Panathenaic Stadium

Home to the first modern Olympic Games, this gleaming white marble stadium has seen many victories, from ancient times to today.

Visit the Panathenaic Stadium and admire one of the oldest stadiums in the world.

See the stadium’s fascinating architecture, ancient hairpin shape and expansive front foyer from the outside, or pay a small admission fee and discover the Panathenaic Stadium’s unique interior.

If you decide to head inside, take an audio guide, which are available in a variety of languages. This tour details the stadium’s history as well as the significance of certain areas within the stadium.

Wander through the site where both ancient and modern athletes have competed, and stand on the dais where the gold, silver and bronze medal winners stand. Climb the stairs of the stadium and find yourself at a lovely viewpoint to lookout over the city. Test your own athletic ability and run a lap of the ancient track.

Take advantage of a unique opportunity to photograph the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Filopappos Hill, the National Gardens, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Zappeion and Lycabettus Hill, all in the one picture.

Visit the on-site Olympic Museum to learn more about the history of this venue. It is constructed entirely from white marble and built on the site of an ancient Greek stadium.

The Panathenaic Stadium is one of the oldest stadiums in the world. It hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has seating to accommodate 45,000 spectators.

The stadium is nestled in a forest approximately 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) east of the Acropolis, and is often overlooked by the crowds.

It is open for viewing every day. Mornings and evenings are the best times to visit the stadium in summertime, because the marble at the site can get very hot. Be sure to bring some water and sun protection if you visit in summer, as there is very little shade available. The stadium café is open daily and offers light refreshments until the afternoon.

Reach the stadium via the metro or bus. Syntagma, Acropolis and Evangelismos metro stations are all within half a mile (0.8 kilometers) of the stadium.