Athens, the capital of Greece, the place where Democracy was born. The city has a long civilization with buildings dating back to 1500 years. The most important landmark is the Acropolis of Athens, an ancient Greek monumental complex built in the 5th century BC.
Located on a hilltop at a height of 156m, the Acropolis consists of many ancient structures that hold architectural importance in history.
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The complex was built as a result of the Athenians’ victory over the Persians. Several skillful architects and sculptors converted the hill to an incredible monument. The main attractions in the Acropolis of Athens are the Propylaea, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the temple of Athena.
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How to reach the Acropolis
Take the Metro line M2 and get down in ‘Acropoli’
Entrance fee
- April 1 – 31 October: 20 €
- November 1 – 31 March: 10 €
Opening times: 8.00 – 20.00. The queue was long. Never have I waited an hour to enter any attraction.
Free entrance to all visitors on the following dates
- March 6 – Memory of Melina Mercouri
- April 18 – International Monument Day
- May 18 – International museum day
Free entry for students
Any student with a valid student card has a free entrance year-round. This includes every single archaeological site in Athens. Incredible, isn’t it?
Combined ticket
If your vacation in Athens is long, try the combined ticket (30 €). It is valid for 4 days and offers entry to all archaeological sites. Buying tickets individually will end up ~ 64€ in summer. So get your maths right and save few bucks. The best part is to skip the long waiting lines at the ticket counter.
Visit Odysseus to know more info about the tickets and prices.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Completed in 161 AD, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a Roman theatre. It’s one of the oldest open-air theatres; an iconic landmark in the Acropolis hill. The theatre is now used to host annual festivals with a 4,500 capacity. This is one of the first landmarks on your way to the Acropolis hilltop. White marble benches and mosaic floors make it a special attraction.
Acropolis of Athens
1. The Propylaea
This is the monumental gateway for the Acropolis. Get amazed by the grand entrance. Built by the Athenian architect Mnesicles, the Propylaea has many Doric columns but only 6 of them remain today. On the left side is the Pinakotheke, which was used as a banquet hall and later as a painting gallery.
2. The Parthenon
The Parthenon is Acropolis’s most famous architecture. Designed in an impressive way, all the columns appear in straight lines. But they are titled inwards by 6cm whereas the steps incline 12cm. This creates entasis, an optical illusion. The combination of mathematics and perfect craftsmanship makes them appear normal. The white marble columns are the reasons why the Parthenon appear the same today as when they were built.
3. The Erechtheion
Standing tall on the northern side of the Acropolis, the Erechtheion’s completion was in 395 BC due to the Peloponnese Wars. Inside there is a church, a palace, and a harem. The 2m high status supporting the roof is the striking feature of the Erechtheion. These are ‘Caryatids’, a female figure supporting the structure.
4. The old temple of Athena
Built around 5th century BC, the temple is dedicated to Athena Polias, a goddess of wisdom and skills. Persians destroyed it in 480 BC. In the 19th century, scholars researched the temple ruins and rebuilt.
Acropolis Viewing Point
You are on a hilltop and by now, you must be craving for a viewpoint. At the far eastern end of the hill lies the Acropolis viewpoint. It gives you a spectacular view of Athens and a great place to see the sunset.
Flower scam
The base of Acropolis has women who give you flowers and say, ‘It’s free, please accept my gift’. Then they come after you demanding euros. This is a common scam in Europe. we witnessed it in Venice too.
My experience
It was a bright and sunny day, never felt like November weather. Take loads of water as there are no shops nearby. We had studied about Athens and its history only in the books. So the Acropolis of Athens was a bigger dream come true. Visit the Acropolis in the early morning to avoid tourists.
Overall experience: 
out of 5
Time of visit: November 2018
“I want to see the Parthenon by moonlight” – Daphne Du Maurier