Roman Agora of Athens

Tickets and tours: which to book

Nothing is sold on GetYourGuide for the Roman Agora alone, but the site is easy to visit on your own. There are two ways in. The first is a single ticket bought at the gate or from the official e-ticket service of the Greek culture ministry. The second is the combined ticket for the archaeological sites of central Athens, which includes the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, the Kerameikos and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and is valid for several days. If you are going to the Acropolis anyway, the combined ticket usually works out cheaper than separate entries, though it does not give a timed Acropolis slot on its own, so check the current rules.

Many guided walks of the old town, Plaka and Monastiraki stop at the railings beside the Tower of the Winds without going in, and some Acropolis and Ancient Agora tours finish nearby. Private guides can include the Roman Agora in a half-day route through the lower city.

The sensible choice for most visitors is the combined ticket, used on a separate morning for the lower sites: Hadrian's Library, the Roman Agora and the Ancient Agora sit within ten minutes of each other.

A short history

Julius Caesar promised funds for a new market in Athens in 51 BC, and the work was completed with money from Augustus, probably between 27 and 17 BC, under the direction of Eucles of Marathon. It was a paved courtyard with colonnades and shops, an office for market officials and a fountain to the south. The Tower of the Winds is a little older, from the 1st century BC. After the Herulian raid of AD 267 the administrative centre of the city moved here. In later centuries houses, churches and the Fethiye Mosque covered the area. Greek archaeologists began clearing it in the 19th century; part of the market still lies under the surrounding streets.

Getting there

From Athens airport, metro line 3 runs to Monastiraki in about 40 minutes, and the airport express bus reaches Syntagma in about an hour. From Monastiraki station, walk up Areos Street past Hadrian's Library and turn left along Polygnotou Street to the entrance, about 5 minutes. From Syntagma it is a 15-minute walk through Plaka. From the Acropolis, follow the paths down the north slope through Anafiotika in about 10 minutes. Driving in the old centre is not practical: the streets are narrow and pedestrianised. Taxis can drop you on Ermou Street or at Monastiraki Square.

Rules and what to bring

Climbing on the ruins, sitting on column bases and using tripods or drones without a permit are not allowed. Food is not allowed inside, but you can bring water, and there is very little shade apart from the tower and a few trees. Wear shoes with grip, as polished marble is slippery. Toilets are at the entrance. Staff begin clearing the site shortly before closing, so be at the gate in good time.

When to go

The Roman Agora is much quieter than the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora, and even in high season it rarely feels crowded. Still, the best times are the first hour after opening and the last couple of hours before closing, when the light is warm on the Tower of the Winds and the heat is lower. Midday from June to August is hot, with temperatures often above 35 degrees, and the site offers very little shelter.

April, May, June, September and October are the most comfortable months. In winter, opening hours are shorter, so plan the visit for the morning. Admission is free on certain days, including 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, 28 October and the first Sunday of each month from November to March, and those days are busier. Opening hours can change for strikes or heat, so check the official ministry page. Allow about an hour, or 30 minutes if you only want the tower.