A tour in the Mycenae Acropolis - what you will see
At a distance of 1½ hours from Athens and 25 minutes from Nafplio is the Mycenae Acropolis, an archaeological site of world scope that everyone should visit once in their life.
I visited it for the third time but it was like it was the first, because you only feel awe in a place known from Homer's Iliad, the ancient greek tragedies and the campaign against Troy.
According to the myth, it was founded by Perseus the king of Argos and Tiryns. The walls he built had such large boulders that their construction is attributed to the Cyclops, hence the name cyclopean walls. They were built between 1350 and 1225 BC. In the Trojan campaign the power of the Mycenaeans was such that King Agamemnon was the leader of all the Mycenaean kingdoms and the commander-in-chief of the Achaeans.
To avoid the queue issue your ticket here. Book here a guided tour.
What will you see:
- the Lion Gate the oldest monumental relief in Europe and a symbol of the Mycenaean civilization. It is dated around 1240 BC. They are two facing lions resting on an altar with a column. All visitors stop here for photos, it is also worth a stop to admire the huge boulders with the door traces
- burial circle A a royal cemetery of the 16th century BC. The finds are exhibited in the Athens Archaeological Museum
- the northern gate of 1250 BC
- underground cistern an impressive structure that descends into the earth to provide spring water to the Acropolis, you can only go down as far as one point
- vaulted tomb of the Lions an impressive tomb with its dome fallen
- tomb of Aegisthus same as previous with a fallen dome
- treasure of Atreus or tomb of Agamemnon conventional name of the largest royal Mycenaean tomb with a highly impressive and intact dome. It is located outside the Acropolis
- archaeological museum with exhibits clay finds and wall paintings, among them a sword. The most important ones are in Athens
The best place to stay near Mycenae, just 25 minutes away, is in Nafplio. The hotels I recommend are:
- (€€€) 3sixty (⭐ 9,4) in 4-star suites a few meters from Syntagma Square, one of the most well-known hotels in the old city
- (€€) Aethra Bootique Rooms (⭐ 9,2) elegant rooms with a beautiful courtyard in the old town
- (€€) Liberty of Nafplio (⭐ 9,1) a 4 star hotel just outside the old town. In the rooftop garden, enjoy food and coffee with views of Palamidi fortress
Search for hotel deals in Nafplio
While touring you will come across several signs explaining what are the ruins are you see. Once you go through the gate, you climb to the top of the hill, don't be alarmed, it's quite smooth and then descends to the north gate.
In the summer you should go early in the morning, not only for the heat but also for the additional reason of going before the tourist groups arrive, to take your photos undisturbed at the Lions Gate. If you go late it will most likely be very crowded. Wear comfortable shoes or sandals, a hat and be sure to have cold water. Avoid the very hot days.
A very nice and educational activity for children as well, my 9-year-old daughter hiked it comfortably, she got tired of course but she enjoyed it.
For souvenirs, the Mycenean Center in Fichtia village sells ceramics of Mycenaean style. There is one more, the Agora Art Gallery on the way to Nafplio with artefacts inspired by antiquity.
The Acropolis ticket is valid for both the museum and the Treasury of Atreus. It's the same no matter which ticket booth you get it from.
Ticket prices are:
| Period | Price |
|---|---|
| April - October | €12, reduced €6 |
| November - March | €6 |
| Children and young people under 25 free (with ID) | |
| Combined ticket: €20 valid for Mycenae, Tiryns, Asini, Palamidi, Nafplio Museum and Argos Byzantine Museum which lasts for 3 days from the date of issue. | |
Free entry 1st Sunday of every month from November 1st to March 31st, March 6th, April 18th, May 18th, October 28th, last weekend of September.
It has parking but it is a bit far from the treasure of Atreus.
Working hours:
| Period | Hours |
|---|---|
| November - March | 8:30 - 15:30 |
| April - August | 8:00 - 20:00 |
| September 1 - September 15 | 8:00 - 19:30 |
| September 16 - September 30 | 8:00 - 19:00 |
| October 1 - October 15 | 8:00 - 18:30 |
| October 16 - October 31 | 8:00 - 18:00 |
| Good Friday: 12.00-17.00, Good Saturday: 8:30-15:30 | |
Closed January 1, March 25, May 1, Easter Sunday, December 25, December 26.
Below is a map of the archaeological site.
