How to Take the Best Acropolis Tour in Athens

We’re sharing the best Acropolis tour in Athens that you need to take when you visit Greece. Whether you’re traveling to Athens for the first time or the tenth time, seeing the Acropolis and the Parthenon in person is an absolute must. Wandering around this historic Greek monumental complex perched high up on the hill is one of the best things to do in Athens and tops many Europe travel bucket lists.

Justin and I traveled through Athens and the Greek Isles, spending one day in Athens before venturing out to the islands. Naturally, touring the Acropolis and the Parthenon was an essential part of our Athens itinerary.

Before visiting the city of Athens, we had many questions. Would the Acropolis be super busy and crowded? Were there going to be massive lines to get into this archaeological site? In the end, we decided to visit the Acropolis with a small group tour, and it was an excellent decision. I’m here to share how you can do the same thing to avoid stress and have a super enjoyable and informative trip.

What is the Acropolis?

So, what is the Acropolis and why would you want to take a guided tour of the Acropolis? The Acropolis is an ancient citadel that is the most complete Greek monumental complex that still exists. It’s one of them most famous archaeological sites in the world.

The Acropolis of Athens and its monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage Site because they are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization. It is the most magnificent architectural and artistic complex from ancient Greek times.

The term “Acropolis” means “high city”. Sitting atop a limestone hill that’s been occupied since prehistoric times, the Acropolis has enjoyed many uses across the centuries. It was a home to kings, a mythical home to the gods, a citadel, a religious center, and finally, a tourist attraction.

While there are several surviving structures at the Acropolis, the most famous is the Parthenon. It’s a gigantic Doric-style temple dedicated to the goddess Athena during the 5th century BC. It once featured ornate decorative sculptures, including a statue of Athena, that are among the most amazing works of classical Greek art.

The majority of the surviving sculptures are on display at the Acropolis Museum in Athens and the British Museum in London. You can take a virtual tour of the Acropolis Museum on Google Arts and Culture if you’d like to visit before you travel to Athens or if you have a limited amount of time in Athens and aren’t able to go there on your trip.

Which Acropolis Tour to Take in Athens?

You are welcome to visit the Acropolis with or without a tour. It’s also possible to purchase an entrance ticket into the Acropolis only or you can purchase the combination ticket. The combination ticket allows access to seven ancient archaeological sites in Athens (Acropolis, Greek Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos, Aristotle’s School, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Roman Agora).

In this Acropolis small group tour, hosted by Walks, you’ll take a walking tour of the Acropolis, the Greek Agora and more with a small group (max 15). Our group only had seven people in it! Furthermore, you’ll experience these incredible ancient places, steeped in so much history and stories, with a local expert guide. Your guide will share many insightful facts, legends, and lore about ancient Greece and the attractions that you likely won’t learn elsewhere.

On this small group tour, you’ll also receive your own combination ticket to gain entry to the attractions. In addition to visiting the Acropolis/Parthenon and ancient Greek Agora with the group, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the rest of the archaeological sites on your own time. I’ll explain more details on the combination ticket at the end of this article.

This Acropolis tour is fantastic because you don’t need to wait in the massive long line to purchase tickets for the Acropolis, whether you buy the single entrance ticket or the combination ticket. Your tour guide has pre-purchased the combination tickets. You’ll wait in a much shorter line to walk straight into the property.

Helpful Tip if You Don’t Book a Tour

If you decide for whatever reason to not book a tour to the Acropolis and Parthenon as I recommend, please note that you can purchase a combination ticket at any of the seven tourist attractions. I recommend purchasing the combination ticket at any of the other attractions to avoid having to wait in the longest line at the Acropolis.

Then, you can wait in the shorter line to gain entry with the combination ticket that you already purchased. Skip the ticket office at the Acropolis where you’ll see the longest line, and get into the shorter line to enter the site. This only works if you purchase a combination ticket, not just Acropolis tickets / a single entry ticket.

