Hello;
We are interested in visiting the Acropolis in Athens. We know about the elevator, the effort to make the Acropolis area to be accessible & and the need to arrive early in the morning. However, we would like to know the real story of 84 year old seniors about visiting this important site. We use canes and walkers. Should we forget about visiting the Acropolis? We do plan to visit the Acropolis Museum.
Terry (8/3/22)
I was at the Acropolis in October 2021. The elevator was not working. I was using a cane because of a leg injury and the agent at the ticketing window told me to use the elevator. However, when I got to the elevator it was not working and was out of order. I was able to walk up the stairs to the Acropolis as long as I went slowly. There are many places to stop and rest, but I don't remember places to sit while going up the stairs. Once on top, the walking was easy, even with a cane, although there were not a lot of places to sit. I did not see anyone with a walker attempting the steps but there were many people with canes who were able to walk up. So my advice would be to wait to buy tickets for the Acropolis until you arrive at the site and see if the elevator is working. I would find the elevator and see if it is actually working. If it is working, the walking around the actual site is possibe. Even with a walker, you could at least ride up the elevator and see the site, even if you can't walk around. The elevator is located where you can see most of the site without venturing far from the elevator. Without the elevator, I would say the walker is questionable about getting up the stairs, but the cane is possible.
This June it was not working when visited
I know most people here want to be positive and tell you how wonderful it is. But with a walker, it wont be.
The stairs are not modern stairs. Think old, uneven steps. Sometimes steep, sometimes broken. If the elevator is working, you'll be fine at the top. But if it's not working, the journey up...and then down....can be perilous if using a walker.
RE: the steps at the Acropolis--is there a hand rail up and down?
If it makes you feel any better, I felt an overwhelming sensation of awe when I saw the Acropolis from afar from the cab as we entered Athens--tears even came to my eyes. Walking up the hill and while on the top, that feeling was no longer evident. Getting the museum experience and seeing it from afar (as well as other sites) may make up for the up-close experience if you end up not being able to go up.
There were only hand rails on some parts of steps. I was there in June 2019, 65, no major mobility issues but don't totally trust my knees, and some rocks are slippery. I wouldn't risk doing this again.
The Acropolis is slippery from years of people walking on it. My parents use walkers and there is no way it would be a good idea. As other have seen it is breathtaking from afar-more stunning in some ways than being on site. There are hotels with roof top views of it. Perhaps find one of them to stay in. We stayed in an apartment with a roof top view of Acropolis and it was wonderful.
I'd like to add to the suggestion of seeing it from the rooftop. This is especially true at night when the Acropolis is lit. It's beautiful.
If you have issues walking, especially with a cane and walker then the Acropolis may be a challenge.
The stairs leading up to it are for the most part OK but they are stairs and many of them.
Once on top they're are areas that are walkable and others that are not.
If you go late morning or afterwards then it will be packed with tourists and tour groups making it difficult to navigate almost anywhere.
On the other hand how often do you get to experience the Acropolis?
My suggestion is to get there at opening time, 8 a.m. when you'll have a good hour before the hordes of tourists and tour groups show up giving you more space to walk and navigate around the site.
Take you time, bring water, wear a hat and you should be OK but it will be an effort if you really have trouble getting around with a cane and especially a walker.
If you decide you can’t manage the Acropolis you might want to consider Fiilopappou, the hill opposite. You can walk more gradually up the lower slope and still get really good views back across. There are viewing points at various levels so you can go as far as you feel like.
https://www.greeka.com/attica/athens/sightseeing/filopappou-hill/
Alan
