The Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) in Agrigento, Sicily, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering 1,300 hectares of ancient Greek remains from the 5th century BC — the most extensive and best-preserved ancient Greek site outside Greece itself.
This guide was updated in June 2026. The standard adult admission is €14, confirmed on the official CoopCulture and park ticketing pages — but there are several key planning points most guides miss. Last ticket sale is at 19:00 and visitors must exit by 20:00; many guides simply say “open until 8pm” without noting this distinction. The park is also closed on 1 May, 25 December, and 1 January — missing from most listings. You can book through GetYourGuide in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Via Panoramica dei Templi, 92100 Agrigento, Sicily, Italy. |
| Standard hours | 08:30–19:00 (exit site by 20:00) |
| Last ticket/admission | 19:00 |
| Closed | 1 May; 25 December; 1 January |
| Free admission | First Sunday of each month (08:30–19:00) |
| Standard adult ticket | €14 |
| Concession (EU citizens 18–25) | €7 |
| Under 18 | Free |
| Combined: Valley + Archaeological Museum | €19.60 (€9.60 concession) |
| Combined: Valley + Kolymbetra Garden | €20 (€12 concession) |
| Archaeological Museum alone | €10 (€5 concession) |
| Shuttle bus within the site | Free |
| Nearest city | Agrigento (3 km by road) |
| Typical visit | 2.5–4 hours |
Valley of the Temples opening hours
The park is open every day except 1 May, 25 December, and 1 January, from 08:30 to 19:00 with exit from the site by 20:00. The last ticket is sold at 19:00 — this is simultaneously the last admission time. Arriving at 19:00 means you have one hour in the site before security begins clearing it. Plan arrival by 17:00 at the latest for a comfortable visit.
Separate evening openings take place on certain dates, typically from 20:00 to 23:00, with paid admission. These are not included in the standard daytime ticket and must be booked separately. Free entry applies on the first Sunday of every month (08:30–19:00 daytime only; evening sessions from 20:00 on that Sunday are paid).
Valley of the Temples admission prices
Prices are confirmed on the official CoopCulture ticketing page. Online pre-purchase is recommended as entry flows are restricted and the site can reach capacity at peak periods.
| Category | Park only | Combined with Museum | Combined with Kolymbetra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full adult | €14 | €19.60 | €20 |
| Concession (EU 18–25) | €7 | €9.60 | €12 |
| Under 18 | Free | Free | Free |
| First Sunday of month | Free | — | — |
The Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum (also known as the Museo Regionale) is separately located on Contrada San Nicola — it is not inside the valley park. The Kolymbetra Garden is a FAI-managed ancient almond grove within the park with a separate admission. Both require the combined ticket or a separate purchase. Book your Valley of the Temples ticket through GetYourGuide.
Why visit the Valley of the Temples?
- 🏛️ One of the world’s great ancient sites: Seven Doric temples, ancient necropolises, underground aqueducts, and over 1,300 hectares of archaeological landscape — on a scale not matched by any other Greek site outside Greece.
- 🎟️ Free on the first Sunday of the month: Full daytime access to the park is free every first Sunday. Evening sessions on those Sundays still require a paid ticket.
- 🌿 Evening openings under the stars: On selected evenings the temples are illuminated after sunset — a qualitatively different experience from the daytime visit, and tickets sell out well in advance.
- 📜 The Temple of Concordia is still standing: Built around 440 BC and one of the best-preserved Doric temples on earth, largely because it was converted into a Christian church in the 6th century AD, preserving its structure when other temples were dismantled for building material.
- 💰 A free shuttle bus runs within the site: The valley is large and the terrain slopes significantly. A free internal shuttle connects the main entrance points, confirmed by multiple official sources — but not mentioned in most visitor guides.
How to get to the Valley of the Temples
By city bus from Agrigento, the most practical option without a car: local Agrigento buses on lines 1, 2, 2/, and 3/ depart from Piazzale Rosselli (the bus station) and Piazza Marconi (adjacent to the central railway station) and serve the Valley of the Temples. The journey takes around 20 minutes.
