Prison of Socrates
Prison of Socrates
3.5
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The area
Neighbourhood: Thissio / Makriyanni
Named after the well-preserved Thission (ancient temple of Hephaestus), Thissio is blessed with a small wooded park and some less frenetic streets that offer numerous quieter places to stay and eat. Largely pedestrianised Apostolou Pavlou Street runs between the Acropolis and forested Filopappou Hill, well worth climbing for more great panoramas, until it merges with Dionysiou Areopagitou Street. This leads to the up-and-coming area of Makriyanni, whose centrepiece is the magnificent new Acropolis Museum. Opposite the museum is the entrance to the southern slopes of the Acropolis, while the eponymous metro station nearby is at the top of Makriyanni Street, another strip of touristic cafés and restaurants.
How to get there
- Neos Kosmos • 8 min walk
- Syngrou Fix • 9 min walk
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
3,679 within 3 miles
Attractions
618 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
186 reviews
Excellent
35
Very good
60
Average
75
Poor
10
Terrible
6
jordanellie41
Longridge, UK1,075 contributions
Sept 2019
This is the alleged prison where Socrates was held and if it is true you should visit. However, many believe this not to be the case and therefore what you see is a cave with three entrances that all have padlocked gates to their front so you cannot go in. Only you can decide if it's worth your while.
Written 1 January 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.
Bechara C
Lebanon712 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
Went there during a small tour in Athens, there is a board explaining the location. I heard a tour guide explaining saying that probably this location was the house of the philosopher and not his prison. It’s 2 small rooms in the rock located in a nice park in Athens.
Written 28 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.
Nicolas D
Antwerp, Belgium2 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
Don't be fooled by local guides telling you this is the actual place where Socrates drank his poison and spent his last days. They love telling fancy stories, and this is one which is often used.
If it's anywhere, it's in the Athenian Agora. If you want to try to find it, check this website: http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/location-of-socrates-prison-cell-athens-greece.cfm
Then what are you seeing right now? The obvious answer: nobody's sure. The best guess is that this was a Mycenaean building which was subsequently reused for various purposes. The holes in the bedrock were actually used for wooden beams, so the building was most likely in front of what we can see today.
A beautiful place nonetheless, albeit with a very innacurate description. It is a very relaxing place though, with not too many tourists. I still recommend it, even though it's not quite as historically important.
If it's anywhere, it's in the Athenian Agora. If you want to try to find it, check this website: http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/location-of-socrates-prison-cell-athens-greece.cfm
Then what are you seeing right now? The obvious answer: nobody's sure. The best guess is that this was a Mycenaean building which was subsequently reused for various purposes. The holes in the bedrock were actually used for wooden beams, so the building was most likely in front of what we can see today.
A beautiful place nonetheless, albeit with a very innacurate description. It is a very relaxing place though, with not too many tourists. I still recommend it, even though it's not quite as historically important.
Written 15 April 2013
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.
Harrison F. Carter
Auckland, New Zealand12,826 contributions
Feb 2022
Didn't know of all the debate and likely uncertainty... but for the sake of a few minutes walk from the main path, enjoyed the space anyway.
Written 5 March 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.
Barringtonian
San Clemente, CA33 contributions
May 2013 • Solo
These late-carved holes-in-the-rock have nothing to do with the prison in which Socrates died. That building, existing only in foundations but the execution cell easy to identify, is located just outside the south-west boundary of the Agora (it was illegal to execute anyone within the boundaries). You will find it if you walk about 300 feet south from the tholos (the direction away from the railway tracks.
Written 25 September 2013
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.
arv212
Devon, PA286 contributions
Apr 2012 • Family
Its a very non impressive place where the greatest philosopher was imprisoned and later took his life. Sad but good to see some history.
Written 28 April 2012
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.
1TraveltheWorld
Alice Springs, Australia12,202 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
Ah, such sad, previous reviews from a few of the ill-informed.
The easiest accessible entry point, is at the end of Rovertou Galli.
This is where most of the tour companies, as well as the three main, hop on/ hop of buses stop.
From the entry point of the Archaeological site of Muses, which is also known as Philopappos, you will find the well sign posted site on your left hand side which will take you directly to the prison site Socrates.
If you are not interested in Greek history, you may find this attraction as menial, so skip it and instead, head for the spectacular views from Philopappos Hill.
For those who are, or understand this enigmatic and historical Greek philosopher, as a main founder of Western philosophy and classical literature, then visit if only to ponder.
His life can only be truly related by the reflective writings of Plato, one of his most famous students.
His death was officially listed at 399 BC.
He was sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock, there is historical doubt, that this was his actual prison.
But that’s another story!
It does however, make a visit here, possibly more intriguing?
The easiest accessible entry point, is at the end of Rovertou Galli.
This is where most of the tour companies, as well as the three main, hop on/ hop of buses stop.
From the entry point of the Archaeological site of Muses, which is also known as Philopappos, you will find the well sign posted site on your left hand side which will take you directly to the prison site Socrates.
If you are not interested in Greek history, you may find this attraction as menial, so skip it and instead, head for the spectacular views from Philopappos Hill.
For those who are, or understand this enigmatic and historical Greek philosopher, as a main founder of Western philosophy and classical literature, then visit if only to ponder.
His life can only be truly related by the reflective writings of Plato, one of his most famous students.
His death was officially listed at 399 BC.
He was sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock, there is historical doubt, that this was his actual prison.
But that’s another story!
It does however, make a visit here, possibly more intriguing?
Written 26 March 2016
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.
pegasus57
Athens, Greece24 contributions
the fact that history is not somebody's imagination but real and still alive
Written 22 January 2012
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.
EuripidesRex
Sydney, Australia22 contributions
Just to reiterate previous review - this is NOT the prison and place of death of Socrates.
The location is most likely the Ancient Agora's State Prison. It's in the south west corner - you'll have to look carefully, there's not many signs to help (I've just visited the site myself). It isn't popular so you might have the place to yourself. I spent an hour there just cogitating - only one visitor passing by.
Good luck.
The location is most likely the Ancient Agora's State Prison. It's in the south west corner - you'll have to look carefully, there's not many signs to help (I've just visited the site myself). It isn't popular so you might have the place to yourself. I spent an hour there just cogitating - only one visitor passing by.
Good luck.
Written 16 April 2014
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.
Danno
Windsor, Canada6 contributions
Sept 2019
Not the real thing.. just a bit of a gimmick. Work making the hike up to Philapappou hill, but don't bother looking for this.
Written 29 September 2019
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.
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