Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis of Athens is a steep rocky hill which sits 156 meters above the sea and approximately 70 meters above the city of Athens.

This highland is accessible only from the west side of the hill, from which there is an entarance decorated by a radiant Propylaea.

The highland has been inhabited since the 3rd millenuim B.C.. There was a settlement there.  It was a natural fortress with access only from the west side.  The upper landing was wide enough so that it could be inhabited, and along all the slopes there were water springs. The mansion of the local ruler was located where, many centuries, later the Erechtheion was built.

Over the years, the lord of the Acropolis settlement gained great power, and under his rule, with this power, he peacefully united all of the Attica counties, except Eleusis, as one. It is said that the lord who united the Attica counties was Theseus.

The fear of hostile raids forced the ruler to build, around the Acropolis, a wall of large stones, later known as the Cyclone Wall. Later, when monarchies were abolished, after the Dorian invasion (11th century) had failed, the order of the landowners took over and the aristocratic rule prevailed. It was then that the Acropolis ceased to be an administrative center.

As of then, the Acropolis hill was a place for religious ceremonies, though until the 4th century it was called "polis". Where there once was the monastery of the ruler of the Mycenaean times, built in the 8th century, is now a small temple dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Athena Pallada.

Simple admission ticket: €20. Applies to the archaeological site of the Acropolis. Tickets are available exclusively at ticket offices at the entrance of Herod Atticus Street.

Full Ticket:  €30. The duration of this the ticket is 5 days.  It is valid for: Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora of Athens - Areios Pagos, Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, Lyceum Archaeological Site, Adrianos Library, Kerameikos, Museum of Ancient Agora of Athens, Olympiaio and Roman Forum of Athens.

Telephone: +30 210 3214172
Fax: +30 210 9239023
Email: efaath@culture.gr

Visiting hours: 08:00-20:00 Last entrance: 19:30.

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Access to the Archaeological Site:

1. From the pedestrian walkway of Dionysiou Areopagitou through the cobblestone Pikioni
(metro station "Acropolis").
2. From the archaeological site of Southern Klitios (metro station "Acropolis").
3. From the archaeological site of the Ancient Agora (metro station "Monastiraki").
4. From Plaka (metro station "Monastiraki"). For safety reasons, the Baggage and Baby Stroller Service will no longer accept bulky luggage. Visitors can enter the archaeological site with a small backpack or handbag.