We will be in Athens May 6th 7th and 8th. Staying at a hotel right by the museum and can’t decide if we should plan to go to the museum when they open in the morning and then continue through the south entrance to the Acropolis after or plan to go to the Acropolis in the morning and do the museum on another day.
Posted by
France Southwest
2322 posts
Monday May 6 will be Greek Easter Monday. The Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum may have specific opening hours. To date they have not been announced.
It is best to visit the Acropolis as soon as it opens to avoid crowds.
For the Acropolis you will need to book on the official website (link below) specifying a time slot and be at the entrance at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
So, preferably start with a visit to the Acropolis.
https://hhticket.gr/tap_b2c_new/english/tap.exe?PM=P1P&place=000000002
Do not try to book now, ticket reservations for May will only be possible from April 1st.
Also note that the vast majority of businesses will be closed on Easter Monday, May 6 (even in tourist areas)
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
I'd say visit the museum first, to see the objects that used to be up on the Acropolis. The pediment sculptures and metapes are arranged as they were on the Parthenon itself, so you can have a sense of how it worked. Then, the next morning if possible, go up the hill to the actual site. That way you can imagine the sculptures as you view the buildings, but you'll also have a less crowded (and cooler) visit.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11877 posts
Depending on what the weather is, you may want to do the Acropolis early and avoid afternoon heat. There is no shade up on the rock.
Posted by
OP
Kennewick, Wa
63 posts
The Museum website does list the Easter reduced openings and hours. Good Friday, holy Saturday are listed as well as Easter Sunday. There is no mention of any change for Monday. We arrive in Athens at 1:30 pm on the 6th and I’m guessing that won’t allow us enough time to get to the hotel, check in and go to the museum since it closes at 5:00? According to past weather, I’m expecting high temperatures to be low 70’s in early May. This doesn’t seem to be too warm to see the Acropolis in early afternoon? I was thinking that getting a “sense” of the the Acropolis history at the museum prior to entry might be a good idea, so was hoping to do both in the same day but is this not advisable from anyone’s perspective that has done this before?
Posted by
France Southwest
2322 posts
With a flight arriving at 1:30 p.m. you will not be in Athens until 3:00 p.m. / 3:30 p.m. Too late to go to the Museum, the last entry slot on Mondays is 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Regarding the temperature in the afternoon at the beginning of May, it can be in the low 70s but also in the low 80s, or even more.
Posted by
OP
Kennewick, Wa
63 posts
Maybe it would be possible to see the Acropolis the day we arrive? We could get a timed entry from 3:00-4:00? Would that give us enough time to see it since the crowds should be less that time of day? Not sure how long to plan for this.
Posted by
France Southwest
2322 posts
How much time you spend at the Acropolis is up to you.
You can stay there for 30 minutes just long enough to take photos and selfies, or stay until closing because you are interested in Doric or Ionic architecture, ancient history, mythology and want to check out where and how the Golden ratio was applied :))