The Acropolis of Athens, Greece! Just the name conjures images of myths and legends, gods and goddesses and an ancient, but impressively advanced civilization.
Located in the capital of Greece, the Athens Acropolis is one of the most iconic destinations in Europe, and possibly the most important monument of the history of Western civilization.
4,000 years ago, Ancient Greek Culture formed the birthplace of Western civilization producing many advancements in areas of science, philosophy and the arts that still influence our lives and sowed the seeds for modern democracy.
The Acropolis is an over 2,500 year old crumbling monument that has rested imposingly up on the hill since the 5th century BC when the oracle of Delphi declared that the hill should be the province of the gods.
The main building and focal point of the eternal Acropolis, the Parthenon is the crown in a long list of spectacular Ancient Greek architectural achievements. Even if you’re not interested in history the Acropolis is worth the hike up just to take in the majestic aerial views over the city of Athens.
Tips for Visiting the Acropolis
Over 1 million people come to Athens every year to visit the Acropolis and bask in the timeless majesty of ancient Greece. As with all famous attractions, you really can’t expect to have the Acropolis it all to yourself, and visiting requires a bit of preparation to have the best experience. So here are my best tips for visiting the Acropolis to beat the crowds.
Go Early
The gates to the Acropolis open at 8am. To enjoy your Acropolis experience the most try to be there as soon as it opens to avoid the queues, the worst of the heat, and the seething mass of cruise ship and coach tourists that descend en masse on the ancient monument.
You can skip the queue entirely by booking an early morning guided tour with entry tickets included. The best Acropolis tours also include a guided visit to either the Parthenon or Athens Old Town.
If you are traveling to Athens solo then joining a group tour or staying at a sociable backpacker hostel near the Acropolis like City Circus or Athens Hub Hostel is a great way to make friends to explore the city with.
Come Prepared
Protect yourself from the heat, it’s quite a long climb up the hill and there’s not much shade, space to rest or places to buy water. Take a hat and sunscreen as protection from the sun and plenty of water, only water though because they will not allow other drinks inside for some reason. Also, wear decent shoes as there can be slippery surfaces.
Do Your Research
Brushing up on your background knowledge of this significant monument and civilization before visiting will really enhance your visit. As awe inspiring as it is to stand in the shadow of the mighty Acropolis overlooking the view of Athens, there is not much left of this crumbling ancient monument.
To bring the history, significance and culture of the site to life take a guided tour and visit the excellent New Acropolis Museum at the foot of the hill first. The excellent displays explain the importance of the building and the culture and religious beliefs that it represents.
Most of the surviving statues from the Acropolis have been moved to the museum. For an deeper understanding and a great overview of Greek history in more detail a visit the National Archaeological Museum is also worthwhile.
Explore more than the Acropolis
Athens has a lot more to offer than just the Acropolis . A combined ticket pass also includes entrance into 5 other historical sites, including the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Keramikos, Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Theatre of Dionysos so make the most of it by visiting the other historic sites too.
It’s really worth spending more time in Athens and making use of your ticket as most of the other sights are sparsely populated by tourists, unlike the tourist mania found at the Parthenon and Acropolis hill.
Exploring these other places will give you the peace and serenity to really appreciate these ancient wonders, imagine them alive with ancient but sophisticatedly advanced people, and ponder the impressive feats of the ancient Greeks.
Athens is pretty safe, even for solo female travellers, so don’t be afraid to wander of the beaten track to escape the crowds of tourists at the Acropolis and see more of Athens.
Admire the View
Escape the bustle of the city and get a great view point of the Acropolis hill by ascending one of Athens hills. Filopappou Hill offers the best photo vantage points of the Acropolis and is a pleasant place to hang out while Lyksvittos Hill has a funicular railway, a cute church perched on top and also offers great panoramas of Athens.
Catch a Play
In the shadow of the Acropolis and overlooking the twinkling lights of the city of Athens, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus has to be one of the world’s most historical and atmospheric venues to see a performance.
During the Hellenic and Athens festival performances are held at the historic theatre on Friday and Saturday nights in June, July and August and you can get tickets online in advance.
Bring Your Student Card
If you have a student card from an institution in the EU make sure you bring it with you to Greece. You can get free entry to many historical sites, museums and attractions all over Greece, including free entry to the Acropolis, the New Acropolis Museum and National Archaeological Museum saving up to 45 Euros over the 3 sites.
Often though, the less well known sights can actually be more enjoyable than the famous and crowded tourist attractions. While the Acropolis is certainly an impressive place that is well worth visiting, especially if you go early in the morning, but there’s much more to enjoy in Athens too.
I hope you found my tips for visiting the Acropolis useful – Remember that there is a lot more to see in Athens and around Greece. I’ve written guides to the beautiful Greek islands of Crete and Skiathos if you’re interested in seeing more of the country. Greece is also a fantastic place to relax and unwind on a yoga retreat. It’s a place I love to visit and keep coming back time and time again. I hope you love it too.
4 comments
I agree. Acropolis is definitely worth a visit, but the crowd and heat can get on the nerves sometimes. I also agree that Athens is so much more than just Acropolis, Kerameikos is definitely an interesting visit for us, as is the much less crowded Ancient Agora. But my favorite site in Athens has got to be Plaka with its lush gardens. I love Plaka!
Thanks Andrew, glad you liked the post – yes everyone should see the Acropolis but there’s so much more to explore a bit more off the beaten track in Athens. Thanks for sharing your tips 🙂
Great article!! Can’t wait to go to Athens again 🙂
I liked the Acropolis very much, but it’s best to combine sightseeing with the Acropolis Museum. This way you can get to know this place better.