Attractions You’ll Visit on This Athens City Tour

This Acropolis tour is a fully guided, four hour long tour, that visits the Acropolis and Parthenon, as well as a few other intriguing sites. You’ll be walking the entire time, so be sure to wear some comfortable walking shoes. However, there are quite a few breaks along the way where your guide will tell you more about the places you’re visiting.

Also, bring plenty of water. We quickly ran out of water, and Athens can get very hot. There aren’t too many shady spots at the Acropolis either. Thankfully, there was a vendor at the top of the hill selling bottles of water at a fair price. But, it’s best to plan ahead and bring more water than you think you’ll need.

The Acropolis and Parthenon (Skip the Line Tickets)

Most notably, you’ll visit the Acropolis and the Parthenon. The tour begins bright and early in the morning right at opening time (8:00am). We met our guide at the meeting point near the Acropolis metro station at 7:45am and walked straight to the Acropolis. It’s best to visit first thing in the morning because the Acropolis gets busier and busier as the day goes on. I was so happy we had a morning tour.

When we traveled to Athens in June, this famous attraction was very busy and seemed way more crowded as we were leaving. That’s one excellent reason to book this Acropolis tour: you’ll start your tour as early as possible in order to avoid some of the intense crowds. That isn’t to say that you won’t encounter crowds (it’s likely you will), but it will be less busy than if you arrived even in the mid-morning.

The Acropolis Slopes

The Acropolis is sectioned into two areas to visit: the Acropolis and the Acropolis Slopes. As we started our tour from the southeastern edge of the archaeological site, we walked around the sites of the Acropolis Slopes before approaching the Acropolis itself.

Your tour starts with a slight uphill walk as you venture to the top of the hill. You’ll be able to see Dionysus’ Theater and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a Roman theatre on the southwest slope of the Acropolis. We saw the cutest cat napping at the edge of the Theatre of Dionysus, which is now roped off to visitors. You can easily admire Dionysus’ Theater from the footpath as you make your way up the hill.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus, also known as Herodeon, is also closed to visitors at the Acropolis. However, it is still a regular concert venue where you can take in performances by the Greek National Opera, the Athens Philharmonic Orchestra, and contemporary artists.

Propylaea

At last, you’ll reach the Propylaea, which is the main entrance to the Acropolis. This is an impressive monumental entryway with a central building flanked by two wings.

These were once covered with highly decorated painted panels to admire on your way into the site. Aside from the Parthenon, this is one of the main attractions as you’ll enter the site as the ancient Greeks once did.

Temple of Athena Nike

The Temple of Athena Nike is a small Ionic-style temple to the right of the Propylaea. It’s a shrine to the goddess Athena Nike, protector of the city of Athens.

Parthenon

Viewing the Parthenon is the highlight of the visit for most people taking an Acropolis tour. It’s a massive temple in the middle of the Acropolis. It’s the first building you’ll see after walking through the Propylaea.

While you’re not allowed to enter the Parthenon, you can walk around the outside of it. Please note that there is scaffolding on the Parthenon. Many of these archaeological sites are undergoing huge renovations, and I suspect that the renovations at the Parthenon will last some time.

The Erechtheion

The Erechtheion is a marble temple in honor of Athena and several other gods. It was built between 421 and 406 BCE in the Golden Age of Athens. The Erechtheion is also undergoing renovations, though it has been severely damaged over the years through war, damage and decay.

There’s an olive tree growing right beside the Erechtheion. It was planted in the 20th century and grows there to this date. It’s interesting to see one singular tree around these iconic monuments at the top of the Acropolis hill.

One beautiful feature of the building are the caryatids, six female figures that serve as columns and the architectural support of the roof. The caryatids you see here are replicas. Five of the maidens were removed in 1978 and transported to the Acropolis Museum.

The sixth figure was stolen by Lord Elgin. He removed nearly half of the sculptures from the Acropolis from 1801 to 1805 and they were put in display in the British Museum. Perhaps its time that the British Museum return many of its stolen artifacts, don’t you think?

