Ticket Tips for the Acropolis and Other Ancient Sites in Athens

Everyone visiting Athens wants to climb the Acropolis. That amazing citadel at the heart of the Greek capital with the remains of spectacular temples, the most well known of which is the Parthenon. Tickets can be booked in advance, online as a single entry or a combination ticket that includes other archaeological sites in Athens. Skip-the-line tickets and a variety of guided walking tours are also available. This article explores all the options.

This article has been edited to reflect the significant changes in pricing structures introduced in November 2019 by the Greek Ministry of Culture. Last updated on 23 November 2019

1. Price of Tickets for the Acropolis Only

From 1 April to 31 October, a standard ticket costs €20.
From 1 November to 31 March, a standard ticket costs €10.

Certain groups of people qualify for free entry, year round. These include, children under 25 from EU countries and children under 5 from all other countries. For a full list, see section five below. In all cases, passports will be required to prove age and country of origin.

Certain groups of people qualify for 50% reduction during the summer, from 1 April to 31 October. Section five below has a full list. These include children between the ages of 6 and 25 who are not from the EU and people over 65 from the EU and European Economic Area.

Entry to the Acropolis gives you access to the ancient citadel (and so includes the Parthenon and the Erechtheion among other monuments at the top), as well as the North and South slopes (from where you can look into the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and explore the Theatre of Dionysus - amongst other features).

2. Multi-site or Combination Ticket

If you are also going to be visiting some of the other main archaeology sites in Athens, then I recommend getting yourself a Combined or Special Package Ticket. This is an 'official' ticket - in that it is produced and sold by the Greek Ministry of Culture, the body that manages these sites. For this reason the ticket is only available for purchase at the entrance to each of the participating sites, or on the Ministry of Culture and Sports website (link below).

Booking this ticket online enables you to skip the Ticket Office queue, not the queue at the entrance to the Acropolis itself.

For €30 ticket-holders get one entry to the Acropolis (which includes the Parthenon and the Erechtheion) with its North and South Slopes (Oden of Herodes Atticus and Theatre of Dionysus), as well as some of the other main archaeological sites in Athens (Hadrian's Library, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, Archaeological Site of Lykeion, Kerameikos and the Olympieion; see full details below). There are museums in the Ancient Agora and the Kerameikos cemetery, and these are included in the entrance ticket for these sites. The pass is valid for five days

3. Is the Combo/Special Packet Ticket Always worth it?

The answer to this question depends, as it does will all combination tickets or bundles, on how many sites you want to visit. The combo ticket includes SEVEN sites, and is valid for five days. And in this particular instance, there is a significant difference between summer and winter.

To pay the standard entry to each site individually would cost €64 during the summer months (1 April to 31 October). So, for example, visiting the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora would cover the cost of the Combo Ticket. As would visiting the Acropolis and any two of the other seven sites.

If you are eligible for a 50% reduction in summer (see section five below), this only entitles you to a reduction when purchasing a ticket for a single entry at each site. You can not buy the Combo Ticket at a 50% reduction. Paying the reduced entry for each site would cost you €32. So you would only save money with the Combo Ticket (€30) if you visited each of the seven sites (€32).

In the winter months (1 November to 31 March) everyone pays the reduced rate (50% of the standard cost) at each of the seven sites, unless you are entitled to free entry (see section five below). There is no further 50% reduction on the reduced fee for those people who are eligible for the 50% discount during summer. There is no reduction during winter on the price of the Combo Ticket. So the total cost for entry to each of the seven sites during winter is €32 (unless you qualify for free entry). That is only €2 more than the cost of the Combo Ticket. If you only intend to visit three or four sites during a visit in winter, the Special Package Ticket is not worth it. If you visit all but the Archaeological Site of Lykeion, you will break even. If you skip, for example, the Roman Agora you will have paid €2 more than you would have done paying for each site separately.

4. Acropolis Museum

The special ticket does NOT include the Acropolis Museum, or any other museum in Athens. Entry fees to these museums are not expensive. For an additional €3, buy a Skip-the-Line Ticket for the Acropolis Museum with Audio-Guide >>

5. Who Qualifies for Free/Reduced Entry?

Certain groups of people are qualify for free entry throughout the year. If this applies to you, ensure you have all the necessary documents that prove you are eligible.

