Athens Acropolis Implements Daily Visitor Limits to Tackle Overcrowding

Beginning today, one of Greece’s most renowned landmarks is experimenting with restricting its daily visitors. The Athens Acropolis archaeological site, which lures tourists from all over the globe to witness its ancient cultural significance, will be limited to 20,000 visitors per day. A website for bookings will monitor footfall and implement an hourly time slot system.

In an interview with Greek radio station Real FM in August, Lina Mendoni, the Greek culture minister, expressed concern over the Acropolis’ current average of 23,000 daily visitors, labeling it an “enormous number.”

Due to the overcrowding issue, Mendoni stated that visitors mainly opt to visit the site during morning hours, resulting in congestion and unfavorable conditions for both the site and its staff.

The ultimate objective of this new system, which is currently in a trial phase and expected to be officially implemented by April 2024, is to tackle overcrowding and ensure the safety and long-term preservation of the monument.

Situated on a rocky hill in the fifth century BC, the ancient Acropolis houses a collection of historic ruins, structures, and artifacts, with the Parthenon temple dedicated to the goddess Athena being the most well-known.

According to UNESCO, the site and its monuments “represent the greatest architectural and artistic complex left to the world by Greek Antiquity.”

During the summer, the Acropolis temporarily closed due to scorching temperatures during an unprecedented heatwave in Europe. Photos from late August depicted the site shrouded in smoke from recent Greek wildfires.

Starting in April, the new booking system will also be implemented in other Greek archaeological sites that utilize electronic tickets, accounting for 90-95% of visitors to Greek sites.