The Acropolis of Athens ✨
Stand where democracy took shape, where temples honored the gods, and where architects created buildings that still influence design 2,500 years later.
What is the Acropolis?
The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel on a rocky limestone plateau 150 meters above the modern Greek capital. The word “Acropolis” comes from the Greek ἄκρον (akron, meaning “highest point”) and πόλις (polis, meaning “city”)—literally, the city’s summit.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site represents the high point of classical Greek architecture: a sacred precinct where temples honored the gods and where architects and sculptors set standards that influenced Western building for centuries. It is considered the greatest and finest sanctuary of ancient Athens and was the site of the city’s greatest religious festival, the Panathenaia.
Built primarily during the 5th century BCE under the leadership of Pericles, the Acropolis evolved from a fortified hilltop into the religious and civic center of ancient Athens. The Acropolis monuments are masterpieces of ancient Greek architecture.
Today, its monuments – the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike, and Propylaea – draw millions of visitors each year. These monumental buildings established the Acropolis as the greatest cultural centre of the ancient world, and the acropolis monuments continue to inspire visitors today.
Book the best Acropolis ticket
Acropolis Parthenon Tickets with Optional Audio Guide
Skip the ticket lines and step into ancient history at your own pace. Explore the iconic Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, and Theatre of Dionysus with a multilingual audio guide that reveals the myths, legends, and stories behind Athens’ most treasured monuments.
Includes:
- Timed entry to the Acropolis
- Audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish & Italian
- Offline access with online map
Best price:
36 €
Acropolis Skip-the-Line Ticket with Audio Guide
Travel back in time with hassle-free e-tickets and timed entry to the Acropolis. Explore at your own pace with a self-guided audio tour that brings ancient Athens to life through captivating myths, historical insights, and stories of the Golden Age.
Includes:
- Acropolis e-ticket with time slot
- Audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian & Chinese
- Offline content for your smartphone
Best price:
40 €
The story of the Acropolis of Athens
From fortress to sanctuary
Before the temples, the Acropolis was a Mycenaean fortress. Archaeological evidence shows continuous habitation going back to the Neolithic era, around 4000 BCE. The Acropolis was inhabited from a very early period, with evidence of early fortification dating back to the thirteenth century BC and the middle Bronze Age.
Bronze Age rulers fortified the hill with massive walls, fragments of which survive beneath later construction, and these early fortification walls are associated with the presence of earlier Athenian cults during the eighth century BC and the archaic period.
The transformation began in the 6th century BCE when the first monumental buildings and temples stood on the site. During the sixth century BC, the sanctuary flourished, and numerous opulent votive offerings, including bronze and terracotta statuettes, were dedicated to Athena. Persian invaders destroyed these early structures in 480 BCE. The rebuilding that followed created the monuments we see today.
The Golden Age
After defeating the Persians, Athenian statesman Pericles launched an ambitious building project in the mid fifth century BC, during the fifth century. Between 447 and 406 BCE, architects Iktinos, Kallikrates, and Mnesikles created monuments that would influence Western architecture for centuries. The Acropolis was erected as a showcase of how ancient architecture combine innovative design and classical art, reflecting the glory of Athens’ golden age.
The Parthenon, a very large temple, was completed first, in just fifteen years. The Propylaea gateway, Erechtheion, and Temple of Athena Nike followed. Each building combined mathematical precision with optical refinements that architects still study today.
Centuries of change
The Acropolis has seen every era of Mediterranean history. Romans added their own contributions. Early Christians converted the Parthenon into a church. Ottoman rulers transformed it into a mosque and stored gunpowder inside – until a Venetian bombardment in 1687 ignited the arsenal and blew out the building’s center.
Many ruined temples and monuments on the Acropolis bear witness to the destruction and restoration efforts over subsequent centuries, including transformations during the sixth century AD and later centuries AD. During the Ottoman period, the Acropolis served as the Turkish garrison headquarters and played a role in the Greek War of Independence. The Acropolis also functioned as a medieval city, reflecting its changing functions through different historical periods.
Modern restoration began in the 19th century and continues today. After the Greek War of Independence, the Acropolis was handed over to the newly founded Greek state, with Odysseas Androutsos becoming the first Greek garrison commander and Greek garrison commander of the site.
Acropolis highlights
The Parthenon is the largest temple on the Acropolis, dedicated to Athena Parthenos—the virgin goddess who protected Athens. It once held a 12-meter statue of the goddess, her skin made of ivory and her robes of hammered gold.
Architects Iktinos and Kallikrates designed the building with subtle optical corrections. The columns lean slightly inward. The floor rises gently toward the center. What appear to be straight lines are actually curves. These refinements make the building appear perfectly proportioned to the human eye.
The roof, painted decorations, and cult statue are gone, but the Parthenon remains the most recognized symbol of ancient Greece. Some surviving sculptures from the Parthenon can be seen in the Acropolis Museum.
Built between 421 and 406 BCE, the Erechtheion sits on the most sacred ground on the Acropolis—the spot where Athena and Poseidon supposedly competed for patronage of the city.
The building's famous Porch of the Caryatids features six marble women serving as structural columns, their draped robes flowing into fluted supports. The originals are now in the Acropolis Museum; the figures on site are replicas.
