STORY: The Acropolis closed for a second day on Wednesday (July 23) as a heatwave swept through Athens for the third time this summer.

Authorities said the landmark would stay shut daily from midday to 5 p.m. through Friday (July 25), as temperatures were forecast to soar to 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of the country.

Tourists said they were coping with the heatwave by staying hydrated, seeking shade, and adjusting their schedules to avoid the peak afternoon temperatures.

The heatwave is expected to last through the weekend, according to the Greek meteorological service.

Meanwhile, tourists in Nafplion, in the Argolida region of southern Greece, watched as smoke from a major forest fire near Corinth filled the sky on Tuesday (July 22), forcing evacuations of several villages.

Situated at Europe’s southern edge, Greece draws tens of millions of tourists each year. While summer heat is common, scientists say climate change is making extreme weather events - including prolonged heatwaves, wildfires and floods - more frequent and intense.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Acropolis to remain closed from midday due to extreme heat

VIDEO SHOWS: GATES TO ACROPOLIS BEING CLOSED FOR TOURISTS DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES / TOURISTS LEAVING ACROPOLIS BEFORE CLOSURE / TOURISTS TALKING ABOUT HEATWAVE / TOURISTS IN THE PORT OF NAFPLION WATCHING SMOKE FROM A WILDFIRE NEAR CORINTH

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 23, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF WORKERS INSTALLING BARRIERS AT ENTRANCE TO ACROPOLIS

2. VARIOUS OF SIGN ADVISING VISITORS OF TEMPORARY CLOSURE UNTIL 5 P.M. LOCAL TIME DUE TO HEATWAVE

3. VARIOUS OF GATES TO ACROPOLIS CLOSING

3. VARIOUS OF ACROPOLIS WITH GATES SHUT

4. VARIOUS OF RED CROSS WORKERS DISTRIBUTING WATER BOTTLES

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM U.S., YVETTE, SAYING:

"Today is the first day that we really experienced the heatwave. Need to have a hat. Drink your water. The Red Cross is really great for giving us water here, but it is getting very hot now.”

6. VARIOUS OF LARGE GROUPS OF TOURISTS EXITING THE ACROPOLIS

7. TOURIST DRINKING WATER

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM U.S., CRAIG PETERSON, SAYING:

"The heatwave, we prepared with hats, sunscreen and glasses. And I think that I think the hype, the messaging was very strong. It's going to be very hot. A little bit less hot because we're here before noon and the tour is going to end before noon. So we'll take it easy later. But fundamentally hasn't stopped our travels.”

9. TOURISTS QUEUING WITH UMBRELLA

10. TOURIST USING WATER BOTTLE TO POUR WATER ON CHILDREN

11. TOURISTS RESTING IN SHADED AREAS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM U.S., CRAIG PETERSON, SAYING:

"The only thing that we're really doing today is just drinking extra water. The first-aid stations are giving us water, which is very helpful. And it was a good thing that we had an early morning tour schedule to visit the Acropolis.”

13. TOURISTS AT ENTRANCE TO ACROPOLIS

14. TOURISTS FANNING THEMSELVES

15. VARIOUS VIEWS OF THE PARTHENON

NAFPLION, GREECE (JULY 22, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

16. VARIOUS OF TOURISTS AT NAFPLION PORT WATCHING SMOKE FROM A WILDFIRE THAT BROKE OUT IN FENEOS AREA NEAR CORINTH

17. FISHING BOAT WITH TOURISTS SAILING ACROSS THE SEA AS SMOKE FILLS THE SKY

18. VARIOUS OF TOURISTS SITTING ON DOCK AT THE PORT WITH SMOKE VISIBLE IN THE BACKGROUND

19. SAILING BOAT CROSSES THE SEA AT SUNDOWN WITH SMOKE IN THE BACKGROUND