Acropolis of Athens tours: Complete Visitor's Guide with Current Ticket Prices and Real Experience from My Recent Trip - Everything About Planning Your Ancient History Journey
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Each polis of Ancient Greece had its own Acropolis, but none of them can surpass Athens in scale, layout and concentration of so many monuments of past epochs.
The capital of Greece is unthinkable without it, it is rightfully considered its calling card, a real mecca for tourists from all over the world. Here time stands still, it is frozen in the impeccable elegance of architectural forms.
Everything here looks majestic and amazes with its scope and monumentality, testifying to the high level of development of culture of the ancient Greeks and for centuries remaining a model of world architecture.
In this article I will tell you about the Acropolis of Athens, how to visit it, about excursions, how you can get to it and what you can see there.
The Acropolis of Athens - is it worth a visit?
The Acropolis of Athens is the most unusual structure in the world. It has become the symbol of the capital of Greece. The Acropolis is visible from anywhere in the city: the government has forbidden to build taller buildings within the city limits. Therefore, tourists can use it as a landmark.
The Acropolis is actually an ancient city on a high hill. Behind the walls was the main settlement. The city was absolutely impregnable when stormed.
Like any significant place in the life of the citizens, the Acropolis is laden with legends. One of them tells that built the city – Kekrops. He was half serpent, half man. Kekrops dedicated his creation to the goddess Athena. And the first temple was built in her honor.
Kekrops hired Cyclopes for hauling stones and rough labor. Kekrops’ buildings were relatively modest. They were later replaced by elegant buildings decorated with gold and silver.
Initially there was an imperial palace on the Acropolis hill, and in the 7th century B.C. large-scale rebuilding began and the foundation of the first and most significant temple, the Parthenon, was laid. It amazes not only by its size, but also by its special layout – you can see it in volume.
But in the XVII century the Parthenon temple and other buildings of the Acropolis were destroyed by the Venetians, who were besieging the Turks hidden on the hill. Only some of the statues of Phidias remained intact, later they were taken to the British Museum.
Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens
Today, visiting the Acropolis of Athens, one can see only ruins and copies of sculptures. Nevertheless, only a few people remain indifferent to what has been preserved from the greatest creation of the ancient Greek ancestors.
If you look at the structure from the side of the central gate, three walls appear simultaneously. The secret is that the Parthenon columns are located at a certain angle to each other, this is due to a number of other interesting architectural features.
And the main decoration of the temple was the statue of Athena, made of ivory and gold. Approximately in the V century BC it was taken to Constantinople, where it was burned during a fire.
No less grandiose is the Erechtheion, built on the site where the legendary dispute between Poseidon and Athena took place. Here, in the sanctuary of Pandora, an olive branch was stored and a spring with sea water flowed. In addition, the temple has the famous sculptures of the Caryatids – six beauties, which replace the columns of the temple, many friezes and preserved in some places mosaics.
Erechtheion in the Acropolis of Athens
The temple of the goddess Nika, whom, according to legend, the Athenians left without wings so that she would not fly away from them and victory would always be theirs, also stands out among the others.
This is a truly legendary place – it was here that Aegeus waited for his son Theseus, and in a fit of unbridled despair jumped into the sea. And very close by is the ancient theater of Dionysus, where Aristophanes and Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides presented their dramas and comedies.
Temple of Niki Aptheros (“Niki without wings”)
In the past, one could enter the Acropolis through a huge gate, the Propylaea, which is a masterpiece of architectural art and was called the “resplendent face of the Acropolis”.
In one of their parts of this gate was placed the world’s first art gallery.
Of course, even the monumental structures of the Acropolis are subject to the influence of time, so everything that can now be seen there has been rather badly destroyed. Even more changed the appearance of the “upper city” numerous destructions and ruins that occurred in different times.
But nevertheless, the Acropolis of Athens amazes us with its elegance, luxury and perfection even in ruins.
The view from afar of the Acropolis at night, it is truly mesmerizing
Architecture of the Acropolis of Athens
Ancient Greece and the Acropolis of Athens are inseparable. And the name of Phidias is also inseparable from them. Some sources indicate that he was in charge of the construction on the hill.
But, in fact, Phidias is rather the main sculptor of the “upper city”, he created most of the statues of the gods. The architecture of the Acropolis of Athens is too multifaceted to belong to a single author. In the planning and construction of buildings, Phidias only served as an advisor to Pericles. With his help, the key features of the Acropolis were defined.
