The New Acropolis Museum is a modern, well-designed, and fully-equipped exhibition hall designed to move large crowds past thousands of artifacts in a timely and comfortable manner. Unlike many of the museums and sites in Greece, it is fully accessible to people with physical limitations and challenges. Elevators connect the ground-level lobby with each of the floors above and below, making it easy for people with physical concerns to navigate ev
ery section of the museum. Floor surfaces are smooth and wheel-chair friendly. There are handicapped-accessible bathrooms on every floor.
The only obstacle will be the ramp leading from the ground to the first floor. The rise is gentle and should pose few difficulties. However, it dead ends at a staircase that takes visitors up to the first floor displays. These stairs will require those who are not able to manage stairs to backtrack down the ramp, exit the electronic gate, and then take the elevators (located on each side of the gate) to the first floor.
And—in an especially nice touch—there are seats scattered around the museum where weary visitors—whatever their physical limitations—can pause to rest. Knowledgeable “hosts” man each floor of the museum and are eager to help answer questions about the museum or direct you to appropriate facilities.
The Areopagus is one of the least accessible sites in Athens.
Getting to the Areopagus is fairly easy. There is a paved road leading up to the base of the hill (and then on to the Acropolis entrance). Though somewhat steep and, I’d imagine, difficult to navigate with an unpowered wheelchair, vehicles can drive up and drop off right at the base of the Areopagus. At least you’re able to see the plaque containing Paul’s address to the Council (albeit in ancient Greek) from this vantage point. There are benches nearby, shaded by overhanging Cypress trees, and handicapped accessible bathrooms just a few yards removed.
It’s getting to the top of this rock that proves challenging. Until recently, the only access to the summit was via the worn, slippery, dangerous stone steps that have served as the main access to this site for millennia. Even people in great shape and with no physical disabilities had to be careful to watch their footing and keep their balance. In the rain, you’d need to be suicidal to climb these stairs.
A few years ago, a steel and wooden staircase was added on the south side of the Areopagus. This makes access safer for most of us, although it certainly does not provide access to those in wheelchairs or using walkers.
Even if you are physically able to navigate the stairs, there is still the surface of the summit—knobbed and uneven and fractured. It’s like walking on a moon-scape. There is a hint of a path on part of the hill—although even that is more gesture than help.
Bottom line: don’t attempt unless you are sure-footed and confident of your balance … absolutely never attempt in the rain.
You have to empathize with the Greek authorities. It’s hard to take an ancient site, bring in the bulldozers and concrete trucks, and put in smoothly-paved, gently-graded footpaths to every nook and cranny. In the name of accessibility, it would be easy to destroy the very thing you’re trying to create access to.
That said, far more could be done to make ancient sites in Greece more accessible for people in wheel chairs or even those who struggle with balance and control issues.
The agora is a good example. At the northern entrance (off Adrianou Street), there is a paved path that follows the track of the ancient Sacred Way. But to get through the gate, you have to cross over a cattle guard that—while intended to keep animals out of the agora—effectively keeps wheel chair occupants out as well.
This paved path runs north and south through the entire agora site. So, if you can navigate the cattle guard, you can move up and down the old Sacred Way fairly easily. However, once you get off this main path, the trails are graveled or nonexistent. You’ll have to be comfortable navigating steps and gaps (and even a ditch or two) to move freely around the site.
One of the best attractions of the agora is the Hephaisteion—the Temple of Hephaestus. It sits on the Kolonos Hill just west of the Agora. The most direct route to the temple from the Agora is a staircase winding up the hill from the east. For people who need a more gradual approach, there is a pathway up the Kolonos Hill from the south. Find the Tholos (in the agora) and look just to the west to find the start of the path.
The only thing that is physically challenging about the Acropolis Night Walk is the length (two to three miles), the climb (there is a fairly significant, if gradual, elevation gain), and the time of day (it’s dark!).
The entire route is paved. Navigating stairs is not required. Everything is wheel-chair accessible, so long as the grade is manageable. A couple of the “side trips” on the tour (e.g., the overlook of the Hephaestion and a quick visit to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus) require leaving the level path and may need to be skipped.
