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Acropolis Museum Visit Guide and Tips 2021

06.24.2021 · Posted in Writing and Speaking

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. If you’re overwhelmed by the information to plan your visit 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!

What is the Acropolis?

The Greek words for “highest point” and “city” are Akron and Polis therefore the Acropolis Museum is, or was, a city high above modern-day Athens. It sits on an enormous flat rock 150m above water level , within the middle of the town and is that the primary monument of Athens, and one among the foremost recognisable within the world.

The ancient citadel comprised many structures including several temples like the famous Parthenon, two sanctuaries, several theaters, and innumerable statues, altars and meeting places.

At various times it’s been damaged, rebuilt, added to and occupied by foreign invaders including the Romans who built the Herodes Odean Theater and therefore the Ottomans who constructed a mosque. At one point it had been even the headquarters of the Ottoman army and its harem.

Today it’s considered one among the foremost fascinating and delightful structures on the earth and may be a must-do for all visitors to Athens.

Further reading : Greek mythology places to go to

When is that the best time to go to the Acropolis?
The Acropolis Museum is incredible to go to at any time of year, although spring and autumn will clearly have the simplest weather . In saying that it’s an outside attraction and because it rarely rains in Summer that does have a plus .

Summer can get extremely popular , however, not just thanks to the ambient temperature but also due to the reflection off all the pale surfaces, something you’ll find across Athens and lots of of the islands too.

I recommend people visit the Acropolis Museum either very early – around quarter-hour before opening time, so 7:45 am) or simply before hour around 5-6 pm ( or 3-4 in winter). In this manner you’ll avoid both the sun and therefore the crowds which get particularly big when the cruise liner tours start arriving around Midday.

parthenon athens
How to get to the Acropolis
The Acropolis is that the major landmark of Athens and it’s impossible to miss commanding center stage within the middle of the town and shining down on the suburbs surrounding it.

If you’re staying within the center of Athens it’s likely you’ll be ready to walk to The Acropolis or it’ll be a brief taxi ride. There are public buses too and therefore the mount Hop Off Bus stops near the south gate.

The Acropolis has its own metro stop, Acropoli, which is extremely handy for the most Acropolis entrance to the west. However, both Thissio and Monastiraki stations also are on the brink of the side Acropolis entrance also , within the southeast. the most entrance, unsurprisingly, is that the busiest and is additionally where big tour groups enter. We use the opposite one!

It is possible to try to to each day trip from the airport if you catch the Metro in on the Blue line ( the sole one from the airport). From Pireaus Port.

The Elevator at The Acropolis

A lot of individuals wonder if The Acropolis is wheelchair friendly or indeed if anyone with a disability, limited mobility or maybe just the elderly can visit the Acropolis. Well, there’s an elevator but it’s had some issues over the year.

Thankfully in 2020 a generous donation from The Onassis Foundation meant significant work was done on the elevator and surrounds that now means it’s fully operational with new, flat pathways round the Acropolis that are suitable for wheelchairs. you’ll read more about it HERE.

For any updates or enquiries about the elevator, contact +30 210 3214172.

Entry to the Acropolis for people with disabilities is free.

athens temple
How to get tickets to the Acropolis
Queues at the box office , especially in Summer, are often significant, so it pays to be organised.

It is possible to shop for the tickets directly from the official ticketing website or though a ticketing agent like Get Your Guide.

Acropolis Entrance Fees

Regular-price ticket: 20€
Reduced-price ticket: 10€ ( Nov 1 – March 31)
Acropolis multi-ticket ( includes other sites)*

Regular-price ticket: 30€
*The other sites are : the Acropolis, Agora, Hadrian’s Library/Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Arch, Temple to Olympic Zeus and Kerimikos Cemetery/Potter Sites. Tickets are good for five days and may be used once per site.

Some visitors could also be entitled to a 50% discount on tickets. This includes EU citizens over 65 years old and tertiary students from non-EU countries. You’ll need a legitimate ID to urge the discounted entry to the Acropolis.

Some visitors are entitled to free entry to the
Acropolis including children under the age of 18 and students of EU universities, with a legitimate ID or passport. Check the official website for more information.

Acropolis Opening Hours
The Acropolis is open nearly a day of the year, with only a couple of exceptions.They are:

January 1st
March 25
May 1
Easter Sunday ( this is often the Eastern Orthodoxy dates and aren’t an equivalent because the typical Christian dates)
Christmas Day (Dec 25)
Boxing Day (Dec 26)

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

November 1 to March 31: 8 am to five pm
April 1 to October 31: 8 am to 7 pm

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

Free days for visiting the Acropolis
There are several days per annum where it’s free for everybody to go to the Acropolis. It are often crowded on lately , however, that’s an enormous 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

Points of interest at the Acropolis

Dionysus Sanctuary and therefore the Dionysus Theater which is taken into account the foremost significant theater in Europe because it is where the very first theatrical was ever held.

