Ancient Agora Athens

A very interesting area – especially if you’ve read up on it beforehand. We visited the Agora at the end of November, when there were not many visitors. It was easy to get in and move around. The area is quite large, so you need to set aside time to see it all. We had nothing but the existing information boards to rely on as we walked around if we wanted to better understand what we were looking at. And here we must probably conclude that the information boards were not particularly good. So we should either have had a physical guide, bought a book, or perhaps used an audio guide. As it was, we didn’t really become much wiser about the site – mostly we just walked around. Otherwise, it is an obvious place to use AR (augmented reality), so that with the help of your mobile phone you could see what the past looked like – and especially what the different buildings looked like and what they were used for. Alternatively, I would have liked the information boards to be more modern and updated in the way the information is presented. The small accompanying museum located in the Stoa of Attalos is quite good. It provides a nice and clear presentation of the various finds from the area, organized by historical periods.

We visited the Ancient Agora on the first Sunday of November, so entry was free! I’d recommend using the audio guide to truly appreciate the rich history behind the ruins. The site offers amazing photo points of the Acropolis and is just a short walk from Thissio station — the main entrance is on that side. Don’t miss the Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos museum inside. Wear comfy shoes and carry water, as there’s quite a bit of walking. We even spotted several turtles roaming around the site — our kids had so much fun watching them! There are lovely cafés and the Athinaion Park just outside, perfect for a relaxing break after exploring. A peaceful, family-friendly place where you can really feel the ancient spirit of Athens. Definitely worth spending half a day or more here!