Ticket prices remain the same as before the new system started, with general admission costing 20 euros (about $21) and 10 euros (about $11) for non-EU nationals aged 6 to 25 and senior citizens aged 65 and over. Tickets are free for everyone. EU nationals under the age of 5, and up to the age of 25.
According to the e-ticketing website, visitors must arrive at the entrance 30 minutes before their scheduled time slot. Ticket holders can enter from 15 minutes before her scheduled time to 15 minutes after his scheduled time (with the exception of the last hour of the day, which will not allow entry after the scheduled time).
Ioannis Giannakakis, CEO and Co-Founder 0f Athens walking toursaid the system was “simple and well designed”, but said there were challenges on the first day at Acropolis. He said people were unaware of the change and arrived at the venue with tickets purchased in advance from other websites.
Giannakakis says the Greek tourism industry has been discussing solutions to overtourism concerns for years. He said talks to limit visitors to the Acropolis had begun before the pandemic, but were put on hold after tourism plummeted in 2020.
World Travel and Tourism Council Greece expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year. Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni recently said that there was an increase in visitors to the Acropolis in June and early July. 80 percent This summer, too, the site was closed to visitors due to the sweltering heat.
Konstantinos Polatidis, Branding Director Apollo Palm Hotels in Athenshopes the new ticketing system will help promote responsible tourism and perhaps encourage travelers to explore off-the-beaten-path cities.
“We’ve seen extraordinary tourism demand this summer, which actually extends into September and October,” Polatidis said in an email. “We are almost fully booked for the entire month of October, and the number of tourists throughout the city continues to soar.”
The Acropolis is one of several tourist destinations in Europe that have introduced timed tickets or placed limits on visitors to avoid crowds. Others include the Louvre in Paris and the Pantheon in Rome.
of Acropolis Museumnear the archaeological site, already uses a timed ticket system to manage visitor numbers, and Giannakakis said more Greek sites are expected to introduce the system in the coming years. states.