Athens Combo Ticket For Acropolis And Other Sites

The Athens combo ticket is the best way to visit the Acropolis and six more important ancient sites in Athens. 

The Acropolis and Ancient Athens combined ticket

Ask anyone what is the number one thing to see in Athens, and they will definitely say “The Acropolis“. Without a doubt, the stunning 2,500 year-old archaeological site is a must-see when you are visiting Athens.

However, the Acropolis is not the only ancient site you can visit in our vibrant city! There are six more important ancient sites in Athens, including the Ancient Agora and the Temple of Zeus. Each of them offers a different perspective of life in Ancient Athens.

As an Athenian, I like to visit the ancient sites every now and then. Rather than getting separate tickets for each site, I buy the Acropolis combo ticket, which is a lot more affordable. Anyone visiting Athens who wants to see all the main sites in the city, should do the same!  

Click here to get your ticket: Combo ticket for ancient Athens.

Combined ticket for archaeological sites in Athens

The Ancient Athens combined ticket is valid for five days from the day of purchase. The combined ticket allows you to visit all the ticketed archaeological sites in central Athens, and it costs 30 Euro. You can only visit each site once.

You will need to start with the Acropolis, for which you have to select the time slot when you want to visit.

The Athens combined ticket for archaeological sites includes entrance to:

• The Acropolis of Athens
• The Ancient Agora of Athens and the Museum of the Ancient Agora
• Kerameikos and the Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos
• The Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieio)
• The Roman Agora of Athens and the Tower of the Winds
• Hadrian’s Library
• Aristotle’s Lyceum (Archaeological site of Lykeion)

You can easily buy your combined ticket online in advance of your visit here: Combined ticket for the ancient sites in Athens. There’s a small handling fee. 

Student and senior discounts are available for all tickets, and entrance to all the sites is free on selected dates during the year. For more information, have a look at this article on Free admission days for the ancient sites in Greece.

If you are buying discounted tickets, remember to bring your ID or student ID on the day you visit.

There is also the official website where you can get your tickets online. However, this doesn’t offer you the option to purchase any guided tours or audio guides. You can try it here. 

Guided tours in Athens

You can easily visit the ancient sites yourself. However, taking a tour with a licensed guide will definitely enhance your experience and your visit to Athens.

I’ve taken a number of guided tours over the past 15 years or so, and I’ve learnt new things in each of them.

There are dozens of tours to choose from, which you can compare and book on Get Your Guide or Viator.

This guided tour of the Acropolis gets some of the highest ratings, and is excellent value for money.

Or you could go for this combined tour of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum instead. This one will give you a better insight on life in Ancient Athens.

And now, let’s look at the seven ancient sites in Athens which you can explore with your combo ticket! 

Note: While it had been announced that the combined ticket would be discontinued in April 2024, it’s still available until the end of October 2024! If you are visiting later than that, tickets will be released closer to the time, so no need to worry. 

1. The Acropolis of Athens

It would be a difficult task to write anything new about this superb ancient Greek monumental complex, which was declared a UNESCO monument in 1987. The Acropolis of Athens is located on a hill of about 150 m in central Athens, and it consists of fortification walls and temples.

The first wall was built during the 13th century BC, in the Mycenaean era. The complex reached its peak in the 6th and 5th centuries BC, especially at the time when Pericles was ruling Athens.

Nowadays, you can see the remains of a number of monuments. The most famous temple is the Parthenon, which was dedicated to Athena, the city’s patron goddess.

Other important temples are the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike, while the Propylaia Gate is monumental. You can also see the amazing Theater of Dionysus, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, also known as Herodion.

These ancient monuments have survived earthquakes, wars, bombings, alterations and even poor restoration works. They are still standing today, reminding everyone of Greece’s unique past!

You can buy your Acropolis pass here: Acropolis combination ticket.

Time required: 1.5 hours minimum
Single Entry Fee: 20 Euro (1/4 – 31/10) or 10 Euro (1/11 – 31/3)
Closest Metro Stations: Acropolis and Thisseio
I recommend: Wear non-slippery shoes, and bring some water and a hat! Also, check out these tips for staying cool in the summer in Athens.

Acropolis Hours: 8:00-20:00 during summer, 8:00-17:00 during winter. In September and October, closing time varies, so check in advance of your visit.

You can read more about the Acropolis here: The Acropolis.

2. The Ancient Agora of Athens and the Museum of the Ancient Agora

In ancient Athens, the Agora was the heart of the city-state. In fact, the Greek word “agora” means “gathering place” or “assembly”.

