Free things to do in Athens: the free-entry days, who qualifies, and the places that cost nothing

💡 The Short Version: The Acropolis and the state sites and museums are free for everyone on the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March, and on 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September and 28 October. The next free days are 28 October 2026 and Sunday 1 November 2026. EU citizens up to 25 and children up to 18 from outside the EU are always free; UK, US, Canadian and Australian visitors aged 18 to 25 pay. The Acropolis Museum keeps its own list and is not free on the Sundays. Plaka, Anafiotika, Philopappos Hill, the Pnyx, the Areopagus and the Changing of the Guard cost nothing. Or book a tour: the night walking tourad is from €18 (GetYourGuide).

The free-entry days at the state sites

The Ministry of Culture sets the rule for the archaeological sites and museums it manages, and the sites’ operator, Hellenic Heritage, prints it on each site’s page at hh.gr. Entry is free for everyone on these days.

The rule covers the Acropolis and slopes, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Kerameikos, Hadrian’s Library, Aristotle’s Lyceum, the National Archaeological Museum and the Byzantine and Christian Museum. The first and third Sunday apply only from 1 November to 31 March. Sites keep their usual hours and winter closing times, so on a winter free Sunday the Olympieion and the Roman Agora still close at 15:00: see Athens archaeological sites.

Who is always free

UK, US, Canadian and Australian visitors aged 18 to 25 pay full price at the state sites, and the €15 reduced ticket is for EU citizens over 65. The Acropolis Museum is the one place that gives visitors under 25 from outside the EU a reduced price, €10, at its desk.

What the Sunday rule does not cover

• The Acropolis Museum has its own free days: 6 March, 25 March, 18 May and 28 October. See Acropolis Museum tickets.
• The Museum of Cycladic Art is free for under-18s only: see Athens museums.
• The Panathenaic Stadium sets its own prices: see the Panathenaic Stadium.

Places that cost nothing

• Plaka and Anafiotika: the lanes under the Acropolis. See Plaka and Anafiotika.
• Philopappos Hill, the Pnyx and the Areopagus: open hills with views of the Acropolis. The Pnyx is where the Athenian assembly met. See best views in Athens.
• Dionysiou Areopagitou: the paved promenade that runs alongside the Acropolis.
• Lycabettus on foot: a marked path from the Lycabettus Theatre car park takes 5 to 10 minutes to the top; the cable car is €13 return. See Lycabettus Hill.
• The Changing of the Guard: free at Syntagma. See the Changing of the Guard.
• The National Garden and the Zappeion Gardens: free green space in the centre, near the Panathenaic Stadium.
• The Loverdos Museum, at 6 Mavromichali Street, part of the Byzantine and Christian Museum, is free.
• The Museum of Greek Folk Instruments has free entry, the city’s official guide says.
• Art in the Metro: several stations show sculpture and antiquities. The Syntagma station has a free exhibit.
• Street art: murals in Psyrri, Kerameikos and Exarchia.
• The Monastiraki flea market costs nothing to walk. See Monastiraki flea market.

The Philopappos Monument on Philopappos Hill. Photo: George E. Koronaios, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

Tours worth paying for

Prices are GetYourGuide’s lowest “from” prices, per person.

Night walking tour with a local guide

From €18 · 2 hours · 258 reviews

Athens: Night Walking Tour with Local Guidead is a two-hour night walk in English through the historic centre, past the Cathedral and Anafiotika, and through Monastiraki, Plaka and Psyrri, with basic historical information. Cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund.

Practical information

• Closed on free days: 25 and 26 December, 1 January, 25 March, 1 May and Orthodox Easter Sunday (2 May 2027) are closed at the state sites, whatever the rule.
• Winter hours: the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora close at 17:00 from 1 November to 31 March; the other city sites close at 15:00.
• The one thing that ruins a free day: assuming the Acropolis Museum is included. On a free Sunday it charges €20.

Acropolis tickets has the hours and the slot rule, and What to book before you go to Athens has the closed days for every sight. The winter free Sundays by date are in the best time to visit Athens and Christmas in Athens, and Athens in one or two days fits them into a plan. The hotels under the hill, in Plaka and beside the Acropolis Museum, are in hotels near the Acropolis.