Parthenon Temple

Address: Acropolis of Athens / Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens 105 58, Greece

Hours: Daily - opening hours vary by season (longer in summer); check official site for exact times

Admission: Adult ticket for the Acropolis archaeological site typically €20 (high season); reduced €10; combined tickets for multiple sites available - check official site for current pricing

The Parthenon is a classical Doric temple on the Acropolis of Athens dedicated to the goddess Athena and constructed during the Periclean building program between 447 and 432 BCE. It is one of the most important surviving monuments of ancient Greece and a defining example of classical architecture.

The rectangular temple measures about 69.5 by 30.9 metres and originally featured a sculpted frieze and pedimental sculptures created under the supervision of the sculptor Phidias. The building’s colonnade is arranged with eight columns on the short sides and seventeen on the long sides.

The Parthenon was built under the Athenian statesman Pericles, designed by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates and decorated by Phidias. Over time it was converted to a church and later a mosque; in 1687 an explosion during a siege by Venetian forces caused severe damage to large parts of the structure. Restoration and conservation work has been ongoing since the 1970s.

The temple occupies the highest point of the Acropolis hill in central Athens and overlooks the modern city; the Acropolis is within walking distance of Athens’ central districts.

• Ticketing and timing: Access is via the Acropolis complex ticket, which also covers other monuments such as the Erechtheion and Propylaea; morning visits reduce heat and crowds.
• Best viewpoints: The best viewpoints for photography combine the Parthenon with wider views of the Acropolis and the city of Athens below, especially at golden hour.

The Parthenon is on the Acropolis plateau in central Athens. Take Athens Metro Line 2 (the red line) to Acropoli station - the Acropolis entrance is a short (5-10 minute) uphill walk from the station. It’s also an easy 10-15 minute walk from Syntagma or Monastiraki; from Athens Airport use the X95 express bus or metro into the city and change to Line 2.

• Book the earliest opening slot to enter the Acropolis just after sunrise to beat crowds and the heat, and to photograph the Parthenon in soft morning light.
• Enter from the south/south‑east approach off Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian street for the shortest climb and direct access to the main monuments; the north gates are busier with tour groups.
• Pair your visit with the Acropolis Museum on the south slope (book tickets in advance) - many miss the museum's Parthenon Gallery, which restores context for the sculptures you see on the hill.