Admission to the Acropolis of Athens costs €30 (reduced rate €15) according to the Greek Ministry of Culture. The site opens at 8 am; it closes at 8 pm in summer and 5 pm in winter, with earlier closing times in September and October. Official online tickets are sold only at tickets.hh.gr.
The sacred rock, with the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Propylaea, is an open-air site with no shade. This page gives the official rules, sunset times calculated for each month and the climate of Athens, so you can pick the right time slot. For the rest of your trip, see our guide to visiting Athens.
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Acropolis key facts
- Hours: summer 8 am – 8 pm (last entry 7:30 pm); winter 8 am – 5 pm (last entry 4:30 pm); in autumn, closing time moves earlier in steps (e.g. October 16–31: 8 am – 6 pm).
- Standard price recorded on 15 October 2026: €30; reduced €15.
- Booking: tickets at the ticket offices on site or online through the official service tickets.hh.gr.
- Closed: January 1, March 25, May 1, Orthodox Easter Sunday, December 25 and 26.
- Information checked on 15 October 2026 on odysseus.culture.gr (Greek Ministry of Culture).
Acropolis tickets: official site or resellers?
The Greek Ministry of Culture points to its official e-ticketing service, tickets.hh.gr. The « Acropolis and slopes » ticket is valid for one entry only: if you leave the Acropolis or the south slope, you cannot re-enter with the same ticket.
Beware of unofficial sites. On 15 October 2026, the top Google result for the French-language search « visiter acropole » was a Headout site that itself states « This is not the venue’s website ». These resellers often sell a ticket with a guide or audio guide, at a higher price than the official €30. If you only want to get in, use tickets.hh.gr.
Official free admission: March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend of September (European Heritage Days) and October 28. The categories of visitors entitled to free admission and the reduced rate are listed on the Ministry’s page.
Opening hours and closing days
| Period | Opening | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | 8 am – 8 pm | 7:30 pm |
| September 1 – 15 | 8 am – 7:30 pm | 7 pm |
| September 16 – 30 | 8 am – 7 pm | 6:30 pm |
| October 1 – 15 | 8 am – 6:30 pm | 6 pm |
| October 16 – 31 | 8 am – 6 pm | see the website |
| Winter | 8 am – 5 pm | 4:30 pm |
Public holidays: closed on January 1, March 25, May 1, Easter Sunday and December 25–26; open from 12 pm to 5 pm on Good Friday and from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Holy Saturday (Orthodox Easter).
Best time to visit: heat and light
There is almost no shade on the rock. In Athens, the average maximum reaches 32.2 °C (90 °F) in July and August (HNMS 1955–2010 normals, Elliniko station, taken from our page on the best time to visit Greece); heatwaves can exceed these averages by a wide margin.
Heatwave closures: during heatwaves, the Ministry has already closed the site during the hottest hours, for example from 12 pm to 5 pm in June and July 2024 (Greek press). These closures are announced case by case: in summer, aim for opening time (8 am) or the last hour.
Sunrise and sunset on the 15th of each month (Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA algorithm, Athens time). Compare with closing time: in summer the site closes before sunset, but the last hour offers low-angle light.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:39 am | 5:28 pm | 9 h 49 min |
| February | 7:15 am | 6:03 pm | 10 h 48 min |
| March | 6:36 am | 6:31 pm | 11 h 55 min |
| April | 6:49 am | 8:00 pm | 13 h 11 min |
| May | 6:14 am | 8:28 pm | 14 h 13 min |
| June | 6:02 am | 8:49 pm | 14 h 47 min |
| July | 6:14 am | 8:47 pm | 14 h 33 min |
| August | 6:40 am | 8:19 pm | 13 h 39 min |
| September | 7:06 am | 7:34 pm | 12 h 27 min |
| October | 7:33 am | 6:48 pm | 11 h 15 min |
| November | 7:05 am | 5:13 pm | 10 h 08 min |
| December | 7:33 am | 5:06 pm | 9 h 33 min |
- April–May and late September–October: highs of 19 to 28 °C (66 to 82 °F), long days: the best compromise.
- July–August: enter at 8 am, bring water and a hat; avoid 12 pm – 5 pm.
- Winter: cooler, 5 pm closing; December is the rainiest month (62 mm / 2.4 in).
What to see: suggested route
- The Propylaea, the monumental entrance (main access from the west).
