Discovering Athens’ Crown Jewel: The Ultimate Visitor’s Guide to the Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum is undoubtedly one of the best modern museums in the world. Located just a stone’s throw away from Acropolis Hill and the Parthenon, it stands imposingly over the famous pedestrian street called Dionysiou Aeropagitou and the neighborhood of Koukaki.

We won’t tell you that a visit to one of the best museums in Athens is almost mandatory for any visitor to the city – you already know that. Instead, we’ll provide an extensive guide with all the museum highlights, information on the opening hours and tickets, insider tips, and everything you need to make your visit as smooth as possible.

Your ultimate guide on how to visit the Acropolis Museum starts here.

A First Glance at the Acropolis Museum

Surrounded by olive trees and perched on concrete columns that support the magnificent glass panes of the upper floors, the building that houses the Acropolis Museum has become an attraction in its own right.

It was designed by New York-based architect Bernard Tschumi in collaboration with local Greek architect Michael Photiadis and opened its doors in 2009, instantly becoming one of the most popular attractions of the city.

The Acropolis Museum is mainly devoted to exhibiting artifacts that were found in or around Acropolis Hill and the Parthenon, yet its collection also includes historical objects from other sites in Attica like the Temple of Artemis.

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The impressive museum occupies an area of 14.000 square meters and boasts a vast collection of more than 4.000 exhibits spread over four different levels.

Below, we’ll go over the highlights of each level separately.

Tip: Before visiting the Acropolis Museum, download the museum map for free here.

Heads Up: If you are planning to visit the must-see archaeological sites in Athens, plus the Acropolis Museum, buy the Athens Pass and save some money.

What to See: Highlights of the Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum is housed in a 4-floor building with exhibits arranged in chronological order so that moving up the floors feels like a journey through time, narrating stories from thousands of years ago.

Before starting your own journey through the museum, visit the foyer and check out the miniature replicas of the Acropolis that represent different moments in time.

That will certainly help you put everything you will see in a timeframe.

Tip: If, for whatever reason, you don’t have time to go through all the floors, start your tour from the top floor of the museum so that you don’t skip the museum’s absolute highlight – the majestic views of the Parthenon and the ruins of Acropolis Hill.

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Basement Level: Archaeological Excavation

The museum’s basement level is actually a real excavation site that uncovered an entire ancient Athenian neighborhood that is as large as the building itself.

The remains can also be seen through glass panes on the upper floors, but visiting the site up close is a whole different experience.

The ancient settlement features visible villas, bathhouses, workshops, tombs, mosaics, and even a drainage system.

You won’t find a more insightful way to perceive ancient Athens’s life from the Classical era to the Byzantine period.

Keep in mind that the excavation site’s opening hours are slightly different from those of the rest of the museum. All opening hours are listed at the end of the guide.

Don’t miss: The circular tower hall in Building E

Ground floor: Slopes of the Acropolis

The next floor is no less spectacular. The Gallery of the Slopes of the Acropolis is housed in an angled rectangular hall that symbolizes the ascent to the Sacred Hill of the Acropolis.

Here you’ll get the chance to marvel at ancient ruins, artwork depicting scenes of everyday life in ancient Athens as well as artifacts such as jewelry, vases, and bottles dating back to the Neolithic period.

Don’t miss: The sculpture of Papposilenos and the pillar with the dedication to Asklepios

First floor: Archaic Acropolis

The first thing you’ll see in the Archaic Acropolis Gallery is impressive sculptures and marble statues of the Archaic Period (7th – 5th century BC), many of which were gifts to the city’s patron goddess, Athena.

Moving on, you’ll find even more spectacular exhibits like the remains of the Hekatompedon, the temple that stood on Acropolis Hill before the Parthenon.

Next up, the famous female-figure statues called Caryatids (notice the purposefully vacant spot – the sixth Caryatid currently belongs to the British Museum) that used to hold the Erechtheion.

Finally, make sure to spend some time enjoying the votives and statues found around the Acropolis that depict famous men, Gods, and heroes from later periods.

Don’t miss: the Pediment of the Hekatompedon, the Caryatids, the sculpture of the winged goddess Nike, the portrait of Alexander the Great

Top floor: The Parthenon Gallery

The museum’s top floor is undoubtedly its most spectacular feature. The whole floor is dedicated to the city’s crown jewel, the Parthenon.

Here, you can see three of the ancient temple’s most fundamental architectural components: the metopes, the pediments, and the frieze, while having a magnificent view of the Parthenon itself right in front of you.

