Acropolis of Athens & Parthenon

Ακρόπολη Αθηνών

A symbol of Western civilisation: the Parthenon, the Caryatid Porch of the Erechtheion and the Propylaea, built in the 5th century BC under Pericles. The first of Athens' World Heritage Sites.

The Acropolis is a limestone hill rising about 150 metres above the city. It has been a fortress and sacred site since the Mycenaean era. After the Persians burned it in 480 BC, Pericles oversaw its reconstruction between 447 and 406 BC. Phidias supervised the work, and Ictinus and Callicrates were the architects. It became the pinnacle of classical Greek art. The Acropolis was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and UNESCO's logo is drawn from the Parthenon.

The climb begins at the Propylaea gateway on the west side, with the small Temple of Athena Nike on the right. At the centre of the summit stands the Parthenon, a Doric temple dedicated to Athena. Its 46 columns use subtle optical refinements. Most of its original sculptural decoration, known as the “Elgin Marbles,” is in the British Museum, and Greece continues to seek its return. On the north side, the Erechtheion is famous for its six Caryatids (maidens serving as columns). The ones on show are replicas, and five of the originals are in the Acropolis Museum. At the eastern end of the summit you can look down over Lycabettus Hill and the city. On the southern slope below are the Theatre of Dionysus, the birthplace of drama, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, still in use and host to performances during the Athens Festival in summer.

Tickets: 30 euros from April to October (including the southern slope), or 15 euros from November to March. A five-day combined ticket covering seven sites, including the Ancient Agora and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, costs about 30 euros. Since September 2023, entry has been timed, with a limit of 20,000 people per hour in time slots. Buy tickets in advance on the official site, hhticket.gr. Entry is free on March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend of September, and the first Sunday of November through March. Getting there: take metro line 2 to Acropoli station and follow the pedestrian street to the southern entrance, or walk from Plaka to the main western entrance. The summit has no shade at all, and the marble floors are slippery, so wear non-slip shoes. Tripods are not allowed, and wearing costumes for photos is prohibited. The Areopagus rock on the west side (free) is an excellent spot to photograph the Acropolis and watch the sunset.

Opening hours

Apr–Oct 8:00 am–8:00 pm (last entry 7:30 pm); Nov–Mar 8:00 am–5:00 pm; closed Jan 1, Mar 25, Easter Sunday, May 1, and Dec 25–26

World Heritage · Ancient Greece · Temple · Landmark · Reservation required

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