Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic Stadium is an ancient sports arena in central Athens built entirely from white Pentelic marble. The venue takes a long U-shape with straight sides measuring 204 meters in length and 33 meters in width, while spectator seating rises in 47 tiers that wrap around the running track.

Lycurgus commissioned a simple running track here in 330 BC for the Panathenaic Games. Herodes Atticus transformed it into a marble arena in 144 AD, which then fell into ruin for centuries before reconstruction for the 1896 Olympics.

The name comes from the Panathenaic Games, held here to honor the goddess Athena and drawing athletes from across the ancient world. Today visitors walk on the same track where the first modern Olympic champions competed, experiencing the white marble gleaming under the Greek sun.

Opening hours usually run from early morning to mid-afternoon, allowing visitors to explore the grounds in daylight. A walking route takes you across the track and through the lower passageways, with audio guides explaining the history of each section.

The Olympic flame for the 1896 Games was lit on a special platform at the entrance, a ritual that later became tradition for all modern Olympics. Beneath the stands sits a small museum displaying torches and medals from different Olympic editions.

Location: Athens Municipality

Inception: 329 BCE

Architects: Anastasios Metaxas, Ernst Ziller

Creator: Lycurgus of Athens

Architectural style: ancient Greek architecture

Capacity: 68000

Floors above the ground: 47

Length: 204.07 m

Width: 33.35 m

Made from material: marble

Shares border with: Ardettus

Address: Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30-14:30; Saturday-Sunday off; SH off

Phone: +3021075229846

Website: http://panathenaicstadium.gr

GPS coordinates: 37.96833,23.74111

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:04