This small Ionic temple sits on a bastion overlooking the approach to the Acropolis. Completed around 420 BCE, it honored Athena as goddess of military victory.
The temple's friezes depict battles between Greeks and Persians. Its position meant every visitor to the Acropolis passed it first.
The Propylaea is not a temple but a gateway—the monumental entrance to the Acropolis. Architect Mnesikles built it between 437 and 432 BCE.
Six Doric columns frame the central passage, while Ionic columns support the interior ceiling. The building was never fully completed—the Peloponnesian War interrupted construction—but it remains impressive.
Carved into the southern slope, the Theatre of Dionysus is where Western drama began. Located on the south slope of the Acropolis, this ancient theater was the site where, in the 5th century BCE, playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes premiered works that are still performed today.
The theatre seated 17,000 spectators at its peak, making it the largest in the ancient world. Stone seating replaced the original wooden benches in the 4th century BCE. The semicircular layout became the template for amphitheaters ever since.
Plan your visit to the Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis opens at 8:00 AM daily. Summer hours (April through August) extend to 8:00 PM, while winter hours (November to March) end at 5:00 PM.
September and October have gradually earlier closing times as daylight decreases. Last entry is always 30 minutes before closing.
The Acropolis is in central Athens, visible from most neighborhoods. The main entrance is on the western slope, accessible via Dionysiou Areopagitou Street.
Metro stations Acropoli (Line 2) and Monastiraki (Lines 1 & 3) are both a short walk away. The climb involves uneven ancient pathways—wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes.
The Acropolis Museum sits opposite the archaeological site. Opened in 2009, it houses over 4,000 artifacts from the Acropolis and its slopes—including the original Caryatids from the Erechtheion and fragments of the Parthenon frieze. The museum requires a separate ticket but has a rooftop terrace with direct views of the Acropolis.
Experience the Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis is more than an archaeological site. The Parthenon shows what Athenians built to honor their patron goddess. The Theatre of Dionysus is where Greek drama began. The Propylaea marks the entrance to what was once sacred ground. The Acropolis housed primarily temples dedicated to Athena and served as the setting for some of the most celebrated myths of ancient Athens.
Walking these paths, you’re following routes used by philosophers, priests, and citizens over two and a half thousand years ago. That’s what draws millions of visitors to this limestone hilltop—the chance to see where much of Western culture started.
Frequently asked questions
01 What is the Acropolis?
The Acropolis is an ancient citadel built on a rocky plateau above Athens, Greece. The word comes from Greek meaning “highest point of the city.” The Acropolis of Athens contains famous monuments including the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike, and Propylaea. It served as the religious, political, and cultural center of ancient Athens during the 5th century BCE and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
02 What is the Acropolis of Athens famous for?
The Acropolis is famous for containing the best surviving examples of classical Greek architecture, particularly the Parthenon. The site’s monuments influenced architecture across the Western world for over two thousand years. Today it’s Greece’s most-visited landmark.
03 What does Acropolis mean?
Acropolis means “high city” in ancient Greek. The word combines “akron” (highest point) with “polis” (city). Many Greek cities had an acropolis—a fortified citadel on elevated ground—but the Acropolis of Athens became so well-known that the term now commonly refers to this specific site.
04 When was the Acropolis of Athens built?
The major monuments visible today – the Parthenon, Propylaea, Erechtheion, and Temple of Athena Nike – were built between 447 and 406 BCE during the Golden Age of Athens under Pericles. The Acropolis was erected over many centuries, with important buildings visible from the north side and other vantage points.
However, the site has been inhabited since the Neolithic era, around 4000 BCE, and its long history includes the construction of a fortification wall in the thirteenth century BC and later additions in the third century AD.
05 Why was the Acropolis built?
The Acropolis served different purposes over time. It was originally a fortified citadel for defense, then evolved into Athens’ religious center, dedicated primarily to the goddess Athena. The 5th-century BCE building program under Pericles was meant to showcase Athenian wealth and power following victory over Persia.
06 What is the difference between the Acropolis and the Parthenon?
The Acropolis is the entire hilltop complex containing multiple structures. The Parthenon is one specific temple within that complex—the largest and most famous, but only part of the site. The Acropolis also includes the Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike, Propylaea gateway, Theatre of Dionysus, and Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
In addition to these, the Acropolis also features small temples and other structures.
07 How old is the Acropolis of Athens?
The site has been inhabited for about 6,000 years, with evidence of settlement dating to around 4000 BCE. The famous classical monuments are roughly 2,500 years old, built between 447 and 406 BCE.
08 Can you go inside the Parthenon?
No. The temple interior is closed to the public for preservation and ongoing restoration. Visitors can walk around the exterior and view it from all angles. The Acropolis Museum has a gallery displaying original Parthenon sculptures at their original height.
09 How long does it take to visit the Acropolis?
Most visits take between 90 minutes and 3 hours. Self-guided visits with audio guides average 90 minutes to 2 hours. Guided tours typically run 2 hours. Adding the Acropolis Museum extends your total time to 4–5 hours.
10 Is the Acropolis of Athens worth visiting?
Yes. It’s one of the most significant cultural landmarks in the world, with well-preserved examples of classical Greek architecture that influenced building design for centuries. The site also offers panoramic views across Athens.