Prison of Socrates, Athens, Greece

Today: Open today, 00:00 – 23:59
Standing: High
Rank: Rank 147 of 4,207

Editorial responsibility: Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Plan your visit.

Opening hours

Monday	00:00 – 23:59
Tuesday	00:00 – 23:59
Wednesday	00:00 – 23:59
Thursday	00:00 – 23:59
Friday	00:00 – 23:59
Saturday	00:00 – 23:59
Sunday	00:00 – 23:59

Parsed from OpenStreetMap opening hours on 2026-10-01.

About Prison of Socrates

The Prison of Socrates is a group of rock-cut chambers on Philopappou Hill, also called the Hill of the Muses, southwest of the Acropolis. Its familiar name comes from the tradition that Socrates was confined here before his execution in 399 BC; this identification is not established. The remains also show features of a larger ancient building: holes for wooden beams suggest an upper floor, while channels cut into the rock carried water towards a cistern behind the rooms. A carved stairway survives beside the chambers. These details make the stop useful for understanding how ancient buildings were fitted into the rocky hillside. The site can be combined with the hill’s walking paths and the nearby Pnyx. The archaeological proposal that Socrates was held in a state prison near the Agora concerns a different site.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-01

Place details and sources

Type of place: Attraction OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09

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Where it is

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Nearby

Within 5 min on foot

45 min
3 min walk
Philopappos Monument
- Must see · Heritage site
- Historic site
20 min
3 min walk
Philopappou
- High
- Viewpoint
2 hours
5 min walk
Cine Thision
- Notable
- Entertainment venue