The best tips for visiting the Acropolis are to visit early in the morning, travel light, wear appropriate shoes, and have a good guide or book a tour.
Top tips for visiting the Acropolis in Athens:
- Best Times to Visit
- Dress for the Weather
- Know Your Entrances
- What is There to See?
- Is it Worth Taking a Tour?
- See the Museum or Parthenon First?
- Visitors Facilities
When is the Best Time to Visit the Acropolis?
The best time to visit the Acropolis Hill with the Parthenon in Athens is early morning. Late afternoon, or evenings in the summer season, is also a good time but the monument will be busier.
The worst time to visit the Acropolis is late morning to early afternoon. Many day-trip tours visit between 10:00 and 15:00. The Acropolis gets particularly busy when large passenger boats are in port. Cruise ship excursions love the Acropolis and passengers visit in large groups.
The Acropolis site opens daily at 8:00 — buy tickets for the first hour time slot if at all possible. Although all entries are by time-slot reservation, it really gets much busier quickly.
The Acropolis is quieter on weekdays during the colder months. It is busy on most weekends year-round. It is very busy all summer and on holiday long weekends such as Easter and Christmas.
Entry tickets are €10 cheaper from November to March. However, the cooler weather and smaller crowds are an even bigger incentive to visit in these months.
Dress for Open-Air Weather When Visiting the Acropolis
Dress for the weather when visiting the Acropolis Hill. Always wear hiking shoes or sneakers. This is not a site for high heels, sandals, or flip-flops.
The archaeological site with the Parthenon is on a hill in the center of Athens. It is fully exposed to the elements with almost no shade or cover at the top and only a few trees on the way up.
If it rains, strong wind is likely at the top making umbrellas more a hindrance than a help.
The sun can be very fierce, even early morning much of the year. It gets very hot in summer. A lot of stair climbing and uphill walking is required.
Which Entrance is Best for Visiting the Acropolis Hill?
The Acropolis has two entrances:
- The Main West Entrance near the top of the hill is closest to the Propylaea columned ceremonial gate.
- The South or Bottom Entrance is near the Acropolis Museum and metro station.
All Acropolis tickets are valid at both gates and give admission to the same sights. However, the west entrance is closer to the top of the Acropolis Hill. It is usually the choice of bus parties, so security queues may be busier, especially mid to late morning.
The South Entrance is usually quieter and popular with smaller guided tours. From here, visitors hike uphill along the southern slopes via the Theater of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus to join the visitors from the main entrance just below the Temple of Athena Nike.
Visitors entering through the main gate may see these sights on the Southern Slope after visiting the top of the Acropolis. Turn left after passing through the Propylaea but before exiting through the turnstile gates. (Once out, re-entry is not allowed at all.)
This access to the southern slopes closes around 40 minutes before the official closing time, so it is not an exit option in the late afternoon.
Which gate is the best? It doesn’t really matter much, especially early morning. Generally, simply pick the easiest to get to but security queues at the main gate are usually longer from around 10:00 to 15:00.
I personally prefer entering south and exiting main (and on to the free view from the Arios Pagos Hill). Even if having to backtrack to the south to reach the Museum or metro station, the walk along the outside perimeter is easier, or walk around the northside and through Anafiotika and the old town area for an interesting alternative.
What is Seen at the Acropolis Archaeological Site in Athens?
All Acropolis tickets give access to all sights at the archaeological site. Truth be told, there is surprisingly little to see at the Acropolis Hill but it includes some of the most important architectural achievements in human history.
On the top of the Acropolis Hill, which is surrounded by a wall with access through the pillared ceremonial Propylaea Gate: the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion with Caryatids (female sculptures) as columns, the incredible Parthenon Temple, and a marvelous view of Athens city, the surrounding countryside, and weather depending ships at sea. Sculptures are copies — the originals are mostly in the Acropolis Museum and British Museum (in London).
On the southern slopes: the Theatre of Dionysus, the Asklepieion, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
Visitors get close to the temples but may not actually enter any structures, except when visiting a concert in the restored Odeon in summer. Don’t touch any marble anywhere.
The old museum on the hill behind the Parthenon has been closed for years. The new modern Acropolis Museum near the metro station is a completely separate venue with different tickets and opening hours.
Is It Worth Taking a Guided Tour of the Acropolis?
Is it worth taking a guided tour of the Acropolis? Yes, absolutely. If taking only one guided tour in Athens, make it the Acropolis. It is hard to fully comprehend the site and its role in Athenian history and Greek mythology without a live guide.