Curiously, envious people could not reconcile with the talent of Phidias in any way. As a result, the sculptor of the Acropolis of Athens was accused of stealing precious materials and sent to prison.
The architects of the Acropolis of Athens, who were responsible for creating temples and other buildings, are not as famous as Phidias. However, their names have also gone down in history. For example, Ictinus is the alleged author of the Parthenon project, and Kallikratis is the construction manager of the Parthenon and the chief architect of the Temple of Athena.
View of the Acropolis in Athens from a hill nearby
How to get to the Acropolis of Athens
The main attraction of the Greek capital is clearly visible from the central areas of the city and from the surrounding hills. Figuring out how to get to the Acropolis in Athens is easy. It all depends on your starting point.
Ways to get to the Acropolis of Athens:
- The fastest and most convenient option is the subway. It covers almost the entire capital and the suburbs. Acropoli station is located on the red line (M2) and comes right after Syntagma station.
- There are other modes of public transportation as well. The “Akropolē” stop is based three minutes from the Acropolis and is reached by bus 230. You can also get off at the “Makrygiannē” stop, through which buses No. 040, 230, A2 and trolleybuses No. 1, 5 and 15 pass. From there it is about 10 minutes walking distance to the desired location.
- The most convenient way to reach the Acropolis on foot is along Dionysiou Areopagitou Street. You should go straight ahead without turning.
- If you drive to the Acropolis by car, it is best to take Rovertou Galli street. In front of Parco Roberto Galli there is a free parking lot. But it is possible to find a free place there only in the early morning, so you need to arrive right at the opening. The rest of the time the parking lot is crowded with tourist buses.
- To get to the Acropolis from Athens Airport, you should first take highway 62, then turn onto highway 6 towards the center of Athens, and then onto highway 64.
- Another affordable way is by cab. In Athens, it is customary to catch a car right on the street. In addition, tourists make extensive use of the online application Uber.
Ticket prices and opening hours of the Acropolis of Athens
You can buy tickets to the Acropolis of Athens online or on the spot. It is worth considering that when buying online you will have to stand in a huge queue. Waiting time in some cases can be more than two hours. Therefore, today most people prefer to plan a visit to the Acropolis in advance, which I recommend you to do as well.
Visiting the Acropolis of Athens is paid – 20 Euros per person. Of course, there are also benefits:
- EU citizens who are granted privileges: pensioners and schoolchildren buy a ticket for half the price – 10 Euros.
- Children up to 5 years old, inclusive – free of charge.
One ticket can be used to enter the Acropolis for 4 days. To see the Museum you need to pay entrance fee. The price is 1 euro.
There are days when you can visit the Acropolis for free:
- Monuments Day – April 18.
- World Environment Day – June 5.
- Mercury Actress Memorial Day.
- The last weekend of September.
The work of the Acropolis in Athens does not depend on the season. It is open for visits daily from 08:00 to 20:00 (last entrance at 19:30), in winter until 17:00, excluding holidays.
It is closed to visitors on Holy Sunday, Christmas Day and the first day of the New Year.
May be useful: See tickets to the Acropolis of Athens online at this link
What to see at the Acropolis of Athens: my impressions of my visit, with short historical notes
The Acropolis of Athens is located 156 meters above sea level and covers almost 3 hectares.
The history of the picturesque Greek ruins is inextricably linked to a man named Pericles, a skillful politician and founding father of Athenian democracy. Under him, Athens reached the highest point of development.
If Pericles had not achieved power in his time, the Acropolis would hardly ever have become such a valuable site, which is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and a number of other significant structures were built in the 5th century B.C. with the help of this ruler.
The sculptures and temples of the Acropolis of Athens remained intact for almost two thousand years, despite constant enemy invasions.
Temples of the Acropolis of Athens
The ancient Acropolis of Athens can hardly be summarized. After all, the history of its creation goes deep into the past. The Parthenon and other temples of the Acropolis appeared much later, after this hill was first occupied by people. It is established that the hill was inhabited as early as the third millennium BC.
Its wide and flat surface was quite suitable for life. In addition, the territory, surrounded on three sides by a cliff, provided security. The surviving documents mention the Acropolis in Athens not just as a settlement, but as a whole city. The mansion of the local ruler was located on the site where the Erechtheion was erected many centuries later.
During the reign of the tyrant Pisistratus (VI century BC) in the Acropolis built a temple of Athena Hecatompedon, which has a length of a hundred steps, and several other sanctuaries. But they did not last long, as they were authorized during the Persian wars.