By long-distance bus from Catania airport, SAIS Trasporti operates direct services to Agrigento from Catania. From Palermo airport, SAL Trasporti runs direct buses to Agrigento. Journey times are approximately 2 hours (Catania) and 2.5 hours (Palermo). From the Agrigento bus terminal, take a local bus (above) to the valley.
By car, Agrigento is reached via the SS640 from Caltanissetta (A19) or the SS189 from Palermo. From the city, follow signs for Valle dei Templi. Multiple car parks are available at the site entrances (Porta V and Tempio di Giunone).
Parking at the Valley of the Temples
Car parks are available at the main site entrances: Porta V (on Via Caduti di Marzabotto, off the SS640) and Tempio di Giunone (on Via Panoramica dei Templi). Both are paid. A dedicated coach drop-off area is also available. The Teatro Ellenistico ticket office (near the Archaeological Museum) is closed from November to March — use Porta V or Tempio di Giunone ticket offices year-round.
How long to spend at the Valley of the Temples
Allow 2.5 to 4 hours for a visit covering the main temples along the Via Sacra. Covering the Eastern Zone (Concordia, Juno, Hercules) alone takes around 90 minutes at a comfortable pace. Adding the Western Zone (Castor and Pollux, Jupiter, Vulcan), the Kolymbetra Garden, and time in the museum stretches the visit to a full half-day or more. The free internal shuttle is strongly recommended for visitors who want to cover the full 1,300-hectare site.
Accessibility at the Valley of the Temples
The site is described as accessible to visitors with impaired mobility — confirmed by the tickitaly.com listing and CoopCulture. The free internal shuttle bus operates at both main entrances and connects key points across the sloping terrain. Some paths are uneven; comfortable, sturdy footwear is essential for all visitors. Disabled visitors and one companion enter free. Contact the park in advance for specific route information.
What to see at the Valley of the Temples
The Temple of Concordia (c.440 BC) is the most complete Doric temple in the world after Athens‘s Theseion. Its survival is owed to conversion into a Christian church in the 6th century AD, which kept the colonnade structurally intact for 600 more years. Standing at its base at dusk is the defining experience of the valley.
The Temple of Hera Lacinia (Juno) stands at the highest point of the eastern ridge. The east colonnade and partial entablature survive; reddening in the limestone columns marks fire damage from the Carthaginian attack of 406 BC.
The Temple of Heracles (Hercules) is the oldest on the ridge, c.510 BC. Eight of the original 38 columns remain upright — among the tallest in Sicily. One column was re-erected by Alexander Hardcastle, an English archaeologist who lived beside the valley in the early 20th century.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus (Western Zone) would have been the largest Doric temple ever built (112 × 56 metres) had it been completed. Construction was halted by the Carthaginian invasion of 406 BC. A model of one of the colossal Atlante support figures lies on the ground; the original is in the Archaeological Museum.
The Kolymbetra Garden is a 5-hectare FAI-managed almond grove inside the park, occupying an ancient fish reservoir built by Carthaginian prisoners after 480 BC. It requires the combined ticket and provides cool shade — a genuinely peaceful contrast to the open ridge.
