Acropolis Tickets: Prices, Free Entry Days and Opening Hours

A standard Acropolis ticket costs €30 as of November 2026, and the price is the same in summer and winter. Citizens of EU countries under 25 and all visitors under 18 enter free. Tickets are for a specific entry time and are sold on the official site hhticket.gr and at the gate, subject to availability.

Greece reformed its archaeological ticket prices in two steps, in April 2024 and April 2025. The second step raised the Acropolis from €20 to €30 and dropped the cheaper winter rate that existed before. Older guides and blog posts still quote €20, €10 winter tickets or a seven-site combined pass, so check the date on anything you read.

How much is an Acropolis ticket and who pays less?

The full adult price is €30. Several groups pay a reduced price or nothing, and you need to carry proof (passport, EU identity card or student card) because staff check it at the turnstile.

Sources disagree on whether the senior discount for EU citizens now applies all year or only in part of the year, so confirm it on the booking page when you choose your ticket type. The free and reduced categories also include groups such as accompanying teachers on school visits, and the full list is shown during booking.

Is there still a combined ticket?

The old €30 combined ticket, which covered the Acropolis and six other sites (the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos, the Olympieion and Aristotle’s Lyceum), was withdrawn in the 2025 price reform according to reports at the time. Some resellers still advertise packages under similar names. If you want to see the other sites, compare their single tickets on hhticket.gr. Each site now sells its own entry.

The Acropolis Museum is run separately and always needs its own ticket. Our guide to visiting the Acropolis Museum covers its prices, hours and the galleries worth the most time.

How do timed entry slots work?

Every Acropolis ticket carries an entry time. Timed entry was introduced in September 2023 together with a daily visitor cap, mainly to spread out the summer morning rush.

1. Open hhticket.gr, the official ticket site for state archaeological sites, and choose the Acropolis.
2. Pick the date, then an entry time. Early morning and late afternoon slots sell out first from spring to autumn.
3. Choose the ticket type for each person, including free tickets, which still need a slot.
4. Pay and keep the e-ticket with its QR code on your phone or printed.
5. Arrive at the main entrance (west side, near the Areopagus) or the south entrance near the Acropolis Museum within your slot.

Tickets are non-refundable. The booking terms allow changing the time slot up to 14 days before the visit, but not cancelling.

Which days is the Acropolis free?

All visitors enter free on a set list of days, and on those days the site is busier than usual. As of November 2026 the free days are:

• the first Sunday of each month from November to March;
• 6 March (in memory of Melina Mercouri);
• 18 April (International Monuments Day);
• 18 May (International Museum Day);
• the last weekend of September (European Heritage Days);
• 28 October (Ohi Day).

On free days you still need to book an entry slot on hhticket.gr. For winter 2026 to 2027, the free first Sundays fall on 6 December, 3 January, 7 February and 7 March. The site is closed on 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Orthodox Easter Sunday and 25 and 26 December.

What are the opening hours by season?

Hours change through the year, and the last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

During heatwaves the Ministry of Culture can close the site in the middle of the day, typically from 12:00 to 17:00, when temperatures pass about 40°C. Holders of tickets for those hours are moved to other slots. Our page on what changes in Athens during a heatwave explains how these closures are announced.

Is hhticket.gr the only official place to buy?

Yes. hhticket.gr is the only official online seller, and the ticket booths at the entrances sell any remaining slots. Tour operators and resellers bundle the ticket with a guide or audio tour and charge more. That is fine if you want a guide, but a “skip the line” label adds little, because every ticket holder already has a timed slot and the queue is for security checks.

Bottom line

Book on hhticket.gr a few days ahead from April to October and take the 08:00 slot if you can, before the heat and the cruise groups. In winter, a weekday visit near closing time is usually the quietest, and the light on the marble is softer.

FAQ

Do students get a discount at the Acropolis?

EU students under 25 enter free with an EU passport or ID card, which already covers most of them. Non-EU visitors aged 18 to 25 pay the reduced price. A student card on its own does not replace proof of age and nationality.

How long does a visit take?

Most people need 1.5 to 2.5 hours for the hilltop and the slopes, including the Theatre of Dionysus. Allow longer if you walk up slowly or stop at the south slope sites.

Can I bring water and a bag?

Small bags and water bottles are allowed. Large backpacks and suitcases are not, and there is no luggage storage inside the site, so leave them at your hotel.

Is the Acropolis accessible for wheelchair users?

There is an elevator on the north slope for visitors with reduced mobility, and it can close in strong wind or bad weather. Check with the site before your visit if you depend on it.