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Updated: 13 January, 2025
Here are the days when you can visit museums for free in Athens and other parts of Greece, including the Acropolis.
Greece is a top European destination where you can enjoy a fantastic vacation while exploring its stunning landscapes and cultural attractions.
Known as the birthplace of Western civilization and democracy, this country boasts an extensive archaeological heritage that is a must-see.
In this article, I'll share the free museum entry days when you can visit the most important archaeological sites and museums in Athens and Greece, helping you save some money. 🤑
Free Museum Days in Athens and Greece
Below is a list of days when entry is free:
- March 6: in memory of Melina Mercouri
- April 18: International Monument Day
- May 18: International Museum Day
- European Heritage Days: last weekend of September
- October 28: No Day
- Every first Sunday of the month: from November to March
If your trip don't match up with the free days, you can book here tickets for the Acropolis and six other archaeological sites in Athens to save some money.
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Which museums offer free entrance?
The places with free entry on the dates I mentioned above are the museums, monuments, archaeological sites, and historical sites owned by the state and managed by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Greece.
The Acropolis Museum is the only exception, not offering free entry on all the dates mentioned above. In the table below, I'll outline the days when it's free and an extra day.
Additionally, there are some exceptions in certain places that charge minimal admission fees for maintenance purposes and do not offer free entrance.
Free Museums in Athens and Around Greece
Here's a list of some of the most significant places where you can enter for free:
| City | Museums and Archeological Sites |
|---|---|
| Athens | Acropolis |
| Athens | Ancient Agora of Athens – Areios Pagos |
| Athens | Acropolis Museum (only March 6, May 18 and October 28 + March 25) |
| Athens | National Archaeological Museum |
| Athens | Epigraphic Museum |
| Cape Sounion | Archeological Site |
| Crete | Knossos Archaeological Site |
| Crete | Heraklion Archaeological Museum |
| Delphi | Museum and Archaeological Site |
| Of the | Museum and Archaeological Site (closed for renovations) |
| Epidaurus | Archeological Site |
| Mycenae | Museums, Archaeological Site and Treasure |
| Mystras | Museum and Monuments |
| Olympia | Museums and Archaeological Site |
| Rhodes | Acropolis of Lindos |
| Rhodes | Grand Master Palace |
| Thessaloniki | Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum |
| Thessaloniki | Museum of Byzantine Culture |
| Samos | Museum and Archaeological Site |
| Santorini | Akrotiri Museum and Archaeological Site |
| Vergina | The Royal Tombs Museum in Aigai |
Since Greece has such rich history, I'll just mention a few places. If you're curious about any other spots, drop a comment below. 😉
Tips for Visiting Museums on Free Entry Days
- While admission is waived, you'll still need to pass through the ticket office to obtain one, similar to the one shown in the photo below, but this time it's free of charge.
- Open days in Athens and at some other archaeological sites across the country tend to attract larger crowds than usual, with locals joining in as well. That's why I suggest heading out early in the morning.
- If you want to explore the Acropolis of Athens with fewer crowds, queue up at least half an hour before opening time. Just to give you an idea, when I visited this month (March 2024), I arrived at 7:30, and there were already 10 people ahead of me. By 8, the line had grown considerably.
– What to pack for the visit?
Just like on other occasions, remember to wear comfortable shoes, a hat or cap, sunscreen, and water, especially if you're traveling in the summer because archaeological sites can get very hot.
If you're visiting outside the peak season, bring some warm clothing as these sites, being open-air, can be cooler than the city.
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Tickets for Other Days and Skip the Line
To purchase tickets and skip the line, here are the links for the most popular places in Greece:
- Acropolis of Athens and 6 archaeological sites – This is the top choice; make sure to book ahead as tickets sell out fast.
- Acropolis of Athens – with audio guide
- Museums and Archaeological Site in Olympia – combined ticket
- Palace of Knossos – with audio guide
- Acropolis of Lindos in Rhodes – with audio guide
- Akrotiri in Santorini – with audio guide
In the playlist below you can see several videos from Athens and the surrounding area.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Entry costs 20 euros (22 USD).
The Acropolis opens at 8 am and depending on the time of year, it closes between 5 and 7 pm, although access is allowed until half an hour before closing time at most.
The Acropolis of Athens is closed on the following days: January 1st, March 25th, May 1st, Easter Sunday, December 25th, and December 26th.
Final Thoughts
If your trip to Greece falls on these dates, you'll have the opportunity to visit some of its museums for free in Athens and other parts of the country. These places are full of history, fascinating myths, and legends that will captivate you.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I'll help you as much as I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip! 😘
More about Greece
- 18 Athens Travel Tips for First-Timers
- 10 Best Day Tours from Athens
- What to see in Rhodes: 27 essentials
- 32 Surprising Facts About Greece
- 10 Cheapest Greek Islands (and somewhat unknown)
- How to Get to the Greek islands and Go Island Hopping
Hello, I’m Andrea, the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I’m a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler. I’m passionate about good food and always looking for new adventures.
Hello Andrea! Thanks for your article. I will precisely be with a group of friends (12 in total) in Athens on May 18 in the morning, since we have a cruise around the Greek islands that begins that same afternoon from Piraeus. We only have the option of visiting the Acropolis and the Museum that day, and I was already looking for tickets when I found out by chance that they are free that day. My question is to ask you what time you think we should be at the door to have the option of visits, because I imagine that that day will be saturated, and it is also Saturday.
Or if you think it would be better to do the visits (Acropolis and Museum) on the afternoon of the 17th, although due to the time of arrival in Athens from Spain we could not be ready until at least 5 in the afternoon. I already visited Athens in 2014, but I would love for the rest of my group to also enjoy it, and for me to repeat😊
Hello Pilar
I'm glad you found the article useful!
Yes, indeed, on free days there are more people than usual and as you say, being Saturday there will be many local people who will take the opportunity to go.
You won't have much problem getting in, although they set capacity per hour, a lot of people still come in. Of course, you will have to wait in line.
From my point of view it is best to go first thing in the morning, if possible be at the door before they open at 8 in the morning. The first hour there are fewer people, then it increases a lot and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is when there are more people.
If you prefer to go when there are not so many people, the afternoon of the 17th is a very good time, because from 4 or 5 p.m. until closing there are usually few people like in the first hour. In addition, it will be a normal day that in itself will have fewer people.
Enjoy it a lot!