However, tours are not that cheap. As an alternative, study a comprehensive guidebook before or use an audio guide. Download free PDF guides from the Hellenic Heritage site for many sights from the Get Your Guide links (not to confuse with the well-respected GetYourGuide tickets and tours company). These PDF guides often have very clear maps of the sites.
Consider a combination tour of both the Acropolis Hill and the Museum to save time and money — two tours will repeat much of the information. If taking only one tour, make it the Acropolis Hill and visit the museum afterward.
→ See also How to Buy Tickets or Book Tours for the Acropolis — very early morning tours are highly recommended.
Should I Visit the Acropolis Hill or the Museum First?
The more prior knowledge you have of the Acropolis, and especially the Parthenon, the less difference it makes which site is visited first. If taking a guided tour, I would opt for the Acropolis Hill first.
Otherwise, it might be better to see the museum with the original sculptures and many casts first. On the whole, it is sensible to acquire some knowledge of the Acropolis before visiting the site. The information boards are not that comprehensive or able to explain the broader picture.
→ See also Top Tips for Visiting the Acropolis Museum.
Visitors’ Facilities at the Acropolis
Facilities for visitors at the Acropolis are very limited.
It is not allowed to eat or drink anything inside the whole site other than plain water. Take water as it gets very hot on the hill. Don’t have too much food in a backpack and don’t carry any food openly.
There are no restaurants or kiosks inside the complex except for a vending machine near the main exit (close to the entrance) selling water for a surprisingly reasonable 50c for 500 ml. There should be working drinking fountains at the top of the hill.
Toilets are available at the old museum (now closed) near the Parthenon and outside the west entrance.
Only small day-trip backpacks are allowed inside the complex. Strollers are not allowed and may be left near the west entrance. Leave luggage and big bags at the hotel or book luggage storage online.
Wheelchair access is through the main entrance with an elevator available to the top. Use of the elevator is strictly limited.
Visiting the Acropolis requires a lot of uphill walking and stairs. Be careful at the top of the hill. The concrete walkways near the Parthenon have some holes and indentations to show the original rock surfaces. It is anyone’s guess how many ankles were sprained or broken when visitors failed to see the unevenness while admiring the architecture and walking in large groups. Some of the rocks are even slippery in dry weather.
How Long Does Visiting the Acropolis Hill Take?
Visitors generally spend 90 minutes to two hours at the Acropolis. Some tour groups rush through in under an hour, especially as most do not visit the sights on the southern slopes. At quiet times, walking up from the south entrance at a moderate pace, circling the Parthenon, and exiting through the main gate can be done in under 40 minutes if not stopping to take photos.
From the south entrance, it takes about 20 minutes to the top. Most visitors will take 30 to 40 minutes to stop en route at sights. From the main entrance, it takes about ten minutes to the Parthenon.
On crowded days, it can take 15 minutes just to pass through the Propylaea — it can be done in a minute without stopping early morning.
Best Views of the Acropolis
Acropolis simply means the fortified area of a hill. There are many acropoleis in Greece but the one in Athens is, of course, the Acropolis. A city on a hill can’t be hidden and strict building laws in Athens ensure that the views of the Acropolis and Parthenon remain unrestricted from many parts, hotels, rooftop restaurants, and apartments in the city.
You need to enter the Acropolis Hill to see the special architectural techniques used to make the Parthenon appear straight but the views from afar are very good too.
Probably the best views of the Acropolis are from Mars Hill (Arios Pagos) right across from the main entrance and the Propylaea Gate. Admission is free and it gets busy, especially at sunset. It is allowed to leave the paths but the rocks are very slippery even when dry.
The views from any other hill in Athens could be even better but only when using binoculars.
Unobtrusive views of the Acropolis are also very good from the Acropolis Museum’s upper floors, especially the outdoor veranda of the restaurant, and from the Ancient Agora, the Roman Forum, and the Olympieion (Temple of Zeus / Hadrian’s Gate).
→ See also How to Buy Tickets or Book Tours for the Acropolis — very early morning tours are highly recommended.
More on Visiting Athens
- Acropolis & Parthenon:
- Acropolis Museum
- Ancient Agora — Archaeological Site and Museum
- 5-Day Combination Tickets — Worth it?
- Cheap Public Transportation to Athens Airport — Bus X95 is cheapest, Metro M3 is fastest.
- Odysseus — the official website of the Ministry of Culture and Sports has better information than the very old-fashioned design.
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