand in front of the info board and put on the glasses. Look around 360° and use your hands to pick up ancient objects.

  3. Two visitors looking around with VR headsets

    3

    Listen to the stories

    The story starts as soon as you select a monument. Repeat it or listen to more whenever you like, from fun facts to dramatic tales.

Keep the headset for up to 4 hours, then bring it back to the shop. Questions on the way? We're reachable by phone and chat during your visit.

Opens on YouTube in a new tab.

Real glasses, not an app

Nothing to download. Nothing to hold.

Some tours in Olympia send you around with an app on your own phone. With us you wear a real VR headset with built-in sound: no phone, no app, no headphones. You put on the glasses at each monument and the scene starts.

Included

  • VR headset with built-in audio guide
  • Tour map, printed and in the headset
  • Demo at the shop and help by phone or chat

Not included

  • Entry ticket to the archaeological site and museum (€20, sold by the state)

What you'll see

Five places, then and now

Temple of Zeus: the temple rises again, painted and complete, with the gold-and-ivory Statue of Zeus inside

Temple of Zeus

Today
Huge column drums lie in the grass, where earthquakes left them centuries ago.
Through the glasses
The temple rises again, painted and complete. Step inside and stand before the gold-and-ivory Statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Workshop of Phidias: the 12-metre statue stands half-finished among scaffolding

Workshop of Phidias

Today
Brick walls of the building where the statue was made, later used as a church.
Through the glasses
The 12-metre statue stands half-finished among scaffolding, with the sculptor's tools around you.
Palaestra: the courtyard fills with wrestlers and boxers training for the Games

Palaestra

Today
Rows of columns around an open, empty courtyard.
Through the glasses
The courtyard fills with wrestlers and boxers training for the Games.
Stadium: runners race towards the finish line while the crowd roars

Stadium

Today
A grass embankment and the original stone starting line.
Through the glasses
Stand at the finish line while runners race towards you and the crowd roars.
Temple of Hera: the sacred place where the Olympic flame is lit

Temple of Hera

Today
A few columns in front of the spot where the Olympic flame is still lit today.
Through the glasses
Go to the sacred place and be the one who lights the flame.

Prices

One price, no surprises

You pay per headset, not per person. The entry ticket for the archaeological site is sold separately by the Greek state.

Audio guide in

  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Français
  • Nederlands
  • Español
  • Italiano
  • Polski
  • Ελληνικά
VR headset with audio guideup to 4 hours
€20
Entry ticket, site + museumsold by the Greek state
€20
Entry under 25 (EU) · under 18 (non-EU)bring your ID
free
Choose a time

Best price when you book directly with us.

Tip for the museum

If you buy your entry ticket online, choose a museum time about 2 hours after your VR tour. The same ticket gets you into the archaeological site at any time.

Buy the official entry ticket

Book

Reserve your headset

Choose the date, time and number of headsets in our booking calendar. You pay per headset, not per person, and you pick the language of your audio guide when you book.

€20per headset · up to 4 hours
Calendar not loading? Open the booking page

What our guests say

More than 1,100 reviews

“No comparison with the VR tour without glasses in Delphi.”

Susanne, Germany (translated from German)

“Our children, 11 and 13, also thought it was great.”

Sonja, Switzerland (translated from German)

“I'd recommend it to people who aren't that into history too. Kids and teenagers!”

Reto, Switzerland (translated from German)

We keep improving the tour based on what our guests tell us. Many of its features exist because a visitor suggested them. Read all reviews on Tripadvisor

Coming from a cruise ship

Will it fit into your day in Katakolon?

Enter your ship's times. We'll show you a realistic plan with time to spare before all aboard.

Getting to Olympia

    Choose a time

    Estimates based on typical travel times. Check bus and train times locally on the day.

    Plan your visit

    More for your day in Olympia

    Typical journey times to Olympia are about 35 minutes by bus, 45 minutes by train and 30 minutes by taxi. The bus stop from Katakolon is next to our shop.

    The train leaves Katakolon at 08:40 and returns from Olympia at 13:10 (not on Sundays). Check times locally on the day.

    Try the cruise planner with your ship's times.

    Many families do the tour together and children use the headsets too. Send us a message if you'd like advice for your child before you book.

    Entry to the archaeological site is free for EU citizens under 25 and non-EU visitors under 18. Bring your ID.

    Get in touch

    We offer group and school bookings. Get in touch and tell us the date and size of your group.

    Contact us

    Visit the museum after your VR tour. You'll recognise the statues and fragments you've just seen in their original place.

    If you buy your entry ticket online, choose a museum time about 2 hours after your tour starts. The same ticket gets you into the archaeological site at any time.

    Buy the official entry ticket

    The first visitors with Olympia Back in Time VR headsets
    The first Olympia time travellers

    Who we are

    A dream from Olympia

    “When I visited the archaeological site with friends, we all struggled to picture it. So I spent a year reading historical texts and research on dimensions and materials to rebuild everything as accurately as possible. Standing inside the Temple of Zeus for the first time, looking up at the statue, was unbelievable.”

    Achilles, who grew up in Olympia, runs Olympia Back in Time with his wife Vasia.

    FAQ

    Good to know before you come

    Is the entry ticket included?

    No. The entry ticket for the archaeological site and museum costs €20 for adults and is sold by the Greek state, online or at the ticket office. EU citizens under 25 and non-EU visitors under 18 enter for free.

    How long does the tour take?

    Most visitors need between 1.5 and 3 hours. You can keep the headset for up to 4 hours.

    Which languages is the audio guide in?

    English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Greek. You choose your language when you book.

    Do I need my own phone or headphones?

    No. The headset has the sound built in, so you don't need a phone, an app or headphones.

    Do I need to book in advance?

    We recommend it. We have a limited number of headsets, and in high season they're often all out.

    Can children do the tour?

    Yes, many families do the tour together and children use the headsets too. Send us a message if you'd like advice for your child before you book.

    When should I visit the museum?

    After your VR tour. You'll recognise the statues and fragments you've just seen in their original place. If you book your entry ticket online, pick a museum time about 2 hours after your tour starts.

    Where is your shop?

    On Tsoureka Street in Olympia, opposite the church. It's a 5-minute walk to the Archaeological Museum and a 10-minute walk to the site.

    I'm on a cruise. Will I make it back in time?

    Usually, yes. Use our Katakolon planner to check your ship's times.

    Do you offer group or school bookings?

    Yes. Get in touch and tell us the date and size of your group.

    Find us

    Our shop in the centre of Olympia

    Tsoureka Street, opposite the church
    27065 Archaia Olympia, Greece

    • Archaeological Museum5 min walk
    • Archaeological site10 min walk
    • Train station1 block
    • Bus stop from Katakolonnext to the shop
    Open in Google Maps

    Questions?

    The street in Olympia with the church opposite our shop
    Opens on YouTube in a new tab.

    Ready to see Olympia as it was?

    Choose your time and language. It takes two minutes.

    Choose a time