Are you planning a tour of the Acropolis of Athens next summer? The opening hours of the tourist site may change: here’s why.
L’Acropolis of Athens it is one of the symbols of Greece, as well as the most representative of the ancient acropolis: declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, it is visited every year by millions of tourists from all over the world. It is a rock flattened at the top which rises 156 meters above sea level and has also become famous due to the story of Cecrops, the legendary snake man who was the first Athenian. All those who have organized a trip to the Greek capital to admire this spectacular historical site should know that the opening hours may be changed: here’s why.
When will the Acropolis of Athens be closed?
Summer is approaching and in some places in Europe the hot temperatures are already starting to be felt, announcing that the next few months will most likely be scorching hot. In Greece, in particular, 40 degrees have been recorded during rush hour in recent days and it is precisely to minimize possible inconvenience for tourists that the Athenian Acropolis was closed to the public from 12pm to 5pm (local time) . The aim is to prevent both employees and visitors from feeling ill due to the terrible heat waves, even if this means drastically reducing admissions to a very popular archaeological site.
The effects of heat waves in Greece
Built on a steep rocky hill, the Acropolis is very exposed to the heat and tourists who visit often cannot find shelter from the beating sun during their long tours. On some occasions, the intervention of the police and emergency services was even necessary to help those who had suffered heatstroke. It is not surprising, therefore, that closing the location during the hottest hours of the day has become a sort of “annual trend” that repeats itself every summer. Last year, for example, for the entire month of July it was impossible to access the ruins from 12pm to 5pm and, according to forecasts, the same thing will happen in 2024 too. Before organizing a tour of the location, therefore, it would be a good idea to find out about the opening hours of the day.
