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The most detailed guide to the Great and Small Museums in Athens, Greece! While visiting the Greek Capital, spend some time to see some of the best museums in Athens. You can also visit Athens’ best museums during free admission days.
Athens museums house the treasures of Greek history and culture, offering fascinating insights into life in the oldest capital in Europe and the cradle of civilization.
Unique exhibitions are hosted in these great and small museums in Athens, a must-see aspect during your visit to Athens.
As its name suggests, the Acropolis Museum contains finds from the Acropolis; the glory of the collection lies in its sculptures and particularly the archaic sculptures.
Visitors should be sure to see the Ramping Horseman, and the series of figures of kore, or young girls. The girls look as they would have done when taking part in the Panathenaic Procession.
Also on display are those bits of sculpture from the Parthenon frieze, which Lord Elgin did not take to England, as well as The Caryatides from the Erechtheum.
Ethniki Odos 1 9, Athens 106 74 (Click here to see the map.)
Get your Acropolis museum ticket online now and when you’ll visit the museum you’ll skip the line through express security check!
The Agora Museum is housed in the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos and it has finds from the Agora, dating from the Neolithic to the Turkish period.
The museum’s collection of pottery is superb; unfortunately, relatively little is on display, as this is a working collection for scholars.
Visitors should be sure: to see the ancient Athenian working machine, or form of the ballot box, known as the Kleroterion.
In addition, the museum has many inscriptions on display and numerous items from daily life through the centuries.
24, Adrianou Street, Athens 105 55 (Click here to see the map).
Book online the Combo ticket now and save money
HaIf the fun of visiting the Benaki Museum on Leoforos Vasilissis Sofias is seeing the lovely view of Athens from the Museum’s rooftop cafe.
The collection was started by a wealthy Athenian, A. Benakis, and highlights the Greek War of Independence, the Monarchy, the PhilheIlenes, and the early travelers in Greece.
The museum’s collection of Greek costumes is the finest in the country, as is its collection of Islamic pottery. The museum is always cool and delightful in summer.
1 Koumbari St. & Vas. Sofias Ave., 106 74 Athens (Click here to see the map).
The Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens is in the large home of the 19th-century Duchess de Plaisance; astonishingly, the palace was in the open country when it was built a little more than 140 years ago.
The Byzantine and Christian Museum is an excellent place to visit before touring the Byzantine churches of Athens, as exhibits set forth the development of church architecture in Greece.
The museum’s collection of icons is superb and somewhat overwhelming for any not accustomed to this art form.
22 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens, 106 75 (Click here to see the map).
Tuesday – Sunday: 9 am to 4 pm.
Mondays: closed.
As one would expect from a museum in the potters’ quarter, the Kerameikos Museum has a superb collection of ancient pottery.
In addition, many of the funeral steles from the Kerameikos cemetery are on display here, as well as some of the sculptured figures which decorated the more ornate tombs.
148 Ermou, Athens, 10 553 (At the end of Ermou Street, to the west of Monastiraki Square – Click here to see the map).
01 Jun – 31 Oct: Tue-Sun, 0900-1600
01 Nov – 31 May: Tue-Sun, 0800-1500
The National Archaeological Museum on Patission Street deserves not one, but many visits.
Especially in summer, the National Archaeological Museum is crowded, and it is difficult to see its riches at leisure.
Good tours do exist which take one rapidly through the museum, without overlooking any of its most important exhibits. However, we strongly recommend a second visit if you want to dig in a little deeper.
The Mycenaean Hall, just inside the National Archaeological Museum entrance, contains the famous gold of Mycenae, including the gold mask which Schliemann believed to be that of Agamemnon.
Even if this was not the case, the regal splendor of the mask is haunting. The elegant gold Vaphio cups in the Mycenaean Hall are also irresistibly beautiful.
In the Cycladic Hall, you’ll find the Cycladic idols with clean, modern lines that many which many have compared to the work of Modigliani. The Harp Player is just one of them that deserves a special mention.
As you continue to walk through the museum, you will be viewing exhibits chronologically ordered from the Geometric (9th & 8th) to the Archaic (7th and 6th) to the Classical (5th and 4th) and finally to the Hellenistic (3rd to 1st) period.
Monumental stone youths, or kouroi, give way to monumental bronze statues, such as the statue of Zeus or that of Poseidon found off Cape Artemision.
Funeral steles and portrait busts from throughout Greece, as well as architectural fragments and ornaments, fill the museum.
On the upper floor, you’ll get the chance to admire delightful frescoes from the island of Santorini (Thera), dating from the Minoan period, and various small collections.
Quite simply, the National Archaeological Museum has the finest collection of Greek antiquities in the world, and should be visited slowly, carefully, and more than once.
The museum is a five-minute walk from Victoria Station and a 10-minute walk from Omonia. Address: 44 Patission str, 10682, Athens (Click here to see the map).
This new picture gallery, whose main building is located within walking distance from Syntagma Square, just opposite Athens Hilton Hotel, has modern Greek paintings of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Often there are special exhibits of young artists on display. Anyone interested in modern art will find this a rewarding collection.
Address: Army Park, Goudi, 115 25 Athens. Entrance from Panagiotis Kanellopoulos Avenue (Click here to see the map).
Main building: Michalakopoulou 1, Athens, Greece (Click here to see the map).