The restoration of the sanctuaries and the construction of new temples began in 447 BC on the initiative of Pericles. At this point, the history of the Acropolis of Athens reached a climax.
View of the Propylaea from afar
With Pericles came the spirit of democracy. To confirm the changes, the statesman decided to build a majestic temple. The Parthenon was to become the center of Athens. The best artists and sculptors were involved in the construction. Statues and reliefs were made according to the sketches of Phidias.
Pericles wanted to tell how, thanks to the gods and heroes of the past, a new era was born. All the monuments of the Athenian Acropolis, without exception, convey this idea in their external and internal appearance.
The modern reconstruction of the Acropolis of Athens began in 1975 and continues to this day. The Greeks are not trying to return the sights to their former appearance. The purpose of restoration is to remove traces of centuries of decline, eliminate debris, pollution and traces of destruction. The restoration work will eventually affect all the temples of the Acropolis of Athens.
Map diagram of the Acropolis of Athens
Architectural Ensemble of the Acropolis of Athens
The Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the statue of Athena embody true art. The structures of the Athenian Acropolis in their original form formed a single architectural ensemble. Undoubtedly their main creator Pericles had a general plan and drawings of buildings. And the most part of the conceived was embodied.
Any description of the Athenian Acropolis will tell you that the basis of its architectural ensemble was based on a social and political idea. The complex is a memorial that immortalizes the victory of the Greeks over their enemies.
The heroic struggle was identified by the statue of Athena Prochomas (or the statue of Athena the Warrior) holding a spear and helmet. Stylistically, the Ionic and Doric orders are of great importance.
In addition to the unified ensemble of the time of Pericles, the plan of the Athenian Acropolis contains the Odeon of Herodotus Atticus (a theater built in 161 at the southern foot of the hill), the Sanctuary of Zeus, Pandroseion, the Theater of Dionysus, Asklepion and a number of other objects.
Not counting the Odeon, the listed buildings of the Acropolis of Athens are represented only by small fragments of once majestic structures.
Theater of Dionysus
Parthenon
The Parthenon is the main temple of the Acropolis of Athens, an ideal of beauty for ancient Greece. Its construction began in 447 B.C. The main works were completed in 438. In the same year, the building was consecrated. But the external finishing continued for another six years.
The general features of the architectural ensemble of the Athenian Acropolis were reflected on the walls of the Parthenon and in its sculptures.
The Parthenon is not a pantheon at all, as it is sometimes mistakenly called by schoolchildren. The temple is dedicated to only one goddess – the protector of the city Athena.
During the Byzantine era, the Parthenon in the Acropolis of Athens was transformed into a Christian church. During the reign of the Franks it became a Catholic church and during the Turkish occupation it became a mosque.
During the Turkish occupation, the Acropolis suffered the most damage. The Turks stored gunpowder in its structures. Part of the stockpile was in the walls of the Parthenon. In 1687 the Venetian Morosini, besieging the Turks, fired a shell that destroyed most of the temple.
Some of Phidias’ sculptures survived. However, shortly before the Revolution of 1821, the English Lord Elgen bought the surviving statues from the Turks and took them to London.
Interesting features of the Parthenon:
- The temple is erected on a pedestal of 3 steps, the height of which is 1.5 meters. The walls are supported by 2 steps.
- The entrances to the Acropolis and the Parthenon are opposite each other. In order to enter inside the temple, it is required to go around the temple.
- The statue of Athena was located in the eastern part of the Parthenon. The altar was also located there.
- In the western part there was a state archive, and offerings to Athena the Virgin were stored.
- Immediately after the construction of the temple was snow-white. But with time the marble acquired a noble yellow color.
- Parthenon is a block construction. Blocks of marble were fastened with iron bars, and for special strength the connection was filled with lead.
The Parthenon looks perfectly straight, all joints seem to be made at 90 degrees. But this is optical deception. Iktin knew about the peculiarities of the human eye to distort perspective, so there is not a single straight line in the Parthenon:
- To keep the massive building from looking heavy, Iktin placed the stylobate on an elevation.
- In order that the temple did not overhang the visitor, the building was shifted to the east relative to the center of the Acropolis. This gives the effect of a gradual elevation of the building.
- In order not to make the columns seem too fragile, they were made thicker in the middle.
- To make the building not seem heavy, the columns slightly tilted towards the center.
- To give the appearance of solidity, the columns in the corners are much thicker than the others.