The Parthenon is taken into account by many engineers and designers because the most perfect structure every built. If viewed from the sky the Parthenon forms an ideal equiangular triangle with the Temple of Aphaea, on the island of Aegina, and therefore the Temple of Poseidon, at Cape Sounion.

The Temple of Athena Nike was built around 420BC and is devoted to the goddess Athena Nike, whom Athens is known as for. it’s a prominent position within the south west corner of the property.

The Erectheion a temple on the side that was dedicated to Athena and Poseidon. it’s particularly famous for its Porch of Caryatids ( or Porch of Maidens) , six columns made up of statues of female figures. a number of the originals of those are often found within the Acropolis Museum.

The Propylea is that the main gate to the Acropolis and was commissioned by Pericles after the Persian Wars. It consists of a colonnade and variety of structures leading up to the entry but was sadly never completed.

The Odeon of Herodes Atticustheatre that was built between 160AD – 174AD and remains in use today. During the summers there are number of performances and events available – see the event schedule, click here. In June 2019 we had an exquisite night under the celebs to ascertain the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and Piano Virtuoso Yuja ****. What a fantastic and really special experience it was!

temple of herodes
acropolis theatre
The Acropolis Museum

We highly recommend you mix your visit to The Acropolis with a visit to the new Acropolis Museum.

Located at the bottom of the Acropolis near the most gate the new Acropolis Museum features a total area of 25,000 square meters, with exhibition space of over 14,000 square meters and is taken into account one among the good museums of the planet .

Not only is it home to all or any the fascinating artifacts and statues found in and round the Acropolis but it’s also itself built over an excavation site of an ancient settlement which you’ll view and explore.

Acropolis Museum hours align with The Acropolis itself. it’s a shocking modern facility with some excellent shops and cafes all delightfully air conditioned,so this is often an honest place to go to within the heat of the day.

Some people wish to visit after they see The Acropolis, others before. that basically may be 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 ticket or free admission, please click here.

Acropolis Tours
Neither the web tickets nor the skip-the-line tickets include a guide. There are Acropolis audio guidesavailable at the doorway for a surcharge.

You can also download an app to your phone that gives Acropolis details, interactive maps, and knowledge to 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 require a guided tour, either privately or as a part of a gaggle . this will be fantastic value as you get deep insights into the history of the Acropolis and, as they’re often conducted by locals, tons of local knowledge also .

The Best Acropolis Guided Tours

There are variety of options here. you’ll prefer to join a 90 minute small group guided tour with a skip the road ticket, a combined Acropolis and Acropolis Museum Tour or perhaps a 6 hour private tour for you group that takes in other sites like the Temple of Zeus and Parliament also .

If you’re visiting for the day from the Athens cruise terminal then there’s a 5 hour from Pireaus tour that included transfers and a general tour of Athens from your cruise liner to the Acropolis and more.

Or, perhaps you’d wish to be picked up during a luxury van and have a totally curated private tour for you and your group?

What to wear to the Acropolis
As we’ve mentioned visiting the Acropolis are often hot and sweaty business and there are variety of steps and uneven surfaces to deal with . you would like to be as comfortable as possible.

I tend to wear white sneakers most days when exploring Greece. they’re comfy, on trend and appearance good with anything. most of the people also wear trousers, shorts or jeans counting on the time of year. You’ll also need the following;

A hat – you’ll buy these everywhere

Sunscreen

A good camera, preferable with a wideangle lens

A waterbottle. Collapsible ones are great for travelling and there are several water fountains inside the Acropolis for refills too.

ID if you’re after eligible for discounted tickets.

A good crossbody bag for hands free photography and to stow your bottle too!

If it’s Winter or Autumn it’s also an honest idea to pack a rainjacket or small umbrella too.

A few more tips for visiting the Acropolis

  1. Dont bring your drone. Drones are allowed in many parts of Greece but not over or near Archeological Sites, places of worship or Government buildings. This includes the Acropolis.
  2. don’t touch or walk on the marble. Much of it’s roped off anyway but please observe the principles .

Where to remain near the Acropolis
There are many wonderful hotels to remain in Athens including some that have incredible views of the Acropolis.

If you would like to be literally at the Acropolis doorstep then you cant get much closer than AthensWas which is one among the foremost stylish hotels in Greece. The Herodion Hotel is additionally a brief stroll and features a stonishing views whilst Electra Palace also has a fantastic rooftop pool.

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