Top Tips for Visiting the Acropolis

You can't visit Athens without taking the time to visit the Acropolis and the ancient temple, the Parthenon. (Yep, that's an official rule.) Not only is it culturally and historically important, it is also a breath-taking building situated above the city of Athens, providing endless views across the city. While we were in Athens, Sam and I had a quick debate whether it was actually worth making the trip up to see the Acropolis, we were on a bit of a budget and we thought we could see it from the street. But we were wrong and I’m so glad we did it! There’s loads to see and read all the way up, not just the Parthenon itself. Here are my top tips when visiting the Acropolis, (tip number one: do it!)

Take your student ID card

Okay, I know this doesn’t apply to everyone but if you do have a valid student ID card, take it! I didn’t take mine and was lucky they accepted my UniDays ID, but I think I would recommend bringing your actual card to be safe. Visiting the Acropolis costs 20 euros per person (over 18), and then the Acropolis museum, which is a separate but very close site, is a further 10 euros. However, both are free with a valid student card which saves a massive amount of money, especially if you’re in Athens with friends.

Bring your passport if you’re under 18 (or taking your children)

Now I obviously wasn’t looking much at the price for under 18s, being 20, but I think the Acropolis site is also free to enter for children under 18, providing you can prove their age with a passport. It seemed like they needed passports in particular, rather than any form of ID, so make sure to pack it in your bum bag.

When is the best time to visit?

This is an important one as the Acropolis can get very crowded, being the main attraction in Athens. Most websites recommend going for opening, which is 8 am. That’s not what we did. For us, that was a bit impractical as we were staying a little way out of the centre of the city, so we would have had to leave really early in the morning. And let’s be honest, we didn’t want to do that on holiday. Instead, we got to the Acropolis at about 5:40, getting in at 6 pm. This gave us 2 hours to walk up and take in the sites, which was plenty for us. There were bits to read and look at but most of the information and artefacts are kept in the museum opposite. It also meant we were at the top of the Acropolis, taking in the views as the sun began to get lower in the sky. There weren’t any schools or tours around at that time, as I guess they all visit in the morning, but there were still plenty of people about. Our walk down, at about 7:30, was peaceful and quiet as we wandered back down to street level. Obviously, it depends on the day and the season (we visited late June) and, especially during the summer months, it is always going to be busy. But for a more relaxed visit, I would highly recommend early evening.

What should you wear?

The walk up to the top of the Acropolis is not hard but it’s probably worth wearing comfy shoes. I wore trainers that day and didn’t regret it. The track is a bit rocky and sandy at times so something sturdy would be good. But you don’t need to go up in hiking gear, there were people doing it in sandals. I would also say that at the top, the stones are quite slippy. I know that’s a weird thing to bring up, but I saw a couple of people slipping onto their bums so thought it was worth mentioning. Although it was still hot at the top in the evening (so sun cream, plz!), it got quite windy when we were up there. To the point that I was holding my skirt down, so wear something that isn’t likely to blow up/blow away. I had the same problem with my big sun hat that felt like it was going to take off.

Water!

Definitely take water, there aren’t any cafes or shops while you’re up there. There were, however, a few water fountains on the way up that we used to fill our water bottles up. So, although it’s wise to take plenty of water (and maybe some snacks), don’t panic if you’re getting low on the way down.  

Is the museum worth visiting?

We visited the museum on our last day in Athens, it was incredibly hot, and I felt guilty for visiting Athens and not visiting a museum. As museums go, the Acropolis museum was brilliant. It was big, modern, spacious with lots to see and read. There was even a full model of the acropolis completely made from Lego! If you want to understand more about the history and the development of the acropolis, I would recommend the museum. I can’t compare it to any others, but we really enjoyed it and felt a greater appreciation for the history and story of ancient Greece.

Getting there

The Acropolis is quite easy to find, being so big. There is a metro station specifically for the Acropolis and bus routes that also finish right by the museum. From the Parliament building and ... square, it is easily walk able through Plaka.

I hope this helped any of you looking to visit the Acropolis without really knowing where to begin. If you have any other top tips, leave a comment below or tweet me @afoodieoverseas to share your knowledge? Have you been to the Acropolis or want to go? Tell me what you thought!

Thanks for reading,
Laura x