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EN
Greek authorities have announced that the Acropolis, the country's most popular tourist attraction, will close during the hottest part of the day on July 17th. This announcement comes amid a heatwave gripping many parts of Greece, with temperatures forecast to exceed 43 degrees Celsius.
Specifically, the Acropolis will be closed from 12 noon to 5 pm (local time), starting July 14, 2023. This regulation is in place to ensure the health and safety of visitors and staff working at the site, especially given the intense heat currently prevailing in Greece.
Greek authorities have announced restrictions on visiting hours at the Athens Acropolis due to rising temperatures.
The partial closure of the Acropolis may cause some inconvenience for visitors, however, this is a necessary measure to protect everyone's health. Visitors should adjust their visit times accordingly to avoid disrupting their schedules.
This is the second time in less than a month that Greece has had to restrict visitor hours due to hot weather. During the previous restriction in June, Greece had to close the Acropolis for two consecutive days during the hottest part of the year. According to statistics, the number of visitors to the Acropolis in 2023 reached a record high, with nearly 4 million people.
Countries in the surrounding region are all being significantly affected by rising temperatures.
After experiencing its warmest winter and earliest heatwave, Greece is facing a severe water shortage in the Mediterranean summer heat. Prior to this, numerous tourists died or went missing during the unusual heatwave that swept across the Mediterranean country, further highlighting the dangers of exposure to temperatures reaching or exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
In recent days, authorities have implemented various response measures, such as opening heat shelters and distributing free water, and assisting tourists affected by the heatwave. According to a study on the impact of extreme summer heatwaves conducted this week by specialized agencies, approximately 61,000 people may have died in extreme heat waves across Europe.
