By Alaric 
If you’re looking for a magical viewpoint in Athens, then you must add Filopappou Hill to your bucket list.
It’s an elevated public park that has one of the best views of the Acropolis from its peak, especially at sunset.
But, it’s not just the spectacular views that make this hill worth the climb.
Philopappos Hill is a green oasis filled with important historic monuments and attractions.
You could easily spend hours here and the best part is that it won’t cost you a thing.
Here is how to visit Filopappou Hill in Athens and things to do there.
The History of Filopappou Hill
The name Filapappou originates from Philopappos, a prince and Roman Consul of Athens under Emperor Trajan in the 2nd century AD.
After his death, the citizens of Athens built a mausoleum in his honour which is now called the Philopappos Monument.
The park lies in the heart of Athens next to the Acropolis and was a strategic point of defence in the city.
Pnyx is a connected hill nearby and is seen as the birthplace of democracy.
Thousands of citizens attended assemblies to discuss and vote on the political issues of the day.
Later, these hills became known as the Hill of the Muses for a few reasons.
One, it was thought to be the burial site of the famous poet Musaeus according to the geographer Pausanias.
The other is that you can still find a shrine dedicated to the muses today. So, many believe this is the more likely reason.
In the medieval era, this hill became known as Seggio Hill from the Frankish occupation.
In the 20th century, Princess Sophia, the daughter of King Paul, planted pine trees on the hill.
Today, it’s a very popular park and a green oasis in Athens shaded by olive trees and foliage.
It also has one of the best viewpoints in the city with spectacular views of the Acropolis and beyond!
What can you see from Philopappos Hill?
Filapappou Hill is one of seven major hills in Athens and is elevated at 147 metres above sea level.
From here, you can see for miles all over the city and even further towards the Saronic Gulf on a clear day.
The best part is the magical views over the Acropolis with the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion and the Propylaea.
You can also see the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and Lycabettus Hill in the distance.
It’s easily one of the best photography locations in Athens and it’s well worth the effort to get here!
How to visit Philopappos Hill in Athens
If you’re visiting the Acropolis, it’s very easy to visit Filapappou Hill as it’s a simple 15-20 minute walk from there.
If you’re approaching the hill from the Northern Slope, Southern Slope or Acropolis Museum follow the ancient road of Dionysiou Areopagitou.
This will lead you to the turning area of Apostolou Pavlou or the “Akropolē” bus stop (231 services) which has all the hop-on-hop-off buses.
From there, you’ll see multiple pathways leading you inside the park and up to the Philopappos Monument.
If you’re getting the metro, it’s best to take Line 1 (green) to the Thission Station or Line 2 (red) to the Acropolis Station and walk from there.
There are no set directions or a right or wrong way to reach the viewpoint as there are many paths that will take you up there.
You can take a longer scenic route to visit some of the historic monuments along the way or take a more direct but steeper path straight there.
Some of these paths are well laid out with marble and some are dirt tracks with uneven steps.
Either way, it’s an uphill hike so I would wear some sensible shoes and have water with you.
I recommend the Akropolē bus stop location as the starting point for the hike. You can also get a taxi to drop you there. Click here for a Google Pin!
Magical views of the Acropolis
There are many places on Filopappou Hill where you can get great views of the Acropolis.
The main one is a large marble viewing platform with benches where the majority of people gather at sunset.
But, the best viewpoint and photography location can be found in front of the Philopappos Monument a little way down the slope.
The Google Map Pin is a photo icon labelled ‘Hill’ (linked) and this is where I took the majority of my photos.
Although it’s not the easiest place to move around and set up a tripod due to the jagged rocks, the view was breathtaking and out of this world.
As someone obsessed with Greek Mythology, these views over the Acropolis were a dream come true.
I wore a white long dress and a gold leaf crown to feel like the goddess Athena!
I got mine from New Look but you can find these gold headbands all over the flea market.
Just know that these crowns can easily snag and pull your hair out.
Other things to do on Filopappou Hill
Aside from the otherworldly views of the Acropolis, there is plenty more to find on Filopappou Hill that makes it worth visiting.
It’s a public park littered with ancient sites and monuments. I would leave at least two hours to explore, especially if you’re a history lover.
You can find the Tombs of Kimon, the ruins of the Church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris and Dora Stratou Greek Dances Theatre.
Some of these are only ruins today but they are all signposted with helpful information boards about what they would have been used for.
Here are some of the highlights to look out for on your visit;
Philopappos Monument
The monument that gives this hill its name is the Philopappos Monument, an ancient Roman mausoleum.
It’s dedicated to Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, a prince from the Kingdom of Commagene and the Roman Consul of Athens under Emperor Trajan.
Philopappos died in 116 AD and his is sister and the people of Athens were so saddened at his passing that they erected this monument in his honour.
