The visitor zone program has significantly and decisively improved the management and distribution of the huge volume of visitors to the monument. The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources, implemented a program of visitor zones with the aim of protecting the monument from over-tourism, as well as improving the experience experienced by the visitor.
According to the traffic data revealed by “ET” on Sunday, the archaeological site of the Acropolis during the summer months sees high traffic, which translates to an average of 15,000 to 18,000 visitors throughout the day.
“It is a system that satisfies its objectives, respects the monument, facilitates the visitors, enhances the better management of the large volume of visitors. In other words, overcrowding at the exit is avoided – a problem that existed strongly in the past – and the public and employees of the archaeological site are facilitated.
Short queues
“The flow of traffic in the Acropolis for the summer season is going smoothly,” he clarifies to “ET”. on Sunday, the president of the Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources, Nicoletta Valakou, and reports that “there is a short wait in issuing tickets for those who do not choose to book them electronically. It is a fact that short queues are formed at the ticket offices, as is the case abroad.” But what happens when the thermometer reaches 40 degrees Celsius in Athens and the temperature on the Holy Rock of the Acropolis is much higher?
“In cases of heat for the summer months, we follow the instructions from Civil Protection and sometimes the area is closed as a precaution, always in accordance with the instructions. In these cases, we return the price of the ticket to the holders or there is a possibility of the visit being made on another day”, answers Ms. Valakou.
In Rome
In Rome, the Italian authorities decided to offer an extra service to visit the Colosseum following sunset, to avoid long waits in the high temperatures. According to foreign reports, every Thursday following sunset from 20.00 to midnight the Colosseum opens to the public. The cost of this new star tour is 50 euros and includes a guided tour lasting approximately 60 minutes to specific parts of the monument.
When asked if this service might also be adopted in the archaeological site of the Acropolis, Ms. Valakou answers: “Each case for such initiatives in monuments is different and is examined according to the needs of each monument. Each country adopts experiences of visiting its cultural stock according to the data it has for its monuments.
5,000 euros
Of course, the much-discussed practice of personalized tours, which is valid in many other countries, has joined our country as of this year! So, for the first time this summer, the personalized visit started exclusively during non-working hours of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens, either before its opening (before 08.00) or following the end of the working hours (following 20.00). Russians, Americans and Europeans have experienced this 5,000 euro personalized tour ‘The Acropolis Experience’ which was launched regarding two weeks ago. Tickets are available individually or in groups of up to five people on the website and visits are available three times a week (Tuesday, Friday and Saturday). “People’s response is satisfactory. They are, mainly, couples or groups of foreign tourists”, notes Mrs. Valakou and mentions that at the end of this unique experience, gifts are offered, faithful replicas of small size from ancient works of the Acropolis.
SMILE AT THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM TOO
The Acropolis Museum also gives smiles for high traffic, according to information from “ET”. of Sunday. The Acropolis Museum records an increase in visitors during the first half of the year. In particular, the number of visitors in the first six months of 2024 increased by 9.13%, compared to the corresponding half of 2023. More specifically, from January to June, the Acropolis Museum closed with 1,009,678 visitors, compared to the 925,211 visitors recorded last year. Since June 26, the Museum of Excavation has also been opened, which also has a high number of visitors. Every Saturday, in fact, visitors are offered a presentation at the Excavation Museum by the Museum’s archaeologists entitled “Stories of everyday life in a neighborhood of ancient Athens”.
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