Parents visiting Athens can still enjoy a trip to the top of the Acropolis with their babies or young children. You do not need to do a lot of extra planning, certainly no more than you would usually do while on sightseeing with kids in a city. But there are a few things you should know about before you set off that will make your visit go more smoothly. In this article we address the frequently asked questions parents have about visiting the Acropolis with children. For more detailed tips and information about visiting the Acropolis, how to buy tickets, guided tours etc., see our Guide to the Acropolis.
- Thomas Dowson
- Last Checked and/or Updated 10 April 2023
- No Comments
- Athens & Attica, Greece Travel Tips, History with Kids
Although I have never had children myself, I have frequently travelled with friends and family who have children and I ran a B&B for ten years. I have some insight and experience with what parents go through when sightseeing with children. And, as my other articles on about the Acropolis do not mention taking children, it is perhaps not surprising that most of the questions I get are from parents. Questions that I certainly know the answers to because I have been visiting the site for a long time.
Rather than add the details to existing articles I have decided to collate the information parents ask about on one page. And I should express my thanks to those parents who have commented on a draft of this article. Of course, if after reading this page you still have questions, please do get in touch. If I can not answer your question, I know parents who have recently visited who will be happy to supply me with the answer for you.
Parents want to know if the Acropolis is suitable for children; is it family-friendly. All the young children I know are enthralled by the ancient Greeks and Romans. And certainly a climb up to the top of the Acropolis is quite an exciting adventure. All the parents who I have been in contact with say it is a truly fun attraction, but all with the caveat of being very careful about the time of day you visit, and the amount of time spent at the site.
This article does not cover educational issues, and I am not sure such a resource exists that caters for children of varying ages, and coming from different educational backgrounds. The following two websites are surely good places to start. The first is the website produced by the Acropolis Museum, Acropolis Museum Kids, and the second is the Acropolis page on the National Geographic for Kids website.
FAQS Questions Parents Ask
Is the Acropolis free for children?
Children under 5 years of age, whatever their nationality, are given free entry to the Acropolis. For EU nationals, there is free entry until the age of 25. Those aged between 6 and 25 years but who are not EU nationals get a 50% reduction during summer (April to October).
Can you take a stroller on the Acropolis?
No, only wheelchairs are permitted on to the Acropolis. There is a cloakroom at the main/west entrance, where you can leave your stroller and borrow a backpack carrier with a sun shade. You are required to leave an ID document as a deposit.
Can you use the lift/elevator instead of the stairs?
No, the elevator can only be used for people with wheelchairs.
Are there restrooms/toilets on the Acropolis?
Yes, in the basement of the original Acropolis Museum. This can be found at the eastern end of the hill top on the southern side.
Is there water available on the Acropolis?
Yes, there is a water fountain in amongst a few trees and benches near the entrance to the toilets.
Buying Acropolis Tickets for Children
Whatever their nationality, all children under 5 years of age are given free admission to the Acropolis. Anyone under 25 who is a national of a country in the European Union is also not required to pay an entry fee. To get the free entry ticket you still have to go to the ticket office and show proof of your eligibility – a passport has both the age and the nationality.
Visitors who are between 6 and 25 years of age from all nations other than the EU are entitled to a 50% reduction during the summer months (April to October). It is only possible to buy the reduced tickets online via the official e-ticketing service of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. Read my article on buying tickets for the Acropolis for more information and advice about this service. Once you have purchased the reduced ticket, you are still required to take the voucher you will receive by email to the ticket office to prove eligibility. A passport will suffice. Some guided tour providers do make allowances for the reduced tickets when you make a reservation. These are listed below in the section below listing the recommended family-friendly walking tours of the Acropolis and Athens.
Unless you are going at a very quite time, it is all but essential to always buy tickets in advance. This will save you a lot of standing around. If you do not have tickets, you can buy tickets at the entrances. But you will stand in the queue for tickets, and then in the queue to get in. Buying Skip-the-Line tickets may cost a few more Euros, but it will be worth it.
Visiting the Acropolis in Athens
This page is intended to provide information for parents thinking about and/or planning a trip to the Acropolis with babies, toddlers and young children. We have detailed articles on buying tickets for the Acropolis and other aspects of visiting the Acropolis. Read our Acropolis Guide and our Athens City Guide.