Similar to the monuments on the Acropolis, the statue is built of marble and there are figures of Philopappos and his family carved on there.
Unfortunately, the monument has been damaged and pillaged over the centuries but what is left has been protected.
It’s located on the highest point of the hill and you can’t miss it while scouting out the best views of the Acropolis.
Pnyx & Hill of the Nymphs
One of the most important locations on Filapappou is Pnyx, another hillside located nearby.
Athens is known as the birthplace of democracy and this is because, as early as the 6th century BC, thousands of Athenian citizens would gather at Pnyx for assemblies.
You can still see the speaker’s platform and ‘theatre’ style meeting area where political struggles were discussed.
Another name for Philapappou Hill is the Hill of the Muses or Hill of the Nymphs.
If you visit Nymphs Hill, you can climb to the National Observatory which was built by the Austro-Greek Baron Sina in 1842.
Socrates Prison
Socrates Prison can be found on the lower slopes of the hill in the bedrock.
This is said to be the place where Socrates was imprisoned before his trial in 399 BC.
He was a great philosopher who is credited with being the founder of Western philosophy and was accused of corrupting the youth and impiety.
Socrates was found guilty and although his friends offered him an escape, he refused and died from his sentence of drinking hemlock, a deadly poison.
Today, the rooms are barren due to the chapters of time and most of the artefacts inside were looted during WWII.
But, it’s interesting to see the place where this great mind was incarcerated and spent his last days.
Filopappou Hill entrance fee
Something that surprised me was that these breathtaking views of the Acropolis didn’t cost a single penny.
Filapappou Hill is a public park and is completely free to visit. So, it makes a great budget activity in Athens.
Philopappos Hill opening times
Another great thing about Filopappou is that there are no closing times or curfews.
The hill is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can visit any time you wish!
This makes it a great photography spot for both sunrise and sunset in Athens as you can capture dreamy colours in the sky.
What is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit Filopappou Hill would be at sunset. Aside from Lycabettus Hill, this is easily the best sunset viewpoint in Athens.
If it’s been a sunny day, you’ll see the sky change colours in pinks, oranges and reds over the Acropolis.
The only downside is that this is the busiest time to visit and you may find it quite crowded.
If you want to enjoy this view in peace, it’s best to visit at sunrise or early in the morning before the Acropolis opens at 8 am.
As it was winter on my visit, most of the sunsets were very grey and dull in Athens. It was also freezing so I visited in the middle of the afternoon.
It was windy but the hill was pretty much empty and I had the viewpoint all to myself for at least an hour.
It was perfect for a photo session and an alfresco picnic with a spectacular view.
My top tips for visiting
- It’s a short walk up the hill but I would make sure to have a sensible pair of shoes on as the paths are quite steep and uneven.
- It can be very crowded at sunset so if you want fewer crowds aim for sunrise or early in the morning.
- The rocky platforms to view the sunset are not the easiest to walk on, so watch your step as it’s easy to slip and fall.
- Filopappou Hill is lovely and shaded but I would still bring a bottle of water with you as there are no facilities once you’re up there.
- Remember to take all your rubbish home. There are many bins throughout the park.
Is Filopappou Hill safe to visit?
I would say that Philopappos Hill was a very safe area to visit, at least it was during the daytime. I visited on my own and didn’t feel unsafe at all.
It’s a very popular park with locals and so you’ll see many families, joggers and dog walkers.
Lots of tourists and locals visit for sunset and this would be a great time to go. However, once the sun goes down there is no lightning.
There have been reports of pickpocketing and muggings late at night and in the early hours. For your safety, I would avoid visiting this hill at night.
Looking for more things to do in Athens?
A lot of visitors make the mistake of skipping Athens but I wouldn’t be one of those people.
Of course, if you haven’t yet I would visit the mighty Acropolis. This is the name for the lofty hill that can be all over the city skyline.
It’s one of the best preserved ancient Greek monuments in existence and dates back to the 5th century BC.
Your entrance ticket allows you to visit all of the attractions on the hill including the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion and the Propylaea.
I would book your tickets well in advance via the official website and pick the 8 am time slot to avoid long queues and crowds.
Also, entering via the gate at the Southern Slope is best for shorter queues.
You can can also stroll by the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the way up.
If you buy a combination ticket, you also get access to five more historic sites.
These include gems such as the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the Roman Agora etc.
Plaka is a beautiful area with a plethora of restaurants, bars and shops as well as views under the Acropolis.
Speaking of incredible views, you should visit some of the rooftop bars in Monastiraki Square like A is for Athens, MS Rooftop and Attic Urban Rooftop.
Or, head to Syntagma Square to see the National Gardens and the Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Plus, no visit would be complete without a hike or funicular ride up Lycabettus Hill to see panoramic views over the ancient city.
Save Philopappos Hill in Athens for later!
