Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus stands inside the archaeological site of the Olympieion, the sanctuary of Olympian Zeus that occupied the low ground between the Acropolis and the hill of Ardittos, on the banks of the Ilissos. Building began around 515 BC under the sons of Peisistratos; Aristotle read the project as a tyrant's device for keeping the ruled busy and poor. It then stood unfinished for roughly four centuries. Ruin set in around the fifth century AD. Daily: April 1–August 31, 08:00–20:00; September 1–15, 08:00–19:30; September 16–30, 08:00–19:00; October 1–15, 08:00–18:30; October 16–31, 08:00–18:00; November 1–March 31, 08:00–15:00. Last admission is 20 minutes before closing.

The fenced ground is larger than the temple, covering about fifteen acres bounded by Vasilissis Olgas Avenue to the north, Amalias Avenue to the west, Athanasiou Diakou Street to the south and the tennis club to the east. Besides the columns, the enclosure holds Roman baths, Classical houses, a basilica of the fifth century AD and a stretch of the city's fortification wall. Most of this survives as foundation courses at ankle height, legible from the path rather than enterable.

Allow forty-five minutes. The operator publishes no suggested visit length for the Olympieion, so that figure is this guide's judgement rather than a number read off the Ministry's page, and it follows from the shape of the place. This is one open field with nothing to go inside: the columns are seen from the path, from three or four angles, and the rest of the enclosure is foundation courses read at ankle height. Most of the archaeological site is wheelchair accessible through the main entrance on Vasilissis Olgas Avenue. Assistance from a companion is recommended for wheelchair users.

The site opens at 08:00 every day of the year and its closing time moves with the season. There is no weekly closing day and no midday break. The site closes entirely on 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Easter Sunday, and 25 and 26 December. Daily: April 1–August 31, 08:00–20:00; September 1–15, 08:00–19:30; September 16–30, 08:00–19:00; October 1–15, 08:00–18:30; October 16–31, 08:00–18:00; November 1–March 31, 08:00–15:00. Last admission is 20 minutes before closing. Most of the archaeological site is wheelchair accessible through the main entrance on Vasilissis Olgas Avenue.

Admission is 20 euros full and 10 euros reduced, charged per person, and the reduced rate is half the full one. The ticket covers the Olympieion archaeological site and admits the holder once, on the date and time chosen; entry is by timed slot. Access to the digital guide application is included in the price. General adult admission: €20. Free admission applies on March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend of September, October 28, and the first and third Sunday of each month from November 1 through March 31.

The only way in is the gate house on Vasilissis Olgas Avenue, postcode 10557, on the north edge of the enclosure. Tram line T6 stops at Leoforos Vouliagmenis. Bus lines 040, 230 and A2 serve the area, as do trolleybus lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 11 and 15. Enter from Vasilissis Olgas Avenue. Acropolis station on Metro Line 2 is about a seven-minute walk away. Tram T6 serves Leoforos Vouliagmenis station. Bus lines 040, 230 and A2 and trolleybus lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 11 and 15 also serve the area.

Two parts of the wider site are not available. The Parilissia Sanctuaries, the group along the Ilissos that was joined to the Olympieion during the unification of the Athens archaeological sites, cannot be visited at present. The winter closing time of 15:00 catches people out more than any other detail here, and last admission is twenty minutes before that. Most of the archaeological site is wheelchair accessible through the main entrance on Vasilissis Olgas Avenue. An accessible toilet is available. Tactile site plans and Greek- and English-language Braille brochures are available from the ticket office.

The operator's ticket terms forbid professional photo shoots and filming; ordinary personal photography is what the site expects, and the QR plaques exist to be read rather than kept out of frame. The subject organises itself into two groups. At 16.89 metres a shaft will not fit in a normal lens from close in, so either step back towards the perimeter path or accept the base-up angle and use it. Tactile site plans and Greek- and English-language Braille brochures are available from the ticket office. The entrance is on Vasilissis Olgas Avenue, Athens 10557.