The Agora was the centre of political, artistic, athletic, spiritual and everyday life of Athens. Along with the Acropolis, this is where Democracy, Philosophy, Theatre and Freedom of Expression and Speech were born.

The highlights of the Agora include the Stoa of Attalos, and the temple of Hephaestus. The Stoa of Attalos, which has been rebuilt and transformed into the Museum of the Ancient Agora, was quite possibly the first Mall in history.

The temple of Hephaestus is the best preserved temple in the whole of Greece!

Apart from those, you might be surprised to see a well-preserved Byzantine church, the Church of the Holy Apostles, built in the 10th century AD.

You can buy skip-the-line tickets for the Ancient Agora here: Athens ticket combo.

Time required: 2 hours minimum
Single Entry Fee: 10 Euro (1/4 – 31/10) or 5 Euro (1/11 – 31/3)
Closest Metro Stations: Monastiraki and Thisseio
I recommend: Taking water with you (water might be available at vending machines inside, but it’s best to have some just in case).

Here is my article about the Ancient Agora in Athens. Also, here is a guide with a few useful words in Greek.

3. Kerameikos and the Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos

The archaeological site of the Kerameikos is often overlooked by visitors, but I strongly suggest you visit. It’s one of the most important areas of ancient Athens.

The area was developed around the banks of river Eridanos, whose banks are still visible today. Named after the Greek word for pottery, the area originally served as a settlement for potters and vase painters, and was the main production centre of the famous Athenian vases.

The site was later converted into a burial ground, which eventually became ancient Athens’ most important cemetery.

The site of Kerameikos contains a part of the Themistoclean Wall, which was built in 478 BC to protect the ancient city of Athens from the Spartans.

The Wall divided the Kerameikos into two sections, inner and outer Kerameikos. Inner Kerameikos (inside the city walls) developed into a residential neighbourhood, whereas outer Kerameikos remained a cemetery.

Parts of the Wall, together with the gate of Dipylon and the Sacred Gate are preserved today. These were the starting points of the Panathenaic procession and the procession of the Eleusinian Mysteries respectively.

Excavations in the Kerameikos area began in 1870. During the construction of Kerameikos metro station, approximately 1,000 tombs from the 4th and 5th centuries BC were discovered. Burial-related exhibits are showcased in the museum of Kerameikos.

Time required: 1.5 hours minimum
Single Entry Fee: 8 Euro (1/4 – 31/10) or 4 Euro (1/11 – 31/3)
Closest Metro Stations: Kerameikos and Thisseio
I recommend: Checking out the walls.

4. The Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieio)

The Temple of Olympian Zeus is one of the oldest temples in Athens, and one of the largest ever built in Greece. Its construction was initiated by the tyrant Peisistratus the Young in 515 BC, but was stopped due to the fall of tyranny.

It resumed in 174 BC by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and was eventually completed by Emperor Hadrian in AD 124/125. Over the years, a new city wall, a large Late Roman cemetery, and an extensive Byzantine settlement were developed in the area.

Excavations on the site began in 1883. Of the original 104 columns, only 15 remain standing today. A 16th column collapsed during an earthquake in 1852, and the pieces can still be seen on the ground.

The site is very impressive, not least for the sheer size of the columns! If you walk around, you can see Acropolis in the background.

Note: At the time of writing (spring 2024), the temple is under restoration, and is covered with scaffolding. The photo above is a few years ago!

Time required: 1 hour minimum
Single Entry Fee: 8 Euro (1/4 – 31/10) or 4 Euro (1/11 – 31/3); Free with the Acropolis combination ticket.
Closest Metro Station: Acropolis
I recommend: Finding the perfect angle to take a photo of the temple, with the Acropolis in the background!

5. The Roman Agora of Athens and the Tower of the Winds

The Roman Agora of Athens was built between 19 – 11 BC, with donations by Julius Caesar and Augustus. After the Herulae invaded Athens in AD 267, it became the centre of the city of Athens.

During the Byzantine period and the Ottoman occupation, the site of the Roman Agora was covered by newly built houses, churches, the Fethiye mosque and workshops. Excavations of the site began in the 1830s.

Within the Roman Agora, you can also see the Tower of the Winds, built in the 1^st century BC by the astronomer Andronicos, from Kyrrhos in Macedonia.

The tower is built of white Pentelic marble and is octagonal. It was originally used to identify the direction the wind blew; there were also sundials on the external walls and a water clock in the interior.

