The Acropolis Museum recorded two million visitors in 2024, maintaining an average daily attendance of 7,000 to 8,000, a level considered manageable and well below overcrowding thresholds.
Museum Director Nikolaos Stampolidis emphasized that Greek museums generally do not face overtourism challenges, though he acknowledged that Athens’ historic center and certain islands are experiencing strain from excessive visitor numbers.
“The excess spoils the proper measure,” Stampolidis remarked, highlighting ongoing infrastructure pressures in highly trafficked areas.
The museum is equipped to accommodate up to 10,000 visitors daily without compromising the visitor experience. On special occasions such as International Museum Day in May, attendance can surge to 18,000, setting a record for the institution. To manage high influxes, staff receive specialized training and encourage visitors to seek shelter indoors during extreme weather rather than queueing outside. During peak times, guests are also guided to explore the excavation museum located beneath the main building.
Next door, the Acropolis archaeological site enforces a daily visitor cap of 20,000 through a timed entry system, a reduction from prior peaks of 23,000. In a broader effort to regulate tourism pressure, Greek authorities plan to implement electronic ticketing across 107 archaeological sites, enabling controlled visitor access when necessary.
