The Roman Agora in the middle of the old city is the second market and meeting place in ancient Athens, next to the ancient Agora.
The site, steeped in history, is considered one of the top things to do in the Greek capital.
In this complete guide to the Roman Agora in Athens, you will learn all about the sights, history, as well as helpful information about directions and tickets.
Let's begin!
Things to Do at the Roman Agora
In the immediate vicinity of the ancient Agora of Athens, you come across another important marketplace of ancient Greece: the Roman Agora.
See here some of the highlights of this ancient site:
1. Discover the Sights
The Roman Agora was built during the Roman period and even today, you can discover impressive buildings that date back to different periods.
Walking through the former Roman marketplace, you can discover sights such as the remains of a Doric gate, the Athena Archegetes entrance gate. It is located in the west of the area and in ancient Athens marked the entrance of the square surrounded by porticoes.
The main attraction is the well-preserved Tower of the Winds from the 2nd century B.C. The octagonal tower was used as a weather station and clock. Also worth seeing is the Fethije Mosque, built during the Ottoman rule.
2. Explore Attractions Nearby
Since the ancient Agora of Athens is only a few minutes away, it is easy to combine a visit to the two ancient marketplaces.
Other attractions nearby include the Hadrian's Library, the Monastiraki Flea Market and the Museum of Greek Popular Music Instruments
- Read details about this site in our complete guide to the Agora of Athens.
Entrance, Tickets and Tours to the Roman Agora
How to Get to the Roman Agora?
The Roman Agora is located in the city center, just 350 km east of the ancient Agora of Athens.
- On Foot: From Monastiraki Square you can reach the ancient market after only 6 minutes on foot.
- By Public Transport: It is best to take metro line 3 to the station "Monastiraki". From there, it is six minutes on foot. Alternatively, you can also take the hop-on hop-off bus to the A14 "Monastiraki/Thession" station.
- From Piraeus Cruise Port: Cruise passengers arriving from the port in Piraeus can go to the nearby Piraeus metro station and board the M1 line. A one-way ticket is sufficient for the approximately 20-minute ride to the "Monastiraki" station.
FAQ about the Roman Agora
The opening hours of the Roman Agora are in winter (November-March) from 8:00- 15:00 and in summer (April to October) from 8:00 - 20:00.
Here you can find out about the current opening hours.
The Roman Agora is located in the historical neighborhood of Plaka, just a few minutes away from Monastiraki Square and the Ancient Agora of Athens. The exact address is: Polignotou 3, Athens 105 55, Greece.
The Roman Agora can be easily reached both on foot and by public transport. The central Monastiraki Square is only 6 minutes away on foot. The nearest stop is "Monastiraki" (metro line 3). Alternatively, you can take the hop-on hop-off bus to the A14 "Monastiraki/Thession" station.
Cruise passengers arriving from the port in Piraeus can go to the nearby Piraeus metro station and board the M1 line. A one-way ticket is sufficient for the approximately 20-minute ride to the "Monastiraki" station.
The entrance to the Roman Agora is not included in the individual ticket of the Ancient Agora of Athens. The purchase of a separate ticket is required to visit the Roman Agora. However, those who have the combined ticket do not need a separate ticket. The entrance fee is included in the combined ticket.
History and Facts about the Roman Agora
The construction of the Roman Agora took place in the years 19 and 11 B.C. It is also known as the Roman Forum.
The Roman Emperor Augustus had it built in the center, just a few meters from the ancient Agora. Under Emperor Hadrian, the rectangular complex was expanded.
The Roman Agora consisted of stores and arcades, and served as an administrative center for the Romans. At the same time, it was the marketplace of the population, where, similar to the ancient Agora, the daily life of the Athenians took place.
Under the Byzantines and the Ottomans, the Roman Agora was covered with houses and stores. In the Byzantine period, a church was also built here, the foundations of which were used by the Ottomans in the 15th century to build the Fethije Mosque. Today it is one of the main attractions of the Roman Agora.
In 1931, excavation work began, which has not been completed to this day.