Museums

The history of Athens can be traced by visiting the numerous museums in the city and surrounds. Here is a selection of museums of interest (admission prices are correct at April 09).
 

New Acropolis Museum

The New Acropolis Museum is now open! It is a state of-the-art, purpose-built museum where artefacts from the Acropolis are displayed. The Museum is located in the historical area of Makriyianni. It is only 300 metres from the Acropolis and about 2 kilometres from Syntagma - the main square of Athens. The entrance to the Museum is at the beginning of the pedestrian walkway of Dionysiou Areopagitou Street - the central route for the network of Athen’s archaeological sites. The closest Metro is the Acropolis station which is on the east side of the Museum site.

Location: 15 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, Athens 11742.
Telephone: +30 210 9000900.
Metro: Acropolis
Open: Tues-Sun 8am to 8pm. Closed Monday. Last admission 7.30pm, galleries cleared at 7.45pm.
E-mail: info@theacropolismuseum.gr
Website: New Acropolis Museum

 

National Archaeological Museum

One of the most important museums in the world, it houses more than 20,000 archaeological exhibits from all over Greece dating from prehistory to late antiquity. It also hosts temporary exhibitions and is a research centre for scientists and students from around the globe.

Location: 44 Patision Avenue, Exarhia 10682
Telephone: +302108217724
Metro : Omonoia
Rail: Viktoria
Open: Summer 08:00 to 19:30. Winter 08:30 to 15:00. Mondays 13:00 to 19:30.
Admission: 7 Euros (There is free admission on certain days of the year.)
Website: Hellenic Ministry of Culture

 

Benaki Museum

Located opposite the National Gardens, this is the oldest private museum in Greece. It was founded in 1930 by Antonis Benakis and the museum’s collection is housed in the original Benakis family home. On display is a collection of more than 40,000 artefacts portraying Greek history and culture from prehistoric to modern times. The Museum also displays collections at other locations and details of all collections and opening hours can be found on the Benaki Museum website.

Location: Koumbari Street & Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Kolonaki
Telephone: +302103671000
Metro : Syntagma or Evagelismos (Line 2 & 3)
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9:00 to 17:00, Thursday 9:00 to 12:00, Sunday 9:00 to 15:00, Closed Tuesdays and public holidays.
Admission: 6 Euros, temporary exhibitions 3 Euros. Free admission Thursdays (except temporary exhibitions).
E-mail: benaki@benaki.gr
Website: Benaki Museum

 

Ancient Agora Museum – Stoa of Attalus

Location: 9 Adrianou Street, Athens 10555
Telephone: +302103210185, +302103214825
Metro : Monasterion
Rail: Thissio
Open: Summer 08:00 to 19:30. Winter 08:00 to 17:00.

 

 

 

 

Benaki Islamic Art Museum in Kerameikos

This museum houses one of the most important collections of Islamic art in the world and displays 8,000 works of art tracing the development of Islamic art from the beginning of Islam to the 19th Century.

Location: 22 Ag. Asomaton and 12 Dipilou Sts, Athens.
Telephone: 210 325 1311
Metro: Monastiraki
Rail: Theseion
Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 9:00 - 15:00. Wednesday: 9:00 - 21:00
Admission: 7 Euros, Reduced admission 3 Euros. Free admission every Wednesday.
Website: Benaki Museum of Islamic Art

 

Museum of Cycladic Art

This museum displays about 3,000 items of Cycladic islands, ancient Greek and Byzantine art.

Location: 4 Neofytou Douka Street, Kolonaki
Telephone: +302107228321, +302107228322, +02107228323
Metro : Panepistimio
Open: Monday, Wednesday Friday Saturday 10:00 to 17:00. Thursday 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday 11:00-17:00. Closed Tuesday
Admission: 7 Euros. On Mondays it is 3.5 Euros.
E-mail: museum@cycladic.gr
Website: Museum of Cycladic Art

 

Epigraphical Museum

This museum is in the same building as the National Archaeological Museum. Epigraphy is the study of inscription in stone and the Epigraphical Museum in Athens displays inscriptions from ancient Greece. It is the largest of its kind in the world.

Location: 1 Tositsa Street, Exharia
Telephone: +302108232950, +302108217637
Nearest Metro : Omonoia
Nearest Rail: Viktoria
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 08:30 to 15:00. Closed Monday.

 

Greek Folk Art Museum

This is a small museum housing a collection of Greek folk art dating back to 1650. On display are traditional embroidery, weaving and costumes. There are two annexes to this museum – one at the Tzidaraki Mosque, 8 Kyrrestou, Monastiriki Square (folk pottery) and the Baths of Athena, 22 Panos Street, Plaka (a collection of tools from various Greek trades).

Location: 17 Kidathineon Street, Plaka
Metro : Syntagma or Acropolis (Line 2 & 3)
Telephone: +302103229031, +302103213018
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 8:30 – 14:30. Closed Mondays.
E-mail: melt@melt.culture.gr

 

The Byzantine Museum

Displays over 25,000 artefacts showcasing Greek art from the 3rd to the 20th century. Founded in 1914, this priceless collection is housed in the Illisia mansion, former home to the Duchess of Piancenza.

