The Acropolis has a new ticketing system starting on the 4th of September. The new system is designed to reduce lines and waiting times, and is currently in the pilot phase until next April. In 2023, in the peak months of July and August, the Acropolis had 23,000 visitors per day. So, the need to control the crowds is obvious.
E-Ticket Platform
An official e-ticket platform lets you pick the exact time you want to visit (within a range of 30 minutes). The daily limit on visitors is 20,000 per day, with each time slot having a limited number of entrants. The morning slots will have the highest number of spaces, allowing around 3,000 visitors. Not only will the program reduce crowds, it will protect the monument.
As a visitor said, “Thirty minutes is definitely better than waiting two hours for such a historic monument.” She went on, “If you have your ticket and you know when you’re going to enter, it’s easier to organize your day and plan your visit”. Other visitors are more skeptical: “The measure isn’t very practical. It makes sense because the antiquities need to be protected. But I think they could do better in terms of informing the public.” He related it to sporting events, where you know your seat well in advance and can plan accordingly.
Future Improvements
Alessandra from Italy notes that “it would be better if there was a screen or a board that could inform visitors of the timeslots and the number of tickets that are available”.
The new ticketing platform was decided because of a study from the Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development. This e-ticketing system is already in use at the Acropolis Museum to limit the number of visitors. It may also be implemented at other archaeological sites in Greece.
Price of Admission
Ticket prices will remain the same as before: 20 euros for general admission, and 10 euros for non-EU citizens under 25 years old. According to the website where you buy your tickets, you should arrive 30 minutes before your time slot and you are allowed to enter up to 15 minutes before your scheduled time and up to 15 minutes after.
About the Acropolis
The Acropolis is one of the most famous sites in the world and it was made in the 5th century BC to honor the goddess Athena. In the 5th century AD, it was used as a church and later as a mosque. The ancient site of the Acropolis is not just the Parthenon. It is also the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Propylaea. The Areopagus (rock of Ares) is on the northwest side of the site and was once a court used for criminal cases. Nowadays, it is an ideal place to enjoy the view of Athens.
The Acropolis closed earlier this summer because of the high temperatures from heatwaves, but it has now returned to its usual operations.
