The Acropolis and Parthenon

The Acropolis is the crowning glory of ancient Greece, a sacred rock rising above Athens crowned by the Parthenon, the perfect marble temple to the goddess Athena raised in the fifth century BC. With the graceful Erechtheion and its Caryatids and the monumental gateway of the Propylaea, this UNESCO site is the very symbol of classical civilisation and one of the most important monuments on earth.

What's there

• The Parthenon - the great marble temple to Athena crowning the rock.
• The Erechtheion - the temple with its porch of Caryatid maidens.
• The Propylaea - the monumental marble gateway to the sacred hill.
• The view over Athens - the panorama across the city from the summit.

When to go

Spring and autumn for mild weather; summer is brutally hot on the exposed, shadeless rock, so go at opening or late afternoon. Book a timed ticket ahead and bring water, a hat and sturdy shoes for the marble.

Practical notes

It is one of the world's most visited sites, so book a timed ticket and go early or late to beat the crowds and the heat; the exposed rock has no shade and the marble is slippery. Much of the Parthenon's sculpture is in museums, some in London, so the temple stands stripped.

Nearby

The Acropolis Museum, the Ancient Agora and the Plaka district are all at its foot.