Tourists have been fainting while queuing to get into the Acropolis. The Acropolis shut its doors to tourists today amidst a heatwave that has seen temperatures soar to 43 degrees celsius. Greece's most popular tourist attraction, the ancient Acropolis site, shut from 12-5pm today in a bid to keep visitors safe.
Local media have reported tourists fainting while queuing up to get into the site. 4 million tourists visited last year. Athens is using drones to monitor temperatures across the city and plan the public health response.
Greece is currently gripped by a heatwave which started last week. The heatwave is believed to be driven by southerly winds bringing hot air and dust from North Africa. Temperatures at the Acropolis today are reported to have reached 39 degrees celsius but they could go higher still, with the heatwave predicted to peak tomorrow (Thursday).
Cooler weather is expected late on Friday. Greece is one of the most climate-impacted countries in Europe. Last year, rising temperatures fuelled and erratic rains caused some of the worst flooding on record, both of which damaged crops and livelihoods.
The Acropolis has been trying to control visitors numbers for years. Visitors have previously at the ancient site. In 2023, authorities of 20,000 per day and staggered entry times.
There are currently no reports of flight delays or cancellations due to the very hot weather. As always, passengers should check airline and airport websites before leaving for the airport.
