The Erechtheion at a glance
The Erechtheion is the second great temple on the Acropolis after the Parthenon. It stands on the north side of the plateau, across from the Parthenon, and most people know it for one feature: the Porch of the Caryatids, where six standing female figures carry the roof instead of columns.
The figures you see on the building today are copies. Five of the six originals are in the Acropolis Museum at the foot of the hill, and one is in the British Museum in London. If you want to stand in front of the real ones, you need a second ticket and about an hour in the museum.
There is no separate ticket for the Erechtheion. It is part of the regular Acropolis visit, so the €30 ticket with a time slot covers it, together with the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike and the slopes.
The Porch of the Caryatids: copies and originals
The best-known detail of the Erechtheion is also the one most often misunderstood.
On the hill you see six figures in a row on a raised platform. From a distance they are easy to take for the originals, but they are replicas. Five of the originals now stand indoors in the Acropolis Museum, where you can see them close up and without the crowds of the plateau.
The sixth figure left Athens in the early 19th century. Between 1801 and 1802 Lord Elgin had sculptures removed from the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, and one Caryatid went with them. It is in the British Museum in London today. Greece asks for the return of these sculptures, and the question is still open.
| Where | What you see | Ticket 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Erechtheion, Acropolis | All six Caryatids as copies, in their original position on the porch | €30 Acropolis ticket (reduced €15) |
| Acropolis Museum | Five original Caryatids, indoors and close up | €20 museum ticket (reduced €10) |
| British Museum, London | One original Caryatid | Not part of an Athens visit |
Where the Erechtheion is on the Acropolis
Most visitors reach the plateau through the Propylaia, the monumental gateway at the west end. From there the Parthenon is ahead on the right and the Erechtheion ahead on the left, on the north edge of the hill. The Porch of the Caryatids faces the Parthenon, so you see it best from the open ground between the two temples.
If you come in through the south entrance, you walk up through the south slope and reach the plateau through the same gateway. Inside the site, the signs after the Beulé Gate point left to the south exit.
Visitors who use the lift arrive on the plateau just north of the Erechtheion. The lift is for wheelchair users, people with limited mobility and parents travelling alone with two or more small children. It starts from a separate entrance north of the main entrance; call the guards' office about an hour before on +30 213 131 7762.
Our picks: tours with the Erechtheion and the Caryatids
A small-group tour of the hill, a tour with the museum's original Caryatids and a classic guided tour.
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 mythology small-group tour
A small-group tour that tells the myths behind the temples. Check whether your option includes the ticket.
Check availability →Acropolis, Parthenon and Museum guided tour
The hill and the museum with a guide, where you see the original Caryatids. The price is for the guide; the €30 Acropolis ticket is added only if you choose that option.
Check availability →
Acropolis and Parthenon guided tour
A popular guided tour of the hill. The price is for the guide; the €30 Acropolis ticket is added only if you choose that option.
Check availability →Acropolis tours that include the Erechtheion
Guided tours of the hill, timed tickets with audio guide and combinations with the Acropolis Museum, with live prices and availability.
The other monuments on the hill
The Erechtheion is one stop on a short loop. These are the buildings you pass on the way.
Propylaia
The Propylaia is the monumental gateway to the Acropolis and the first building you walk through from the west entrance. Like the Parthenon, it belongs to the building programme of the second half of the 5th century BC under Pericles. The steps and the passage are often crowded in the morning, when groups arrive, so do not plan to linger here for photos at 10 am.
Temple of Athena Nike
The small Ionic temple stands on a bastion to the side of the Propylaia, just before you enter the gateway. It is from the same building programme. It is easy to miss in the stream of visitors, so stop before the steps and look up to the right.
Parthenon
The Doric temple of Athena Parthenos, built from 447 to 438 BC, dominates the plateau. Since 15 June 2026 its west side has been free of exterior scaffolding, and the west pediment is complete again. Work on the inner walls continues.
What to look for at the Erechtheion
You see the temple from outside, so a few minutes go a long way if you know where to look.
The porch from the Parthenon side
Stand on the open ground south of the Erechtheion. From here all six Caryatids line up in front of you, and this is where most of the classic photos are taken.
Copies first, originals later
Take a close photo of one or two figures on the porch. Later in the museum, find the same figures among the originals. Seeing both helps you picture the originals in their place on the temple.
Acropolis Museum →The view over Athens
The north edge of the plateau next to the temple looks down over Plaka and the city. It is one of the best viewpoints on the hill.
Plaka below the hill →Early or late light
In summer, take the 08:00 slot. Outside high summer the last one and a half to two hours before closing are usually the quietest. There is almost no shade on the plateau, and the polished marble is slippery.
Best time to visit →Combine the Erechtheion with the Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum is a few minutes' walk from the south entrance along the pedestrian street Dionysiou Areopagitou, next to Akropoli metro station. Seeing the copies on the hill and the originals in the museum on the same day is the best way to understand the Caryatids.
The museum ticket costs €20 in 2026, reduced €10, and is separate from the Acropolis ticket. Online you can only buy full-price tickets; reduced and free tickets are sold at the ticket desk. From April to October the museum opens 09:00 to 20:00 Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00 on Monday and until 22:00 on Friday.
A practical order: the Acropolis at 08:00 before the heat, then the museum from late morning. The Acropolis ticket allows one entry only, so you cannot go back up after the museum with the same ticket.
Plan the rest of your visit
Tickets, hours and the way up to the hill.
Erechtheion: frequently asked questions
Are the Caryatids on the Erechtheion real?
No. All six figures on the building are copies. Five originals are in the Acropolis Museum in Athens and one is in the British Museum in London.
Do I need a separate ticket for the Erechtheion?
No. The Erechtheion is covered by the regular Acropolis ticket, which costs €30 in 2026 (reduced €15). EU citizens 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.
Where is the Erechtheion on the Acropolis?
On the north side of the plateau, opposite the Parthenon. After the Propylaia gateway it is ahead on your left. The Porch of the Caryatids faces the Parthenon.
Can I see the original Caryatids?
Yes, five of them, in the Acropolis Museum a few minutes from the south entrance. The museum has its own ticket for €20 (reduced €10) in 2026.
How long should I plan for the Erechtheion?
Fifteen to twenty minutes at the temple is enough for most visitors. Plan about two hours for the whole hill and the south slope, and about two hours for the museum.