The sunhat is everywhere in Athens as crowds grow larger at ancient sites

Introduction

ATHENS – Outside the Acropolis, a sea of hats bobs up and down the hill to the ancient site: straw boaters, Panama hats, baseball caps and bucket hats in the relentless heat. Hat racks are hard to miss in central Athens this summer, as kiosks and stores keep outdoor stands piled high, with more tourists seeking relief from the midday heat.

The Acropolis drew about 4.6 million visitors in 2025, a record year for Greek tourism, as reported by Daily Excelsior, The Economic Times, and SFGATE. Many visitors spend hours in mid-30s Celsius (mid-90s Fahrenheit) temperatures with little shade. Even a carriage horse at the foot of the ancient monument has joined in, sporting a brown bucket hat with holes cut for its ears.

Rising Awareness and Sales

"You need a hat. I'm already red as it is," said Jack Yosif, an Australian tourist wearing a black baseball cap. "It's a bit more of a common thing nowadays, and people are a bit more aware."

Scorching temperatures didn't deter a record 38 million visitors last year, the most recent for which there is data. The combination of extreme heat and high demand for sites – which means not everyone can visit in the morning – is adding urgency to sun protection, according to the same three outlets.

On nearby Syntagma Square, kiosk owner Konstantinos Mallios says hat sales have risen in recent years. His stylish and souvenir models run up to 20 euros ($24) while the cheapest costs 6 euros. Available elsewhere is semi-disposable headgear: mass-produced hats made using compressed paper pulp.

The Hatmaker's Perspective

At her basement workshop, hatmaker Lisa Sarigiannidou turns straw braids into boaters using century-old presses and molds in a matter of minutes. Her hats start at around 50 euros, with elaborate designs costing more than 100 euros. "People's attitudes toward hats have changed," said Sarigiannidou, who was trained by her hatmaker father, as reported by Daily Excelsior, The Economic Times, and SFGATE.

Health Campaigners and Red Cross

Greek health campaigners have welcomed a growing awareness of the dangers of ultraviolet exposure and risk of heat stroke. Red Cross volunteers at the Acropolis hand out kits with sunscreen, water, information leaflets and red caps, according to the same sources.

Euronews.com adds that after several unpleasant incidents in previous years, tourists visiting Greece this year appear to be better informed about the dangers of ultraviolet radiation and the harmful effects of excessive sun exposure. Eirini Bourovili, a Red Cross volunteer, says she is handing out fewer and fewer hats during a campaign distributing a heat-stress prevention kit to visitors in Athens, which also includes water and sunscreen.

"People tend to use more hats and other protective methods such as sunscreen and sunglasses compared with the past, because I think they are now better informed about ultraviolet radiation and how sunlight and sun exposure can affect the skin and skin ageing, as well as skin cancer," she explains.

A tourist from Peru, visiting the Acropolis, said: "I travel with a hat, and this umbrella also offers ultraviolet protection, so I have full UV protection."

Record Tourism Despite Heat

Last summer was the third hottest in Greece's history, according to Euronews.com, and that did not deter tourists: their numbers reached 38 million, setting a new record. The combination of extreme heat and high demand continues to shape the tourist experience in Athens, with hats emerging as both a practical necessity and a cultural marker of the season.