See Also
• Recommended Hotels in Athens
• Family-friendly hotels in Athens
• Places to stay in Athens
• Athens – Best Excursions
• Discover Athens’ Most Notable Museums
• Athens – Finest Archaeological Sites
Online Tickets: Acropolis & Acropolis Museum
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– Athens Pass Combo Ticket (no tour)
Tours: Acropolis & Acropolis Museum
I strongly propose doing a guided tour. Your visit will be much more fascinating and memorable with a professional guide, and if you have young ones they will likely be more engaged by an expert guide than by their parents. (Apologies.) Additionally, all tours discussed here include expedited entry tickets, which saves time and hassle.
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- Al Ponte Antico • Hotel contact: +39 041 241 1944
• Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Excursion (small group)
• Private Acropolis Tour
• An expedition to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum (private) 
Acropolis Hours and Information
- Hours: 8am to 8pm daily in summer, 8am to 5pm daily in winter. Closed January 1st, March 25th, May 1st, Orthodox Easter Sunday, and December 25th-26th.
- Museum Hours: Summer hours were Monday – Thursday 9am to 5pm (last entry 4:30pm), Friday 9am to 10pm (last entry 9:30 pm), Saturday & Sunday 9am to 8pm (last entry 7:30 pm). Open daily in winter months from 9am to 5pm (last entry 4:30 pm).
- Website: odysseus.culture.gr
- Location: Downtown Athens
- Telephone: +30 210 9238747
- Admission Price: €20 full entrance fee, €10 reduced entrance fee for children ages 6-25 with passport verification year-round, and for all tickets from November through March. Children ages 5 and under are permitted to enter free of charge. €30 combo tickets include access to the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian`s Library, Kerameikos, and Temple of Olympian Zeus. Combo tickets are not offered at a reduced rate.
- Free Entry: On certain dates honouring cultural events and holidays, as well as every first Sunday from November through March, there is no cost to access the site.
- Parking: Street parking, nearby pay lots.
- Nearest Metro: Acropoli
Table of Contents
The Acropolis in Athens
- The Acropolis is one of the most globally recognized landmarks and an enduring image of Ancient Greece. (Visiting the Acropolis is essential and undeniably one of the top attractions in Athens.)
- The Acropolis Museum is an excellent addition to experiencing the Parthenon and Acropolis sites. This recently constructed and impressively modern archaeological exhibition center opened just 15 years ago and accommodates every artifact found on the Acropolis and adjoining slopes, dating from the Greek Bronze Age through the later Roman and Byzantine periods in Athens. If you`re interested in exploring the museum content (as I recommend), then combining visits to both locations through an Acropolis and Acropolis Museum guided tour is a sensible plan.
- The Acropolis is an ancient fortress built in the 5th century BC and sits on a hill above Athens. It’s home to several ancient structures of historical and architectural significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. Other buildings include the Temple of Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the nearby theatre of Odeon of Herodeion.
- The word Acropolis originates from Greek terms meaning “high, extreme, or edge” (akro) and “city” (polis). The term acropolis describes several archaeological sites in Greece. However, the Acropolis of Athens holds the most historical significance, so it is known solely as “The” Acropolis.
- The closest metro station to the Acropolis is Akropoli, about 30 meters away from the site’s main entrance. (Though there are still many more stairs up to the top of the hill).
Prominent structures on the Athens Acropolis
The Parthenon is a prominent marble shrine in Athens dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, arts, literature and war. Construction started in 477 BC and was completed nearly four decades later in 438 BC. Despite endurance of earthquakes, fires, battles and explosions across centuries, parts of the Parthenon endured. It faced partial destruction in 1687 during the Ottoman-Venetian War when struck by a cannonball that detonated due to storing of gunpowder indoors. 
The ancient main entrance hall to the Acropolis complex, the Propylaea is located on the west side of the hill. It was designed between 437–432 BC by the Athenian architect Mnesicles. 
The Temple of Athena Nike is situated on the southwest corner of the Acropolis. Erected around 420 BC, it was dedicated to the goddess Athena who was venerated here in her aspect representing victory in battle, for which `Nike` is the Greek word. 
The Temple of Erechtheion is on the north side of the Acropolis and is dedicated to Athena and the god Poseidon. It was built around 406 BC. The female figures that support the entablature of the temple are known as Caryatids, from the Greek term for “maidens from Karyai”, an ancient Peloponnese town). 
One bedroom suites and two-bedroom villas (with private pool) are both good for families. A couple of young elephants roam along the beach (usually in the morning). Pool is huge and kid-friendly. Phone: +66 76 362 999
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Athens Acropolis FAQ
How much are Acropolis tickets?
From April 1 to October 31, a standard ticket to visit the Acropolis costs €20 during the busy season. From November 1 to March 31, a standard ticket is lower at €10. Certain groups qualify for a discount, such as children between 6 and 25 from outside the EU or people over 65 from the EU or EEA, who receive 50% off ticket prices in the busier months.
Acropolis tickets are categorized into:
• Single-Use (Adults)
• Single-Use Reduced (Individuals under 25 years, university students, and certain others)
• Combo
The prices for single-use Acropolis entrance & single-use reduced tickets fluctuate depending on the season visited. A single-use ticket permits admission to Acropolis and its slopes. Below are the single-use entrance fee costs to the Acropolis during summer and winter seasons:
- Summer (April 1st to October 31st): An entrance ticket to the Acropolis during the summer period costs €20 per adult. For children under 18 years old, students and others (single use reduced cost), the price is €10 per ticket.
- Winter (1 November to 31 March): Entry to the Acropolis in summer decreases to €10 for adults. For children under 18, students & others (single use discount), the fee is €5 per ticket.
If planning to visit the Acropolis along with other archaeological sites in Athens, one can purchase a combo ticket for €30 granting access to the Acropolis and six additional locations over five days. Regardless of visit season or visitor ages, the multi-site ticket costs €30. No discounted combo tickets are offered.
Can you buy tickets to the Acropolis online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets to the Acropolis online. Keep in mind that you cannot buy tickets in advance for the following season. You can only buy summer tickets from April 1 to October 31, and you can only buy winter tickets from November 1 to March 31.
To obtain your tickets, all you need to do is go to the Hellenic Heritage online ticket portal. Once there, pick “Acropolis and Slopes” and select the date and time you wish to visit. Single tickets and combination tickets are offered. Alternatively, you can buy Acropolis skip-the-line tickets from third parties (like Tiqets) that cost a bit more but have a much better user experience and are easier to get a refund if needed.
Note: Booking tickets online – through the Hellenic Ministry or otherwise – will only help you avoid the (often very long) ticket-booking line and not the entrance line to the Acropolis. In order to avoid the entrance queue, you’ll have to opt for a guided tour of the Acropolis.
What does an Acropolis ticket include?
A single-use Acropolis ticket grants access to the Acropolis, like the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and other structures at the top, as well as those on the North & South Slopes – such as the Odeon of Herodeion theatre.
A combined ticket will grant access to the Acropolis as well as 6 other archaeological locations in Athens, with each permitted to be visited once within a five day period.
What does the Acropolis combo ticket include and how does it work?
The Acropolis gathering permit gives access to the Acropolis and its inclines, and additionally six other archeological sites: the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian`s Library, the Ancient Agora, displays in Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, Aristotle`s School, and Kerameikos Necropolis. On the off chance that you get the joined permit, you can disregard the ticket obtaining line for every one of these seven areas. The expense of a gathering permit is €30 for both the midyear and winter seasons. The joined permit permits visits to each of the areas once inside a 5-day time period. Note that all Acropolis tickets are by arranged section, yet the other areas can be gone by at whenever inside the five days expressed.
Can you see the Acropolis for free?
Any individual may also visit the Acropolis free of charge on the following days:
- March 6 (Melina Mercouri Remembrance Day)
- April 18 (International Monuments Day)
- May 18 (International Museums Day)
- The last weekend of September (European Heritage Days)
- October 28
- Every month’s first Sunday between 1st November & 31st March
Children under 5 from any nation get in free at any time, as do kids, teens, and young adults under 25 from EU countries.
Is the Acropolis free on Sundays?
Whether entry to the Acropolis is free depends on the time of year visited. During winter (November 1 to March 31), access is free every first Sunday of the month. In summer months (April 1 to October 30), entrance is not without cost on first Sundays.
Do you need skip the line tickets for Acropolis?
We strongly suggest obtaining pre-purchased tickets allowing one to bypass lines to the Acropolis to conserve time, energy, and bother but they are not mandatory.
Do I need to buy Acropolis tickets in advance?
While advance Acropolis tickets are recommended, they are not required. Tickets can also be purchased in-person near the two entrance gates. Be prepared to wait in long lines to buy tickets, especially since as of 2024, visitor numbers each hour are capped.
Where can I buy Acropolis tickets?
Tickets to visit the Acropolis can be obtained online through sites like the Hellenic Heritage e-ticket portal or other third party venues ( tickets to skip queues are advised), or you can head to the entry gates and purchase them from the ticketing counter. Acropolis tours will feature Acropolis admission. No matter the option selected, it`s best to reserve tickets online ahead of time; the queue to get tickets from the Acropolis office is often quite lengthy, taking 1-2 hours or more to reach the front.”
Is the Acropolis Museum worth it?
Yes, the Acropolis Museum is definitely worth visiting. It’s one of the finest museums in Greece and deserves a minimum of two hours to tour – though history enthusiasts could easily spend the better part of a day inside. The Acropolis and Acropolis Museum Tour (with skip-the-line tickets) is an easy and efficient way to see both attractions.
What should I wear to the Acropolis?
There are no set rules governing attire when visiting the Acropolis. Visitors can wear whatever they choose. While no formal dress code exists, it makes sense to opt for breathable, casual selections instead of heavier or dressier options considering the strenuous hike up the hill especially in the heat of summer. Little vegetation and abundant marble surfaces contribute to bright, often scorching midday conditions. Regarding footwear, flip-flops are prohibited. Comfortable shoes with good traction are recommended as the stairs and uneven surfaces underfoot, like the stones at the summit, can be slippery. As an important historical and cultural site for Greeks, wearing attire demonstrating modesty and decorum, though shorts and tank tops are fine, is always advisable.
How difficult is it to climb the Acropolis?
The Acropolis monument rests high on a hilltop overlooking Athens, necessitating some ascent to reach the summit. The climb upwards can take approximately a quarter of an hour and involves a fairly steep incline. However, the pathways are wide and well-kept, and there are plenty of spaces to pause, catch your breath, and appreciate the scenic views. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase at the top near the ticket booths, but no snack shops are present once inside the ticketed area.
How many steps up the Acropolis?
The uphill path to the Acropolis includes several staircases. The Acropolis stands 150 m (500 ft.) above sea level and 70 m. (230 ft.) higher than the surrounding areas, requiring an ascent equal to climbing approximately 200 steps to reach the entrance.
Is the Acropolis Handicapped-Accessible?
Yes. There is a newly constructed (as of 2020) elevator for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility located about 350 meters from Acropolis’ main entrance on the west side of the hill. At the top of the Acropolis, newly designed concrete paths allow wheelchair users and mobility-impaired visitors to access the Parthenon and other main structures. Restrooms accommodating those with handicaps can be found both at the bottom and top of Acropolis Hill.
Entrance to the Acropolis is free for people with disabilities. If the disability is not apparent, it’s advisable to carry a physician’s note for verification.
What’s the difference between the Acropolis and the Parthenon?
Situated atop a hill overlooking Athens are numerous ancient monuments including the most recognizable temple called the Parthenon. Dedicated to the goddess Athena who was viewed as the patron of the people of Athens, the Ancient Greeks erected these structures on the hill now known as the Acropolis.
What buildings are at the Acropolis?
The Acropolis is home to the following ancient structures:
- The Parthenon
- The Propylaea
- The Erechtheion
- The Temple of Athena Nike
- The Old Temple of Athena
- The Pandrosion
- The Arrephorion
- The Chalkotheke
- The Brauroneion
- The Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus
- The Pandion Sanctuary
Different locales on the slopes and Northern and Southern slopes of the Acropolis incorporate:
- The Theatre of Dionysus
- The Odeon of Herodes Atticus (also called Herodeion or Herodion)
- The Peripatos (the ancient pathway that encircles the Akropolis)
Are there descriptions written in front of each building?
In contrast to a well-furnished museum that might provide elaborate descriptions for each painting, visitors at the Acropolis won’t find interpretive placards, descriptions, or markings directly in front of most structures. In fact, the sole building at the Acropolis with extensive information offered to guide guests is the Propylaea, the complex’s monumental entry gate. That serves as one of a few sound justifications we suggest opting for an Acropolis guided tour.
Can you walk up to or inside the Parthenon?
The Parthenon is an ancient temple that has faced the elements for centuries. As such, visitors are prohibited from walking onto the Parthenon itself to prevent additional damage or erosion. Many visitors do like to see the Parthenon from all angles, so they walk around the entire circumference of the temple for a better, extended look.
What is the best time to visit Acropolis?
Exploring the Acropolis in Athens often involves large crowds and lines, especially during the peak summer months of June through August. The period of highest traffic is usually between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. To avoid the largest throngs of people, booking tickets in advance and arriving at the Acropolis entrance at 7:45 AM, 15 minutes before the 8:00 AM opening time is recommended. This should allow for sightseeing for a few hours prior to the busy midday timeframe. Crowds tend to thin starting around 3:00 PM, making the late afternoon and early evening another good window of opportunity to visit.
Your alternatives are more adaptable during the quieter winter season, though you’ll still find less congestion early in the morning and later in the day.
Can you visit the Acropolis at night?
You are unable to visit the Acropolis at night and for good reason: The steep angle of the hill combined with darkness would generate a significant safety hazard, as would the uneven ground and loose stones at the top. The good news is that if you want to see the Acropolis at night, you can see it from anywhere in the city center because it’s illuminated after the sun descends.
How long should you spend at the Acropolis?
If you calculate the time for the climb up the slope and back down again, budget roughly 40 minutes for the roundtrip walk. As for how long you`ll spend at the Acropolis itself, it depends on your sightseeing habits. If you simply want to do a quick walk-through to say you visited, you can see the Parthenon and other major sites on the hill in about an hour. A more thorough visit with moments of reflection, photos, using an audio guide or reading from a guidebook could easily fill two hours or longer.
Do you need a tour guide for the Acropolis?
It’s not an absolute necessity by any means. Many people choose to stroll around the hill on their own, taking in the spots. You can always use a guidebook, audioguide, or browse around on your smartphone to read about the key features of the Acropolis. That said, an excellent guide can definitely make the experience much richer and more memorable. If you traveled thousands of miles and spent thousands of dollars to visit Athens, a little more added cost for an outstanding guide will be worth it. This is the guided tour of the Acropolis that I recommend.