During the summer period (1 April to 31 October) certain groups of people can get a 50% reduction on the entry fee for archaeological sites. The reduction only applies in the summer, during the winter the entry fees are reduced for everyone. The reduction does not apply to the Comb Ticket. Again, be sure to have valid documents and ID to demonstrate you are eligible for such a discount.

Reduced Entry - 50% in summer

► Anyone aged between 6 and 25 from non-EU countries
► Seniors citizens 65 years and older from Greece and EU Member States and the European Economic Union
► Teachers on visits from primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions
► Parents accompanying visits for primary schools from within the EU and EEA

Free Entry

► Anyone under 25 years of age from the EU, or under 5 years of age from the rest of the world
► People over 25 years of age enrolled in secondary education in the EU and EEA
► Teachers from within the EU on educational visits for primary, secondary or tertiary education
► Unemployed Greek citizens, or people claiming Social Solidarity Income
► Greek families with three or more children
► Single parent families
► People with disabilities, and their escorts of 80% degree of disability
► Journalists
► Members of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece, as well as equivalent bodies of other EU countries
► Tourist guides
► Holders of an ICOM-ICOMOS membership card
► Members of Associations of Friends of Greek Museums and Archaeological Sites
► Official guests of the Greek State
► Refugees
► Greek citizens doing military service
► Greek citizens who are Olympic medal holders

Consult the original list from the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sport >>
(this is a pdf document, not a webpage)

Please Note:
If you are booking online (a step-by-step account is given below) and are eligible for a reduced or free ticket, make this choice while booking your ticket. A voucher will be sent via e-mail. Take this voucher to the ticket office of the site you are visiting, and with proof of eligibility you will be given your ticket. You will be able to join a fast-track ticket line.

Free Entry for All

During designated Open Days all visitors have free access to all archaeological sites, monuments and museums in Greece. These days are: 6 March (Melina Mercouri Remembrance Day), 18 April (International Monuments Day), 18 May (International Museums Day), the last weekend of September (European Heritage Days), 28 October (Oxi Day), the first Sunday of each month from November 1st to March 31st.

No way to book online - just show up.

Top Tip: Having read reports and seen photographs of the Acropolis on 'Free Entry for all' days, I would not waste my time. Or go very early or late. There are always a lot of people taking advantage of the free entry.

6. Can I Buy a ticket for the Acropolis online, in advance?

Yes, as of 2018 it is possible to buy tickets online for the Acropolis, both single entry tickets and combination tickets. But be advised, buying a single entry or combination ticket online only enables you to avoid having to queue for tickets at the ticket office. You do not get to skip-the-line to enter the Acropolis. To avoid that queue, you have to purchase a skip-the-line ticket or take a guided tour.

Buying your tickets online does not give you any special privileges - you join the queue along with everyone else to enter the site.

Visit the official e-ticketing service of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

Currently it is only possible to buy tickets through to the end of October. For ticket purchases for your trip in winter (1 November 2019 to 31 March 2020), you will have to try again from 1 November when the ticket pricing changes.

PLEASE NOTE

7 April 2019 - In the last week I have had two emails from people saying they made an error in buying their tickets (both entered the wrong dates). And these are not the first. They wrote to the department selling the tickets. And the response was an emphatic - 'tough luck, read the Terms & Conditions'. They will not refund tickets bought in error. So that means if your plans change, you can not change your tickets either. So 1) be careful entering the dates/number of tickets you want, and 2) be sure you have the final date.

For these reasons, I strongly recommend buying a ticket from a vendor (see the links in the 'Skip-the-line' section below). You *can* cancel your purchase up to 24 hours in advance, and get a full refund. How can these vendors get a refund and you can't? Quite simply, they are buying in bulk. In my opinion, based on the feedback I get, a few Euros is worth it.

If you are sure, however, and you are careful - the following is a step-by-step guide to assist you through the process, taking you from the Greek language landing page to the final page in the process.

