Greece’s Culture Ministry ordered the Acropolis in Athens to close from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 8 July, after forecasts put nationwide temperatures as high as 42 °C (107.6 °F) and 38 °C in the capital. Officials said the measure, covering the country’s most-visited archaeological site, was taken to protect both tourists and staff during the peak of a four-day heatwave. The Labour Ministry simultaneously extended mandatory work stoppages for outdoor labourers, including builders, couriers and shipyard crews, from noon until 5 p.m. in several regions. Employers who ignore the order face penalties of €2,000 per worker. Authorities also warned of elevated wildfire risk in Attica, central Greece and parts of the Peloponnese, as hot air and strong winds combine with parched vegetation. This is Greece’s second major heatwave since late June and mirrors last summer’s record-breaking conditions. The 2,500-year-old Acropolis, which drew 4.5 million visitors in 2024, has faced similar shutdowns in recent years as extreme temperatures become more frequent across southern Europe.