Temple of Hera, Olympia Temple

Address: Temple of Hera, Archaeological Site of Olympia, Ancient Olympia, Elis, Greece

Website: https://odysseus.culture.gr/

Hours: Site hours vary seasonally - typically daytime hours in spring/summer; check Hellenic Ministry of Culture / site information before visiting

Admission: Adult admission to Archaeological Site of Olympia: typically €12 (Apr-Oct) and €6 (Nov-Mar); reduced fares and combined tickets may be available

The Temple of Hera at Olympia is an ancient Greek temple in the sanctuary of Olympia in western Greece, dedicated to the goddess Hera and built in the Archaic period around 600 BCE. It is one of the earliest examples of Doric temple architecture at the site.

Visitors encounter the temple ruins as part of the wider Archaeological Site of Olympia, where the temple’s foundations, column remnants and platform are visible alongside other monumental remains. The site is presented for public viewing with explanatory signage and pathways.

The temple was constructed for cult use and offerings to Hera and later fell into ruin through centuries of use, disuse and seismic damage. Archaeological excavations from the 19th century onward have uncovered and recorded the surviving architectural elements and associated finds.

The temple stands within the archaeological complex at Olympia in the western Peloponnese, Greece, near the Alfeios River and the modern village of Olympia.

• Archaic date: The standing ruins date to the Archaic period, with the temple generally dated to around 600 BCE.

The Temple of Hera is inside the archaeological site at Ancient Olympia in Western Greece. Drive to the village of Ancient Olympia (the site is signed and has parking) from nearby towns via the Greek National Road (E55/EO9); Pyrgos is the nearest larger town with regular road links and local bus/tour connections to Olympia. Once at the archaeological site the temple is a short walk from the site entrance and from the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.

• Arrive at the Olympia archaeological site when it opens to avoid mid-day coach tours and see the Temple of Hera in the softer morning light.
• Buy a combined ticket and visit the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in the same visit-the museum sits adjacent to the site and provides key context for the ruins.
• Summer afternoons are busiest; if you can only visit later in the day, aim for late afternoon when many tour groups have departed.