Acropolis pilot program, beginning in Sept. sets maximum cap on daily visitors, divided into hourly basis

All archaeological sites in Greece where an electronic ticket platform is available will feature visitation breakdown hours as of April 1, 2024. Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni announced on Wednesday, in comments to a local radio program.

Mendoni said a relevant program is expected to begin, on a pilot basis, early next month at the iconic Acropolis archaeological site in central Athens.

Scenes of thousands of visitors lining up for entry tickets under the hot sun and swarms of people atop the quintessential monument of Classical antiquity have been ubiquitous over the ongoing summer tourism season in the Greek capital.

The minister said the program aims to boost safety at the site for both visitors and culture ministry employees alike, as well as to improve visitors’ experience.

According to a culture ministry-affiliated Organization for Managing and Developing Cultural Resources, the maximum number of visitors climbing up to visit the Acropolis cannot exceed 20,000, a figure that will divided into hourly zones, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The number of maximum daily visitors includes both individuals and tour groups.