Hadrian's Library
Hadrian's Library
3.5
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Monastiraki
Monastiraki is a souvenir-hunting enclave with a difference. Apart from the dramatic backdrop of the Acropolis, its network of alleys and pedestrianized streets surround the remains of both the Greek and Roman agoras, adding the quaint concept that this is where the ancients also came to shop. Named after the tiny monastery church at its center, Monastiraki Square is a lively spot by day or night, with street peddlers vying for your attention to sell you nuts and sweets. Down beside the metro station, the official Flea Market is an unbroken row of souvenir shops until you come to antique-oriented Platia Avissinias, while Pandrossou Street on the other side of the square offers more tourist shopping. The pedestrianized street beside the Greek Agora is lined with cafés offering fine views.
How to get there
- Monastiraki • 1 min walk
- Thissio • 6 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
- StacyMacDonaldCalgary, Canada233 contributionsQuick StopIf you have a combo ticket from Hellenic Heritage (which I recommend), Hadrian's Library is worth popping into and if you'll likely be near it at some point. We were staying in Plaka area and I think we walked by dozens of times. It'll take no more than 15 minutes and you may get to see some tortoises wandering through the grasses.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 October 2023
- AQUALUNA1Singapore, Singapore987 contributionsRuins after ruins so this is a pass by place for me. Still worth looking at it since you are there.Hadrian's Library was created by Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD 132 on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens. I didn’t go in, jus took photos for outside. Didn’t see too many people inside it too.Visited October 2023Travelled soloWritten 20 October 2023
- Mairwen1United Kingdom11,690 contributionsOne of the Sites Included in the Combo Acropolis ticketMost (but not all) of what you see at Hadrian’s Library can also be seen from street level for free. I might would not have paid the €6 to go inside but it was included in the combo Acropolis ticket so we took advantage of that. It’s excellent value and I’d highly recommend it. Built in AD 132, the library was one of Hadrian’s grandest and most impressive buildings but only a fraction is left. Originally, it stood about 120m long by 80m wide, with a series of rooms that housed a library, music rooms and lecture rooms. Rows of niches held over 17,000 books, scrolls, documents and papyri. Most documents were in the form of papyrus scrolls and ranged from literary works in Greek and Roman, to legal and administrative documents, and official state archive papers. The scrolls were held in wooden boxes or partitions which sat in the niches. It was all designed around a central, enclosed ornamental pool and garden. We imagined people strolling the tranquil gardens, deeply engaged in thoughtful, esoteric discussions. What you see here today are just sections of it. The largest section standing is the western wall. The imposing row of monolithic marble columns formed the portico and entrance. The column shafts were made of green coloured Karystos marble and were topped with Corinthian columns in contrasting fine, white Pentelic marble. There are also remains of the Main East Room and two small auditoria. However it was hard to get a fix on the original layout because most of it is in ruins. In addition to the library there are several other ruins to see. These are: i) Church of Asomatos - all that’s left is some intriguing frescoes of saints’ faces on the library’s façade ii) 5th century Tetraconch / Megali Panagia Church - this is the larger set of remains, with a group of 4 columns, gateway, floor mosaics and foundations in the centre of the grounds iii) Museum & Statue of Nike - temporarily closed when we were there There are some decent information boards around the site which are very helpful. TICKET: Entry is €6 (€3 in winter) but the combo ticket is €30 and includes entry to the Acropolis, the Library and 5 other sites. GETTING THERE: The Library is very centrally located and is within easy walking distance of the other main sights. The entrance is alongside the bustling Monastiraki Square, near the Metro.Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 November 2023
- CaptCook234 contributionsFor those who love ruinsThis is a little-known gem close to Monastraki Square. The ruins reinforce the layering of Athens bullt by Hadrian at the peak of the Roman Empire. If you're on a budget, they can reasonably be viewed without entry (on day I visited, the box office attendants seemed to be more concerned with gossiping than selling tickets). However, the entry fee is not too steep. Overall, patrons of his site (including myself) seeemed to be hard-core lovers of ruins rather than those simply trying to cross something of their bucket list. So if your one of these, you'll really enjoy this site.Visited December 2023Travelled soloWritten 22 December 2023
- Deanosaur89Edmonton, Canada8,870 contributionsFilled with Cats and Looks CoolWhen we visited the area on a Friday afternoon we were surprised to find out it was closed by the time we got there. The library is only opened from 8 am to 3 pm everyday so plan accordingly if you'd like to see. The library itself is in ruins and dates back to the second century. Tickets in high season are 8 euros and low season are 4 euros. I believe there is a combo ticket to get in here along with the Acropolis but we felt most of the sites (including this one) were a bit small and could be enjoyed from the outside. The area is full of cats as well and apparently pickpockets according to some signage so best to be careful and keep your valuables secured. The closest metro is Monastiraki which is a few steps away. There are also many shops, restaurants and cafes nearby.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 March 2024
- Josie ICambridge, United Kingdom735 contributionsJust get the picture!I actually enjoyed my time at Hadrian's Library. It's not really worth it to go inside (it is 3 euro for under 25) for the exception of taking a picture with Hadrian's Gate, which is an absolutely gorgeous structure. I would recommend walking to the gate, taking a picture, on your way to the agora or acropolis.Visited September 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 8 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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permia
Ireland66,148 contributions
Mar 2020
Strolling around the vast space we got a wonderful semblance of the splendour of the complex in antiquity. A library was just one aspect of what was a substantial cultural centre.
