At a glance
📅 2 Sundays a month
The 1st and the 3rd, from November to March.
🎉 5 more days
6 March, 18 April, 18 May, late September, 28 October.
🏛️ State sites only
Acropolis, Agora, Kerameikos, National Archaeological, Byzantine and others.
💶 Save €80
Per person, if you see five sites in a row.
The next free days
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| 28 October 2026 | Wednesday | National holiday |
| 1 and 15 November 2026 | Sunday | 1st and 3rd Sunday |
| 6 and 20 December 2026 | Sunday | 1st and 3rd Sunday |
| 3 and 17 January 2027 | Sunday | 1st and 3rd Sunday |
| 7 and 21 February 2027 | Sunday | 1st and 3rd Sunday |
| 6 March 2027 | Saturday | Melina Mercouri Remembrance Day |
| 7 and 21 March 2027 | Sunday | 1st and 3rd Sunday |
| 18 April 2027 | Sunday | International Day for Monuments and Sites |
| 18 May 2027 | Tuesday | International Museum Day |
In 2026 the fixed days fell like this: 6 March on a Friday, 18 April on a Saturday, 18 May on a Monday, and the European Heritage Days weekend on 26 and 27 September. In January, February and March 2026 the free Sundays were 4 and 18 January, 1 and 15 February, and 1 and 15 March. The rule for the 1st and 3rd Sunday in winter has been in force by ministerial decision since 2024.
Which sites take part
Free entry applies to the archaeological sites, monuments and museums owned by the state. In Athens this means, among others, the Acropolis with its south slope, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library, the Olympieion, Kerameikos, Aristotle’s Lyceum, the National Archaeological Museum and the Byzantine and Christian Museum. On other days, all of them together cost more than €130.
On free days it fills up early. Go at 8:00.
A big site where the crowds spread out. One of the best picks for a free day.
The columns up close, without a ticket.
The quietest site in the centre, even on free days.
A state museum, so it’s free too. But it closes at 15:30.
Photos: Holger Uwe Schmitt (CC BY-SA 4.0), Jakub Hałun (CC BY 4.0), Jebulon (CC0), George E. Koronaios (CC0), Francesco Bini (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
Which ones don’t follow the calendar
- Acropolis Museum: it has its own status and doesn’t join the free Sundays. It’s free on 6 March, 25 March, 18 May and 28 October.
- Benaki Museum: private. The permanent collection is free every Thursday 18:00–24:00, all year round.
- Museum of Cycladic Art and Goulandris Foundation: private, with their own prices and offers. Check their websites before you go.
Its own free days: 6 and 25 March, 18 May, 28 October.
Private. Free every Thursday 18:00–24:00.
Photos: Roderich Kahn (CC BY-SA 4.0), Dimboukas (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Wikimedia Commons
What to watch for
- The Acropolis fills up first. Time slots apply on free days too, and the morning slots go fast. Go at 8:00 with your ID card or passport in hand.
- Winter opening hours apply. From November to March the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora close around 17:00 and the Byzantine Museum at 15:30. The smaller sites, like the Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library and Kerameikos, close at 15:00.
- Strikes and weather. Sometimes sites close for a work stoppage or strong winds. Check the news in the morning.
- 25 March and Easter Sunday are not free days for archaeological sites. They are days when they close.
A free Sunday on foot
Five state sites are within walking distance around Thiseio and Monastiraki. With tickets you would pay €80 per person. On a free Sunday you pay nothing.
- 8:00, Acropolis: from the main entrance, before the groups arrive. Two hours.
- 10:15, Areopagus: ten minutes for the view, right below the entrance.
- 10:30, Ancient Agora: go in through the south entrance, next to the Holy Apostles, and come out on Adrianou Street.
- 12:15, Hadrian’s Library and Roman Agora: two minutes from each other. In winter they close at 15:00.
- 13:30, Kerameikos: 15 minutes west along Ermou, the quietest site. It also closes at 15:00. Then lunch in Thiseio or Psyrri.
🗺️ A free Sunday, stop by stop
Line 1 to Thiseio, and from there everything on foot, about 5 km, to Kerameikos. The way back is again from Thiseio. Orange marks the sites you don’t pay for that day.
🚇 How to get there from Ioulianou 50
Walk 3 minutes to Victoria and take Line 1 towards Piraeus. Two stops and you’re at Monastiraki, three and you’re at Thiseio. From there the Acropolis is 15 minutes uphill and Kerameikos 5 minutes. For the National Archaeological Museum you don’t need the metro: it’s 10 minutes on foot from the apartment, on Patision Street.
Where it is in relation to the apartment
📍 From Angels Athens to the National Archaeological Museum
See at a glance how to get there from the apartment at Ioulianou 50. Drag the map and zoom in for details.
Is it worth planning your trip around them?
Usually not. If you’re already in Athens, a free Sunday is a good chance. If you’re changing your travel dates just for it, the saving is often lost in queues and crowded sites. The winter Sundays are the easiest: fewer tourists, shorter queues, and the sun doesn’t burn. On the warmer days, like 18 May, it’s busy from early on.
Free every day, for some
- EU citizens under 25 get into all state sites free, all year round, with an ID card or passport.
- People with disabilities and, in some cases, their companion, with the relevant document.
- A reduced ticket is available to, among others, EU citizens over 65.
Either way, the paperwork is the key. Without an ID card or passport at the ticket office, you pay full price.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Acropolis Museum free on winter Sundays?
No. It has its own free days: 6 March, 25 March, 18 May and 28 October.
Do I need to book the Acropolis on a free day?
Entry still works with time slots. Go early and bring your ID card or passport. For any changes, the official source is hhticket.gr.
Does the 3rd Sunday apply to museums too?
Yes, to all state ones: National Archaeological, Byzantine and Christian, Epigraphic and others. Not to private ones.
Where can I see the official announcement?
On culture.gov.gr and on the museums’ websites. Watch out for old guides: many still mention only the first Sunday.
— Kathy
