Things to do in Athens: Museums
Athens hosts a large number of Museums, including some of the most important worldwide. Find following an indicative list of the main museums per category, so that you choose which to visit during your stay!
The categories are:
- Archeological
- Historical
- Art
- Others
- For kids
Archeological Museums
1. National Archeological Museum
Simply put, it's the number 1 Museum of Greece and one of the most imprortant in the world (even though it is not that famous)! With 11.000 artifacts on display from all historical periods of Greece, it's a must see for all visitors. Among them, statues of amazing beauty like the bronze Poseidon, the "Face of Agamemnon" and the "Antikythera Mechanism" the oldest "analog computer" in the world (by the way, don't worry Indiana Jones, the "Dial of Destiny" is safe here!).
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/FcK44YhLm8GYRmty7
Official Website: https://www.namuseum.gr/en/
2. Acropolis Museum
Just opposite to the Acropolis Hill, the Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It's easily accessible for disabled persons.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/EUH6hhV9qohu3bzw9
Official website: https://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en
3. Museum of Cycladic Art
This one is dedicated to possibly the oldest civilisation that appeared in Greece (more than 5.000 years ago) in the Aegean islands named Cyclades. The collection is housed in a beautiful neo-classical building, very near Syntagma Square, the main square of the city. Definitely worth if you are interested in the origins of the later civilisation of Classical Greece. It hosts regularly temporary exhibitions!
Location:
https://goo.gl/maps/gQdZAEHsLnVg6UtH9
Official Website: https://cycladic.gr/en
4. Ancient Agora Museum
Inside the Agora, the heart of ancient Athens, is another important museum, in the beautiful Attalos Stoa (the first shopping mall ever with 42 shops in its two levels) boasts a collection of 160.000 artifacts since the Neolithic period untill the post Byzantine period. Visitors get an overall idea of daily life of ancient Athens and how everything evolved, including Democracy!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/d2UdkvN5T8UnFcDs7
Official website: https://archaeologicalmuseums.gr/en/museum/5df34af3deca5e2d79e8c180/museum-of-ancient-agora
5. Ancient Greek Technology Museum (Kotsanas Museum)
This is a one of a kind museum, a private collection of re-constructed ancient Greek technological achievements that will really amaze you (and your kids)! Very near the city center you will find working replicas of the first robot, the flying pigeon of Archytas, the machines of Heron of Alexandria (considered as the Leonardo Da Vinci of antiquity) and many more! Don't miss it!!!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/D17WoCfd7wMkZ7M56
Official website:
https://kotsanasmuseum.com/museum/?lang=en
Historical Museums
6. Byzantine and Crhistian Museum
One of the largest museums of its kind in Europe, it has two permanent collections, one for the Byzantine era (4th century - 15th century AD) and the post-Byzantine era (15th century - 20th century AD). For many people, Byzantium is rather unknown, but it was the longest empire ever and its civilisation was ahead of its time, untill its fall, in 1453. It is also a Christian museum as this was the dogma of the empire. In a nutshell, it covers an almost forgotten, although fascinating, period.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/MZQuRNBc6idU9Aep9
Official website: http://www.byzantinemuseum.gr/en/museum/
7. National Historical Museum
History is the memory of a nation and it's preserved in the first Parliament of modern Greece. This small museum hosts many of the most important artifacts of the latest 200 years, with a focus to the Independece War, a very turbulent period in Greece's long history.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/SAMtFzHzsyuvBLKy9
Official Website: https://www.nhmuseum.gr/en/exhibitions
8. Numismatic Museum
This is an interesting museum, not just of its subject (money from antiquity till today) but also because it is hosted in the house of Heinrich Schliemann, an amateur archeologist who found Troy and Mycenes (not bad for an amateur, right?). The house is a wonderful sample of neo-classical architecture and hosts one of the greatest collections of coins, ancient and modern, in the world. Lovely coffee shop in the garden.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/MHC6DEjzrkVrWMUg9
Official website: https://www.nummus.gr/en
9. Benaki Museum of Greek Culture
Actually a collection of museums, the main building is located in Kolonaki, near Syntagma Square, and houses large collection of artifacts from many periods of Greece. Other buildings house Islamic art, Chinese art etc. This group of collections includes many distinct categories totaling more than 33,000 items, illustrating the character of the Greek world from antiquity to the formation of the modern state of Greece. Nice coffee shop / restaurant as well.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/pxQuDoekPiyf2Lg66
Official website: https://www.benaki.org/index.php?lang=en
10. Greek Maritime Museum
Sea defined Greece, since the ancient times. For example if the Athenians had not beaten the Persian fleet in the battle of Salamis (biggest naval battle of antiquity) then Democracy and their Classical Golden Age would never exist! This museum displays the multiple roles that sea played throughout their long history, focusing on the numerous wars and victories. Kids will also love it!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/MWLqrPshyG1DMU6MA
Official website: https://www.hmmuseum.gr/en-us/
Art Museums
11. National Gallery
The National Gallery displays large collections from all periods of Greece with a clear focus on Greek works. Recently renovated it gives the visitor the widest such collection, and you may see more than 1.000 paintings and see Greece through the eyes of Greek artists. The sculptures section is located in another building, a bit afar, more information in the official website.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/VGrf4z5vv5Fnzyr4A
Official website: https://www.nationalgallery.gr/
12. Goulandris Art Museum
A private museum, with an impressive art collection of famous artists, a hot spot for art lovers! The Collection includes modern and contemporary art by world-renowned artists such as Cézanne, van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Degas, Rodin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Bonnard, Picasso, Braque, Léger, Kandinsky, Miró, Giacometti, Balthus, Pollock, Bacon, Lichtenstein and Botero as well as acclaimed modern and contemporary Greek artists including Parthenis, Bouzianis, Vassiliou, Hadjikyriakos-Ghika, Tsarouchis, Moralis, Tetsis, Takis, Chryssa, Stamos and others.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/BU3iyzXqVarXC6Da9
Official website: https://goulandris.gr/en/
13. National Museum of Contemporary Art
Inside an old building that was the first brewery of Athens, this is a rather active museum, with lots of activities, temporary exhibitions.
