Acropolis Museum Guide: Tickets, Hours and What to See on Each Floor
The museum at the foot of the Acropolis holds most of what survives from the hill itself. Here is how tickets and hours work, and how to move through it floor by floor.
The Acropolis Museum sits at Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, next to Akropoli metro station on Line 2. As of November 2026, a general ticket costs €20 and a reduced one €10, and most visitors need two to three hours. Book a timed slot on the museum’s official e-ticket site to skip the queue.
The museum is separate from the archaeological site on the hill. It has its own tickets, its own hours and its own free-entry rules, so a ticket for one does not get you into the other. It is run as an independent public body, which is why its prices differ from the state museums managed by the Ministry of Culture.
How much does an Acropolis Museum ticket cost?
As of November 2026, most published listings give a full ticket of €20 and a reduced ticket of €10, with the same price in summer and winter after the 2025 changes to Greek museum pricing. A few older listings still show a lower winter rate, so confirm the figure on the official Acropolis Museum ticket site before you buy.
- Online tickets are full-price, timed tickets for a specific date and entry time. You can buy up to 10 in one transaction.
- Reduced and free tickets are issued only at the ticket desks on the ground floor, after staff check your ID, student card or other document.
- Resellers often charge more. The museum says it is not responsible for third-party tickets sold at higher prices.
Free and reduced categories include children and young people from the EU in many cases, but the exact rules for the museum are set by the museum itself. Bring a passport or ID card if you expect to qualify.
What are the opening hours by season?
The museum keeps longer hours in summer and shorter weekday hours in winter, with a late opening on Fridays all year. The pattern published in recent seasons looks like this, but confirm it before you go, since the museum adjusts hours for holidays and events.
| Season | Monday to Thursday | Friday | Saturday and Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (November to March) | 09:00 to 17:00 | 09:00 to 22:00 | 09:00 to 20:00 |
| Summer (April to October) | Longer hours, from 08:00; Monday closes earlier | Open until 22:00 | Open until 20:00 |
Last entry is usually 30 minutes before closing. The museum is closed on 1 January, Orthodox Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 and 26 December. Friday evenings in winter are the quietest time to see the top floor.
What is on each floor of the Acropolis Museum?
The museum is laid out so you climb from the slopes of the hill to the Parthenon at the top. Going floor by floor, in order, makes the most sense.
- The excavation under the museum. The building stands on pillars above the remains of an ancient Athenian neighborhood with houses, streets and workshops. You see it through glass floors at the entrance and in the forecourt. A lower level lets you walk among the ruins; check at the desk whether it is open and whether it needs a separate ticket on your day.
- Ground floor: the slopes of the Acropolis. A glass-floored ramp holds objects found on the hillsides, from sanctuaries and homes. Look down as you walk.
- First floor: the Archaic gallery and the Caryatids. This is a bright hall of painted marble statues from the 6th century BC, including the korai (statues of young women) and the Moschophoros (a man carrying a calf). On a raised balcony at one end stand five of the six original Caryatids from the Erechtheion porch. The sixth is in the British Museum in London. The figures on the hill today are copies.
- Second floor. This level has the restaurant, the shop and a terrace.
- Third floor: the Parthenon gallery. The glass hall is turned to match the Parthenon’s own orientation, and the hill is visible through the windows. The frieze runs around the room at eye level. Original marbles sit next to white plaster casts of the pieces held in London, so the gaps are easy to see.
How long should you allow?
Plan two to three hours for a full visit. One hour is enough for the Caryatids and the Parthenon gallery if you are short of time. Add an hour if you want lunch on the second floor or plan to walk the excavation level.
Large bags are not allowed in the galleries, so travel light or expect to leave them at the cloakroom. Photo rules differ between galleries; follow the signs in each room.
Is the museum restaurant worth it?
The second-floor restaurant has a terrace facing the Acropolis and is one of the easiest places near the hill to sit down for a coffee or lunch. Access rules for diners without a museum ticket have changed over the years, so ask at the information desk or check the museum website. Prices are higher than in an ordinary neighborhood taverna, which reflects the view more than the food.
How do you combine the museum with the Acropolis?
The two sites are a five-minute walk apart along the pedestrian street Dionysiou Areopagitou. The hill and the museum are on separate tickets; see our guide to Acropolis tickets, prices and free days for the site itself.
- Hill first, early. Enter the Acropolis at opening time, when it is cooler and less crowded, then come down to the museum for the late morning.
- Museum first, then sunset. In winter the hill closes in the late afternoon, so this order works best on a Friday, when the museum stays open until 22:00 and you can return after the site closes.
- Getting there. Akropoli station on Line 2 is next to the entrance. Our guide to the Athens metro lines covers routes from Syntagma, Omonia and Piraeus.
Bottom line
Buy a timed ticket online for a weekday morning or a Friday evening and go straight up to the third floor, then work down. If you plan to see the National Archaeological Museum on the same trip, keep the two on separate days: each takes most of a morning.
FAQ
Are the Caryatids at the Acropolis Museum the originals?
Yes. Five of the six original Caryatids are on the first floor of the museum. The sixth is in the British Museum, and the statues on the Erechtheion today are copies.
Can you buy reduced Acropolis Museum tickets online?
No. The online shop sells full-price timed tickets only. Reduced and free tickets are issued at the ground-floor desks after staff check your documents.
Is the Acropolis ticket valid for the museum?
No. The archaeological site and the museum are run by different bodies and sell separate tickets. You need one for each.
Is the Acropolis Museum open on Mondays?
Yes. In recent seasons the museum has opened every day except a handful of holidays, with shorter hours on Mondays in summer. Check the official site for the current schedule.
