Advance tickets for the Acropolis and its museum?

Yes, you can prebuy tickets now. We did it for our trip last week as I’d read that lines get extremely long. There were no lines in March but I don’t know what May is like. At any rate, here’s the link to buy Acropolis tickets: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj_id=2384

You can also buy guided tours through quite a few sites - we did not do this so I can’t comment.

Here’s the link for the Acropolis Museum: https://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/etickets/ticketing.php?la=2

Go at 8am in the morning when they first open and avoid the crowds. You don't need to buy tickets in advance if you do this. There won't be a long line. Just take a taxi to the entrance, buy your tickets and you may even be there soon enough to witness the raising of the Greek flag by some soldiers. That was a nice little ceremony I wasn't expecting.

Thanks everyone for your help. My tendancy would be to purchase advance tickets ...but the cruise ship we'll be on shows that we'd be in Athens for 7 am. So I do not know what time exactly I could be there for. I always aim for being there first thing In the morning...but in this case, we are a bit dependant on the the time we can actually get off the ship.

See.... you left out the key bit of information, so the advice wasn't complete. Yes your cruise ship may dock at 7, but by the time you get off, so will 3,000 other people. There's now a bus that goes directly from the cruise docks to the Acropolis area,... but all those other people will be taking it too! And there will be a taxi line -- but again, thousands of people will be seeking a taxi! Your best bet to compete with your fellow-cruiser would be, I'm thinking, to buy tickets in advance for the Acropolis (no there is not a separate ticket for the Parthenon! if you look at pictures, it's sitting ON TOP of the Acropolis), and also book a taxi/car in advance.

There's one called Welcome Pickups, another called CityCab, (google them for e-mail & details) both get good reviews on travel forums for fair pricing & drivers speaking good english. That way, when the cruise throngs pour off the gangplank, lining up at the bus stop and/or the long taxi line, you'll see a driver waving a sign with your name on it. It takes about 30 minutes - more if there's a lot of traffic -- to get from cruise dock to drop-off point near Acropolis entry. If I were you, I'd also make arrangement in advance, for a pickup about 90 minutes before your cruise departs. A good place for this pickup may be beside the AKROPOLIS Metro station which is just about 100 yards from the Acropolis Museum entrance (You can also supply your mobile # for the driver to alert you that he's at the rendezvous point).

With this arrangement, your sightseeing schedule might go something like this: into taxi by 7:30 -- at Acropolis gate if lucky by 8:15 or so (advance tickets or print-out in hand) ... about 2+hours to get up, explore, get down & out the SOUTH entrance.... from there it's just 50 yards or so to Acropolis Museum entry. You can easily spend 2-3 hours there and PLUS, it has a lovely terrace restaurant looking right up at Parthenon, with VERY fair prices. THen depending on your cruise-ship departure times, you could stroll down the promenade to Hadrian's Arch (you'll see it from Museum entry), and Temple of Zeus, you can glimpse thru the fence. A lovely dessert treat along that promenade just before then is FRESKO, a frozen Greek Yogurt shop YUM. THere are also cafes for a drink or a snack in that stretch of shops. If you have a super-long time to sightsee, just about 100 yards WEST of the Acrop. Museum is the unusual (gorgeous Mansion) LaLounis Jewelry Museum... he was the MOST famous Jewelry Designer in GReece -- sort of a combo of Cartier/Tiffany in reputation. And yes they DO have a gift shop!!

BTW, unless your party has a studious member who's done a lot of prep for your journey, you're in luck, if you have a mobile or tablet to download -- R STEVES website has a FREE audio download for a step-by-step explanation of Acropolis ... also of the Ancient Agora, if you opt for the mutliple-site ticket (tho with your limited time, i wonder). Go to the part of the sight that says watch read listen.

Thanks Janet, I have read SR's book about the Mediterranean Ports , have read past entries on this forum about this subject and destination, looked at all the excursions offered by the ship and other tour companies, did my own internet research...and I know that the Parthenon sits on top of the Acropolis ! and does not need a separate entry ticket...and I also know about the museum and its restaurant with the view...even looked at the menu last night! Just could not find if the tickets could be sold in advance. Our ship is one of the smaller ones from Norwegian...more like 2000 people, which should make things a bit easier. I appreciate the rest of your advice, thanks.

The ticket to the Acropolis also includes several other historic sites such as the Temple of Zeus, the Agora and others. There are frequently long lines at the Acropolis, but no lines at the others. Thus, I usually get my tickets at the Temple of Zeus, which is worthwhile anyway, and then walk right into the Acropolis site.

No site ticket includes entry into the museum; that has to be bought seperately.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I finally reserved a cab ( citycab.gr) to take us from our ship to the Acropolis ( Thanks Janet) and also reserved tickets to get into the Acropolis ( Thanks Valerie). Found a great looking restaurant on a rooftop with a view of the Acropolis called Savvas on Elmour St., to celebrate my daughter's 26th birthday at. We will try to see the Acropolis museum as well ( I know it is a must)...but with 3 daughters who like shopping and walking in the city to get a feel for it...we'll see...I might have to come back for more in depth studying and sightseeing...:)

My ship arrives the morning of October 7, 2019. I don't know if that's consider summer season or winter season. Should I reserve a taxi or get on a bus, will there be long lines at the Acropolis, and should I buy the Acropolis Tickets online before hand?