Odeon of Herodes Atticus Archaeological Site

Address: Odeon of Herodes Atticus, southwest slope of the Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Hours: Open with Acropolis archaeological site (hours vary seasonally)

Admission: Included with Acropolis archaeological site ticket; separate tickets for performances

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone Roman theatre on the southwest slope of the Acropolis in Athens, built in the 2nd century AD by the wealthy Roman benefactor Herodes Atticus. It is a prominent ancient performance space below the Parthenon and part of the Acropolis’ ensemble of classical monuments.

The site comprises a semicircular seating area and an elaborate stone stage and facade; the venue was originally roofed and designed for music and theatrical performances. Today the restored structure hosts concerts and cultural performances, most notably during Athens’ summer arts festival, taking advantage of the atmospheric setting beneath the Acropolis.

The Odeon was constructed in 161 AD as a memorial and performance venue and fell out of use in the later Roman and Byzantine periods before being partially restored in the 20th century for modern cultural use. The modern restoration has focused on stabilising the stonework and adapting the site for live performances while preserving its archaeological fabric.

The Odeon sits on the southern slope of the Acropolis, immediately below the Parthenon, within a short walk of central Athens’ historic Plaka neighbourhood and the Acropolis Museum.

• Capacity and modern use: Constructed in the Roman period by the Athenian magnate Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, the theatre has an original capacity of roughly 5,000 spectators and is used today for concerts and theatrical events during Athens’ summer festival season.

What to See#

• Cavea (seating tiers): The semicircular stone cavea where audience seating rises in tiers, originally designed to hold several thousand spectators and now used for modern performances.
• Stage and facade: The ornate stone facade and stage area with restored marble elements that form the theatrical backdrop for concerts under the Acropolis.

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus sits on the south slope of the Acropolis, beside Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian street. The nearest metro stop is Acropoli (Athens Metro Line 2, the red line); from Acropoli station it is a roughly 5-10 minute walk along Dionysiou Areopagitou to the Odeon. From Syntagma square it is an easily walkable 10-15 minutes uphill along pedestrian routes; driving in the immediate area is restricted and parking is scarce.

• Visit the Odeon in the late afternoon if you want photos with softer light and fewer Acropolis tour crowds; for the best dramatic views of the venue, walk down the pedestrian Dionysiou Areopagitou way toward the southwest slope.
• If you can, attend an evening performance during the summer festival-the acoustics and atmosphere are exceptional and the experience of the ancient stone seating at night is very different from the daytime visit; check ticket availability in advance.