Step Two: Click on the Visitors banner.

Step Four: a box to the right will open that allows you to choose the site you want to visit. Click ACROPOLIS AND SLOPES.

Step Six: the option to choose a time will appear below the calendar. You need to choose the correct date, but not the correct time. Then click continue.

7. Are There Long Queues at the Acropolis?

At some of the smaller sites that are included in the Combination Ticket, the queues might not be that long. At the Acropolis, however, the queues can be long - and not only during the summer months. You can either avoid these queues by taking a guided tour or buy a skip-the-line ticket.

Buying a combination ticket online does not let you skip-the-line for entry to the Acropolis, you only get to avoid the queue for tickets at the ticket office.

8. Avoid the Queues with a Guided Tour

For €39 you can buy a ticket for the Acropolis and a Welcome talk online. This ticket includes entry to the Acropolis, allows you to skip any queues, and a 30 minute introductory talk by a local guide. After the talk skip any queues and enjoy one of the most amazing archaeological sites in Europe! This is a very popular tour and is often sold out well in advance.

If you want more than a 30 minute talk, it is possible to choose from a number of tours (they vary in length, and what sites are included on the tour). Taking these does allow you to skip the lines, but entry fees are not included (the reason being some people might already have a multi-site pass, or be eligible for discounts). For example, a two hour afternoon guided tour of the Acropolis costs €40.

A popular option, suited to those who want a guide of some kind but not a guided tour with a person, is the skip-the-line ticket with audio tour. For an additional cost of €9.50, you can buy a skip-the-line ticket that comes with an audio tour of the Acropolis. All you need is your own smartphone, with headphones. You get to avoid any queues, and an audio tour of the Acropolis with supporting information and an interactive map that you can access without requiring an internet connection. This is available for both Android and iOS devices, but only available in English. Click here for More Information & Further Details >>

By far one of the most popular tickets, and I think the best value and so the tour I recommend for throughout the year is the five hour tour of Athens, the Acropolis and the new Acropolis Museum. For only €69 you get a guided tour (available in English and Spanish) with an actual person not an audio-guide, of Athens (visiting the Panathinaikos Stadium, the Royal gardens and the former Royal Palace), the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. Entries to both the Acropolis and the museum are included in the price of the tour (€68)! And, this certified walking tour can be booked online here.

With a choice of over 60 ticket and guided tour options, see our recommendations for the Best Acropolis Tours and Skip-the-Line Tickets.

9. Avoid the Queues with Skip-the-Line Tickets

Buying genuine Skip-the-Line Tickets for the Acropolis is possible, and can be done quite easily and safely online.

For an additional cost of €5 you can buy a skip-the-line ticket (so €25 as opposed to €20). This is only available for a single entry ticket to the Acropolis and its North and South Slopes.

Besides being able to avoid standing in a queue, you can also cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance. So, if you find you have made a mistake with your dates (this happens - I get emails about it) or your plans change, you can get a full refund as long as you cancel at least 24 hours in advance. There is *no* refund for such errors or changes of plans if you buy your tickets on the official website. You need to decide whether the time saved and peace of mind is worth €5 - only you can make that decision.

There is no guided tour included. No audio tour. Nothing. Just a straight-forward skip-the-line ticket.

How It Works
Once you purchase your ticket on the GetYourGuide website, a voucher will be emailed to you. Take this voucher to Key Tours, the local supplier - located at 26 Athanasiou Diakou street next to the Royal Olympic Hotel - about three minutes walk from the Acropolis Metro Station. Here you will be given your ticket - you will not be required to pay any further booking fee. Then head to the South Entrance of the Acropolis (Dionysus Theatre) - not even 400 metres away - and bypass the queues.

The email, and link below, also includes details of the opening hours of the supplier and the Acropolis.

Click here for More Details and to Book Your Ticket Online >>

10. Are Athens City Passes Worth it?

There are a couple of city passes available. Full disclosure: I have not tried and tested any of these. But just doing the maths, none of them add up for me. First, most attractions are already quite cheap. Second, and more importantly, you would be hard pushed to do everything, or enough, in the time allotted before you start making a savings. Because of the 50% reduction in ticket prices during winter, I would not even consider these passes from 1 November to 31 March.

