Μake us preferred on Google Greece’s Culture Ministry has responded to renewed reports and complaints about repeated disruptions to the elevator serving the Acropolis, saying that not every interruption constitutes a technical malfunction and emphasizing the strict safety requirements governing its operation.
The inclined elevator is a key part of the accessibility infrastructure at the Acropolis, particularly for people with disabilities and visitors with limited mobility.
The issue has resurfaced this summer following reports of service interruptions and visitors being stranded. The ministry said the elevator must be assessed differently from a conventional building elevator because it is a specialized electromechanical installation designed for the steep and changing terrain of the Acropolis’ northern slope.
A specialized system for the Acropolis
The elevator was installed in 2020, with the cost of its installation and operation covered by the Onassis Foundation. It forms part of a broader accessibility project that also includes accessible routes across the archaeological site.
According to the ministry, priority for using the elevator is given to people with disabilities and, where necessary, their companions; people with mobility difficulties who use crutches or walkers; elderly visitors and others with limited mobility.
Pregnant women may also use it at their own responsibility, as may a parent traveling alone with two or more infants or young children.
The elevator has a maximum useful load of 1,300 kilograms. It can carry two wheelchairs with their companions or an ambulance stretcher with an attendant. The journey takes approximately 32 seconds.
The ministry also emphasized that the installation has multiple safety systems designed to respond to power outages and other emergencies.
When the elevator must stop
A central point in the ministry’s response is the distinction between a technical failure and a temporary shutdown required for safety or maintenance.
The elevator is taken out of service when wind speeds exceed the permitted safety limit of 5 on the Beaufort scale. It can also be shut down during extreme weather, including heavy rainfall, or when conditions such as prolonged periods of very high temperatures could affect its safe operation.
The decision is based on monitoring systems installed on the elevator, the manufacturer’s technical specifications and instructions, and assessments by the Culture Ministry’s staff responsible for its operation and security.
The ministry noted that the Acropolis’ northern slope, particularly at the elevation where the elevator operates, is highly exposed to weather conditions and strong winds.
It said that when weather conditions exceed safe operating limits, the elevator should not operate, describing temporary shutdowns in such circumstances as the implementation of safety rules rather than technical failures.
Maintenance and 14,710 trips
The ministry said preventive and emergency maintenance is a necessary condition for the reliability and, above all, safety of such a technically complex installation.
It also cited usage figures to counter what it described as an impression of an elevator that is generally out of service. From the beginning of the 2026 tourist season in April through Aug. 20, the elevator completed 14,710 trips.
The ministry said the figure demonstrates both the intensity of its use and its importance in providing access to the Acropolis for visitors with mobility difficulties.
Previous accessibility concerns
The latest complaints follow concerns that have been raised previously.
In May 2025, reports documented accessibility problems at the Acropolis, including an incident involving a young tourist in a wheelchair. After using the elevator to reach the archaeological site, the elevator was out of service when she attempted to leave, and firefighters had to assist her descent.
At the time, Gemma Economopoulou described the elevator as operating only about two days out of seven.
Similar problems had also been reported during the previous summer.
The ministry itself acknowledged in May 2025 that demand had far exceeded the level for which the elevator was originally designed. Then-Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the system had been designed for approximately 200 trips per day, while more than 2,000 people were seeking to use it daily.
Mendoni also said the ministry was considering installing a second, larger elevator.
The latest ministry statement does not provide an update on that proposal. Instead, it focuses on the current operation of the existing system, arguing that continuous technical supervision, maintenance and adherence to safety limits are essential to its operation.
The ministry said the goal remains to provide safe and equal access to the Acropolis while protecting the archaeological site and its unique monument environment.
