VISITING THE ACROPOLIS AND THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM

No visit to Athens is complete without visiting The Acropolis, the ancient citadel perched

defiantly above the city that has fascinating people for thousands of years. There are new

processes and protocols in 2024 and some of it is quite confusing, so if you’re overwhelmed

by the information to plan your visit to the Acropolis this guide will make it easy for you.

We’ve covered everything from the meaning and history of The Acropolis, how to avoid the

crowds and even what to wear!

Further reading: Top Things to do in Athens

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Contents hide

What is the Acropolis?

When is the best time to visit the Acropolis?

How to get to the Acropolis

How to get tickets to the Acropolis

Multi Pass Tickets

Acropolis Entrance Fees

Acropolis Opening Hours

Free days for visiting the Acropolis

The Elevator at The Acropolis

Points of interest

The Acropolis Museum

Acropolis Tours

The Best Acropolis Guided Tours

Private Tours of the Acropolis

What to take and wear

A few more tips for visiting the Acropolis

Where to stay near the Acropolis

What is the Acropolis?

The Greek words for “highest point” and “city” are Akron and Polis so the Acropolis is, or

was, a city high above modern-day Athens. It sits on a huge flat rock 150m above sea level,

in the middle of the city and is the primary monument of Athens, and one of the most

recognisable in the world.

The ancient citadel comprised many structures including several temples such as the

famous Parthenon, two sanctuaries, several theaters, and innumerable statues, altars and

meeting places.

At various times it has been damaged, rebuilt, added to and occupied by foreign invaders

including the Romans who built the Herodes Odean Theater and the Ottomans who

constructed a mosque. At one point it was even the headquarters of the Ottoman army and

its harem.

Today it is regarded as one of the most fascinating and beautiful structures on the planet

and is a must-do for all visitors to Athens.

Further reading : Greek Mythology places to visit

Note: New protocols and ticketing for the Acropolis started on April1, 2024.

Like visiting many famous attractions, it is now important to understand the new rules and

plan ahead, especially for summer.

What changed?

Visitors numbers are now capped at 20,000 per day ( don’t worry, most of the year1.

there are a lot less visitors than that)

Time slots have been introduced2.

Prices increased although some new discounts were also introduced3.

Private after-hours tours were introduced4.

When is the best time to visit the Acropolis?

The Acropolis is incredible to visit at any time of year, although spring and autumn have the

best weather conditions.

Summer is great due to lack of rain but it can get very hot, not just due to the ambient

temperature but also because of the reflection off all the pale surfaces, something you will

find across Athens and many of the islands too.

In July 2023 there were days when visitor numbers exceeded 23,000, so some new protocols

are now in place to try and eleviate crowds.

I recommend people visit the Acropolis either very early – around 15 minutes before

opening time, so 7:45 am, or just before closing time around 6-7pm ( or 3-4 in winter).

This way you will avoid both the sun and the crowds which are especially big when the

cruise ship tours start arriving late in the morning.

(tip: the late afternoon is also excellent for photos especially at dusk)

How to get to the Acropolis

The Acropolis is the major landmark of Athens and it is impossible to miss commanding

center stage in the middle of the city and shining down on the suburbs surrounding it.

If you are staying in the center of Athens it is likely you will be able to walk to The Acropolis

or it will be a short taxi ride. There are public buses too and the Hop On Hop Off Bus

stops near the south gate.

The Acropolis has its own metro stop, Acropoli, which is very handy for the main Acropolis

entrance to the west. However, both Thissio and Monastiraki stations are also close to the

side Acropolis entrance as well, in the southeast. The main entrance, unsurprisingly, is the

busiest and is also where big tour groups enter. We use the other one!

How to get tickets to the Acropolis

Queues at the ticket offices, especially in Summer, can be significant, so it pays to be

organised. With the new time slots, it is possible you will be able to get a ticket for your

preferred time at the gate if it is winter, but for the rest of the year, we strongly recommend

you pre-book.

It is possible to buy the tickets directly from the official ticketing website – which is not

Government owned contrary to popular belief but a private company, or through a trusted

platform like Get Your Guide or Viator.

Multi Pass Tickets

Multi-pass Tickets for the Acropolis and six other sites is highly recommended if you intend

to see at least 4 ( they are all close together and can easily be done in a single day). If you

see 3 or fewer it is the same price to buy individual tickets at each site.

The pass is valid for 5 days and the time starts when you visit your first site. You may

choose to start with your booked Acropolis time slot and then do the others, or you can do it

in the middle, the end, or anytime in the 5 days.

Our suggested sequence for these sites, in terms of geography and efficiency is The

Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, then the Temple of Zeus – walk through the National Gardens

to Aristotles School, then head west to the Roman Agora, Hadrians Library, Ancient Agora

and Kerameikos at the end.

South Slope Gate (in July)

Acropolis Entrance Fees

Regular-price ticket: 20€

Reduced-price ticket:

10€ non-EU aged 6-25

10€ EU seniors over 65

Free – EU up to 25

Free – non-EU up to 5

Acropolis multi-ticket ( includes other sites)*

Regular-price ticket: 30€ (over 25 years old, otherwise Free). Tickets can be used

once per site over a 5 day period.

The other sites are :

Acropolis & Slopes

Ancient Agora

Hadrian’s Library

Kerameikos

Aristotle’s School [Lyceum],

Olympieion,

Roman Agora

If you have booked a discounted ticket you will need to show valid ID – a

student card or passport for example, to the gate attendant at each site.

