Panathenaic Stadium
The Panathenaic Stadium was made entirely of white marble in 144 AD. In the nineteenth century, it was dug up and rebuilt. It hosted the first contemporary Olympics in 1896.
A Celebration that Persists
The first stadium, originally built in 330 BC for the Panathenaic Games, was constructed out of wood. Dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, the Panathenaic Games was a popular event that took place once every four years, in which the inhabitants of Athens organized a religious festival with a sports competition and other cultural events. The Games counted with equestrian, athletics, combat competitions, as well as chariot racing and music and dance contests.
A Legendary Stadium
Today, you can walk through the marble stands where spectators once cheered passionately. Step onto the athletics track to experience what it was like for ancient athletes, and even climb the podium for a souvenir photo with the iconic rings that symbolize the Olympic Games.
The tour of the Panathenaic Stadium includes an audio guide, which is brief yet engaging, and is included in the ticket price.
Schedule
March - October: every day between 8am and 7pm.
November - February: every day between 8am and 5pm.
Price
Adults: € 10 (US$ 10.30)
Students: € 5 (US$ 5.15)
Children under 6: Free
Transport
Bus: 2, 4, 10, 11, 90, 209 and 550
Metro: Acropolis, line 2; Syntagma, lines 2 and 3; Evangelismos, line 3
Tram: line 6
Nearby places
National Garden in Athens (670 m) Temple of Olympian Zeus (709 m) Byzantine and Christian Museum (829 m) Museum of Cycladic Art (832 m) Benaki Museum (863 m)
