Ancient Agora

The Agora was the centre of daily life in ancient Athens, where citizens traded, met and held trials. The site slopes below the Acropolis, with the temple of Hephaestus on its western hill and the long reconstructed Stoa of Attalos beside the old entrance, now a museum. Gravel paths run between the foundations of the council house, the round Tholos and the law courts. It is a calmer and greener visit than the Acropolis, and the temple terrace has a view up to the rock.

What to look for

• The temple of Hephaestus on its hill
• The Stoa of Attalos and its museum
• The foundations of the Tholos
• The view up to the Acropolis from the temple terrace

Opening hours

From 1 to 15 October the site opens 08:00 to 18:00, and from 16 to 31 October 08:00 to 17:30. Winter hours are 08:00 to 16:30 and summer hours 08:00 to 19:30, with a gradual cut in September. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Closed on 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Easter Sunday, 25 December and 26 December. Entry is free on 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September and 28 October. Visitors enter and leave by the gate at Thiseio Square while the main entrance on Adrianou Street is being rebuilt. Parts of the Stoa of Attalos exhibition and the Church of the Holy Apostles are closed to visitors.

Source: Hellenic Ministry of Culture (Odysseus), checked October 5, 2026

Tickets and booking

Adult ticket €20. The standard adult ticket is 20 euros and the reduced ticket is 10 euros. It covers the archaeological site and the museum.

Getting there

Thissio station on Metro line 1 is about three minutes from the gate at Thiseio Square, and Monastiraki is a 10 minute walk.

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Tip

Come in the first hour. The paths are empty, the shade is thin later in the day, and the temple looks best in low light.