Ancient Athens Acropolis and Agora

Athens Acropolis Temple of Olympian Zeus — Olympian Zeus with Acropolis Backdrop.

Believe it or not, there IS more to Ancient Athens than just the Parthenon and Acropolis. I know, right? Whether you’re on a One Day Athens Itinerary or have an extended time to explore the city, Ancient Athens is where you’ll spend much of your time wandering, and it’s packed with plenty to see and do.

Athens Ancient Agora Temple of Haphaestus — Temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora.

Some of those places, like the Ancient Agora, are included (and enumerated) on the same ticket as that of the Acropolis. Just the sites included in that entry fee are enough to keep you busy for a couple days of intensive sightseeing.

Athens Temple of Olympian Zeus — Olympian Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus, too, is just down the road from the Acropolis and Agora but offers great views of another giant ruined temple (once the largest in Greece), though only a handful of the original 54 Corinthian columns remain.

Athens Lycabettus Hill — Lycabettus Hill, towering over Athens.

From Lycabetus Hill, itself crowned with a somewhat more modern Greek temple, amazing views of the Acropolis and Agora (and indeed, all of Athens) stretch out in a vast 360. If you can force yourself up in time for sunrise, the Acropolis views from Lycabetus as the sun rises are among my favorite things in Athens.

Athens Philopappos Monument — Monument Hill and the Saronic Gulf.

On the opposite side of the Acropolis, on top of Mouseion Hill, the Philopappos Monument looks out over the Saronic Gulf and Athens’ Piraeus port. (This is, by the by, a decent place to catch a sunset if that’s more your style.)

Athens Ancient Agora Museum. — Columns of the Ancient Agora Museum.

Even if those both seem like too much hiking (and, to be honest, Lycabettus is a bit of a walk), the Ancient Agora Museum itself offers lovely views and lots of history to explore. Make sure to stop in after you visit the Acropolis.

Athens Monastiraki Acropolis — Acropolis view from the top of a Monastiraki Hotel/ Cafe.

Wherever you go in Ancient Athens, there are great deals of history and lovely angles up towards the Acropolis. Every neighborhood in the city has its own feel, but nowhere is as packed with historic monuments and slices of the past like the areas surrounding the Acropolis.

Athens Hadrians Arch — Hadrians’ Arch at sunset.

Exploring Ancient Athens: a good way to spend a few good days.

———————

Visiting the Acropolis is totally easy to do on your own. Easy to get to, easy to navigate, easy to take a guidebook with you and read along for a sense of the history. I, however, visited on several different tours while I was taking pictures for GetYourGuide. If you decide you’d rather go with a guided tour for a better sense of the history involved, I thought Athens Walking tours was the best of the companies I worked with.