✅ Free on this day
- The Acropolis rock with the Parthenon
- The Acropolis Museum, all day
- The Ancient Agora, Kerameikos, the Roman Agora, the Temple of Olympian Zeus
- The National Archaeological Museum and the other state museums
❌ Not free
- Private museums (e.g. Benaki Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art) have their own schedule
- Guided tours and audio guides are paid as usual
Why these three days
- 6 March: Melina Mercouri Remembrance Day, honouring the Minister of Culture who started the campaign for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.
- 18 May: International Museum Day. Many museums hold guided tours and events that day.
- 28 October: National Day. In the morning there are parades, so some streets in the centre close for a few hours.
The ancient gateway to the rock.
On the rock you see copies; the originals are in the Acropolis Museum.
The view towards Piraeus and the mountains of Attica.
Photos: Jsalatas (CC BY-SA 4.0), Coolcaesar (CC BY 4.0), Julian Lupyan (CC0), Wikimedia Commons.
The Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum stands at the foot of the rock, on Dionysiou Areopagitou, next to Akropoli metro station. It holds the five original Caryatids of the Erechtheion and, on the top floor, the Parthenon Gallery with a view of the temple itself. The museum sets its own free days: the three days in this article are among the few that match the ministry's. See also 25 March, when only the museum is free.
The grey building in the middle, in Makrygianni.
You see them up close, and from behind too.
Photos: George E. Koronaios (CC BY-SA 4.0), Yair-haklai (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
How to get there
- Ioulianou 50 → Victoria station: 3 minutes on foot.
- Line 1 (green): towards Piraeus, one stop to Omonia.
- Line 2 (red): towards Elliniko, three stops to Akropoli station.
- Akropoli station → Acropolis and museum: come out on Dionysiou Areopagitou. The Acropolis Museum is on your left, 2 minutes away. For the rock, carry on along the pedestrian street for about 5 minutes to the south entrance, on your right.
About 20 minutes in total. On 28 October some streets close for the parade, but the metro runs as normal.
🏛️ From Ioulianou 50 to the Acropolis
Line 1 to Omonia, Line 2 to Akropoli station. Tap the entrance for the route in Google Maps.
Kathy's tip: on these days the rock fills up from the morning. Go up at opening time, before the groups, and leave the museum for midday, when you'll want shade and air conditioning. Bring water; there is no shade on the rock.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next day when both are free?
Wednesday 28 October 2026. The countdown at the top of the page updates itself.
Is it free for tourists too?
Yes, for all visitors.
Do I need a ticket?
Yes, a zero-value one, which you pick up at each site's ticket office.
Are there other free days?
Yes. On winter Sundays and 18 April the rock and the state museums are free, but not the Acropolis Museum. See also the European Heritage Days in September.
— Kathy
