The Acropolis is one of the most significant monuments of the ancient Greek world, rising impressively on the heights of ancient Athens. This stunning architectural masterpiece and historical site symbolizes the outstanding culture of ancient Greece and democracy.

It was not only a religious sanctuary but also the pinnacle of ancient Greek art and architecture, decorated with works by famous sculptors and architects.

The Acropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Millions of visitors arrive here every year to admire the legacy of ancient Greek art and culture.

I was here on a Saturday in the autumn of 2023. There was a huge crowd everywhere! Expect a queue at the entrance. Afterwards you’d think everything was ok, but no! There will be another queue before the road to the top, then a trudge up the narrow road. And on the way down, there’s also a long queue, because in some places you can only go slowly in single file. It took me about 40 minutes to get out of the area.
Preferably go in the early morning, as queuing in the heat can be very stressful for many!

You can read a photo report of my trip to Athens here!

History of the Acropolis

Construction work began in the 5th century BC to transform the Acropolis into a citadel after the Persians were defeated by the Athenians led by Pericles in 452 BC. In their victorious mood, the Greeks began massive construction projects. The costs were covered by tribute from the Delian League, which sparked fierce protests in the assembly. The assembly chose Pericles as the leader of the planned construction, manager and supervisor of all work, while Pheidias became the director of artistic execution — Pericles placed the Acropolis at the center of the city’s reconstruction, but only the Propylaea and the Parthenon were completed during his lifetime. The latter’s construction began between 447 and 438 BC.

It remained relatively intact until the end of the 18th century, despite the fact that from the 4th century the Parthenon was used as a Christian church, and from 1458 the Turks used it as a mosque. In 1687, Venice besieged the Turks, and on September 26, General Francesco Morosini’s cannonball hit the powder magazine placed in the Parthenon, causing the stored gunpowder to explode. Three hundred women and children died in the explosion. The explosion blew apart the long sides of the Parthenon, and after the subsequent two-day fire, the building remained in the skeletal state visible today.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Lord Elgin, the British ambassador, with Turkish permission, removed several statues and reliefs from the building and transported them to London, where they can still be seen in the British Museum today. The restoration of the Acropolis began in the 19th century after Greece’s liberation.

Major excavations took place between 1876-1885 commissioned by the Greek Archaeological Society, but the restoration and examination of the buildings has not been completed to this day.

Buildings of the Acropolis

The complex consists of more than 20 parts, some of which are now only remains.

Parthenon

The Parthenon is the most famous and prominent building on the Acropolis. This Doric-style temple was built in the 5th century BC in honor of goddess Athena. In 1209 it was converted into a Christian church, and in the 15th century into a mosque. Later it was used as a powder magazine.

The temple is Doric in style from the outside, made of yellowish, veined Pentelic marble. The precision of classical era architecture can be observed in every detail of its design. The building’s 70-meter-long and 31-meter-wide foundation is not perfectly square, but slightly curved toward the corners, the columns lean inward, while the pediment slightly leans outward. The temple has eight Doric columns on its shorter sides and seventeen on its longer sides.

Erechtheion

The Erechtheion is another important temple of the Acropolis, built in the 5th century. The building uses a mixture of Doric and Ionic columns and was dedicated to Athena and Poseidon.

This extremely graceful Attic Ionic style building was constructed between 421 and 406 BC, though it was never completed due to Athens’ defeat by Sparta. Its designer is unknown. It was probably the site of legendary King Erechtheus’s tomb, after whom the building was named.

The Erechtheion consists of several parts. Its center is a temple that housed the wooden statue of the goddess. Two porches are attached to this central building on both sides. The most famous of these is the southern porch, whose columns are in the form of draped maidens.

Propylaea

The Propylaea is the entrance hall at the main entrance of the Acropolis. It was built between 437 and 432 BC based on plans by Mnesicles.

Its style, conforming to the Parthenon, shows the form of a Doric temple from the outside with its column row crowned by a tympanum. On the western facade, there are two protruding wings on either side of the entrance, making the Propylaea look more like a palace than a gate. Its representative nature is evidenced by the fact that it was built from valuable building materials, white Pentelic and bluish-black Eleusinian marble.

Nike Apteros

Located at the corner of the Acropolis. This building symbolizes victory and triumph. It served as a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Nike and once housed the statue of the goddess. Today, a copy of the original statue stands in its place.

