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Preplanned City Guides and Travel Itineraries

Temple of Olympian Zeus

On this page you find practical information, photos and videos about Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Temple of Olympian Zeus features in these preplanned City Guides:

3-day Athens City Guide5-day Athens City Guide

Why visit / Interesting facts:

  • Magnificient Greek columns
  • Awe-inspiring architecture

Time required: 90 minutes

Opening hours:

Time period Opening hours
April 1 - Oct 31, daily: 8am - 8pm
Nov 1 - March 31, daily: 8:30am - 3pm
Public holidays: Closed

Admission:

Ticket type Charge
General: 4 €

Public transport:

  • Red Metro Line: Akropoli station

Address: Vas. Olgas Street and Amalias Avenue, Athens

Things you need to know:

  • Temple of Olympian Zeus was the largest in mainland Greece. It measured 96m by 40m (315 by 131 ft.) featuring 104 17m-high columns
  • Its construction started in 515 BC but, due to political turmoil, completed only some 600 years later in AD 124. The temple was finished by Roman Emperor Hadrian
  • The temple housed two colossal gold and ivory statues: Pheidias's statue of Zeus and the statue of Hadrian
  • Out of the original 104 columns 15 are still standing
  • Pheidias's statue of Zeus was one of the seven wonders of the acient world
  • Athenians erected a two-storey arch for Hadrian next to the temple to thank him for completing the temple and offered the city to him
  • Other hightlights nearby: Ruins of Ancient Houses, Law Court at the Delphinion, Themistoklean Gates and walls

What to do there:

  • Walk around the area to see the ancient ruins that surround the remains of the temple
  • The highlights are the temple's 15 remaining columns

Tips & Insights:

  • Save some money by buying a combined ticket that gives access to Akropolis, Agora, Roman Forum, Temple of Olympian Zeus and Kerameikos
  • To get the best light for photographs of the columns, visit between 3pm and 4pm
  • It is one of the few uncrowded Athens attractions

Temple of Olympian Zeus features in these preplanned City Guides: