Reminisce about ancient Greece on a visit to the Parthenon and Acropolis in Athens

The Parthenon has its origins in fascinating Greek mythology. Let's take a quick look back. Daughter of the king of the gods Zeus and the nymph Metis, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, war strategy and justice. At the time, the gods lived in their palaces on Olympus. There were no cities dedicated to them. Zeus then asked all the gods to choose a city where men could honour their cult. Two of them claimed possession of Attica: Athena and Poseidon (Zeus's brother and god of the oceans). After a vote by the inhabitants, it was the goddess who was chosen to become the city's protector. Athens was born.

The Parthenon was built in 447 BC at the top of the Acropolis in honour of the goddess. It was built by the strategist Pericles. Its construction was supervised by the sculptor Phidias, who was also responsible for the huge statue of the goddess measuring more than 12m and which once stood inside the Parthenon, but which has now disappeared. The temple, with its 17 side columns and 8 front columns, is the largest in all of Greece. In addition to the Parthenon, the Acropolis is home to a number of other monuments, including the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion. A visit not to be missed by history lovers!

The acropolis is open every day, with opening times varying according to the season. From April to September, the site is open from 8am to 8pm. From 1 to 15 September, the acropolis is open from 8am to 7.30pm, from 16 to 30 September from 8am to 7pm, from 1 to 15 October from 8am to 6.30pm, and from 16 to 30 October from 8am to 6pm. The rest of the year, the monument is open from 8am to 5pm. Entrance is 30 minutes before closing time. 

The Acropolis is closed on 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Easter Sunday and 25 and 26 December. 

To avoid the crowds, it is advised to go as soon as it opens.

Full price: €20

Reduced ticket : 10 euros (over 65s and children aged 6 to 25 from non-EU countries). 

Free: Under-25s from EU countries, students, disabled people, refugees and journalists. 

From 1 November to 31 March, all tickets are €10 (no distinction is made between full and reduced prices).

There is also a combined ticket available for 30 euros that includes the Acropolis, ancient agora and its museum, the Keramikos museum, the Lykeion site, Hadrian's library, the temple of Zeus, and the Roman agora. Ticket valid for 5 days.

On certain dates, admission is free for all: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, 28 October, the last weekend in September and every first Sunday of the month from 1 November to 31 March.

Tickets are available from the box office on site or online from the Acropolis website.

• The site is accessible to people with reduced mobility. A lift is available on site. 
• A visit lasts an average of 1.5 hours.
• Take good shoes, as the stones on the way to the top are slippery. 
• Rucksacks should be left at reception.
• There are no guided tours or audio guides available. Independent guides do, however, offer their services. 

More information on the Acropolis website.

How to get to the site

The Parthenon sits atop the Acropolis, near the centre of the Greek capital. It can be seen from afar - you can’t miss it!

The easiest way to get to this legendary site is by metro. The Acropoli stop on line 2 (red) is just a two-minute walk from the site. The Monastiraki stop on lines 1 (green) and 3 (green) is 12 minutes from the Acropolis.

The bus is also a good alternative. The nearest stop is Akropole, on line 230, which is an eight-minute walk away. The Makriyianni stop on lines 24, 40, 126, 134, A2, A3, A4 and 57 is a 10-minute walk away. The Monastiraki stop on the 035 bus is a 14-minute walk from the Acropolis.

Taxis and cars are also available. If you have your own car, there is plenty of paid parking available around the historic site.

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