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Panathenaic Stadium

Stadiums & arenas ·Athens ·Closed
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#1Stadiums & arenas in GreeceTravelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026
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About

Panathenaic Stadium is an ancient stadium built entirely of marble in central Athens’ Pangrati district, between Ardettos and Agra hills.

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Panathenaic Stadium

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Why go

  • Stand where the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics took place in 1896.
  • Take in views of the Acropolis, Zappeion, National Garden and Lycabettus Hill from Section 21’s upper bleachers.
  • Run onto the field and walk through the vaulted passage.
  • See Olympic posters and torches from 1896 onward in the permanent exhibition.

Opening hours

Today08:00 – 19:00Show all
Monday08:00 – 19:00
Tuesday08:00 – 19:00
Wednesday08:00 – 19:00
Thursday08:00 – 19:00
Friday08:00 – 19:00
Saturday08:00 – 19:00
Sunday08:00 – 19:00

The hall

Current capacity
45,000
Capacity around AD 140
About 50,000
Track length
About 200 metres

Interesting facts3

1/3

  1. The annual Athens Classic Marathon finishes here.

    Panathenaic Stadium - Wikipedia

  2. The Olympic flame’s final handover ceremony in Greece takes place here before it travels to the host nation.

    Panathenaic Stadium - Wikipedia
  3. 1896

    A statue of benefactor George Averoff was unveiled outside the stadium on 5 April 1896.

    Panathenaic Stadium - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The Panathenaic Games were held here every four years. The stone stadium built under Lykourgos measured 850 feet long.

  1. 6th c. BCA racecourse occupied the site and hosted the Panathenaic Games every four years.
  2. 4th c. BCLykourgos built an 850-foot poros-stone stadium here.
  3. c. AD 140Herodes Atticus enlarged the stadium and rebuilt it in marble.
  4. late 4th c.The stadium was abandoned after pagan ceremonies and spectacles were banned.
  5. 1869–70Architect Ernst Ziller led substantial excavations at the site.
Show all
  1. 1870 and 1875The Zappas Olympics took place at the stadium.
  2. 1896Georges Averoff donated 920,000 drachmas toward the stadium’s reconstruction.
  3. 1900Marble work on the stadium was completed.
  4. 1903Harvard Stadium was built based on the Panathenaic Stadium.
  5. 1906The stadium hosted the International Olympic Games, also called the Mesolympiad.
  6. 1916Verdi’s Aida was staged at the stadium.
  7. 1960sAEK Basketball Club used the stadium from the mid- to late 1960s.
  8. 1985The Rock in Athens Festival featured Depeche Mode and other acts at the stadium.
  9. 1988A Live Aid concert for AIDS included Bonnie Tyler, Joan Jett and other artists.
  10. 1997The stadium hosted the Athletics World Championships opening ceremony, conceived by Vangelis.
  11. 2003The stadium was the main motif on a Greek €100 collectors’ coin commemorating the 2004 Olympics.
  12. 2004The stadium hosted archery and the men’s and women’s marathon finishes during the Olympics. It also welcomed Greece’s national football team after its UEFA Euro victory.
  13. 2009Sakis Rouvas performed a sold-out environmental benefit concert for 50,000 people.
  14. 2011The stadium hosted the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games.
  15. Dior Cruise 2022The collection drew inspiration from ancient Greek art, folk culture and Christian Dior’s 1951 campaign photographs.
  16. 2025Anna Vissi gave two sold-out concerts in September, with combined attendance of 130,000. Robbie Williams also performed here on his Britpop Tour.
  17. August 2026The first major cleaning in over a century removed dirt, weeds, stains and chewing gum from the marble; the restoration also upgraded the track and lighting.

How to get there

  • On footVasileos Konstantinou Avenue, opposite the statue of the Discobolus of Myron.
  • TrainAbout 1 km from Akropoli (M2), Evangelismos (M3) and Syntagma (M2/M3).
  • BusBus and trolley: routes 2, 4, 10, 11, 90, 209 and 550 stop at Stadium; routes 2, 4, 10 and 11 are trolley services.
  • TramTram line 6 stops at Zappeio.
  • ParkingA parking area is at the stadium entrance.

Accessibility

  • Accessibility The track field and stoa are accessible to visitors with physical disabilities.

Sources: Panathenaic Stadium - Wikipedia · Panathenaic Stadium - Wikipedia (part 2) · Panathenaic Stadium · Visit - Panathenaic Stadium · Dakar 2026 Flame Ceremony - Panathenaic Stadium… · Panathinaiko-Stadion - Wikipedia · Παναθηναϊκό Στάδιο - Wikipedia · Stade panathénaïque - Wikipedia · checked 24 Sep 2026

Where
Vassileos Konstantinou Avenue opposite the statue of Myron Discobolus, Athens

Questions and answers

Is an audio guide included?

An audio-guide device is provided on entry, with a 30-minute tour in 11 languages.

Is there somewhere to get refreshments?

The canteen to the right of the entrance serves coffee, refreshments and quick snacks.

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