When you’re exploring the Acropolis, you can’t help but admire the stunning panoramic views of Athens from high up on the hill. Catch many glimpses of beautiful scenery all around you. There are many photo-worthy moments, both of the impressive ancient ruins and the city views.

Ancient Greek Agora (Skip the Line Tickets)

The Ancient Greek Agora is another must visit site for Greek history and archaeology buffs. This was once the commercial center of the old city of Athens. It was once truly the heart of Athens and the main site of social and political activity. All citizens of ancient Athens crossed paths here, including the great philosophers, Sophocles, Socrates, Protagoras and others.

On this Athens ancient city tour, you’ll spend half of your time at the Acropolis and the second half of the tour at the Greek Agora. Wander around the huge plazas filled with monuments, pathways and ruins that go back 2500 years. Of course, you’ll skip the line with your combination entry ticket here as well.

You’ll climb another smaller hill to the Temple of Hephaestus, one of the best preserved ancient temples in the world. Built in the Doric style, the Temple of Hephaestus is the best preserved ancient temple in Greece. It was built around 450 BC and dedicated to both Hephaestus, the ancient god of fire and Athena, goddess of pottery and crafts.

Lastly, you’ll have the chance to browse the Archaeological Museum of the Athenian Agora, located on site in the Hellenistic Stoa of Atallos. This museum serves to store the artifacts unearthed during the excavations at the Greek Agora.

You’ll discover art, everyday objects and artifacts dating back to the Stone Age. There are objects relating to democratic functions, ancient pieces of pottery, statues, jewelry, coins, and so much more.

City Stroll in Plaka, Athens

Between the Acropolis and the Greek Agora, you’ll meander through the winding streets of Plaka, one of the oldest streets in the world. You’ll see some of the most interesting and picturesque areas of the neighborhood.

We poked our heads into an adorable and super charming cafe on the way. As there was a little bit of time, we were allowed to stop for a fresh lemonade if we wished. Then, we continued towards more ancient sites, as you can spot them all over this area of Athens.

Walk Past More Ancient Marvels

A few more places that we walked past with a short explanation included the Roman Agora and Tower of the Winds (the first meteorological station in the world), Lysicrates Monument, the Arch of Hadrian and the Melina Merkouri Cafe. We didn’t have any time to explore these places, but our combination pass would allow us to return at our own leisure.

What’s Included on the Acropolis Tour by Walks

So, what’s included on this Acropolis tour by Walks (also known as Take Walks)? Of course, you will embark on a fully guided tour of every historic site that I’ve mentioned above. These are small groups with a maximum size of 15.

Our group only had seven people in it, so it’s a much more intimate tour where you can freely ask your guide any questions you might have along the way. You also won’t be trekking around with a massive group, which I tend to dislike when I travel places.

Acropolis Tour with a Local Expert Guide

As mentioned throughout the article, you’ll embark on an Acropolis tour with a local expert guide. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable, and you could really tell that she lived and breathed ancient Greek history and archaeology.

I learned so much in my short four hour tour. As described on the tour website, you’ll “take a deep dive into the history of the world’s first democracy” with lots of great information shared within a short period of time. While we certainly learned so much on this half day Acropolis tour, it didn’t feel overwhelming.

If your group is above seven people, you’ll receive headsets so you can hear your guide in busy or noisier areas. As our group had seven people, we declined wearing headsets as we figured that we’d be near our tour guide at all times.

After taking this tour, I advise that you wear the headset. There were times that we wandered off a little bit to capture a photo of the ruins or a beautiful place. It would have been nice to be able to continue listening to our guide. Also, as it can be quite busy on the Acropolis, we managed to get separate from our guide and group for a short period of time. Wearing the headset would have allowed us to get back on track more quickly.

Combo Pass for More City Attractions

At the start of the Acropolis tour, your guide will provide you with a skip-the-line ticket. This ticket will be used for the Acropolis and the Ancient Greek Agora on this tour. Your skip-the-line ticket also allows admission to several other archaeological sites around Athens.