Theater of Dionysus

It could accommodate about 17,000 spectators. The theater was built into the hillside, and thanks to its unique acoustics, sounds carried well throughout the auditorium.

The Theater of Dionysus was a prominent venue for ancient Greek drama performances, where works by famous playwrights such as Sophocles and Euripides were presented. It has been renovated and modified several times over the centuries.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

The building was constructed by a wealthy Greek-Roman citizen and patron named Herodes Atticus in 161 AD in honor of his wife at the time, Regilla.

The theater is a semicircular amphitheater that can accommodate about 5,000 spectators. The theater buildings were partly made of marble, and the Doric columns on its side and the high walls were built in beautiful Roman style.

It is famous for its excellent acoustics. It is still regularly used as a venue for cultural events, concerts, and performances, especially during the summer months.

Additional parts

• foundations of the old Temple of Athena
• foundations of the statue of Athena Promachos
• remains of the sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia
• Chalkotheke: „bronze storage,” ruins of a hall and armory for storing votive offerings to the goddess
• Pandrosion: sanctuary of Pandrosus (daughter of Cecrops)
• altar of Athena Polias (City-protecting Athena)
• sanctuary of Zeus Polieus (Zeus, patron of the city)
• sanctuary of King Pandion
• sanctuary of Aegeus
• remains of the Stoa of Eumenes on the lower terrace
• sanctuary of Asclepius
• Theater of Pericles
• Temple of Dionysus Eleuthereus
• Aglaureion: remains of the temple of Aglaurus (another daughter of Cecrops)
• Beule Gate: was part of a city wall
• sanctuary of Athena Ergane (Athena, goddess of crafts/arts)
• Pelasgic wall

Visiting the Acropolis

It’s essential to buy tickets online, as it’s almost impossible to do so on site. Do this on the official website!

You need to select a one-hour time slot within the day. Entry is possible 15 minutes before and after the start and end times. So, for example, if we bought a ticket for the 10:00-11:00 time slot, we can enter between 9:45 and 11:15!

In extreme weather conditions, extraordinary closures may be ordered, which has already happened during summer heat waves! It’s advisable not to plan Athens trips during the summer months.

The Acropolis is the most visited site in Athens, so it’s not surprising that large crowds can be expected during certain periods. Generally, the highest visitor numbers are experienced during the following periods:

• Summer season (June-August): this is when most people visit, as many tourists travel during this period. During this time, longer queues and crowding may occur.
• Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-October): these periods are attractive to visitors due to the milder weather. Spring and autumn can be cooler than summer, and fewer tourists are at the Acropolis, which can make for a more pleasant experience for visitors.
• Around Easter: during this time, popular celebrations and events take place around Athens and the Acropolis. Many local and foreign visitors come to the Acropolis during this time to participate in the celebrations and other cultural events.
• Weekends and holidays: Athenians also frequently visit the Acropolis on weekends and holidays. Visitor numbers may increase during these times, especially around holidays such as the Athens Festival, named after the city of Athens.

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I flew to Athens with Volotea; this was the last flight that day. The plane landed after half past eleven, and at that late hour, you can only get to the city center by bus (besides a taxi), as the metro does not operate at night.

You can buy a ticket at a booth next to the airport exit, unfortunately, there are no machines. Therefore, the line is quite long. The X95 bus goes to Syntagma Square (operating day and night) and stops at several places. You need to touch the ticket to the sensor on the bus to validate it.

I booked my accommodation in the city center, which in one aspect was not a good idea. The weekend downtown is very similar to the party district in Budapest. There are bars, restaurants, pubs, and lots of people at every turn. So, Athens is quite a party city.

Luggage storage

Saturday morning, my first trip was to a luggage storage so that I wouldn’t have to carry my bag all day. There are several of these in the city center, and I chose this one.

It’s a few minutes from Syntagma Square and completely automatic. You can choose from several sizes of storage units. Initially, you only have to pay 1 euro, and the rest when you open it. (It was 4 euros for the whole day.) It’s very simple to use, and I can definitely recommend it.

Acropolis

I bought the ticket in advance online on the official website. You can buy them in hourly slots, and you can enter during this period.

The entrance is on the western side of the area. There is a huge crowd even at the entrance. Right away, you can see the Herodes Atticus Theatre below to the right. Then there’s more waiting, as you can only go up to the rocky ridge step by step and in turns.