Practical tips for visiting the Valley of the Temples
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrive well before 19:00 | Last ticket sale and last admission are both at 19:00. The site closes to new entrants at that time; visitors inside have until 20:00 to exit. Arriving at 18:00 gives only two hours — tight for a proper visit. |
| The park closes on 1 May, 25 December, and 1 January | Most aggregators don’t flag these closures. If any of those dates falls during your visit, the valley will be shut. |
| Use the free internal shuttle | The valley is large and the terrain slopes. The free shuttle connects the two main entrance areas — vital if you want to cover both the eastern and western zones without a significant uphill walk. |
| Consider the Kolymbetra Garden | The FAI-managed almond grove inside the park requires the combined ticket (€20). It provides shade, local plant species, and a completely different atmosphere from the temple ridge. Allow 45 minutes. |
| Book in advance | Entry flows are restricted at peak times, particularly weekends in spring and autumn. Pre-booking avoids queuing at the ticket office and guarantees entry at your chosen time. |
Valley of the Temples FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the adult ticket price? | €14 for the park alone. Combined with the Archaeological Museum: €19.60. Combined with the Kolymbetra Garden: €20. EU citizens aged 18–25 receive 50% concession; under-18s enter free. |
| When is entry free? | On the first Sunday of each month, daytime admission (08:30–19:00) is free for all visitors. Evening sessions on that Sunday are paid. |
| What time is last admission? | 19:00. Despite the site nominally closing at 20:00, the last ticket is sold at 19:00 and no new visitors are admitted after this time. |
| Is the Kolymbetra Garden included in the standard ticket? | No. It requires a combined ticket (€20 adult, €12 concession). Buy at the main ticket offices at Porta V or Tempio di Giunone. |
| Is there public transport to the valley? | Yes — Agrigento city buses on lines 1, 2, 2/, and 3/ run from the central train station (Piazza Marconi) and the bus station (Piazzale Rosselli) to the valley. |
Things to do near the Valley of the Temples
The Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum (Museo Regionale) is at Contrada San Nicola, adjacent to the valley park. It holds the original colossal Atlante figure from the Temple of Zeus, Greek vases, coins, and sculptures from across the Akragas area.
Agrigento Old Town is around 3 km north of the valley. The medieval and Baroque historic centre sits on the ridge above the ancient city and is walkable from the valley via Via Atenea. It is largely unvisited by tourists who spend their time only at the temples.
The Scala dei Turchi (Turkish Steps) is around 18 km west along the coast — a tiered cliff of bright white marl sculpted by the sea into natural stepped formations above a sandy beach. It is one of the most photographed natural landscapes in Sicily. Drive or take a bus from Agrigento.
Punta Bianca is a small white limestone headland west of Agrigento popular with swimmers and snorkellers, around 15 minutes’ drive from the valley. It offers clear water and dramatic coastal geology with no facilities — bring everything you need.
The Pirandello House Museum is around 3 km west of Agrigento city at Caos — the birthplace of Luigi Pirandello, winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize for Literature. The house is small but the coastal location and the pine tree where Pirandello’s ashes were buried are part of the visit.
Similar ancient sites to visit near Agrigento
Selinunte Archaeological Park is around 85 km west along the coastal road (approximately 1.5 hours). It holds the largest Greek archaeological area in Europe by extent, with five major temples in various states of preservation and ongoing excavations.
Ancient Theatre of Syracuse (see Neapolis Archaeological Park, Syracuse) is around 2.5 hours east. It holds one of the largest ancient Greek theatres in the world, a Roman amphitheatre, the Ear of Dionysius cave, and a significant altar precinct. One of the essential companion sites to the Valley of the Temples.
Segesta Archaeological Park is around 1.5 hours north-west of Agrigento. A perfectly preserved Greek temple from around 430 BC (never completed; the columns are un-fluted) and a separate ancient theatre with views to the sea. One of the most isolated and atmospheric ancient sites in Sicily.
Morgantina, Aidone is around 90 minutes north-east of Agrigento and covers a Siculo-Greek city largely excavated from the 1950s onwards. Less visited than the main sites but significant for scholars; the local museum at Aidone holds material repatriated from American collections.
Motya (Mozia), Marsala is a Phoenician island site around 2 hours north-west of Agrigento, reached by boat from Marsala. It provides the strongest available contrast to the Greek culture of Akragas and holds significant 5th-century BC sculpture including the White Youth of Motya.
More Sicily travel
Other Sicily travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Palermo Botanic Gardens.
- Practical guide to visiting the Norman Palace in Palermo, with times, prices & visitor tips.
- See the monster statues at Villa Palagonia in Bagheri near Palermo.
- Guide to using the Funivia dell’Etna cable car on Mt Etna’s southern flank.
- Plan your visit to the Ancient Theatre of Taormina in Sicily.
