The main Acropolis monuments are the Parthenon, the Propylaea gateway, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion with its Caryatids on the summit, plus the Theatre of Dionysus and Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the slopes. See them all with skip-the-line tickets and expert guided tours from My Greece Tours for a richer, queue-free visit.
Knowing what to see makes the most of your visit in the Acropolis tickets and tours guide. The sections below cover each monument and the best order in full.
What are the main monuments of the Acropolis?
The main monuments of the Acropolis are the Parthenon, the great temple of Athena; the Propylaea, the monumental gateway; the small Temple of Athena Nike; and the Erechtheion, famous for its Caryatids. On the slopes below stand the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Together they form the masterpiece of Classical Athens.
The Acropolis is crowned by a remarkable group of Classical monuments, mostly built during the 5th-century BC Golden Age under Pericles, which together represent the summit of ancient Greek art and architecture. On the flat summit of the sacred rock stand four principal monuments. The Parthenon, the largest and most famous, is the great Doric temple of Athena and the centrepiece of the whole site. The Propylaea is the grand monumental gateway through which everyone enters, marking the passage from the city to the sacred precinct. The Temple of Athena Nike, small and elegant, perches on a bastion beside the entrance. The Erechtheion, the most sacred temple, is celebrated for its Porch of the Caryatids, six sculpted maidens serving as columns. On the south slope below lie two great ancient theatres, the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. A visit takes around two hours to see the highlights. Knowing these monuments helps you plan your route, set out alongside the guide to the Parthenon. The Propylaea is the first you meet.
What is the Propylaea and Temple of Athena Nike?
The Propylaea is the monumental marble gateway to the Acropolis, built from 437 BC by Mnesicles, combining Doric and Ionic orders to create a grand sense of arrival. Beside it, on a bastion to the right, stands the Temple of Athena Nike, a small, elegant Ionic temple built around 420 BC by Kallikrates to honour Athena as bringer of victory.
Entering the Acropolis, the first great monuments you encounter are the Propylaea and the Temple of Athena Nike, which together form a dramatic, ceremonial approach. The Propylaea is the monumental gateway to the sacred rock, begun in 437 BC under the architect Mnesicles as part of Pericles’ programme, though left unfinished when the Peloponnesian War broke out. Built of fine Pentelic marble and ingeniously combining the Doric and Ionic orders, it was designed to impress, channelling pilgrims and processions through its grand columned porches and marking the symbolic threshold between the everyday city and the holy precinct of the gods. Perched on a steep bastion to the right of the entrance is the Temple of Athena Nike, a small but exquisite Ionic temple built around 420 BC, attributed to the architect Kallikrates. Dedicated to Athena Nike, meaning Athena as bringer of victory, it celebrated Athenian military success and once held a statue of the goddess. Its delicate proportions make it a gem. These two monuments set the tone for the whole site, set out alongside the guides to the Propylaea and the Temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon dominates the summit.
What is the Parthenon and the Erechtheion?
The Parthenon is the great Doric temple of Athena and the Acropolis’s centrepiece, built 447-432 BC. The Erechtheion, opposite it, is the most sacred temple, built 421-406 BC to honour Athena, Poseidon and the legendary king Erechtheus, and famous for its Porch of the Caryatids, six marble maidens that serve as columns. Both are masterpieces.
At the heart of the summit stand the two greatest temples, the Parthenon and the Erechtheion, facing each other across the sacred rock. The Parthenon is the largest and most celebrated monument, the great Doric temple of Athena Parthenos built between 447 and 432 BC, renowned for its perfect proportions, optical refinements and superb sculptures, and once home to Phidias’s colossal gold-and-ivory statue of Athena; it is the iconic image of the Acropolis and of Classical Greece. Opposite it, on the north side, stands the Erechtheion, a complex and unusual Ionic temple built between 421 and 406 BC on the most sacred part of the rock, where myth held that Athena and Poseidon contested for the city. The Erechtheion honoured several deities, including Athena, Poseidon and the legendary Athenian king Erechtheus, and is famous above all for its Porch of the Caryatids, where six beautifully sculpted marble maidens stand in place of columns to support the roof. Together these two temples are the artistic climax of the Acropolis, set out alongside the guides to the Erechtheion and Caryatids and the history. The slopes hold ancient theatres.
What monuments are on the slopes of the Acropolis?
