If you’re visiting the Acropolis this year you’ll find there’s a new system in place: you now have to book a timed slot in advance. I’ve written before that this system was on the way, as a means of solving overcrowding problems that make things miserable for everyone… especially in the summer heat in a place with no shade.
Last year was the busiest ever in terms of tourism numbers for Greece. It’s good news for the economy but does mean popular places get crowded. This year visitors to the Acropolis will be capped at 20,000 per day, and you’ll need to get a timed ticket. In order not to make it too rigid, the authorities have tried to be flexible as to when you can arrive, but without making the system meaningless.
You should arrive 30 minutes before your time slot, in order to wait to get your ticket authorised, and then you can enter up to 15 minutes early. You can still arrive 15 minutes late and you’ll get in, except for the last time slot of the day.
If circumstances change, then you can alter the time of your visit up to 14 days in advance. The link for online booking is here, and you can book multi-site tickets for Athens, and for over 25 sites throughout Greece. The following two videos also explain the new system in more detail.
Greek Sandals
While I was on YouTube I also came across this lovely video about the Greek tradition of sandal-making, so I thought I’d share it with everyone.
Olympian Fun Fact
The Olympic Flame has just been lit at the site of Ancient Olympia, as it always is, and has begun its journey through Europe to Paris.
As a result of that, I discovered something I didn’t know about Greece. The first written records of the original Olympic Games date from 776BC, and from these we know that the first Olympic champion was a cook named Coroebus. He won the only event, which was a running race over a course that was about 183m (600ft) in length. This distance was known as a ‘stade’, and because the arena was about the same distance it was called a ‘stadion’. The Romans borrowed the word and changed it to ‘stadium’, from where it entered the English language. So there!
Till next time
Mike and Donna
Good read. Overtourism warrants a response, or no one has a good experience at tourist sites. At least now those who plan ahead can get an experience that isn't totally chaotic, unpleasant and overcrowded, even if conditions aren't ideal. More and more, off-season travel is becoming the only sane way to experience many places, for better or for worse.