Opening Hours
Opening time throughout the year: 08.00 daily
Closing times –
1 April to 31 October: 19.00
1 November to 31 March: 17.00
Closed on the following days: 1 January, 25 March, Orthodox Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25 & 26 December
Ticket Prices
Full price: €20
Reduced: €10
During winter (November to March) everyone pays the reduced entry price – except those entitled to free admission. During summer (April to October) the full price applies, except those entitled to the reduced ticket or free admission.
Facilities at the Acropolis
Toilets, water fountain, refreshments and snacks are available at a kiosk near the entrance.
Getting on to the Acropolis
One of the biggest concerns parents taking young children with them to see the Acropolis is getting up to the top of the Acropolis where the various temple remains are located. With the help of a few photographs I describe the two routes visitors use.
The first thing I should point out is that it is not possible to take strollers onto the archaeological site. And the elevator is only for use by people in wheelchairs. If you are sightseeing in Athens with a stroller, there is no need to leave it where you are staying. There is a safe room where you can leave it at the main entrance to the site (western end of the hill). They even have a few backpack baby carriers with a sun shade you can borrow. All you need to do is leave an identity document as a deposit.
There are two entrances to the Acropolis: the main entrance at the western end of the hill, and the southern entrance diagonally opposite the entrance to the Acropolis Museum. From the main entrance it is a shorter climb up to the propylaea (the historic entrance to the hilltop), it is quite steep, but the footpath is paved. It takes about 5 minutes to walk directly. But there are points of interest along the way up, should you need to take it more slowly. One example of these is to peer down into the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
The south entrance involves a much longer walk through the various ruins of the south slopes. It takes around 15 to 20 minutes to walk directly from the entrance to the base of the propylaea. The paths are irregular, and while there is a lot to see, the features on the south slopes will be interesting for those with a deeper interest in the Acropolis through the ages. Both routes converge at the base of a series of steps that lead up to the propylaea, the entrance to the hilltop since ancient times. The stairs have been modified at various points in the history of the Acropolis, so it does look like a hodgepodge of random steps and ramps.
Once you have climbed the steps and walked along the ramp, there is the final wooden walkway that takes you through the ancient structure known as the propylaea. The path is divided in two to separate those entering from those exiting.
Resist the urge here, as elsewhere on the hilltop to touch the stones. The reason for this is because our fingers have acids on them. While one person touching may not cause much damage, repeated touching by the millions of people that pass through these columns each year will. Remember, many architectural features were painted. The damage our fingers cause is often invisible.
Getting About the Acropolis
Once through the propylaea you are on the Acropolis. In front of you is the Parthenon. There is wide concrete path leading up to the left of the reconstructed temple. And you are kept on it with ropes barriers. In other areas there is no concrete path. Notice in the photograph below how uneven the surface is. For this reason it is essential to wear good, comfortable walking shoes.
When is the Best Time to Visit the Acropolis?
Mot advice for the best time of day to visit the Acropolis is either first thing in the morning (gates open at 8.00 am) or towards the end of the day. Not only is the light much better, but it is also much cooler. The middle of the day, particularly in summer time, is harsh on the Acropolis. As you can see from the photographs, there is little to no shade and the sun can be brutal. There are very few benches, and most of the time they are in full sunlight. Don’t forget the sun cream.
The crowds start to pick up anywhere between 9.30 and 10.00 am, even earlier during peak season, which can include May and October. The nearby port of Pireaus is a popular stop for cruise ships, and the Acropolis is a popular shore excursion.
There is no kiosk or Café on the hilltop, and neither are there vending machines. It is forbidden to eat on the archaeological site, but you can take bottled water with you. You really should take bottle water with you. There is a water fountain, near the entrance to the toilets, under the tree in the photograph above.
And finally, for peace of mind if nothing else, there are medics and an ambulance at the Acropolis.
Family Friendly Guided Tours of the Acropolis
The following are family friendly tours of the Acropolis:
► 3-Hour Mythology Tour of Athens for Families
► 2-Hour Private Acropolis Tour for Families
► 1.5-Hour Small Group Walking Tour of the Acropolis Although not specifically aimed at families with children, it is one of the few guided tours that makes allowances for children in the ticketing price.
Archaeology Travel Writer
