I always find myself awed by grandiose edifices. Beholding the Parthenon up close, unfailingly grandiose despite its ruined state blended with a construction site, made the visit to Acropolis instantly worthwhile. The 5th century BC temple dedicated to Athena, the patron of the city, is nowadays no more than an empty shell, and nonetheless still a signature piece of Doric architecture.

Acropolis is not just about the Parthenon. There is the Erechtheion, just a few decades younger than the Parthenon, with the eye-catching Porch of the Maidens; several smaller temples; two theaters; and other assorted historic remains.

The new Acropolis Museum, which is less than 10 years old, sits underneath the Acropolis hill near the southern slope and is not part of the World Heritage site. It requires a separate fee to enter and undoubtedly has a lot to offer, but I chose to leave it off our itinerary. The Acropolis treasures that currently reside in the British Museum in London – where I saw them several times during my years of living in the UK – are a gaping hole in the museum’s collection, and the Greek government have been waging an understated battle for over three decades now to have them returned to their rightful home. When they are returned to Greece, the museum will become an essential companion to the World Heritage site.

My visit took place in July of 2018. Acropolis is the focal point of Athens, unmissable if you spend any time in the city. Ticket lines can get pretty long in the middle of the day, so either come right before the opening or wait until 5pm or so; only right after the opening and right before the closing time will you have a chance of not sharing the site with hundreds of other tourists. Of the two main entrances, the southern one has shorter lines at all times of the day. Minimum of one hour is needed to see all there is to see; if you let the awe overtake you, it could be quite longer.