Accessibility guide of Acropolis and Museum

In this comprehensive Accessibility guide of Acropolis and Museum, you read everything about the Acropolis in Athens. In 2009 the Acropolis Museum was added to this amazing landmark. The Acropolis museum is fully wheelchair accessible. In this Accessibility guide of Acropolis and Museum, you read everything there is to know about this complex and how to get there.

Also, you learn about the accessibility features. In December 2020, the Greek government installed the long awaited new emblematic wheelchair-accessible elevator, making this impressive sight more accessible to everyone.

About the wheelchair accessible Acropolis and Museum

The Acropolis hill is the main attraction of the city. The hill originated in the 5th century BC, and for a long time the Acropolis has been the most important religious and administrative center of the city. You enter the Acropolis via the breathtaking Propylaea. It is easy to imagine how impressive this must have been in ancient times. Today, you no longer find the beautifully decorated sculptures of the temples on the mountain itself, however most of the pieces are safely stored in the Acropolis Museum and the British Museum.

From the top of the hill, you have a fantastic view of Athens. The city is built around the mountain in a circle. The main monuments of the Acropolis are the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike. Besides that, you find many more. To discover them all, consider one of our private tours in Athens that takes you to the accessible Acropolis, as well as the other main touristic sights in this ancient city.

The new Acropolis Museum opened in June 2009 and covers an area of 14,500 m². This new and improved museum shows you everything there is to know about the Acropolis and its history. It contains over 4000 objects from the area surrounding the Acropolis. Besides artifacts, you find various permanent exhibitions in the museum and archaeological excavation beneath the Acropolis Museum.

The Parthenon

To this day, the Acropolis is one of the most famous Greek civilization monuments and is dedicated to the goddess of the city, Athena. She is the virgin goddess of wisdom and war. The Parthenon is a substantial Greek temple for which the Acropolis is best known. The name Parthenon stands for the house of the virgin. It is located at the top of the Acropolis hill and was built between 450 and 430 BC.

The Propylaea

The Propylaea is where the monumental entrances to a sanctuary in ancient times. The propylaea of the Acropolis existed of the most important access roads to the Acropolis. The structure on the western side of the Acropolis consisted of the main building with two side wings and three colonnades, and it had both Doric and Ionic style features. They never finished the porticoes. There are five entrances: four intended for pedestrians and one for sacrificial animals and wagons. The Pinakothek, the oldest painting museum in the world, was once located in the northern wing of the Propylene.

The Erechtheion

The Erechtheion is a particular building that had essential value for the ancient Greeks and Athenian people. It is, in fact, one of the most important shrines of Classical Antiquity. This holy place is named after a famous king of Greece. King Erechteus, who was an influential man for the country. For some residents of Athens, the Erechtheion is even more important than the Parthenon. The building is a lot smaller than the Parthenon but is a real gem from an architectural perspective, and definitely worth a visit.

The Temple of Athena Nike

Just like the Vikings and many others, the Greeks also had many Gods they worshiped. Usually, these gods each had their temple where the inhabitants came to make sacrifices for various reasons.
The goddess Athena used to stand for victory. In times of need or war, people went to make sacrifices at the Temple of Athenanikè. Besides that, she was also the goddess who gave protection to people who had a craft job as a profession. These people gave her the name Athena Ergane.
You can still visit her temple at the Acropolis complex. It is a gorgeous structure that deserves your attention.

The Acropolis Museum

The first floor contains statues from the sixth century BC, before the construction of the Parthenon. The Acropolis was already the center of cultural and religious life in Athens then. On the top floor, where the Greek Parthenon sculptures are, you find an impressive 360° view. From here, you see the Acropolis and the Parthenon. The building contains archaeological remains of structures dating from the 4th century BC until the 7th century AD. These remains are nicely preserved and visible through the floor of the ground floor.

Accessibility of Acropolis and museum

The accessibility of the Acropolis and Museum is improving every year. The accessible Acropolis is not the most accessible historical monument you will find, whereas the museum has facilities for every need.

Accessibility Acropolis

You find accessible bathrooms at the entrance of the Acropolis and the top of the hill. In certain places, the site has uneven ground that could result in some difficulties navigating. In December 2020, a new elevator is installed that provides you with a beautiful panoramic view while bringing you to the top. The little road from the ticket office to the lift is fully accessible, however it has small uphills and small downhills. Therefore this can be a bit of a push for the manual wheelchair user and/or his/her companion. If preferred, we can arrange a pusher to assist with this.