Over the years, it was converted into a Christian church and into the tekke of the Dervishes. Excavations started in 1837 and the latest restoration work finished in 2016.

Whilst the single entrance fee probably doesn’t offer great value, you should definitely see it with the Athens combined ticket.

Time required: Half hour minimum
Single Entry Fee: 8 Euro (1/4 – 31/10) or 4 Euro (1/11 – 31/3)
Closest Metro Station: Monastiraki
I recommend: Looking at the stone carvings on the exterior of the Tower of the Winds.

6. Hadrian’s Library

The Roman emperor Hadrian built this library in A.D. 132, and at the time it contained several rolls of papyrus books. Like other ancient Greek monuments, it was destroyed by the Herulae in A.D. 267.

In subsequent years, different types of Christian churches were built on top of the site. During the Ottoman occupation, the site became the seat of the Governor (Voevode).

Time required: Half hour
Single Entry Fee: 6 Euro (1/4 – 31/10) or 3 Euro (1/11 – 31/3); Free with the Acropolis combination ticket.
Closest Metro Station: Monastiraki
I recommend: This is a quick site to look around when using Monastiraki station (it’s directly opposite).

7. Aristotle’s Lyceum (Archaeological site of Lykeion)

An archaeological site opened to the public in 2014, Aristotle’s Lyceum is a small park with a few ancient ruins. It’s definitely worth visiting if you have a special interest in ancient Greek philosophy.

Aristotle’s Lyceum was one of the oldest gymnasia in ancient Athens. Aristotle founded his Walking School (Peripatetic School), based on the principles founded by Plato’s Academy, and taught from 335 – 323 BC.

This outdoors school taught rhetoric, philosophy and other disciplines. All Athenian men and youths were taught in the Lyceum, as part of their state military service.

These days, you can see the remains of several buildings, such as the gymnasia, a palestra, baths and a library.

You can easily combine this with a visit to the nearby historical museums. The Byzantine and Christian Museum, the Benaki Museum, and the Museum of Cycladic Art all offer a unique perspective on Greece’s long history.

Time required: Half hour
Single Entry Fee: 4 Euro (1/4 – 31/10) or 2 Euro (1/11 – 31/3)
Closest Metro Stations: Evangelismos and Syntagma
I recommend: Reading about Aristotle and Ancient Greek philosophy before your visit!

FAQs about the combo ticket for the Acropolis

Here are a few questions that visitors ask:

Where can I buy Multi Site Tickets in Athens?

You can buy the multi-site combo ticket in Athens at any of the ancient sites, or you can pre-book it online.

How much does it cost to visit the Acropolis of Athens?

Entrance to the Acropolis of Athens costs 20 euro during summer, and 10 euro during winter. Discounts apply for children, students and seniors.

Where can I buy Parthenon tickets?

You can buy tickets to visit the Parthenon at the entrance of the Acropolis, or online.

Is the Acropolis free?

The Acropolis of Athens is free on 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, last weekend in September, 28 October, and the first Sunday in November – March. The Acropolis is also free for certain categories of people, like children and EU students.

What does Acropolis ticket include?

The Acropolis ticket includes entrance to the Acropolis Hill. You will see temples like the Parthenon, the temple of Athena Nike, and the Erechtheion with the famous Caryatids statues. This ticket does not include entrance to the Acropolis Museum.

Is it worth getting the Acropolis combo ticket?

If you are planning to visit multiple sites in Athens, it’s worth getting the Athens combo ticket. If you only want to visit the Acropolis, you can just buy a single entrance ticket at 20 euro (summer), or 10 euro (winter).

When is the Acropolis closed?

The Acropolis of Athens remains closed on the following dates: 1 January, 25 March – Independence Day, Greek Easter, 1 May (in 2024, it will be closed on 7 May instead), 25 December – Christmas Day, and 26 December.

More travel guides for Athens and Greece

Visiting the Acropolis and the other ancient sites is only the beginning! Here are a few more articles which will help you discover ancient Athens and how to get around the city:

• Ancient Athens for free
• Panathenaic Stadium in Athens
• Athens walking tours with a local
• The temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion
• How to take the Athens metro
• Shopping in Athens
• The OXI day, 28 October, in Greece
• Greek celebrations

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Hi! I am Vanessa, an Athenian, and I love helping people discover more about Greece! I hope you have found this article on ancient Greek sites useful. Feel free to ask any questions right below! Also, follow my FB page for more blog posts and news about Greece.

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