Which one to choose in Greece
Parthenon vs Temple of Aphaia
Two temples in Greece. Parthenon has 24 tickets and tours to book; Temple of Aphaia has 2 tickets and tours to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Athens, Greece
The Parthenon stands on the Acropolis of Athens and is seen on the Acropolis ticket, which now requires a timed entry slot; in summer the best slots sell out days ahead, so booking online is sensible. A combined ticket also covers the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library and other sites in the city over several days, which is good value if you plan to see them. The Acropolis Museum is separate and has its own ticket.
Most of what is sold online is a guided visit: a licensed guide meets you at the foot of the hill, takes you up through the gate and explains the monuments in about two hours, either with a group or privately. Small groups, often capped at ten or fifteen people, are easier to hear.
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Aegina, Greece
The temple stands on a pine-covered summit in the north-east of Aegina, about 13 km by road from the harbour of Aegina town, so the real decision is not which ticket to buy but how to get yourself up the hill. Entry is a simple paid ticket bought at the kiosk by the car park; there are no timed slots and no reason to book it in advance.
Two kinds of organised trip are on offer. The first is a private day out from Athens: a driver or guide meets you in the city, you cross from Piraeus to Aegina together, and a car takes you round the island, usually with the temple, the monastery of Agios Nektarios and a lunch stop by the sea.
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