New prices at archaeological sites and museums in Greece
The new pricing policy for Archaeological Sites and Museums received today, Tuesday 12/19/2023, a unanimous positive opinion from the Central Archaeological Council.
The new pricing policy for entry tickets to archaeological sites, monuments and museums of the Ministry of Culture (around 350), as the ministry specifies, “is imposed on the basis of data on the increase in traffic over the last 2 years , of the use of the electronic ticket in 28 places – to date – with the most traffic and the fact that the current prices revised 5 years ago are very low compared to the European average”.
The proposal for a new pricing policy is based on a special study commissioned by the relevant Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources.
According to the ministry, the implementation of the new pricing policy will take place in two phases:
Phase I, effective from 01.04.2024:
Removal of single entry tickets for more than one archaeological site or museum, when an electronic ticket is applied in full or in part and they are connected to the Museums-NPDD.
Application of a new Personalized Tour service to the Archaeological Site of the Acropolis of Athens, outside the opening hours of the site with a high ticket price. The tour is for groups of 5 people and up to 4 groups in two hours (07:00-09:00 and 20:00-22:00), with a special tour offer and souvenir gifts (will be extended to other areas during the second phase)
Phase B, from 1.4.2025:
Rationalization of the price of entry tickets, according to the classification of archaeological sites, monuments and museums into 5 categories depending on the number of visitors, sometimes their importance in the respective area, and the valid entry ticket. The 5 categories correspond to 5 entry ticket price levels as follows:
1) Acropolis of Athens, category A 30 euros
2) Archaeological sites and museums, category B (visitors over 200,000) 20 euros
3) Archaeological sites and museums, category C (75,000 to 200,000 visitors) 15 euros
4) Archaeological sites and museums, category D (15,000 to 75,000 visitors) 10 euros
5) Archaeological sites and museums, category E (visits less than 15,000) 5 euros
Museums which are legal entities under public law also formulate their pricing policy.
In this way, the 9 existing levels in the price grid for entry tickets from 2 to 20 euros are removed, which, in combination with the 4 categories of beneficiaries of reduced tickets and the 34 beneficiaries of free entry, results in , as the ministry points out, a complex system. with disproportionate administrative costs.
The different pricing for the summer and winter seasons is eliminated with the same entry price per category throughout the year.
An additional Sunday of free entry is added each month during the winter season (November 1-March 31), i.e. the third Sunday of the month in addition to the first.
Removal of single and joint tickets, except for Ancient Olympia, Delphi, Mycenae and Aigai or when, for land planning reasons, the joint Place and Museum ticket is required.
Maintaining the reduced entry ticket for people over 65 from EU countries. for the period from October 1 to May 31.
Maintain free entry for people up to 25 years of age for EU citizens. and the extension of free entry for non-EU citizens. until the age of 18, instead of the current age of 5 years maximum.
The right of free entry is maintained for disabled people and categories of people established until now for social or status reasons.
Issuance of a cultural card (Culture Gard) for the categories which have been established and which will be issued upon request from the government. gr or KEP for national taxpayers.
As the above shows, with the new pricing policy for entrance tickets to archaeological sites, monuments and museums in the country, the following objectives are achieved:
Categorization of places and museums to visit based on their attendance, their importance for the respective region and the applicable ticket price.
Rationalization and simplification of ticket categories.
Assign our monuments the value corresponding to their importance for world cultural heritage.
Increase free entry days by one (1) Sunday per month during the winter season for all visitors regardless of age.
Elimination of discrimination and extension of the right of free entry to children and young people aged 5 to 18 from third countries.
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