Acropolis

Acropolis featuring heritage elements, a ruin and heritage architecture
The crowning glory of Athens is one of the surviving masterpieces of Greece’s Golden Age.

The Acropolis dominates the modern skyline of Athens, reminding visitors of the city’s ancient past at every turn. Its architectural masterpieces date from the 5th century BC, crowned by the elegant columns of the Temple of Athena Nike and the world-famous Parthenon.

No visit to Athens is complete without climbing to the top of the “sacred rock”, especially since the opening in 2009 of the new Acropolis Museum, which has brought a new focus to the site. The award-winning museum houses around 4,000 priceless artifacts found on its slopes and dating from the Bronze Age to the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods. The building itself straddles an important archaeological site, which can be viewed through transparent floor-to-ceiling windows.

The climb to the top of the Acropolis is fairly steep and sensible shoes are recommended, as well as sun protection and a bottle of water. However the view from the summit is well worth the effort. Absorb the atmosphere of an ancient civilisation as you wander among the soaring columns of its sacred temples and theatres and admire the statues of gods and goddesses, kings and mythical beasts.

The original entrance, the Propylaea, was closely guarded to prevent unwelcome visitors from gaining access to the inner sanctuary, and the monumental proportions of this ancient gateway are still daunting even today. From here you are free to explore at will, but be sure to leave time for the most important buildings – the Temple of Athena Nike and the Parthenon, which have been the focus of an ambitious restoration project using the latest technology and employing original techniques and materials to reverse the effects of time and poorly executed past restorations.

Refreshments are available on site, or bring your own and enjoy the views from one of the park benches surrounding the main site. The admission fee covers all the buildings and guided tours are available for an extra charge. Avoid the crowds and the hottest part of the day by arriving early.

Reviews of Acropolis

4.7
Top destination
5 - Excellent
234
" "5 - Excellent 74.52229299363057%
4 - Good
67
" "4 - Good 21.337579617834393%
3 - Okay
11
" "3 - Okay 3.5031847133757963%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
2
" "1 - Terrible 0.6369426751592356%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
20 Oct 2019

A must visit

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
18 Oct 2019

Wear shoes with a good grip

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
14 Oct 2019

A combined ticket costing E30 gives access to the Acropolis and 6 other historic sites - good value.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
5 Oct 2019

Go early in the day to beat the crowds. Also check website, as some days it is free to enter. We didn't know this, but lucky for us when we visited it was free to enter. Take water and wear sensible flat shoes.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
11 Sep 2019

MArble is very slippery so wear sensible shoes! I landed on my jacksie!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
23 Jun 2019

€20 to go to the top, but you can get a nice view walking around..its not as high as you think!

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