Soaring columns provide a window onto what was a cloistered courtyard bounded by one hundred columns.
Traces of the auditorium are to be seen. Also marvellous is the foundation of what was the main east room of the library.
In the centuries after its completion around the 130s CE a number of Byzantine Churches were established in the complex. Tetraconch Church was built within the library's internal courtyard, giving a cogent impression of the sheer scale of the overall centre.
Soaring columns provide a window onto what was a cloistered courtyard bounded by one hundred columns.
Traces of the auditorium are to be seen. Also marvellous is the foundation of what was the main east room of the library.
In the centuries after its completion around the 130s CE a number of Byzantine Churches were established in the complex. Tetraconch Church was built within the library's internal courtyard, giving a cogent impression of the sheer scale of the overall centre.
Written 23 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
guideserver1989
Paris, France219 contributions
Oct 2020 • Solo
Hadrian's Library was created by Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD 132 on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens. The building followed a typical Roman Forum architectural style, having only one entrance with a propylon of Corinthian order, a high surrounding wall with protruding niches (oikoi, exedrae) at its long sides, an inner courtyard surrounded by columns and a decorative oblong pool in the middle. The library was on the eastern side where rolls of papyrus "books" were kept. Adjoining halls were used as reading rooms, and the corners served as lecture halls.
Written 2 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yuki Lee
Hong Kong, China675 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Greece🇬🇷Athens has many ancient monuments. I did some research before departure. If I want to visit several monuments, including the Acropolis, it is best to buy a package ticket. If you buy it at Acropolis, there may be a long queue. You can pre-order online, but some people say there is a chance of buying fake tickets. So my strategy is to go to this relatively unpopular ruins with the closest hotel first. There are only a few tourists, so you can buy tickets without queuing. The package ticket is €30, which includes the entrance fee for 7 monuments, so be sure to pack your bags!
Hadrian's Library is a library built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 132 AD. The library was once a public square and cultural center, housing many papyrus books, artworks, lecture halls and gorgeous gardens.
Most of Hadrian's Library has collapsed, and only one of the high walls is intact. Standing under that wall, it feels very tall.
The location of this attraction is very convenient. It is right outside Monastiraki Station and near the Monastiraki Flea Market.
As an aside, it’s not difficult to see cats on the streets of Greece, but when I visited Hadrian’s Library, I actually saw a turtle, and it was quite a big one! 🐢
Hadrian's Library is a library built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 132 AD. The library was once a public square and cultural center, housing many papyrus books, artworks, lecture halls and gorgeous gardens.
Most of Hadrian's Library has collapsed, and only one of the high walls is intact. Standing under that wall, it feels very tall.
The location of this attraction is very convenient. It is right outside Monastiraki Station and near the Monastiraki Flea Market.
As an aside, it’s not difficult to see cats on the streets of Greece, but when I visited Hadrian’s Library, I actually saw a turtle, and it was quite a big one! 🐢
Written 11 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PaulB
Maastricht, The Netherlands3,135 contributions
Jan 2023
Hadrian's Library was created by Roman Emperor Hadrian in the second century BC in a typical Roman forum architectural style.
