Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic Stadium, known to Athenians as Kallimarmaro, meaning beautiful marble, is the only major stadium in the world built entirely of marble. It sits in Pangrati, east of the National Garden and the Zappeion, and its long hairpin shape is its signature feature.

Its history spans more than two millennia. The statesman Lycurgus built a stadium of poros stone here around 330 BC for the athletic contests of the Panathenaic festival, and the wealthy Herodes Atticus rebuilt it in white marble in the 2nd century AD. After centuries of neglect it was excavated in 1869 and 1870 under Ernst Ziller, then rebuilt in Pentelic marble, funded by the benefactor Georgios Averoff, to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. His statue stands outside the entrance. It hosted archery and the marathon finish at the 2004 Olympics, it is where the Olympic flame is handed to each host nation, and the annual Athens Marathon still finishes on its track.

A ticket includes a 30-minute automatic audio guide available in 11 languages and entry to the stadium museum, with its exhibition of Olympic posters and torches from 1896 to the present. You can walk the track and climb the marble tiers for a view over the whole arena. Occasional concerts and events change the opening times, so check the website for notices.

Allow an hour. The track and the stoa are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, though the upper tiers involve steep steps. Opening hours are seasonal, with longer hours from March to October than in winter, and tickets are valid only on the day they are bought. It suits sports fans and families, and children enjoy racing along the track.

The stadium is a short walk across the avenue from the National Garden and the Zappeion, and about 15 minutes on foot from Syntagma. The nearest tram stop is Zappio. Behind the stadium, the residential streets of Pangrati and Mets have good neighbourhood tavernas. The stadium also hosted the 1906 Intercalated Games and the 1934 session of the International Olympic Committee. Children under six enter free, as do visitors with disabilities and one companion on showing documentation at the ticket office.