Monument in Athens
The Acropolis is the sacred rock above Athens, crowned by the Parthenon and visible from almost everywhere in the city. Entry is paid, with a combo ticket covering multiple archaeological sites. On certain national holidays and the first Sunday of winter months, entry is free. The climb up the rock is steep and the Parthenon at the top is the single most important ancient building still standing. Budget travelers time their visit for a free day or treat the combo ticket as the one big spend of their Athens trip.
Practical
On foot
Free and low-cost routes that stop at Acropolis.
The Acropolis Hill Circuit is a self-guided walk connecting the three hills around the Acropolis through pine forests and rocky paths. Free. It passes the site of the world's first democratic assembly and the most historically significant free walk in Europe.
Nearby
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
The Acropolis Museum is a modern glass museum at the foot of the Acropolis, housing the sculptures, friezes, and artifacts from the Parthenon and the other Acropolis buildings. Entry is paid.
Anafiotika is a hidden neighborhood clinging to the north slope of the Acropolis rock, built in the 19th century by workers from the Cycladic island of Anafi who replicated their island architecture in the middle of Athens. Free.
The Ancient Agora was the civic and commercial heart of classical Athens, where Socrates argued and democracy was practiced daily. The site is included in the Acropolis combo ticket.
Areopagus Hill (Mars Hill) is a bare marble rock below the Acropolis entrance where the Athenian court met and where St Paul delivered his sermon to the Athenians. Free.
The Athens Central Market (Varvakios Agora) is a covered market on Athinas Street between Monastiraki and Omonia, with a meat hall, a fish hall, and surrounding streets of fruit, vegetable, and spice vendors. Free to browse.
The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is a private museum spanning Greek history from the Neolithic era to the 20th century, housed in a neoclassical mansion on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue. Entry is paid.
Working out what Athens costs?
The whole of Athens