{"id":71410,"date":"2021-09-03T07:08:58","date_gmt":"2021-09-03T07:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.headout.com\/blog\/?p=71410"},"modified":"2025-03-29T23:55:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T19:55:50","slug":"acropolis-athens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.headout.com\/blog\/acropolis-athens\/","title":{"rendered":"A guide to visiting the colossal Acropolis ruins of Athens"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Acropolis<\/a> of Athens sits atop a craggy hill, preserving what\u2019s left of the 2500-year-old city dedicated to Athena, the Greek Goddess of War. The ancient ruins fill you with the nostalgia of the movies, books, and history classes about early Greece. The highlight is the famous Parthenon temple, whose tall distinctive columns have left a mark on modern architecture. Find out everything you need to know about the Acropolis of Athens before you plan a time-traveling trip to the archaic Greek city.<\/p>\n

Essentials<\/h2>\n

\"St<\/span>\"Vatican<\/span>\"Sistine<\/span><\/p>\n

Know Before You Go<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udccd Best Entrance:<\/td>\nDionysus Theater entrance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u23f0 Suggested Duration:<\/td>\n 4 to 6 Hours <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2600\ufe0f Best Time to Visit:<\/td>\nEarly morning<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud83d\udc9c Must See:<\/td>\nParthenon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f Acropolis Entry Ticket:<\/td>\n\u20ac12<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud83d\ude87 Closest Subway:<\/td>\n Acropolis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Opening Hours<\/h4>\n

The Acropolis is open daily from 8 am to sunset. <\/p>\n

Top Sights<\/h4>\n

PropylaeaTemple of Athena NikeParthenonOld Temple of AthenaErechtheum<\/p>\n

Acropolis Address<\/h4>\n

Athens 105 58, GreeceGet Directions<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Should You Visit The Acropolis Of Athens?<\/h2>\n

\"Acropolis<\/p>\n

The world owes much to the ancient Greeks for their headway in philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Acropolis was then the centre of such excellence during the 5th century BC. <\/p>\n

Rising 490 ft above Athens lie the ruins of the citadel of Acropolis. The site spreads over 7.3 acres and dates back to the Middle Neolithic era (10,000 BCE). Several monumental spaces such as the Parthenon, Old Temple of Athena, Erechtheum, Temple of Athena Nike, Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus, and others can be found in the ruins. A visit to the Acropolis will transport you to a time and epoch when Greece led the world in all disciplines and Doric temples were abundant.<\/p>\n

Acropolis History – A Quick Peek Into Ancient Greece<\/h2>\n

Acropolis loosely translates to the \u2018highest point\u2019 in Greek, hinting that the Acropolis was then the highest point of Athens. The site can be dated back to Mycenaean megaron, the birth of architectural design consisting of an open porch and a large hall with a central throne. In the 5th century BC, Pericles, the General of Athens, contributed to the genesis of the Acropolis\u2019 important monuments that have survived centuries of loot and attacks. <\/p>\n

The restoration project of the 2,460 years old Acropolis began in hope of reversing the erosion, pollution, and destruction caused by military actions. This was possible with the help of titanium dowels and reassembled original material. Today, a total of 2,675 tons of architectural segments have been restored. <\/p>\n

Speaking of the cultural impact of the Acropolis in the present world, the famous Great Panathenaea festival that was held once every four years by ancient Athenians is still being followed today in the mask of the Olympic Games. <\/p>\n

Acropolis vs Parthenon <\/h2>\n

\"Acropolis<\/p>\n

Answering the popular question of Acropolis vs Parthenon, it is important to understand they are not contradictory. Parthenon is a temple located in the citadel of Acropolis. All the monuments in Acropolis were built to rejoice in the Hellenic victory over the Persian invaders. So, if you are visiting Acropolis, you will get to see the Parthenon, too. There\u2019s no need to choose one over the other! <\/p>\n

The Magnificent Architecture of the Acropolis of Athens<\/h2>\n

\"Acropolis<\/p>\n

The Archaic era (8th-5th century BC) gave a gateway to the architecture of Acropolis. Everywhere you look, you\u2019ll be in awe of the style and perfection the early Greeks manifested.Peisistratos, the son of Hippocrates, built the entry gate of Acropolis, which later became the nine-gated Cyclopean wall, the Enneapylon. The temple of Athena Polias was built between 570 and 550 BC made of Doric limestones. The Theatre of Dionysos remains one of the oldest in the world, being built in 6 BC. All the structures use Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian architecture styles which later has been adopted as the base by western architects. This bestows that the ancient architects of Greece did not just view them as structures and temples but as art and sculptures. <\/p>\n

You can identify which of the buildings are newer or older by just looking at their colour; the newer structures have a reddish tint while the old ones look more yellow. <\/p>\n

What You Cannot Miss At The Acropolis Af Athens<\/h2>\n

Out of the 21 archaeological sites, here are some of the noteworthy ones you should spend more time exploring and appreciating on your tour of the Acropolis. <\/p>\n

\"Acropolis Parthenon <\/p>\n

Parthenon is the first structure that comes to mind when you hear the word Athens. It is the iconic temple dedicated to the Goddess of war, Athena, and considered the zenith of the Doric style of architecture. Completed in 438 BC, it is one of the oldest standing temples on earth. It is also the most important standing structure of classical architecture in Greece. It consists of 46 outer gigantic columns and 19 inner smaller columns. <\/p>\n

\"Acropolis Propylaea <\/p>\n

Propylaea is the gateway to the Acropolis, which was left unfinished in the 5th century BC. The structure was constructed from white Pentelic marble, grey limestone and structural iron, although the iron is said to have weakened the building. Restoration of it began in early 1984 and was only completed in 2009. This feat was considered so historic that the project was awarded the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage \/ Europa Nostra Award<\/a> in 2013. <\/p>\n

\"Temple Old Temple of Athena <\/p>\n

The Old Temple of Athena is probably the oldest remains onsite. It was built during 525\u2013500 BC but was later partially destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. One of the two pediments of the temple beautifully portrays Gigantomachy, the battle between Gods and Giants. The temple also houses a statue of the Goddess Athena herself, fighting the giants. <\/p>\n

\"Acropolis Temple of Athena and Nike <\/p>\n

The temple of Athena and Nike, the goddess of victory was built in the year 420 BC. It is the earliest fully Ionic Temple in Acropolis. The only downside is that the temple is often closed to visitors since restoration work is still underway. But if you are lucky to see it open make sure to take a peek at the famous frieze of Nike adjusting her sandal. <\/p>\n

\"Erechtheum\" Erechtheum <\/p>\n

Located in the northern part of the Acropolis of Athens, the Erechtheum is a shrine thought to have been built by Mnesikles from 421 to 406 BC. You can draw parallels between it and the Parthenon since both were built by Phidias. The Porch of the Maidens to the north of the temple is a must-see, where six draped female figures under the guise of columns hold the roof of the temple. <\/p>\n

Acropolis Museum Athens<\/h2>\n

\"Acropolis<\/p>\n

If you want to see the most precious pieces of the Acropolis, you have to head to the Acropolis Museum<\/a>. It is a state-of-art museum, amidst an ancient site that houses the famous ruins. The museum spreads over 14000 square meters of floor space and is home to 4,250 pieces of art from Acropolis. <\/p>\n

Some of the most interesting pieces are the sculptures of Kiritos Boy, The Calf bearer, the Statuette of Athena Promachos, Loutrophros, the headless bodies of Kekrops and Pandrosos, and the magnificent head of Alexander The Great. <\/p>\n

Acropolis Museum tickets<\/a> need to be bought separately since they are not included in your tickets for Acropolis. However, you can purchase combo tours of the museum and Acropolis hills to get the best of both worlds at the minimum price. <\/p>\n

Where To Buy Acropolis Tickets? <\/h2>\n

On-site<\/h3>\n

Every year around 3 million visitors step into the sacred ruins of Athens. This makes it hard to get tickets at the counter. However, if you want to try your luck, you can head to the ticket office and purchase the tickets. <\/p>\n

Buy Them Online <\/h3>\n

The best option is to get your timed Acropolis tickets<\/a> online since you need not worry about being denied entry. You also have the option of choosing Acropolis tickets with a mobile audio guide, if you want to explore the site solo. Booking them online also gives you the perks of discounts and cashback, saving you time & money. <\/p>\n

Acropolis of Athens tour<\/h3>\n

Nothing can beat an Acropolis guided tour<\/a>. You\u2019ll be escorted by a local knowledgeable guide who knows the site, its history and architecture inside out. You can choose between a small guided tour or a combo guided tour. Either way, a guided tour is the best way to explore the Acropolis. <\/p>\n

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Get 5% OFF<\/strong> on your first booking with Headout when you use promo code 5OUT<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Acropolis Of Athens Facts <\/h2>\n