The structures are complete with masterfully crafted replicas of the missing parts that will give you a new perspective on what the Parthenon actually looked like in ancient times.

At the top level of the Acropolis Museum, the Parthenon Gallery is more than awesome. Try to spend most of your visiting time there. You’ll be amazed.

Don’t miss: Anything!

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The Cafe and Restaurant of the Acropolis Museum

The museum’s cafe is located on the ground floor, featuring a spectacular terrace that overlooks the archaeological excavation site below.

It serves breakfast, hot and cold beverages as well as traditional Greek hot dishes, refreshing beverages, and delicious desserts.

The cafe follows the museum’s opening hours, with the last orders accepted 30 minutes before the museum closes.

The museum’s restaurant occupies most of the second floor. Its magnificent dining area offers unobstructed views of the Acropolis.

It serves traditional Greek dishes and eclectic wine. Contrary to the cafe, the restaurant remains open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays to offer a special menu with dishes based on seasonal local products.

Shops in the Acropolis Museum

The museum has two shops: a gift shop and a bookstore. The former is located on the ground floor while the latter is found on the second floor.

Make sure to pay each a short visit to discover various books, interesting gifts, and memorabilia to take back home.

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You’ll also find exact cast replicas of some exhibits crafted in the museum’s conservation lab, which make awesome souvenirs. Both shops close 15 minutes before the museum closes.

Visiting the Acropolis Museum with a Guided Tour

The Acropolis Museum is one of the most visited attractions of the city.

Naturally, countless tours list it in their itinerary. And one of the most frequent questions we receive very often here at Athens by Locals is this:

“Is it worth it to visit the Acropolis Museum with a guide?”

The answer is always a resounding yes.

This way, not only you’ll be able to skip the lines and not waste your time waiting in queues but you’ll also get the chance to get a better understanding of the museum’s exhibits and learn about the city’s history. As for the best-guided tour out there, don’t fret.

We have already screened all the tours and we’ve got a few excellent recommendations. Just click the links below, check their reviews, and book your tour on Get Your Guide.

Combine a visit to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum

How to Get To the Acropolis Museum

Due to its central location, getting to the Acropolis Museum from any place downtown is going to be a breeze. You have plenty of options:

• On foot: You can easily walk to the museum from most central neighborhoods of Athens like Syntagma, Monastiraki, Thisseion, and Koukaki.
• By metro, get off at Acropolis station (red line). The entrance of the museum is only a couple of minutes away.
• By bus: The stop closest to the museum is called Makrigianni. To get there, you can get numerous bus lines (24, 40, 57, 103, 106, 108, 111, 126, 134, 135, 136, 137, 155, 206, 208, 227, 230, 237, 790, 856, Α2, Α3, Α4, Β2, Β3, Β4, Ε2, Ε22)

Accessibility

The Acropolis Museum is accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments. There are wheelchair ramps at every entrance, elevators, and accessible WCs on every floor. In addition, wheelchairs can be borrowed at the front desk, and guide dogs are allowed in the museum.

Opening Hours and Tickets

Winter season (1 November – 31 March)

• Monday to Thursday: 09:00 – 17:00
• Friday: 09:00 – 22:00
• Saturday & Sunday: 09:00 – 20:00

Archaeological excavation site:

• Monday to Sunday: 09:00 – 17:00
• General admission: 5 euros
• Reduced admission: 3 euros

Summer season (1 April – 31 October)

• Monday: 08:00 – 16:00
• Tuesday to Sunday: 08:00 – 20:00
• Friday: 08:00 – 22:00

Archaeological excavation site:

• Monday: 08:00 – 16:00
• Tuesday to Sunday: 08:00 – 20:00
• General admission: 10 euros
• Reduced admission: 5 euros

Closed:

1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25 December, 26 December

Limited hours:

Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve 09:00 – 15:00, Orthodox Good Friday 12:00 – 18:00, Orthodox Holy Saturday 08:00 – 15:00

Extended closing time until midnight:

The evening of August full moon, European Night of Museums

Free admission days:

6 March, 25 March, 18 May, 28 October

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Acropolis Museum

To sum it all up, the Acropolis Museum is an attraction you cannot afford to miss on your visit to Athens.

Apart from a magnificent spot to enjoy the view of the Parthenon from a vantage point, the marvelous exhibits and the astonishing excavation site below will give you a perspective of ancient Athens like no other spot in the city.