A revisit can always help putting a site into context. It had been 10 years, since I visited the Acropolis for the first and only time. The time had somewhat clouded my appreciation of the site. I only awarded it 4* and considered e.g. the ruins of Agrigento for a Greek ruin or Meteora for Greece as better sites. After my recent revisit, I decided to revise my rating and upgraded it to 4.5*, same as Agrigento and Meteora.

This is classical Greece at it's best. It's a site predating classical Roman monuments by 600 years. The Acropolis is a huge temple that given its age is still very tangible. And with the Acropolis museum you also get to experience the incredible artwork of the stonemasons. How much better can it get?

Admittedly, there are a few distractions. Not sure if they ever intend to finish the renovations and take down the scaffolds. And the Doctor Who style houses set up all over the premises are misplaced. Last but not least, the image of Acropolis is so stereotypical that it may be easy to miss what a human achievement you are actually viewing.

For some strange reason, the surrounding archeological sites are not part of the inscribed zone, only of the buffer zone. Technically, the Acropolis refers to the upper (acro) town (polis). Still, it's weird that the extensive archeological remains directly below (e.g. Dionysus Theatre) and around the hill are not included. Outside Rome itself, it doesn't get much better. In addition, there also the remnants of the classical philosophical schools of Platon (Academy), Aristoteles (Lyceum) or Epicure's garden.. To cut it short: I would strongly favor an extension of the site, e.g. Acropolis and Classical Athens.

Getting There

Every Greek road (or train or ferry or plane) leads to Athens. So much so that Athens is probably your best option to reach even the most remote corner of Greece.

They sell a simple ticket (20€) plus a combined ticket (30€) for multiple sites in Athens. I am not sure, though, that the combined ticket is really worth it. It does not include the mandatory Acropolis museum. And while the Agora, the Roman Agora, etc are great, most are fully viewable from outside the premises through the gates.

While You Are There

Daphni monastery is an easy tick (30min metro and bus ride). Delphi and the sites on the eastern side of the Peloponnese (Mycene, Epidauros) can be done as day trips by bus. In summer, assuming you get a ticket, you can take a ferry to Epidauros and visit a Greek theatre performance (pre Covid). There also (long) day trips to Meteora.

The Dionysus theatre, right below the Acropolis, is part of the Greek Amphitheatres (T). And if you want to get out of Athens for half a day, I would recommend visiting Cape Sounion and Ancient Lavrion (T).