It is indeed worth coming here. The buildings, remains, and the view are really worth it. You can see every part of the city.

However, the descent to the exit is the worst. The line is incredibly long, as you have to go down the same narrow staircase as you went up. So, the crowd moves very slowly. It took me about 40 minutes. Fortunately, it wasn’t very hot, but the wait was still tiring.

Opposite the entrance is the Areopagus hill, from where you have a good view of the northwestern part of the city. The striped church of Agia Marina can be seen very closely.

Panathenaic Stadium

I walked to the marble-built stadium, intending to see the Temple of Zeus on the way. However, from the outside, it was apparent that it was completely scaffolded, so I didn’t buy a ticket for that.

The stadium, however, is impressive even from the outside. It’s huge, and it doesn’t take just a few minutes to enter. You can buy a ticket on site.

National Garden and Presidential Palace

From the stadium, I walked through this park towards the city center. The park is noisy with parrots, a great walking experience in the middle of the city.

On the eastern side of the park is the Presidential Palace, where there was a changing of the guard happening. The evzones, or guards, put on a several minutes long „show” which is quite interesting. It’s like watching a slow-motion recording. 🙂

National Archaeological Museum

I also bought my ticket online in advance, the same place as for the Acropolis. You can buy them in two-hour slots, during which you can enter the museum.

You can see a repository of ancient Greek artworks. There are lots of artifacts, statues, and creations on display; I spent almost two hours here. The museum is a real treat for those who love ancient arts.

Lycabettus hill

After the museum, I walked to the highest point in the downtown area. You can also go up by funicular, but since it goes through a tunnel, there is no view on the way.

A serpentine path leads up, and you can reach the top in about 15 minutes at a comfortable pace. The view is beautiful even on the way up, but of course, it’s best from the top. The Acropolis rising above the city center and the sea behind it offer a great panorama.

Old town and Syntagma

The Greek parliament is located here. There is a changing of the guard every hour, which is a several minutes long show. It’s crowded with tourists, and it’s worth seeing at least once.

Then I went to the old town, walked through a few pedestrian streets, and rested at the main square, Monastiraki Square.

Beside the square is Hadrian’s Library, the ruins of an ancient Roman library, and the Roman Agora. Both require an entrance fee, but the area is well visible from the outside.

Agora

A few minutes from the square is the large area of the Greek Agora, which I visited last.

Its most famous building, visible from the Acropolis, is the Hephaisteion. This ancient Doric-style temple is one of the best-preserved Greek monuments of its kind.

But it’s also worth spending time at the Stoa of Attalos on the eastern side. The two-story building is beautiful in itself, and the view of the entire area is also impressive.

Back to the airport

I got on the Line 3 metro at Syntagma Square, which goes to the airport. You can buy tickets from machines, this is the Ath.ena ticket. You need to buy a specific airport ticket, which was 9 euros.

However, not every machine offers ticket purchasing, only top-ups. This is not marked separately, so if there’s no ticket purchase option at a machine, go to another one.

In summary

I read in several places that Athens is dirty and quite chaotic. Well, I didn’t experience that. I found it to be a particularly pleasant city, full of ancient Greek relics. I absolutely recommend it for a few days’ trip.

In terms of prices, I didn’t notice a big difference, maybe the restaurant parts are a bit more expensive. However, expect similar prices in shops as at home.

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The city is named after Athena, the ancient Greek goddess who protected the city. During the golden age of ancient Greek civilization in the 1st millennium BC, Athens was Greece’s most important city and a wealthy, intellectual center worldwide. Known as the cradle of democracy,

it unfortunately declined under Byzantine and then Ottoman rule. By the 17th century, Athens was almost deserted, and the monuments were in poor condition. The large-scale reconstruction that began in the 19th century is why we can see many of the ancient monuments today.

I was in Athens in 2023, here is a travelogue!

Athens attractions

Acropolis

The most famous complex of ancient Greek history, a symbol of European civilization and democracy. Several buildings compose the Acropolis on the blue-gray limestone rock.

The Parthenon, or Temple of the Virgin Pallas Athena, is visible from afar. Built in the 5th century BC in Doric order and peripteral arrangement with octostyle facades, it has eight columns on the shorter side and seventeen on the longer sides.

Another significant structure is the Herodes Atticus Theatre. Built in AD 161 by Herodes Atticus in memory of his Roman wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla, it was used for musical concerts and could accommodate 5,000 people.

