Explore Greek Architecture & History At The Magnificent Acropolis Structures

Admission to the attraction

Access to the monuments of Acropolis is available from 8am to 8pm, with the last admission to the attraction at 7.30pm. These timing may change depending on the season, so it is best to check the official website or with the local hotel first. To skip the crowd, do arrive at the ticket counter before 8am. Morning and late afternoon are the best timing to visit the attractions to avoid the hot afternoon sun, as this is an unsheltered outdoor attraction.

There is a drink counter at the entrance of the attraction, but you are highly recommended to bring along your bottled water to stay hydrated during the walk. You will spend at least 1-2 hours at the Acropolis and around 30 minutes to 1 hour at the rest of the smaller monuments. Among those monuments of the Acropolis, Parthenon is the most magnificent structure. Next to the Parthenon stands another enchanting structure – the “old” temple of Athena.

The theatre of Dionysos boosts a wide space where people used to celebrate and perform

On the south slope of the Acropolis before you get to the Parthenon, you will pass by the theatre of Dionysos. This is a major open-air theatre, which was used for festive celebrations and performance in the past.

Other key attractions worth the experience

Your ticket is valid for 4 days, so you do not need to worry about covering all 6 attractions within a day. The Ancient Agora is perhaps the next largest and most interesting site after Parthenon, which also consists of a museum. Like the Parthenon, the Temple of Hephaestus at the Ancient Agora is a magnificent structure that evoke an ancient Greek sense. The museum also allows you to further understand some of the structures and Greek gods. The remaining sites are relatively smaller and some, like the Roman Agora, present partial blocks of the structure only.

There are plenty of restaurants and cafes along the attractions so you will be spoilt for choices during your rest time after visiting the attractions. Afternoons are the best time to rest and chill at the restaurants and cafes with people-watching opportunities since it would be too hot to be walking around. Greeks love coffees, so you should try the local coffee whenever there is a chance. The traditional Greek coffee, made from roasted and finely ground coffee beans, tends to be a stronger brew served with foam on top.

Buying a ticket to the Acropolis is a breeze

Online ticketing to the attractions is not available, so you would need to queue at the counter to purchase the ticket. The process of buying a ticket is a breeze and you can avoid the queue by getting there early in the morning. You should make sure that you retain your ticket safely since the staff will check before allowing you to enter the remaining attractions. Doing some research prior to visiting the sites is highly recommended. The staff does not provide a map, so first-time visitors may feel lost after visiting the Acropolis. Also, there is limited information at each attraction. Do consider joining a tour if you wish to have an in-depth understanding of the history at each site. There is a wide variety of tours packages of different cost, so do compare each of them to maximize your bucks!

Getting to the Acropolis by walking or by metro

To get to the Acropolis, you can take the metro to Acropolis Station and go through the south slope of the Acropolis upon exit. Alternatively, if you are staying near Monastriraki, you can choose to walk through some of the attractions in Plaka district before taking the steep slope to the Acropolis. The iconic Acropolis is at the peak of a hill which is easily spotted, so chances of you getting lost are minimal. Once you get to the top, you will be in for a great surrounding view of Athens.