- To make the temple seem light, the distance between the columns gradually increased from the edges to the center.
Parthenon of the Acropolis of Athens
Propylaea
The Propylaea or front entrance to the Acropolis is ancient Greek classical architecture at its best. The entrance group began to be built in 436 B.C. The structure is divided into three parts.
A long temple-like structure is placed in the center, and two wings adjoin it on the sides. The left wing is a pinacotheca, which housed paintings donated to Athena.
The propylaea of the Acropolis of Athens were never completed. In 431 BC, the Peloponnesian War broke out and construction was halted. The Athenians managed to resist the Spartans.
But, in 429, a plague epidemic came to the city. Pericles was also infected and soon died. His successors showed no interest in the Propylaea.
Fragment of the front entrance to the Acropolis (Propylaea)
Temple of Athena
This structure is located outside the Acropolis. Earlier, there was a fortified bastion on this place, and in order to make it convenient for soldiers to bring gifts, an altar of Athena Nike was installed here.
In the 6th century BC, instead of the altar, the temple of Athena was built. But after the fall of the city, by order of Xerxes in 480 BC this structure was destroyed.
During the reign of Pericles, the state reached the peak of power. And the restoration of the Acropolis began. The project of the temple of Athena Niki was developed by Kallikratos, and it was approved by the general meeting of the city inhabitants in 449 BC.
It is not known when construction began, but the consecration took place in 421 BC. In 500 years after the construction of the temple suddenly received a new name.
The fault is the mistake of the historian and traveler Pausanias. He mistook the statue of Athena without the usual military attire for the statue of Niki, but without wings.
Pausanias even invented a story that the builders had torn off Niki’s wings on purpose so that victory and good luck would not fly away from them. Naturally, 500 years later there was no one to correct Pausanias. And the accidental name stuck.
The architectural composition of Niki Aptheros is unusual:
- The structure has two facades. One faces the Parthenon, and the other faces the Propylaea.
- The base of the temple is a platform of three steps.
- 3 walls are decorated with images of Athenian battles with Persians, and the fourth wall is a collection of gods watching the battle.
- Athena together with Zeus is depicted in the center. The image of the goddess is unusual: she has removed her helmet and holds it in her hand, with a pomegranate fruit in her other hand.
Temple of Athena Nike
Nika Aptheros was destroyed during the Venetian siege of the fortress. In the 19th century Greece achieved independence. The restoration of the Acropolis began. But the first restoration was carried out without preparation, so the rebuilt building did not correspond much to the original.
In the 20th century, cracks appeared in the foundation. The building was dismantled and the foundation was reinforced. The second restoration was more successful: new fragments were added. The final restoration was carried out at the beginning of the 21st century. Now the temple fully corresponds to the descriptions of historians.
Erechtheion
North of the main temple of the Acropolis, the Parthenon, is a unique structure, the Erechtheion. It is named in honor of the Hellenic king Erechtheion. The creation of the temple is reflected in the legend. Once Poseidon and Athena argued who of them will patronize Hellas.
The main one became the one who brought the most valuable gifts to the inhabitants. Poseidon struck the mountain with his trident and a spring of salt water flowed from the rock. Athena struck the ground with her spear: an olive tree grew instantly. And the gift of the Virgin was the most significant for the Hellenes. The temple was built next to the legendary tree, and the source was inside the building.
The initiator of the creation of Erechtheion was Pericles, but the work was completed after the death of the king.
The project was designed by the architect Mnesicles. He also created the Propylaea, the front entrance to the Acropolis. But not everything went smoothly: the time of the beginning of construction (421 BC) coincided with the war that Athens waged against Sparta.
Finances and labor to ensure the construction was no longer enough. Nevertheless, the work was completed in 406 BC.
Erechtheion and its sculptures
After the consecration, items of significance to the Athenians were moved to the Erechtheion:
- a wooden image of Athena that fell from the sky 1,000 years ago;
- the statue of Hermes brought by Kekrops;
- an unquenchable lamp made of gold.
But the Athenians prayed in the Erechtheion for only 1.5 years: Sparta and its allies, the Persians, won the war. Athens did not regain its power.
Interesting! When the Acropolis was destroyed during the Persian wars, an olive tree given by Athena was burned. But then it grew back in the same place without human intervention.
View of the Erechtheion from the back side
The Erechtheion amazes tourists with its unusual architecture:
- The area where the Erechtheion stands is uneven, so the parts of the temple are at different heights. 3 parts have separate entrances.