If modern art is one of your favorite things, head on there and you will not regret it.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/tEN4kyvfDKBxQbkPA
Official website: https://www.emst.gr/en/
Other Museums
14. Hellenic Maritime Tradition Museum (Open air)
Believe us, this is a museum for the whole family! Children of any age will be thrilled to see an actual replica of an ancient warship (athenian trireme) as well as the (visitable) "Averof" battleship, a legend of the 1st World War, among others! Even if you are not sea lovers, you will be thrilled.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/WFVX716UqKQqWCtZ8
Official website: https://averof.hellenicnavy.gr/en/
15. Athens War Museum
War is, unfortunately, an integral part of Greece's history. In this museum you will be aquainted with the history of a nation that has fought many wars to defend its freedom (our national anthem is titled: Ode to Freedom). It is the largest museum of military history in Greece and one of the largest in Southeastern Europe, with many interesting exhibits, from Greece and elsewhere, throughout the centuries.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/5RNbNvRPHKwc1vy9A
Official website: https://warmuseum.gr/en/
16. Hellenic Motor Museum
An Wow museum for all! One of the largest car collections in Europe, hosts more than 110 cars from 19th century untill recently, including milestone models! Must we say more???
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/fcFLUGSXdwa7mjdJ7
Official website: http://www.hellenicmotormuseum.gr/en/
17. Museum of illusions
It is what you see...or not? You will make this thought many times in this intriguiging museum that plays tricks to your senses!
Kids will love it and so will you!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/GRZMMTYmE8H3yDTDA
Official website: https://museumofillusions.gr/athens/en/
18. Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments
Did you know that Greece has the second largest number of folk musical instruments in the world (after India). It's impressive considering the fact that it is a rather small country, however the diversity of its music is huge. You will see 1.200 of them! Plus, the museum is free!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ae4zEFiLf34iFbz3A
19. Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
The first museum dedicated to the art of jewelry in Greece and one of the three of its kind in the world, has a collection of more than 4.000 artifacts.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oBD8riWNS4gBy2zx6
Official website: https://www.lalaounis-jewelrymuseum.gr/
Kid's Museums
20. Toys Museum
The Benaki Toy Museum is based on the collection of Maria Argyriadi that is among the most important in Europe, including toys, books, ephemera, clothing and other items associated with childhood from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/3xLaHzNm67pRrpFi6
Official website: https://www.benaki.org/index.php?option=com_buildings&view=building&id=23&Itemid=529&lang=en
21. Goulandris Natural History Museum
This Museum has decades of researching and recording the country’s natural (biological and geological) wealth. The research has revealed the biodiversity and incomparable beauty of the Greek landscape. Greece is of particular interest because of its geomorphology, its climate and its geographical position at the juncture of three continents. It has, in proportion to its size, the greatest biodiversity among European countries, as well as a high percentage of endemic species. Nice restaurant / cafe in the garden.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ZtgtetXVg8fFqWSV8
Official website: https://www.gnhm.gr/en/home-page/
22. Meteorites Museum
What??? Well, actually yes, you understood correctly. This rare museum hosts over 400 samples of meteorites (no cryptonite, Superman you are safe to visit as well)!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/C6Ga4xC5MB4E58nt7
Official website: https://www.meteoritemuseum.gr/ (unfortunately, only in Greek, use Google translate or similar)
23. Geology, Paleontology and Zoology Museums of Athens University
Last but not least, some insteresting museums inside the Athens University facilities. Somewhat remote location, still worth to visit as it contains some remarkable specimen. Three different museums with low ticket price(s).
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/bfJHiaPUSrxANKsHA
Official website: https://en.uoa.gr/about_us/museums/paleontology_and_geology_museum/
You want more interesting ideas? Check our suggested activities post, here.
If you wish any further information and/or clarification, just contact us: https://www.athensclassictour.com/contact