Accessibility Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum is completely wheelchair accessible. Both the main entrance and the side entrance have wheelchair ramps. Each floor has elevator access and adapted toilets. If necessary, wheelchairs are available for use free of charge, although the Museum encourages people to use their own wheelchairs. If you prefer to have your own wheelchair at your disposal, you can also rent mobility equipment through us. Click here for more information.

Overall, visiting the monument and museum is absolutely worth your time. You see many of the complex historical aspects, and while you are at it, you are treated to a beautiful view.

New elevator installed in December 2020!

The Onassis Foundation and Maspero Elevatori have installed the long awaited new panoramic elevator at the Acropolis. This elevator supports 18 people or two wheelchairs with companions. During the ride up, you will enjoy a unique panoramic view over the area. When you arrive to the top, the area has been flattened to allow easy access.

As the previously installed lift was more out of order than working, the new elevator ensures visitors with disabilities a full Acropolis experience, including seeing the sight upclose. The new lift is modern, functional, and makes the sight accessible for everyone. This improvement resolves an important issue. And by doing so, it emphasizes the importance of equality.

Wheelchair accessible Tours in Athens

We offer a variety of private accessible tours in and around Athens. Visit the accessible Acropolis and other sights with your private knowledgeable guide. Click on the button for more information.

Ticket information

These different types of tickets are available at the ticket offices at the site or online.

The first option is a standard ticket. This entry ticket to the Acropolis gives you access to the ancient citadel, which includes the Parthenon and the Erechtheion, among other monuments at the top, as well as the North and South slopes, from where you can look into the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and explore the Theatre of Dionysus.

The second option is the combination ticket. This ticket gives you access to the Acropolis of Athens, the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, the Archaeological Site of Lykeion, the Hadrian’s Library, the Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora, the North Slope of the Acropolis, the Olympieio, the Roman Agora of Athens, and the South Slope of Acropolis. This ticket is perfect for you if you want to discover multiple archeological sites during your stay in Athens.

Lastly, you can also buy separate tickets for the Acropolis Museum.

Please note that the Acropolis offers free entry for wheelchair or scooter users and a companion upon presenting a valid disability ID, tag, card, or an official document explaining the disability. To be eligible for free entry, the documented disability must be over 67% (sometimes listed as +76% depending on the issuing country or document). The document must be official, issued by a hospital, doctor, or government body, and must clearly state the person’s name and describe the disability and disability status.

The ticket office is very strict with these requirements. When booking a tour, we strongly recommend sending us a copy of your disability tag and doctor’s note in advance, as your guide will need this verification to ensure eligibility for free entry.

If the disability documentation is not accepted, or if no official document is available, visitors can still enter by purchasing a standard ticket on the spot. This does not affect the use of the wheelchair-accessible elevator or the accessible route, which remain fully available during the tour.

When presenting the correct documents, visitors with disabilities (of 67% or more) and a companion receive free entry.

When are you planning your next visit to Athens? Make sure to spend some time discovering this breathtaking sight.

F.A.Q.

Is there wheelchair access to the Acropolis?

The Acropolis features concrete paths and new paths that are designed to accommodate visitors with accessibility needs. These routes are typically wide enough for wheelchairs and have addressed issues with uneven ground to provide a more comfortable visit.

Is there a lift up to the Acropolis in Athens?

Yes, in December of 2020 a brand-new, modern lift was installed for wheelchair users or others with accessibility problems. This new lift makes it easy and straightforward for wheelchair users to get up and down to the Acropolis.

Is Athens wheelchair friendly?

Fortunately for disabled tourists, the Greeks have done a good job of making these attractions as accessible as possible, and all can be visited by travelers with disabilities. At the numerous museums or in Athens disabled access is generally quite good although steep ramps and small elevators do exist.

What is the difference between the Acropolis and the Parthenon?

The Parthenon is an ancient religious temple the Athenians built for the Greek goddess Athena. The Acropolis is the high hill that the Parthenon was built on. In short, the Parthenon is a temple and the Acropolis is the hill the Parthenon is located.