Famed throughout the world as one of the most striking and well-preserved ancient sites, the Acropolis, which was built between 447 and 438 BC, sees people travel to Athens from all over the globe to explore it.
Situated high above the modern Greek city, the Parthenon is the main attraction here and receives hundreds of visitors each day. Commanding stunning views of Athens and the ocean, the temple was originally built to honor the goddess Athena before being converted first into a church and later into a mosque.
While the Parthenon may be the most famous temple here, there are plenty of other sites for visitors to explore and not to be missed is the Temple of Athena Nike, which was built in the Ionic style.
Built in Pentelic marble, the Acropolis was supposedly transformed by Pericles after the Delphic oracle informed him that the site should be used as a province to the gods. A large number of temples were built at this time, including the Erectheion, which was dedicated to the worship of Athena and Poseidon-Erechtheus.
Many of the ornate carvings that once comprised the Acropolis have now been removed for safe keeping to places such as the British Museum. However, this interesting site is also home to the Acropolis Museum, which contains a large collection of sculptures and reliefs.
What is it? One of the world’s most culturally and historically significant sites.
When to go? Between May and June and September and October, when temperatures drop slightly.
Nearest town: Athens, just a short underground ride away.
Don’t miss: watching the sunset from the Acropolis is an unforgettable experience.
Trivia: Acropolis means ‘highest city’ in Greek, and the site was built on top of a hill as a means of defence against invaders.
Getting there
There are regular flights to Athens International Airport, which is located in the Athens suburb of Spata. It is possible to take the underground directly from the airport to Akropoli Station for access to the Acropolis.