The Acropolis is the one historical site you must see while in Athens. I consider it the greatest of all archaeological sites. You can take a tour or just guide yourself. It is best to either go early or later in the day, as it can get very warm. The monuments that are still visible today date from the Classical Period (450-330 BC) and include the architecturally complex Erechtheion temple and the most architecturally sophisticated temple of its time, the Parthenon. Wear sturdy shoes, because it’s a hike to the top and the marble steps near the monuments are slippery. The term "acropolis" means upper city, and many of the city-states of ancient Greece are built around an acropolis that the i
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The monuments that are still visible today date from the Classical Period (450-330 BC) and include the architecturally complex Erechtheion temple and the most architecturally sophisticated temple of its time, the Parthenon. Wear sturdy shoes, because it’s a hike to the top and the marble steps near the monuments are slippery.
The term "acropolis" means upper city, and many of the city-states of ancient Greece are built around an acropolis that the inhabitants can go to as a place of refuge in times of invasion. It's for this reason that the most sacred buildings are usually on the acropolis; it's the safest, most secure place in town.
Below the Acropolis is the theater of Herod Atticus, built by the Romans in 161 AD and still used today for classical concerts, ballet, performances of high cultural value, and Yanni. Farther on is the Theater of Dionysius, the first stone theater and home to Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides, and Aristophanes. It was rebuilt around 342 BC and then enlarged by the Romans to be used for gladiator fights.
The Acropolis is open from 8am to 6:30pm every day. These hours can change depending on the season, and sometimes it is open in the evenings of the full moon during the summer. They don't allow you to bring backpacks or day bags on the Acropolis; you have to check them, so if you need to bring a bag with you, be sure to have a spare pocket for your valuables. The cost of entrance to the Acropolis is about 12 euros. The entrance fee is valid for a week and grants access to the other sites in the area including the Ancient Agora, Theatre of Dionysius, Kerameikos, Roman Agora, Tower of the Winds, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
The easiest way to get to the Acropolis is to follow Dioysiou Aeropagitou, the large pedestrian street that starts near Hadrian's Arch and goes around the north of the Acropolis, until you come to the marble paths that lead up the hill. This road becomes Apostolou Pavlou, which is also car-less and continues past the cafes of Thission to the lower Ermou and Kerameikos archaeological site at the bottom of Monastiraki.
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