- The Temple of Athena Nike, to the right of the Propylaea.
- The Parthenon: walk all the way around it.
- The Erechtheion and its Caryatid Porch (copies; the originals are in the Acropolis Museum).
- The slopes: Theatre of Dionysus and Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the south side — note that the ticket does not let you leave and come back.
Time needed: 1 h 30 to 2 h for the rock alone, half a day with the slopes. The Ministry publishes no official duration.
Getting there
Routes given by the Ministry: Metro station Akropoli then Dionysiou Areopagitou Street (or via the south slope and Thrasyllou Street), or Metro station Monastiraki then the Ancient Agora or the Plaka.
Accessibility
A lift for visitors with reduced mobility was installed in 2020; it is reached through a separate entrance, north of the central entrance, along a 350 m (1,148 ft) path, with staff assistance. It is also available to a single parent with two or more infants. On 15 October 2026, the Ministry stated that this lift was out of service and asked visitors to contact the guards’ office one hour before arrival. Ticket checks for disabled visitors take place only at the main entrance. The site is « partially accessible ».
Common mistakes
- Buying from a site other than tickets.hh.gr thinking you are paying the official price.
- Leaving for the south slope thinking you will come back: the ticket is single-use.
- Arriving after last entry (30 minutes before closing).
- Going up at noon in July: risk of heatwave closure and intense heat.
- Coming on a Greek public holiday: check the list of closures.
The Acropolis in brief: a little history
The Acropolis was developed under Pericles in the 5th century BC: the Parthenon, dedicated to Athena Parthenos, was built between 447 and 432 BC, followed by the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
The Parthenon has served in turn as a church, a mosque and a powder magazine; the explosion of 1687, during the Venetian siege, destroyed much of its central part. Restoration work has been under way for decades: expect to see scaffolding and cranes.
The Acropolis Museum, at the foot of the rock, holds the original sculptures, including the Caryatids of the Erechtheion and part of the Parthenon frieze. Visiting it before or after the site helps you understand what you see on the rock.
Visiting with children
- The climb is short but steep, on worn marble steps and slabs: a stroller is impractical, so bring a baby carrier.
- The lift is reserved for visitors with reduced mobility and for a single parent with at least two infants; it was out of service on 15 October 2026.
- In summer, with children, aim only for the 8 am opening: there is almost no shade on the plateau.
- The air-conditioned Acropolis Museum is a good complement for the hot hours.
Checklist before your visit
- Ticket bought on tickets.hh.gr or at the ticket office.
- Supporting document for the reduced rate or free admission.
- Shoes with grippy soles: polished marble is slippery.
- Water, hat and sunscreen from May to September.
- Arrival at 8 am in summer, or in the last hour before last entry.
- Check closure announcements (heatwave, public holidays) the day before.
What to see nearby
The Acropolis Museum, at the foot of the south slope, the Ancient Agora, the Plaka and Philopappos Hill for the view of the Parthenon. Our Athens page covers the city and the best time to visit Greece covers the climate. See entry requirements for Greece on our country page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Acropolis cost?
€30 at the standard rate and €15 at the reduced rate according to the Greek Ministry of Culture (recorded on 15 October 2026).
Where do you buy the official Acropolis ticket?
At the site’s ticket offices or online at tickets.hh.gr, the Ministry’s official service. Other sites are resellers.
What time does the Acropolis open?
At 8 am all year. Closing varies: 8 pm in summer, 5 pm in winter, with steps in September and October.
What are the free days at the Acropolis?
March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend of September and October 28, according to the Ministry.
Does the Acropolis close in a heatwave?
It has happened, for example from 12 pm to 5 pm in June and July 2024. Closures are announced case by case by the Ministry.
Our sources
- Greek Ministry of Culture, « Acropolis of Athens » page (odysseus.culture.gr): prices, hours, free days, access, accessibility, consulted on 15 October 2026.
- Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), 1955–2010 normals for Athens-Elliniko, taken from our page on the best time to visit Greece.
- Greek press (Protothema, July 2024) for heatwave closures.
- Destination de Voyage calculation: sunrise and sunset (NOAA algorithm).
- Ahrefs, October 2026 (search results for the French-language query).
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Practical information checked on 15 October 2026 on the official sites cited. Prices and hours may change: check before you go.