There is the Athens Museum Unlimited Pass, which gives you three days access to 15 different museums and galleries, including the Acropolis and the new Acropolis Museum. Others include the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Museum of Islamic Art. For only €55- I think that is a bargain! Follow this link for More Details and to Book Online.

11. Where are the ticket Offices for the Acropolis?

If you have not purchased a ticket in advance, online and you are happy to take your chances, you will need to buy a ticket at the site ticket kiosks.

The main ticket office for the Acropolis is below the main entrance to the Acropolis itself. During winter months queues at the Acropolis are not big, you will probably wait at most 20 to 30 minutes at busier times and on the weekends. During summer, it is another story - so follow these tips if you want to avoid the 2-hour plus queues.

This is also where you can purchase the special package ticket. But bear in mind that the special ticket is also on sale at the entrances to each of the participating archaeology sites. So in summer, if you want to avoid the queues at the Acropolis ticket office, go to one of the other sites listed below (there are never long queues at these sites). Buy the special ticket there, you will pay the same price, ie. €30. You will then be able to enter that site and visit the Acropolis when it suits you, without having to wait in any queues. Once purchased, the multi-site ticket is valid for five days.

There is also a ticket kiosk at the entrance near the Theatre of Dionysus. The queues here tend not to be as long as those at the main entrance.

12. Opening Hours for the Acropolis and other Archaeological Sites

During summer months (starting 1 April) the archaeological sites are open daily from 8:00 am until 19:00 pm. During the winter months between 8:00 am and 17:00 pm.

 
Get More Information and Many More Tips in the Athens City Guide >>

The Acropolis

North & South Slope of the Acropolis

Ancient Agora

Hadrian's Library

Roman Agora

Kerameikos

Olympieion

The Archaeological Site of Lykeion

Unless you have mobility issues, if you are relatively fit, all of the sites are within walking distance of each other. The Olympieon is the only site on the south side of the Acropolis away from the Acropolis. But, it is not that far from the Acropolis Museum - which is just opposite the entrance to the South Slopes of the Acropolis and the Theatre of Dionysios. All the other sites are to the north of the Acropolis. And all but the cemetery site of Kerameikos are close to each other. Kerameikos is not that far to walk from the Thesseio Metro Station.

Being in the centre of Athens, there are many restaurants and cafés, as well as street vendors selling refreshments, close to the sites - and not all seem to be taking advantage of tourists.

Pressed for time? If you are relatively fit I suppose you could visit all sites in one day, but it would be a long day and a bit of a rush. But it would be a great day!
 
 

Activities, Guided Tours & Other Things to Do in Athens

While getting yourself to all of the above archaeological sites is easy and straightforward, sometimes, just sometimes a guided tour is a great idea. And of course there is so much more to see and do in Athens than this list of amazing sites. There is the obvious option of a half-day sightseeing tour of the highlights of Athens, morning or afternoon - you choose. For something really different see the Acropolis of Athens by Segway on a 2-hour tour, led by a local guide! Or experience the beauty of Athens by night with dinner and folklore show. Escape the city for a peaceful break and a luxury, day cruise with lunch. If gastronomy is your thing, treat yourself to a Greek Food and Wine Tasting, or go one step further with a Greek Cooking Class in an Athens Taverna. These are just a few of the many activities available to visitors, just have a look at this more complete list of things to do in Athens, which includes some great ideas for day-trips out of the city.

Archaeology Travel Tip - Accommodation in Athens

During my stay in Athens, I was a guest of the 4* Herodion Hotel. The view on to the Acropolis from the roof top terrace (on which meals are served) and bedrooms on the northern side of the hotel is any archaeology traveller's dream! After a day walking the streets of this ancient city, getting into bed and dozing off with a light up Parthenon in sight is quite magical. The hotel is literally a stone's throw from the Acropolis Museum, so take advantage of the late night openings. The Herodion is also ideally situated for easy, walking access to all the best sites and museums in central Athens, and the metro for those that are further away. Their in-house map of the city centre is one of the best I saw.
 
 


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