Since April 1, tickets for many historical sites in Greece have become up to 50% more expensive, with the entrance fee to the country’s best-known ancient landmark, the Acropolis in Athens, increasing from €20 (RM101) to €30 (RM151) for adults.
Greece’s Culture Ministry is still giving discounts to visitors who are over 65 years old (€15/RM75), while young European Union citizens under 25 can visit for free if they present their identity card or passport.
Tourists from non-EU countries are also granted free entry until the age of 18 to climb the famous hill with the Parthenon temple.
These prices apply for the site entrance to historical landmarks and on the official website Hellenic Heritage (www.hhticket.gr) – those booking online through private providers often pay more.
Admission fees have also risen for other world-famous archaeological sites in Greece, although young people can still visit for free. Here is an overview of the current prices:
Palace of Knossos in Crete: €20/RM101
Oracle of Delphi in north-west of Athens: €20
Sanctuary of Epidaurus in Peloponnese: €20
Mycenae, including the royal tombs and Lion Gate, in Peloponnese: €20
Ancient Olympia in Peloponnese: €20
A survey of tourists by the Greek daily newspaper Kathimerini revealed mixed reactions. “It’s clear that the money is needed for maintenance,” said one traveller from Singapore.
However, there was also criticism: a tourist from Spain argued that with such high visitor numbers, €20 would have sufficed.
On average, more than 15,000 people visit the Acropolis daily. The number of visitors has recently been so high that a limit of 20,000 guests per day was imposed. – dpa
