Athens Tower of the Winds

Location: Plaka

The Tower of the Winds is situated in the Roman Agora of Athens, between the quarters of Plaka and Monastiraki. It is a 12-meter-tall structure with an octagonal shape and a diameter of 8 meters.
It was created with fine Pentelic marble by the Greek astronomer Andronicus of Cyrrhus, probably around 50 BC.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS FOR THE ACROPOLIS AND OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN ATHENS IN ADVANCE!
Explore the Acropolis, the Tower of the Winds and other major ancient monuments of Athens at your own pace by booking your entry tickets online!
Buy your tickets online!

This tower had many uses during ancient times. It was originally constructed as a solar clock, to estimate time, based on the position of the sun. It was also used for weather indicating and forecasting. The tower features a combination of sundials, a water clock, and a wind vane. In fact, its frieze depicts the eight wind deities according to their direction: Boreas (N), Kaikias (NE), Eurus (E), Apeliotes (SE), Notus (S), Lips (SW), Zephyrus (W) and Skiron (NW).

In the interior, there was a water clock, like an hourglass, using water coming down from the Rock of the Acropolis.
In early Christian times, this structure was used as the bell tower of a church. During the Ottoman occupation, it was used as a tekke - a place of spiritual retreat and character formation.

The architectural design of the Tower of the Winds has inspired many other structures in the world. In fact, it has influenced the design of the 18th-century Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford UK, the 15th-century Torre del Marzocco in Livorno Italy, the Temple of the Winds in Mount Stewart (Northern Ireland) and a similar tower in Sevastopol Ukraine built in 1849.

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Tower of the Winds from any location in Athens.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: (0030) 18288, (0030) 18222, (0030) 18180. You can also book your taxi online.

On foot: As the Tower of the Winds is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Monastiraki Square in approximately 5-10 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro station is Monastiraki (Green Line and Blue Line). Note that the Tower of the Winds is located within a 5-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is "Monastiraki". Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.