On the south slope of the Acropolis stand two great ancient theatres: the Theatre of Dionysus, the birthplace of Greek drama and the world’s oldest theatre, where the plays of Sophocles and Euripides premiered; and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a Roman theatre of 161 AD, still used today for the Athens Epidaurus Festival. Both are included with your Acropolis ticket.
The Acropolis is not only the summit but also its slopes, and the south slope in particular holds two magnificent ancient theatres that are well worth exploring on your way up or down. The Theatre of Dionysus, carved into the south slope, is the oldest known theatre in the world and the very birthplace of Greek drama: here, at the festival of the City Dionysia, the Athenians gathered to watch the premieres of the tragedies and comedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes, the foundations of Western theatre, in an auditorium that eventually seated up to 17,000. A little to the west stands the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a grand Roman theatre built in 161 AD by the wealthy Athenian Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, with a steep stone auditorium for around 5,000 spectators; superbly restored, it still hosts world-class concerts and performances each summer during the Athens Epidaurus Festival. Both theatres are included in your Acropolis ticket and add greatly to a visit. Exploring the slopes completes the picture, set out alongside the guides to the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. A good route helps you see them all.
In what order should you see the Acropolis monuments?
Enter from the quieter south entrance, see the Theatre of Dionysus and Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the slope, then climb through the Propylaea, passing the Temple of Athena Nike, to the summit for the Parthenon and the Erechtheion. Visit the Acropolis Museum afterwards. Allow around two hours, and go early or late to avoid crowds.
Following a sensible route lets you see all the Acropolis monuments comfortably and in a logical sequence. A great approach is to enter from the south slope entrance, which is usually quieter than the main west gate and lets you start with the theatres: explore the ancient Theatre of Dionysus and the magnificent Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the south slope before climbing. From there, ascend the slope to the monumental Propylaea, the grand gateway, pausing to admire the little Temple of Athena Nike perched on its bastion to the right. Pass through the Propylaea onto the summit, where the two great temples await: circle the mighty Parthenon, taking in its scale and refinements, and visit the Erechtheion opposite to see the famous Caryatids, also enjoying the sweeping views over Athens from the rock. Allow around two hours for the whole site, and ideally visit early at opening or in the late afternoon to avoid the worst crowds and heat. Finish your day at the nearby Acropolis Museum, where the original sculptures are displayed. This route makes for a rewarding, well-paced visit, set out alongside the guides to a one-day itinerary and the Acropolis Museum highlights. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
What other features can you see on the Acropolis?
Beyond the main temples, you can see the ancient circuit walls ringing the summit, the foundations of the Old Temple of Athena between the Parthenon and Erechtheion, the spot where the giant bronze statue of Athena Promachos once stood, the sacred olive tree by the Erechtheion, and spectacular panoramic views over Athens to the sea and mountains.
While the great temples rightly draw the eye, the Acropolis summit holds many other features and details that reward a closer look and enrich your visit. The whole top of the rock is encircled by the ancient defensive walls, parts of which date back to Mycenaean times and the post-Persian rebuilding, with fragments of the destroyed Archaic temples visible embedded in the north wall as a deliberate memorial. Between the Parthenon and the Erechtheion you can make out the foundations of the Old Temple of Athena, a major Archaic temple that once stood there. Nearby is the spot where the colossal bronze statue of Athena Promachos, made by Phidias, once towered, its gleaming spear-tip said to be visible to sailors at sea. By the Erechtheion grows a sacred olive tree, recalling Athena’s mythical gift to the city. Perhaps most memorably, the summit offers breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views over the whole of Athens, taking in landmarks such as the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Lycabettus Hill, and on a clear day the sea and surrounding mountains. Taking time for these details and the views completes the experience, set out alongside the guide to a one-day itinerary. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main monuments on the Acropolis?
The main monuments of the Acropolis are the Parthenon, the great temple of Athena; the Propylaea, the monumental gateway; the small Temple of Athena Nike; and the Erechtheion, famous for its Caryatids. On the slopes below stand the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, both included with your ticket.
How much time do you need at the Acropolis?
It takes around two hours to see the main monuments of the Acropolis at a comfortable pace, including the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike and the south-slope theatres. Allow extra time if you want to linger over details, enjoy the views, or add the nearby Acropolis Museum afterwards.
Are the Acropolis slope monuments included in the ticket?
Yes, the south-slope monuments, including the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, are included in your standard Acropolis ticket along with the summit monuments. The Odeon is generally only entered during performances of the Athens Epidaurus Festival, but you can view it from the site at other times.