In addition, over 20 structures form the Acropolis, like the foundations of the old Athena Temple, Erechtheion, and Temple of Athena Nike.

You can buy tickets online here!

The Acropolis of Athens – The peak of Ancient Greek art

Agora

Northwest of the Acropolis, this area served as a marketplace and sanctuary from 600 BC and was the center of the city’s political life.

With theaters, schools, and colonnaded shop arcades, the Agora was also the social and commercial center, where silver coins used in Athens were minted.

The best-preserved building is the Hephaisteion Temple on the western part of the Agora, also known as Théseion due to its Doric metopes depicting the heroics of Theseus. The building, about 10 meters tall from the base to the cornice, is 32 meters long and 13.7 meters wide.

The eastern side of the area is enclosed by the Stoa of Attalos, originally built in the 2nd century BC by Attalos II. The current building, finished in the 1950s, functions as a museum.

Roman Agora

This marketplace is smaller than the aforementioned Greek Agora. After the Roman conquest in the 2nd century BC, it became the main commercial venue.

Several buildings have been excavated: the octagonal Tower of the Winds, the Gate of Athena Archegitis, and the Eastern Propylon.

Temple of Zeus

It was the largest temple in ancient Greece and one of the largest sanctuaries in the ancient world.

Construction began over 2500 years ago and was only completed in AD 130, under Roman Emperor Hadrian. The cella housed a statue of Zeus in gold and ivory and a large statue of Hadrian. However, it was looted by barbarians in the 3rd century and has since been in decline.

Originally, the building was 110 meters long and 43 meters wide with 104 colossal columns, but today only 16 remain. Even so, it remains an important site in Greek archaeology.

Arch of Hadrian

Located northwest of the Temple of Zeus, this arch resembles a Roman triumphal arch.

The arch is 18 meters high, 13.5 meters wide, and completely symmetrical. Although smaller than famous triumphal arches, it’s worth a stop for a photo.

Panathenaic Stadium

One of Athens’ most beautiful sights, this is the world’s only stadium entirely built of marble.

The original stadium, constructed around 330 BC, was rebuilt by Herodes Atticus, a Roman senator from Athens, in AD 144. It could hold 50,000 people.

Falling into disuse with the spread of Christianity, it was renovated in the 19th century and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

It was also a venue for the 2004 Olympics and hosts concerts.

National Garden

Located north of the Temple of Zeus, this 16-hectare garden is one of Athens’ most popular relaxation spots.

Created between 1838 and 1840 by order of Queen Amalia, Greece’s first queen, it was initially not open to the public but has been functioning as a public park since 1975.

Syntagma Square

One of Athens’ main squares, where metro lines 2 and 3 intersect.

The square is famous for the Greek presidential guard, the Evzones, who stand motionless in traditional Greek uniforms. Their hourly guard-changing ceremony is a major Athens attraction.

Monastiraki Square

The main square in the old town, it’s one of Athens’ primary shopping districts.

The square’s main attractions include the Byzantine-style Pantanassa church, one of the city’s oldest, possibly dating back to the 10th century.

Another beautiful building is the Tzisdarakis Ottoman Mosque, now a ceramics museum, located on the southern corner.

Hadrian’s Library

Just steps from Monastiraki Square, this ancient structure was built by Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD 132.

The library was not just for storing books; it also served as a cultural and educational center where lectures and debates were held. Impressive in size and elegant in architectural style, it included large reading rooms, courtyards, and numerous decorated columns.

Today, only the ruins of the library remain, offering a stunning glimpse into the architectural and cultural grandeur of ancient Rome.

Agia Marina Church

Built in 1931, this church stands on the northwestern slope of Nymph’s Hill.

With striped walls and striking domes, its style is influenced by Art Nouveau. Interestingly, the current building incorporates a natural 13th-century cave church that once served as a baptistery.

Theatre of Dionysus

Located under the south slope of the Acropolis, this is one of the most famous open-air theaters.

Named after the god Dionysus, it could seat up to 25,000 people. It fell into disuse during the Byzantine era and was unearthed and restored in the 19th century.

Lycabettus Hill

Located a few hundred meters from the city center, this hill offers stunning views of Athens.

A cable car runs to the top, where visitors can find the Chapel of St. George, a theater, and a restaurant. The hill is particularly popular at sunset for its 360-degree panoramic view.

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