Greece Athens ToursPlanning visits to Greece’s archaeological sites requires a little preparation — and getting it wrong costs you time, money, or both. Opening hours and entrance fees for archaeological sites in Greece changed significantly in April 2025, with a new tiered pricing structure introduced by the Ministry of Culture that standardises fees year-round. Here is everything you need to know before you go.
Entrance Fees — Updated April 2026
As of 1 April 2025, the Greek Ministry of Culture introduced new standardised entrance fees across all archaeological sites and museums. The previous seasonal discount system has been abolished — prices are now the same year-round.
Acropolis of Athens — €30
The most visited site in Greece has its own pricing category. The €30 fee applies to the Acropolis hill and slopes — the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike, Theatre of Dionysus, and the Odeon of Herod Atticus. The New Acropolis Museum is priced separately, and the entrance fee costs €20
Category B — €20 per person
Sites and museums receiving over 200,000 visitors annually. Includes Knossos in Crete, the Delphi archaeological site and museum, Cape Sounion, Ancient Corinth, Epidaurus, Olympia, Mycenae, and the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
Category C — €15 per person
Sites with 75,000–200,000 visitors annually. Includes the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
Category D — €10 per person
Sites with 15,000–75,000 visitors annually. Includes the Marathon.
Category E — €5 per person
Lesser-visited historical sites with fewer than 15,000 visitors annually.
Note: Most combination tickets for multiple sites have been discontinued. Exceptions remain for Ancient Olympia, Delphi, Mycenae, and Aegae.
Official tickets must be purchased through: www.hhticket.gr
Free Admission
Who Qualifies for Free Entry
EU citizens aged 25 and under, non-EU children aged 5 and under, students with valid ID, disabled persons with one companion, Greek seniors aged 65 and over, journalists, ICOM-ICOMOS members, serving military personnel, and licensed tour guides all enter free with valid identification.
Free Admission Days
Several dates each year offer free entry to all visitors regardless of nationality:
- 6 March
- 18 April — International Monuments Day
- 18 May — International Museums Day
- Last weekend of September
- 28 October — Ohi Day
- First Sunday of each month from November to March
If your visit coincides with any of these dates, plan accordingly — sites are busier than usual but completely free.
Opening Hours — Winter and Summer Schedule
All archaeological sites and museums in Greece follow two seasonal schedules. The winter period runs from 1 November to 31 March. The summer period runs from 1 April to 31 October.
Athens Sites and Museums
The Acropolis of Athens opens at 08:00 and closes at sunset in both seasons. Arriving early — ideally at opening — is strongly recommended between May and October when the site fills quickly after 09:00 as cruise ship groups arrive from Piraeus.
The New Acropolis Museum opens at 09:00 in winter (closing 17:00) and 08:00 in summer (closing 19:30). The National Archaeological Museum opens Tuesday to Sunday — in winter, Tuesday hours are 12:30–20:00 with other days 08:30–16:00; in summer, Monday hours are 13:00–19:30 with other days 08:30–19:30.
The Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Kerameikos, and Byzantine Museum all follow 08:00 to sunset in both seasons. The Temple of Olympian Zeus runs 08:00–15:00 in winter and 08:00 to sunset in summer.
[H3] Day Trip Destinations from Athens
| Site | Winter Hours | Summer Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Sounion | 08:00 – sunset | 08:00 – sunset |
| Ancient Corinth site & museum | 08:00–15:00, closed Tuesdays | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Delphi site & museum | 08:30 – 15:00 | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Epidaurus site & museum | 08:30 – 15:00 | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Mycenae site & museum | 08:30 – 15:00 | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Olympia site & museum | 08:30 – 15:00 | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Nemea site & museum | 08:00 – sunset | 08:00 – sunset |
| Marathon site & museum | 08:00 – sunset | 08:00 – sunset |
| Nafplion Palamidi fortress | 08:30 – 15:00 | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Meteora Monasteries | 09:00–13:00 / 15:00–17:00 | 09:00–13:00 / 15:00–17:00 |
| Hadrian’s Library | 08:30 – 15:00 | 08:00 – 19:00 |
Dates When All Sites Are Closed
Archaeological sites and museums across Greece close completely on the following public holidays:
- 1 January — New Year’s Day
- 25 March — Greek Independence Day
- Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday (movable — April or May)
- 1 May — Labour Day
- 25 December — Christmas Day
- 26 December — Second Day of Christmas
If your visit falls on or around these dates, check individual site schedules in advance — some sites may also close on the eve of major holidays.
Greek Public Holidays — Full List
All public services close on the following official holidays. Many archaeological sites also reduce hours or close entirely:
- 1 January — New Year’s Day
- 6 January — Epiphany
- Clean Monday (movable — first day of Orthodox Lent)
- 25 March — Independence Day
- Good Friday (movable)
- Easter Sunday and Monday (movable)
- 1 May — Labour Day
- Monday of the Holy Spirit (movable — 50 days after Easter)
- 15 August — Dormition of the Virgin Mary
- 28 October — Ohi Day
- 25 December — Christmas Day
Booking Tickets in Advance
For the Acropolis specifically, advance booking is essential between May and October. Timed entry slots sell out — particularly in the morning hours when cruise ship groups arrive from Piraeus. Arriving at the ticket office without a pre-booked slot can cost you an hour of queuing or, in peak season, a missed visit entirely.
Official Acropolis tickets: www.hhticket.gr
New Acropolis Museum tickets: etickets.theacropolismuseum.gr
For visitors joining a private Athens tour with Greece Athens Tours, skip-the-line Acropolis entry is included — tickets and timing are handled for you so you arrive at the right moment without any queuing.
For the most current and site-specific information, the official Hellenic Ministry of Culture resource is at odysseus.culture.gr