It's a bit difficult to imagine how the entire structure(s) would have looked.
Admission is € 4 for adults (included in a combi ticket of € 30).
You can see almost everything from the outside as well.
It's a bit difficult to imagine how the entire structure(s) would have looked.
Admission is € 4 for adults (included in a combi ticket of € 30).
You can see almost everything from the outside as well.
Written 9 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pseudolus
12 contributions
Oct 2021
While Hadrian's Library on its own may not be the most impressive site in Athens, one must remember that the whole is greater than the some of its parts. As such, this site is fun side stop as part of the 5-day Athens ticket. As with many of the smaller archaelogical sites around the city, very little of the original structure is still standing. That being said, the site does have great atmosphere that gives visitors and idea of what used to be. It also serves as an important link between the Hellenic and Roman worlds. Given its location, it would be easy to start ones ancient journey here and then move on to the Ancient Agora.
Written 10 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria Solange O
Farroupilha, RS30,842 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Hadrian's Library is one of the main tourist attractions in Athens. The ruins are located next to Monastiraki square. The imposing Corinthian columns dominate the place. Tip: entry to the library is free on the 1st Sunday of each month, but if you are not there on Sunday, buy a ticket valid for 5 days with access to many other attractions.
Written 23 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian D
San Luis Obispo, CA589 contributions
May 2023
This is one of the sites included in the Ministry of Culture 5-site pass. The pass is worth it. However, this and the Roman Agora can be completed in under 10min (unless you want to read every sign). The stones are mostly fallen and piled up. All the photos I took could have been taken from outside the site, and one photo I included could only be taken outside the site, at outdoor seating in a cafe just above the site.
Written 20 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jydeoo
Lagos, Nigeria2,311 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
My visit to the Ancient Library of Emperor Hadrian was a journey into the past. As I walked through the remains of this historical treasure, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer expanse of the premises. It left me pondering - did the ancients read so much because they lacked digital or printed books? Perhaps they relied on countless papyrus scrolls for each work, stored in large archives.
I wonder if the emperor had secret storage rooms and archives for his own historical documents. Being a scholar in those times must have been an intriguing experience. The library even featured auditoriums.
Near the entrance, I spotted remnants of a wall painting and columns fused to the wall, offering glimpses into the artistry of the era. Additionally, there was a small church attached close to the library.
As I exited, I couldn't ignore the bustling market nearby, filled with enticing treasures. The Library of Hadrian offers a glimpse into a bygone era, and I left with a sense of wonder and curiosity about the past.
I wonder if the emperor had secret storage rooms and archives for his own historical documents. Being a scholar in those times must have been an intriguing experience. The library even featured auditoriums.
Near the entrance, I spotted remnants of a wall painting and columns fused to the wall, offering glimpses into the artistry of the era. Additionally, there was a small church attached close to the library.
As I exited, I couldn't ignore the bustling market nearby, filled with enticing treasures. The Library of Hadrian offers a glimpse into a bygone era, and I left with a sense of wonder and curiosity about the past.
Written 22 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VTJedi
Virginia2,996 contributions
May 2022
It's on the combined ticket which includes the acropolis, so we got our moneys worth by also visiting this site. It took a half hour to stroll around. The tower of the winds was incredible to see. I love visiting ancient sites, and this one was quite nice and central in Athens so easy to see while also visiting the Roman Agora, Ancient Greek Agora, or the Parthenon or visiting the monastiraki neighborhood.
Written 28 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brianngog
Cyprus11,530 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
We had purchased the Combo Ticket which allowed one visit to each of Seven of the Main Architectural Attractions in Athens and so paid a visit to Hadrians Library located in the Monisteraki District. Very well preserved as it goes and gives you an insight into the life and times back in the day. Well worth a visit to get yet more knowledge about the Athenians who lived in that era.
Written 2 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does the 30 euro ticket allow for multi entries to the acropolis? i see it's good for 5 days but im wondering if this allows me to enter the acropolis each day for 5 days?
Written 19 May 2017
it actually doesn't allow multiple entries.
I bought it when I went to Athens back in June-July.
You can only enter each place once but you have 5 days to chose when you wanna visit each site.
Written 28 November 2017
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