BUY ACROPOLIS TICKETS WITH GUIDED WALKING TOUR

BUY ACROPOLIS + 6 SITES COMBO TICKETS

Acropolis Opening Hours

The Acropolis is open nearly every day of the year, with only a few exceptions. They are:

January 1st

March 25

May 1 (Labor Day)

Easter Sunday ( this is the Eastern Orthodoxy dates and are NOT the same as the

typical Christian dates)

Christmas Day (Dec 25)

Boxing Day (Dec 26)

Opening hours vary depending on the time of year. At the time of publication they are;

November 1 to March 31 – 8 am to 5 pm (last entrance at 4.30pm)

April 1 to October 31 – 8 am to 8 pm

Note that the last entry to the Acropolis is half an hour before closing time.

Free days for visiting the Acropolis

There are several days per year where it is free for everyone to visit the Acropolis. It can be

crowded on these days, however, that’s a big discount! The free days for the Acropolis are:

6 March

18 April

18 May

Last weekend of September

28 October

Every first Sunday from November 1st to March 31st

The Elevator at The Acropolis

A lot of people wonder if The Acropolis is wheelchair friendly or indeed if anyone with a

disability, limited mobility or even just the elderly can visit the Acropolis.

Thankfully in 2020 a generous donation from The Onassis Foundation meant significant

work was done on the elevator at the Acropolis that now means it is fully operational with

new, flat pathways around the Acropolis that are suitable for wheelchairs. It can also be

used by a parent attending with two or more infants on their own.

The elevator arrives on the Acropolis plateau, to the area north of the Erechtheion. Visitors

can follow the route towards the Propylaea or the route between the Parthenon and the

Erechtheion. At the end of that route there is also a restroom.

It is a good idea to ring ahead and ensure the lift is operating on the day you plan to arrive.

Contact +30 210 3214172.

Note: Entry to the Acropolis for people with disabilities is free.

Points of interest

Dionysus Sanctuary and the Dionysus Theater which is considered the most significant

theater in Europe as it is where the very first theatrical performance was ever held.

The Parthenon is considered by many engineers and architects as the most perfect

structure every built. If viewed from the sky the Parthenon forms a perfect equilateral

triangle with the Temple of Aphaea, on the island of Aegina, and the Temple of Poseidon,

at Cape Sounion.

The Temple of Athena Nike was built around 420BC and is dedicated to the goddess

Athena Nike, for whom Athens is named. It has a prominent position in the south west

corner of the property.

The Erectheion a temple on the north side that was dedicated to Athena and Poseidon. It is

particularly famous for its Porch of Caryatids ( or Porch of Maidens) , six columns made

from statues of female figures. Some of the originals of these can be found in the Acropolis

Museum.

The Propylea is the main gate to the Acropolis and was commissioned by Pericles after the

Persian Wars. It consists of a colonnade and a number of structures leading up to the entry,

but was sadly never completed.

The Odeon of Herodes Atticustheater that was built between 160AD – 174AD and is still

in use today. During the summer, there are a number of performances and events available

– see the event schedule. We have enjoyed a wonderful night under the stars, seeing the

Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and Piano Virtuoso Yuja Wang. What an incredible and

very special experience it was!

The Acropolis Museum

We highly recommend you combine your visit to The Acropolis with a visit to the new

Acropolis Museum, this is where the artifacts from the site are housed after all.

Located at the base of the Acropolis near the main gate the new Acropolis Museum has a

total area of 25,000 square meters, with exhibition space of over 14,000 square meters and

is considered one of the great museums of the world.

Not only is it home to all the fascinating artifacts and statues found in and around the

Acropolis but it is also itself built over an excavation site of an ancient settlement which you

can view and explore.

Acropolis Museum hours align with The Acropolis itself. It is a stunning modern facility with

some excellent shops and cafes all delightfully air-conditioned, so this is a good place to visit

in the heat of the day.

Some people like to visit after they see The Acropolis, others before. That really is a

personal choice.

Winter season hours (1 November – 31 March)

Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (last admission: 4:30 p.m.)

Friday 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (last admission: 9:30 p.m.)

Saturday – Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (last admission: 7:30 p.m.)

Summer season hours (1 April – 31 October)

Monday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (last admission: 3:30 p.m.)

Tuesday – Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (last admission: 7:30 p.m.)

Friday 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (last admission: 9:30 p.m.)

Ticket prices are:

Winter season (1 November – 31 March)

General admission: 5 Euros

Reduced admission*: 3 Euros

Summer season (1 April – 31 October)

General admission: 10 Euros

Reduced admission*: 5 Euros

* For information on eligibility for reduced admission tickets or free admission, please

click here.

Acropolis Tours

Neither the online tickets nor the skip-the-line tickets include a guide. There are Acropolis

audio guides available at the entrance for a surcharge.

You can also download an app to your phone that offers Acropolis details, interactive

maps, and information about the buildings and structures. Click here to download an

Acropolis app to your Android. Click here to download an Acropolis app to your iPhone.

Another option is to take a guided tour, either privately or as part of a group. This can be

fantastic value as you get deep insights into the history of the Acropolis and, as they are

often conducted by locals, a lot of local knowledge as well.

The Best Acropolis Guided Tours

There are a number of options here. You can choose to join a 90-minute small group guided

tour with a skip the line ticket, a combined Acropolis and Acropolis Museum Tour or

perhaps a 6 hour private tour for you group that takes in other sites such as the Temple of

Zeus and Parliament as well.

If you are visiting for the day from the Athens cruise terminal then there is a 5 hour from

Pireaus tour that includes transfers and a general tour of Athens from your cruise ship to

the Acropolis and more.