Athens · the rock of the Parthenon, the Propylaea and the Erechtheion
Acropolis of Athens: tickets, hours and what to see
One rock, its temples and a view over the whole city. Here is how to choose your ticket, when to go and how to arrive.
Today
Opening hours for every month are on the Opening hours page.
Checked against the official website on 31 October 2026 · Official source
In short
- You enter the Acropolis in a time slot. You choose the day and the hour when you book, and the ticket is valid only then. The site is open every day, from 8:00 until closing time, which goes from 17:00 in winter to 20:00 in summer. Last entry is 20 minutes before closing.
- Plan at least one hour on the rock, or two if you like history or photography. The paths are open and there is little shade, so in summer go early in the morning. In extreme heat the site can close during the hottest hours.
- Large luggage, food and professional photo or film shoots are not allowed. You can change a time slot up to two hours before the visit, twice at most, and the ticket is not refundable.
- Short on time? The entry ticket with the digital guide is enough. Want to know what you are looking at? Choose a guided tour. Planning a full day? Add the Acropolis Museum, which keeps the original sculptures.
The Propylaea and the Temple of Athena Nike: the way in
You climb the steps and walk through the Propylaea, the monumental gateway of the rock, built from 437 BC. On a bastion beside it stands the small Temple of Athena Nike.
From here you get your first view of the Parthenon.
The Parthenon: the temple you came for
The Parthenon was built between 447 and 432 BC for the goddess Athena. You see the Doric columns up close, along with the scaffolding of the restoration work, which began on the rock in 1975 and goes on.
Stay a moment on the long side, where the columns line up one behind the other: it is the view you will want to photograph.
The Erechtheion and the Caryatids
North of the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, built between 421 and 406 BC, has a porch held up by six marble maidens, the Caryatids. The ones you see on the porch are copies. The originals are in the Acropolis Museum, except one, which is in London.
Walk around the temple before you move on.