From 1st November 2018 until March 2019, the first Sunday of the month.
The Old Parliament Building on Stadiou Street is now home to this collection which deals with Greek history in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Greek struggle for independence from the Turks.
The National Historical Museum has many fine etchings and paintings of heroes during that struggle, as well as stirring battle scenes.
Address: 13 Stadiou St. 10561 Athens. (Click here to see the map).
Every Sunday, the International Museum Day (May 18th) and the following holidays:
The Jewish Museum at 39 Nikis street, beside the Athens synagogue, has a fascinating – and heartbreaking – collection of items illustrating life among Greek Jews before World War II.
Heads up: A guided tour of any museum you like is highly recommended. We suggest you to visit GetYourGuide.com and see all the available online tickets and tours
There were 80,000 Greek Jews before the war; only 8500 survived. Some of those who survived, notably Nikos Sravroulakis, organized this museum.
Address: 39, Nikis street, Athens, 10 557. (Click here to see the map).
Admission fees:
Guided tour fees for groups: €50 (upon arrangement)
The Kanellopoulos Museum is in an elegant neoclassical house on the upper reaches of the Plaka, at the intersection of Theorias and Panou Streets.
You’ll inevitably pass by the museum while walking down from the Acropolis towards Plaka. Making a quick stop to walk through its fascinating exhibits will certainly be worth your while.
The collection is that of one family and ranges through Greek art from the Neolithic to modern times. The house is at least as interesting as the collection itself.
12 Theorias street, 105 55 Plaka, Athens. (Click here to see the map).
Admission fees:
Guided tour fees for groups: 50 € (upon arrangement)
The Museum of the City of Athens is housed in the palace of King Otto on Klafthmonos Square and it is one of the few remaining examples of the neo-classical style that used to be so popular under the new monarchy.
Exhibits on the ground floor recreate the period of Otto, while the upstairs is designed to resemble the times when Otto and Queen Amalia lived here.
5-7 Paparigopoulou Str, Athens, (Click here to see the map).
Admission fees:
The Museum of Folk Art on Kidathineon Street is easy to miss, as only a small plaque on the door of number 17 announces its presence.
It would be a shame to miss this delightful museum of Greek life throughout Greece; all those that are not able to travel outside Athens should make a particular point to visit this superb collection of costumes and items of daily life (spinning wheels, agricultural tools, metalwork, embroidery).
The Museum of Folk Art also contains an entire room painted by the famous modern Greek primitive painter Theofilos Hadjimichael (1868-1934)
Founded in 2014, Blank Wall Gallery is a small exhibition space that was founded by photographers for photographers. The gallery features both group and solo exhibitions by local and international artists and helps emerging photographers showcase their work in downtown Athens.
Nominated European Museum of the year in 2019, the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology is one of the hidden gems of Athens. It examines and showcases the contribution of ancient Greek to science through around 300 operating models of ancient Greek inventions.
The Katakouzenos House Museum project is an astonishing revival of a historical Athenian residence that was transformed into an educational institution. It’s one of the very few house museums in Athens and it’s definitely worth a visit.
This is an amazing museum for all the arcade and pinball lovers out there. The museum features a large collection of fully functional vintage pinball machines and a cozy cafe for breaks in between games. An excellent choice for a fun afternoon in Athens.
The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum is the first museum dedicated to the art of jewelry in Greece and one of the very few of its kind in the world. It opened its doors in 1994 and has operated as an international hub for decorative art ever since.
The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments or Popular Musical Instruments is both a museum and a research center that exhibits over 600 instruments from the last three centuries. A must-see for all music lovers.
The Athens War Museum was founded in 1975 with the purpose of honoring those who fought for Greece’s independence throughout the centuries. It showcases the struggles of the Greek people and showcases rare items and heirlooms from times of war.
Founded by the famous historian Yiannis Sideris in 1938, the Theatrical Museum is a must-visit for those that want to explore the core concepts of theater and drama in its birthplace.
The Greek Historical Costume Museum offers an intriguing look into Greek history by showcasing costumes from different periods and different areas and explaining how they reflect social status and how they convey messages.
Built in 2011, the Hellenic Motor Museum is home to more than 300 vehicles that belong to shipping magnate Theodore Haragionis. Its collection includes both modern and vintage iconic cars that will excite all car aficionados.
Housed in a beautiful neoclassical mansion, the Goulandris Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits modern works of art collected by shipowner Basil Goulandris and his wife over five floors and frequently hosts exhibitions by international artists.
The Numismatic Museum of Athens is one of the hidden gems of the city. It houses an extensive collection of ancient and modern coins in a neoclassical building that also features a cozy outdoor cafe.
On the chance that you are visiting Athens in the near future, you can visit some of the best museums in the Greek capital for absolutely free! Note that there are exemptions for certain days listed below for privately owned museums. We advise you best to check in advance.
Certain folks are privileged with free admission or at least discounted admission. Every museum varies.
Important, please read:
Museum Hours: It is vital to check for up-to-date information on all museums as close as possible to the time of one’s visit. Museums are usually closed on Tuesdays and on 1 January, 25 March, Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas. Some museums are open all day, some mornings only, others afternoons only. Be sure to check for accurate, up-to-date information at the National Tourist Organization (Tel: +30 210 8707000).
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