Location: 22 Vasilissis Sofias Street, Athens 10675,
Telephone: +302107232178, +302107211027. +302107231570,
Metro: Megaro Moussikis
Open: Summer 08:00 to 19:30. Winter 08:30 to 15:00.
E-mail: info@byzantinemuseum.gr
Website: The Byzantine Museum

 

Hellenic Maritime Museum

Over 13,000 items on display depicting Greece’s naval history.

Location: Akti Themistokleous Street, Piraeus 18537
Telephone: + 30 210-4516264
Metro: Piraeus then bus 904 to Platia Freattidos
Open: Tuesday to Saturday 9:00-14:00. Sunday 9:30-14:00. Closed Mondays and bank holidays.
Admission: 3 Euros, Reduced admission 1.5 Euros
Website: Hellenic Maritime Museum

 

The Jewish Museum

This museum was established in 1977 and houses over 8,000 artefacts depicting the life of the Jewish community in Greece over the past 2,300 years. It includes exhibitions of Jewish celebrations, traditional clothing, the role of Jewish people in Greek history, and the holocaust.

Location: 39 Nikis Street, Plaka
Telephone: +302103225582
Metro : Syntagma (Line 2 & 3)
Rail: Monasterion 
Open: Mon-Fri 9:0 – 14:30, Sunday 10:00 – 14:00, Closed Saturday.
E-mail: info@jewishmuseum.gr
Website: The Jewish Museum of Greece
 

 

Kerameikos Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos houses artefacts from excavations in the Kerameikos burial grounds including statues, pottery, funeral urns, and sheds light on buriel customs practised in ancient Athens.

Location: 148 Ermou Street, Kerameikos
Metro: Monasterion
Rail: Thissio
Telephone: +302103463552
Open: Every day in summer from 08:00 to 19:30. Everyday in winter from 08:30 to 15:00.

 

National Gallery and Alexandros Soutzos Museum

This is one of the main art galleries in Greece and houses some of the best 19th and 20th century artworks from Greece and Europe as well as hosting contemporary exhibitions.

Location: 1 Michalakopoulou Street, Athens 11528
Telephone: +302107235937, +302107235857, +302107235938
Metro : Evangelismos
Open: Monday and Wednesday 9:00-15:00 and 18:00-21:00. Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9:00-15:00. Sunday 10:00-14:00. Closed Tuesday.
Admission: 6.50 Euros, reduced admission 3 Euros.
Website: The National Gallery

 

Natural History Museum

This museum was founded by Angelos and Niki Goulandris in 1965. It was created to promote the need to protect Greece’s natural wildlife habitats and endangered species. It houses an extensive botanical collection as well as birds, reptiles, mammals, shells, rocks and fossils from all over Greece.

Location: 13 Levidou Street, Kifissia 14562
Telephone: +302108015870
Nearest Rail: Kifissia
Open: Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 14:30. Sunday 10:00 to 14:30. Closed public holidays.
General admission 7 Euros.
E-mail: info@gnhm.gr
Website: Goulandris Natural History Museum

 

Numismatic Museum

Numismatics is the collection of money including coins. This museum has a collection (500,000 no less!) of coins, medals, gems, etc, dating from the 14th Century BC to the present day. The museum was established in 1834 and is one of the oldest public museums in Greece. The collection is housed in a lovely neo-classical building – the Palace of Ilium. The museum has a gift shop and garden cafe.

Location: 12 Panepistimiou Avenue, Plaka
Telephone: +302103643774, +302103612190, +302103612519
Metro : Syntagma (Line 2 & 3)
Open: Tuesday – Sunday 8:30 – 15:00. Closed Mondays.
E-mail: protocol@nm.culture.gr
Website: Numismatic Museum, Athens
 

Technopolis

Technopolis opened in 1999 and is located on the site of the city’s former gas works (founded in 1857) known as Gazi. It is an extensive multi-purpose venue, covering 3 hectares, which hosts performances and exhibitions of music, comedy, art, theatre, dance, poetry and business conferences. You will also find a small museum dedicated to Maria Callas here.

Location: 100 Pireos St, Gazi
Telephone: 210 3461589, 210 3467322
Metro: Kerameikos station (line 3)

 

War Museum

An extensive exhibition of military artefacts and memorabilia over four floors tracing the history of Greece’s involvement in wars from antiquity to the present day.

Location: Vasilissis Sofias Avenue & Rizari Street, Athens 10675 (15 minutes walk from Syntagma Square)
Telephone: +302107215035, +302107244464, +302107290543
Metro : Evangelismos
Open: Tuesday to Friday 09:00 to 14:00. Saturday and Sunday 09:30 to 14:00. Closed Mondays and some public holidays.
Admission is free.
Email: info@warmuseum.gr
Website: Ministry of National Defence War Museum