Our Public Scolding

Visitors are allowed to bring:

• small backpacks or handbags

• mobile phones and cameras

• personal water bottles with water

• hats and basic sun protection

• personal medication

• walking sticks or canes, when needed for mobility

Photography for personal use is permitted throughout the Acropolis. Commercial photography or filming is not allowed without prior authorization from the relevant authorities.

You may:

• take photos with smartphones or cameras

• record short personal videos

• photograph monuments for non-commercial purposes

• Certain types of equipment may require special permission, including: tripods, professional video setups, drones

For safety and preservation reasons, the following items and actions are not permitted inside the site:

• weapons of any kind (including knives and sharp objects)

• large backpacks or suitcases

• alcoholic beverages, smoking, or illegal substances

• Food consumption inside the monument is generally restricted. Eating is usually permitted only in designated areas outside the main archaeological zone.

• Pets, exception for registered service animals, which must be properly documented

• Littering is strictly prohibited

• Climbing on monuments, touching fragile structures or removing stones is strictly forbidden.

Special Notes For safety reasons:

• marble surfaces can become slippery

• there are uneven paths and changes in elevation

• avoid high heels or smooth-soled shoes

• wear sturdy footwear with good grip

Source: Acropolis Rules: What You Can And Cannot Bring - The Acropolis Of Athens

Shannon and I are respectful rule followers to the best of our ability. We try to learn about a location before visiting so as not to embarrass ourselves or disrespect others. We take pride in being ambassadors of the USA too.

Before leaping to a new destination on the globe, I personally look for any laws and regulations that can become a legal issue. As travelers, the burden of awareness falls upon us including understanding the cultural laws which may include:

There are currently several live-streaming content creators sitting in foreign jails awaiting trial and deportation for ridiculous click bait stunts that are unlawful in other countries. The USA is one of, if not the most lenient where content of speech is concerned and USA privilege has ended badly for some people.

We recently learned that it is unlawful in many Asian countries to say anything disparaging about an individual, business or government. This includes reviews of accommodation, restaurants and activities. Defamation laws exist throughout Asia, and fighting those charges in a foreign country is perilous. Fear of prosecution and tales from travelers being contacted regarding reviews are out there in sufficient quantity to make the claims feel valid. The UK is currently experiencing over 12,000 arrests per year for online social media posts per the Times of London.

Many nations have severe criminal penalties for behavior they deem as inappropriate in certain locations and landmarks. Try as we can to be aware, sometimes things get overlooked. So, imagine my embarrassment and shame when I was corrected in the world’s most famous historical site.

While taking photos of the Pantheon on the Athens Acropolis, we were approached loudly by a man guiding a blind person. His voice escalated at us as he called another person over. Then, a whistle was blown across the Acropolis walking path. Shannon was in the process of setting a writing pen down and taking a picture of it with the Parthenon in the background. Because the pen had a friend’s business on it, they considered it advertising with one of their historic sites, even though that was not the intent. After a few minutes of loudly being accused and threatened with temporary phone confiscation and unknown what else, the person stormed off cursing in Greek. We merely wanted to acknowledge a friend in some way while abroad.

Afterwards, we looked up rules at the Acropolis because it is a protected archaeological site. We failed in our research before visiting this grand historical site and we did not see these rules posted anywhere at the ticket booth or on the way up the hill.We made a mistake. So, here are the rules, to protect yourself and the monuments.

· places that are off limits to foreigner’s access

· what can and cannot be photographed or filmed

things that may be censored from public speech or print