The Ancient Agora at a glance
The Agora was the public heart of ancient Athens: a large open square for trade, politics and daily life at the foot of the Acropolis. Today it is a wide green archaeological site with two buildings that stand out. The Temple of Hephaestus is remarkably well preserved. The Stoa of Attalos, a long colonnaded hall, has been rebuilt and houses the site museum.
The Agora is a flat site with paths between the ruins, an easier walk than the climb up the Acropolis. Plan one and a half to two hours, including the museum.
Tickets and opening hours
A separate ticket from the Acropolis, with the same free entry rules.
A full ticket for the Ancient Agora costs €20 in 2026, reduced €10, and includes the museum in the Stoa of Attalos. Prices stay the same all year. Visitors from EU countries up to 25 and children from outside the EU up to 18 enter free with ID. EU citizens over 65 pay the reduced price from 1 October to 31 May. Entry is free for everyone on 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September and 28 October, and on certain winter Sundays; check the list on hh.gr. Tickets are sold on tickets.hh.gr and at the ticket office.
The Acropolis ticket does not include the Agora, and the old combined ticket was abolished on 1 April 2025. What replaced the combined ticket →
Opening hours are a weak point: two official sources give different closing times. The safe statement is that the Agora opens from 8 am and the closing time depends on the season. In winter it closes earlier than in summer. If you plan to arrive in the afternoon, check the current time on hh.gr on the day.
| Ancient Agora | Acropolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket 2026 | €20, reduced €10, museum included | €30, reduced €15, slopes included |
| Opens | 08:00 | 08:00 |
| Closes | Depends on the season, check on the day | 20:00 in summer, 17:00 in winter |
| Entrance | Gate on Thissio square | West (main) and south entrance |
Our picks: Ancient Agora tours and tickets
Agora and Acropolis with one guide, a small-group Agora tour and a ticket.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Acropolis and Ancient Agora guided tour with all entrances
Two sites with one guide, and the entry tickets are part of the tour. Officially the two tickets alone cost €50.
Check availability →Ancient Agora small-group tour with entry ticket
A guided tour of the Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus. Still few reviews.
Check availability →
Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus ticket
A reseller ticket for the Agora. Officially the ticket costs €20, museum included.
Check availability →Tours of the Ancient Agora and the Acropolis
Guided walks through the Agora, combinations with the Acropolis and walking tours of ancient Athens, with live prices and availability.
Entrance via Thissio square
Since 1 July 2025 you enter and leave the Agora through the gate on Thissio square. The main entrance on Adrianou 24 is being rebuilt. It is not confirmed whether that work has finished, so do not count on the Adrianou gate and head for Thissio.
Thissio metro station on line 1 is the closest stop for this entrance. Monastiraki, on lines 1 and 3, is the other station near the Agora and the old town.
What is closed in 2026
Since 1 November 2025 the upper floor of the Stoa of Attalos and the Church of the Holy Apostles inside the site have been closed. The ticket price has not changed. The rest of the site, including the Temple of Hephaestus, is open as usual.
What to see in the Agora
A simple loop takes you past the highlights.
Temple of Hephaestus
The temple stands on the edge of the site, close to the Thissio side. It is one of the most complete ancient temples you can see in Athens. Walk all the way round it to get an idea of how a complete Greek temple looked.
Stoa of Attalos and museum
The long colonnaded hall has been reconstructed and holds the Agora museum, which is included in your ticket. The upper floor is closed for now. The shaded colonnade is a good place for a break.
The view of the Acropolis
From the open ground of the Agora you look up at the north side of the Acropolis. It is a different angle from the usual views from the south.
The third way up to the Acropolis
Most visitors reach the Acropolis from the south, near Akropoli metro station. There is also a third approach from the Ancient Agora side, which is convenient if you come from Monastiraki. It climbs up the north-west side of the hill and joins the approach to the main west entrance, where your Acropolis ticket and time slot are checked.
The Agora and the Acropolis need separate tickets. The Acropolis ticket allows one entry, so plan the order: many people do the Acropolis at 08:00, walk down past the Areopagus and continue to the Agora and Thissio, rather than the other way round in the midday heat.
The Areopagus next door
The Areopagus is the rocky hill north-west of the Acropolis entrance, between the main entrance and the Agora. It is free and open to everyone and gives you a wide view over the Agora, the old town and the Acropolis itself.
Be careful on top. The rock and the steps are worn very smooth and are slippery, especially when wet. Wear shoes with grip and take your time on the steps.
Combine the Agora with Monastiraki and Thissio
The Agora sits between two lively neighbourhoods, which makes it easy to build a half day around it.
Thissio
The Agora gate is on Thissio square, and Thissio metro station (line 1) is close by. A good end point after the Agora. The Kerameikos reopened on 15 September 2026 with a new entrance on Ermou and a visitor building with a café; tickets cost €10, reduced €5.
Monastiraki
Monastiraki station serves lines 1 and 3. In the same part of the old town you find the Roman Agora and Hadrian's Library, each €10 in 2026 (reduced €5) and open until 15:00 in winter.
Plaka
The old town on the north and east slopes of the Acropolis continues from Monastiraki. Walk through Plaka towards the Acropolis Museum to finish the day.
Plaka →A sample half day
Acropolis at 08:00, down past the Areopagus, the Agora from late morning, lunch in Thissio or Monastiraki. In summer avoid the open ground of the Acropolis at midday.
Best time to visit →Plan the rest of your visit
The Acropolis and the other sites around it.
Ancient Agora: frequently asked questions
How much is the Ancient Agora ticket?
€20 in 2026, reduced €10, including the museum in the Stoa of Attalos. EU visitors up to 25 and non-EU children up to 18 enter free with ID, and there are free days for everyone such as 28 October.
What are the opening hours of the Ancient Agora?
The site opens from 8 am. The closing time depends on the season and official sources do not agree on it, so check hh.gr on the day if you plan to arrive in the afternoon.
Where is the entrance to the Ancient Agora?
Since 1 July 2025 the entrance and exit are at the gate on Thissio square, near Thissio metro station. The main entrance on Adrianou is being rebuilt.
Is the Stoa of Attalos open?
The museum in the Stoa is included in the ticket, but the upper floor of the Stoa and the Church of the Holy Apostles have been closed since 1 November 2025.
Can I walk from the Agora up to the Acropolis?
Yes. A third approach to the Acropolis leads up from the Agora side and joins the way to the main west entrance. You need a separate Acropolis ticket with a time slot.
Is the Areopagus free?
Yes, the Areopagus hill is free and open. The rock and the steps are very slippery, so wear shoes with grip.