Acropolis Opening Hours: When to Go and What to Know

The Acropolis gates open at 8:00 a.m. on the days it is open, and the closing hour moves with the seasons, anywhere from 5:00 p.m. in winter to 8:00 p.m. in summer. Last entrance is 30 minutes before closing, and the site shuts completely on six holidays.

What are the Acropolis opening hours?

The schedule follows the length of the day. Closing time moves back in half-hour steps as summer turns to winter:

• April through August: 08:00 to 20:00, last entrance 19:30
• In the first half of September, the Acropolis is open 08:00 to 19:30, with last entrance at 19:00.
• In the second half of September, it is open 08:00 to 19:00, with last entrance at 18:30.
• In the first half of October, hours are 08:00 to 18:30, with last entrance at 18:00.
• In the second half of October, it is open 08:00 to 18:00, with last entrance at 17:30.
• November through March: 08:00 to 17:00, last entrance 16:30

The Acropolis hours cover the whole site, including the South Slope and the Theatre of Dionysus.

When is the Acropolis closed?

The gates stay shut on January 1, March 25, May 1, Easter Sunday, December 25 and December 26. Easter follows the Orthodox calendar and moves every year, usually landing in April or May, so look up the date for your trip.

The days around Easter Sunday are shorter. On Good Friday, archaeological sites open from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Holy Saturday they open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Hours can also change at short notice, for instance during heat waves or strikes. Check the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports website shortly before you go.

What time should you arrive to beat the heat and crowds?

Be at the gate at 8:00 a.m. The paths are uneven and shade is scarce, and the cool early hours make the climb far gentler. The second good window opens about two hours before closing, when the heat eases, the crowds thin and the marble glows in the evening sun. In summer, skip the stretch from about 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the hottest and busiest part of the day.

The calendar matters too. Summer is the busiest season, so spring and autumn visits feel calmer. Early mornings on weekdays are often a good choice if you want fewer crowds.

How late can you enter the Acropolis?

Entry stops 30 minutes before closing, which leaves very little time to explore, so aim to arrive well ahead of that. A visit to the hilltop takes 1.5 to 2 hours, or about 2.5 to 3 hours if you add the theaters on the south slope. Aim to be through the gate at least two hours before closing. In winter, that means about 3:00 p.m. In summer, with closing at 8:00 p.m., you can arrive as late as about 6:00 p.m.

Is the Acropolis free on certain days?

Yes. Entry is free on March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend of September and October 28.

On other days, 2026 prices: €30 for full admission and €15 for reduced, covering the Acropolis and its Slopes. Tickets are sold at the ticket offices on site and online through the ministry's official e-ticketing service. Entry works by timed slots, and in summer the line outside the gates can stretch for hours, so buy online ahead and book a morning slot early.

Can you leave and come back in?

No. The "Acropolis and Slopes" ticket works once. If you exit either the main site or the South Slope, you can't re-enter any part of it on the same ticket, so see both in one go. After you leave the hilltop through the Beulé Gate, signs point left, to the south, along the path to the South Exit and the entrance to the South Slope.

What about the museum, shop and other practical details?

The Museum Shop at the site entrance keeps its own hours: 8:00 to 19:30 in summer and 8:00 to 17:00 in winter.

To get there, take metro Line 2 to Acropolis station and walk along Dionysiou Areopagitou Street. You can also start at Monastiraki station and walk through the Ancient Agora or the Plaka neighborhood. Wear sturdy shoes with good grip, and bring water and a hat. The cloakroom sits outside the site, to the north of the Main Entrance, and won't take large luggage.

For visitors with mobility needs, an elevator rises about 25 meters (roughly 80 feet) to the plateau and ends north of the Erechtheion. A parent alone with two or more infants can use it too. A separate entrance leads to it along a route about 1,150 feet (350 m) long, and trained security staff ride with wheelchair users. Call the Chief Guard's Office at 2131317762 an hour before you arrive. The elevator doesn't run in severe weather or strong winds, so ask about conditions on that call.