Acropolis - Crowning Glory of Athens

The Acropolis Fast Facts

The Acropolis looks impressive bathed in the midday sun, but wait until dusk for the most stunning views in the glow of sunset (skip the cheesy Sound & Light show).
Be sure to ask for an English-language guide at the ticket counter.
Once inaccessible to the elderly or disabled, the summit now can be conveniently reached by elevator.
Open April - October 8AM to sunset and from November - March 8AM - 2:30 PM
Metro Station : Acropolis

Other Greek cities and towns may boast a section of town by the same name (Acropolis means "higher city'), but the mere mention of the word anywhere in the world brings to mind the Athens Acropolis.

A veritable Greek icon, the Acropolis complex of ancient buildings has caused writers to wax poetic over its grandeur and beauty for centuries.

In the modern world, it endures as a classic symbol of survival - of war, the passage of time and the vagaries of fashion.

Among the most famous of the remaining buildings that make up the Acropolis is the Parthenon, a classic beauty of Doric architecture completed in 438 BC and dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the virgin goddess Athena.

Today, the Parthenon is part of an ongoing restoration project - with recent work now being completed and the scaffolding removed, to once again show off its classic line and form to best advantage.

A visit to the Acropolis would also not be complete without taking in the smaller gem of Ionic architecture, the Erechtheion, with its charming south portico supported by caryatids, a term used for columns shaped in human form. In this case, they are beautiful maidens, draped in garments with folds resembling fluted columns.

Indoors, the Acropolis museum can be found below the level of the Parthenon, featuring a stunning collection devoted to finds from the Acropolis including 5th century BC statues and well-preserved segments of the Parthenon frieze.

Getting to the Acropolis & The Parthenon:

Athens metro map showing the Acropolis metro stop
You can easily reach the Parthenon and the Acropolis using the Athens Metro.

From the Acropoli metro stop, walk west along Dionysiou Areopagitou Street and take
the first right on to Theorias Street. The entrance to the Acropolis is off Theorias Street.

More about the Acropolis around the Web:

• The Acropolis of Anthens - Check out the Athens Survival Guide tour offering insider tips and information on when to go, what to see, and how to get there, with photos and related resources.

• Acropolis Museum Picture Gallery - Get a sneak preview of what you're going to see insides with this virtual tour filled with eye candy and information on some of the Acropolis' most important marbles and other artworks.