- In the eastern one there was a wooden xoan of Athena. Every time, after the end of the Panathenaic Games, women brought a new people to the statue. In return, Athena Polyades guarded the city from the armies of enemies.
- King Erechtheus was buried in the western part, so funerary rosettes are carved above the entrance. Here there are also altars for offerings to Poseidon, Hephaestus and Booth. This part is lower than the eastern part by as much as 3 meters.
- In the western part there is also a portico of Pandrosa, daughter of Kekrops. The caryatids are carved from marble from Mount Pentelikon. Their height is more than 2 meters. Usually caryatids decorated temples dedicated to Artemis. But when planning the Acropolis, such a building was decided not to erect, so an unusual portico was added to the Erechtheion in order to propitiate Artemis.
Until the arrival of Christianity in Athens, the Erechtheion remained active. Then it housed the temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After the arrival of the Crusaders, the palace of the Duke of Athens was built here.
After the conquest of Athens by the Turks, Erechtheion housed a harem. During the Venetian siege, the Erechtheion was damaged by shelling.
And in the 19th century, some of the statues were taken to Great Britain, some were destroyed. Therefore, it is impossible to restore the Erechtheion at the moment.
Theater of Dionysus
The god of wine and merriment was loved by Pisistratus. It was he who ordered that a temple of Dionysus be built on the Acropolis hill. The structure was decorated with a statue of the god made of bone and gold.
Nearby they arranged a platform for ritual dances. It became the beginning of the theater. The theater itself had no walls. The rows of seats rose upward in ascending rows. At the bottom sat the most noble visitors. The names of the audience were embossed on the backs.
The capacity of the theater was impressive: up to 17000 spectators. In Athens at that time lived twice as many people.
At first, the theater was only religious performances, but then began to show and secular plays. Later, the theater became an arena for gladiator fights.
At this time, for the safety of spectators built a marble portico with a metal grille. Now the theater of Dionysus is restored almost to the end.
Funds were allocated from the Greek state budget. Private individuals and institutions also made donations.
Theater of Dionysus
Odeon of Herodes the Attic
This is an ancient theater built by Herodotus Atticus to commemorate his deceased wife. The approximate period of construction: 160-174. There were already 2 odeons in Athens before this.
Features of the construction:
- The inside of the building is made of roughly hewn stone, while the outside is made of perfectly cut Paros marble.
- The rounded auditorium is carved into the rock of the Acropolis hill. The diameter of the hall is 76 meters. It is divided into 2 sectors, each with 32 rows. The chairs are made of white Paros marble.
- The roof is made of Lebanese cedar. It has no internal vertical supports, although its radius is more than 30 meters.
- Lined with slabs of white marble, the orchestra is semicircular.
- The stage wall had 3 levels. The first had 2 entrances, and the second and third had windows and niches for statues.
- In the east the odeon adjoined the stoa of Eumenes.
Archaeological excavations have shown that the odeon was used not only for concerts, but also for gladiatorial fights. The Odeon of Herodotus Atticus was restored in the 19th century. Now it is only accessible on performance days with a pre-purchased ticket.
Odeon of Herodotus Atticus
Practical tips for visiting the Acropolis of Athens
- When to go? The best time is in the morning (8-9 hours) or in the evening, to meet the sunset. At lunchtime there are too many tourists and it is too hot (exception if you will be there from November to March). Opening hours of the complex are from 8.00 to 20.00, time to see the Acropolis is better to lay down without restrictions.
- What to take? I highly recommend you to take water and, of course, a headdress from the sun, put on sunscreen and wear something with long sleeves, so as not to burn. Shoes are better to wear comfortable on a flat sole, but not flip-flops – lightweight sneakers are ideal.
- Download some audio guide or 3d model of the Acropolis on your phone (there is definitely such an application on android, searched by the key acropolis 3d). If you are not a historian, it will help to orient yourself and get a feel for the place. Or take a guide, you won’t regret it.
- It can be very hot in Athens in the summer, and all year round it is warm or moderate, so if you come here in the summer, it is worth knowing that the Acropolis Museum is air-conditioned.
- As for the approximate plan of a one-day visit – it is better to visit the Museum at once. From there, head to the Temple of Zeus and end your walk at Lycavit Hill, also known as the “Balcony of Athens” for its breathtaking view not only of the Acropolis, but also of Athens and the Mediterranean Sea.
Other useful links and interesting information: