Athens Acropolis – The Complete Guide: Tickets, Hours and More

Whether you are visiting Athens for a week or you only have one day in Athens between a flight and a ferry, I’m sure the ancient Acropolis of Athens is the first item on your to-do list. Here’s my guide for the Acropolis of Athens: a brief history, tips, hours, and tickets, all you need to know for your first visit to the Acropolis and its museum.

A History of the Acropolis in Athens

Literally, ‘Acropolis‘ means the city on the highest point. The Ancient Acropolis of Athens, a high hill in the center of Athens was inhabited as far as the 4th millennium BC. However, extensive building started only in the Age of famous Pericles in the 5th century BC. Many other Greek cities were also built around such an Acropolis. It was the safest place and a refuge in times of war. The work started by Pericles made the Acropolis of Athens the one we all think about when we hear ‘Acropolis‘.

The main buildings on the Acropolis are the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the small Temple of Athena Nike, and the Propylaia which was the gate into the complex.

Explore the Acropolis of Athens

The Parthenon was the perfect building and became the blueprint for many classic buildings inspired by it throughout the centuries. Inside the temple stood the statue of Athena Parthenos – Athena the Virgin, made by Phidias.

The Erechtheion was a religious complex on the site where, according to myth, Poseidon and Athena had a contest to be the patron of Athens.

Legend says Poseidon hit the rock first with his trident, and a spring appeared on that spot. Then, the Goddess Athena touched the ground with her spear, and an olive tree grew there. So, Athena won the contest and became the patron of the city.

The Erechtheion’s most famous features are the Caryatids, six female statues supporting the southwestern corner of the building. The Caryatids we see now are exact replicas of the originals. Five of the original statues are hosted in the Acropolis Museum, while the sixth is in a London museum.

Another reason to climb on the Acropolis is the 360 degrees view of the busy city of Athens.

Below the Acropolis of Athens

Before climbing the final part to the gate of the Acropolis, you’ll come across the Odeum of Pericles, the Theater of Dionysus Eleuthereus, and the Odeum of Herodes Atticus.

Planning your visit to the Acropolis

When to visit the Acropolis

When planning your visit to the Acropolis of Athens, remember that it can get really hot out there during the summer. Spring is the best time for a visit to Athens and to the Acropolis in particular, but the weather is pleasant through autumn and winter too.

Also, keep in mind that the Acropolis is the most popular place in Athens, and it will get crowded in the middle of the day. Try to start early to fully enjoy your day at the Acropolis. One and a half to two hours are enough time to explore the Acropolis of Athens. If you plan to visit the Acropolis Museum too, you’ll probably need to double that time.

Other tips to visiting Athens Acropolis

Bring water, a hat, as well as sunscreen on a sunny day. There is almost no shade on the Acropolis slopes. Also, wear sturdy shoes, the climb is pretty steep, and the ancient rocks have become slippery.

Opening hours for the Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis is open daily, from 8:30 to 15:00 in the winter season (November to March) and 8:00 to 19:30 from April to October. On Mondays, the site opens later, at 11 am.

Acropolis of Athens tickets

There are two types of tickets for the Acropolis of Athens entrance. The single-use tickets are 10 € and allow for a single visit to the Athens Acropolis and the Slopes. You can also buy 30 € combined tickets, which allows you to enter 6 other sites in Athens, besides the Acropolis, for 5 days starting from the first entrance. The sites included in this combined ticket are:

• The Ancient Agora
• The Roman Agora
• Hadrian’s Library
• Olympieion
• Kerameikos
• Aristotle’s School

If you’re in Athens for a few days and you’re interested in history, the combined ticket is your best option. You can buy tickets online here. Please note that the online tickets don’t include skip-the-line access, and you will still have to wait if there’s a line at the entrance.

Guided tours of the Acropolis

A good option is to visit the Acropolis for the first time with a guided tour. Here are two good options:

• Acropolis Small Group Guided Tour with entrance ticket included
• Athens Acropolis and The Acropolis Museum Tour with entrance tickets

The Athens Acropolis Museum

The Athens Museum of Acropolis is located about 300 meters from the Acropolis. The main entrance is on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street. It’s a modern museum hosting finds from all buildings on the Acropolis plateau, as well as its slopes.

There is an x-ray check at the entrance, and you should avoid coming in with luggage. An entrance ticket is 5 € from November to March and 10 € from April to October. Find out all about the opening hours, tickets, and exhibitions on the Athens Acropolis Museum website.

Where to stay in Athens

The Acropolis is easy to get to by metro, no matter where you’re staying in Athens. However, the most convenient place to stay is close to the Acropolis and the Plaka.

We stayed at Airotel Parthenon. It’s just a few hundred meters from the entrance to the Acropolis. At the same time, it’s close to everything else you might be interested in. The furnishings were a little dated but, other than that, the place was clean, and our room had an amazing terrace to have a last drink before going to sleep.

Another option I looked at was the Plaka Hotel in the same neighborhood. Some of the rooms here have a view of the Acropolis, which must be spectacular at night. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any available rooms when I was in Athens.

Find out more about discovering Athens on foot by clicking on the link. If you’re interested in other destinations in Greece, find out more about the things to do in Thessaloniki.

Disclosure

Some of the above may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. However, I only recommend companies, activities, or products that I use myself. Thank you for your support in keeping my blog live!

Like it? Pin it!