Ten Best Museums in Athens

Greece Travel Secrets lists the ten best museums in Athens, with the top two being the National Archaeological Museum and the Acropolis Museum.

The Little Jockey in the National Archaeological Museum in AthensThe Little Jockey in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens

Athens has many fine museums, with our favourites including the National Archaeological Museum, the Acropolis Museum, the Benaki Museum, the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments. and the Museum of Cycladic Art. But there are many more fine museums, including the Jewish Museum, children's museums, folk art museums, religious museums, art museums, and a very interesting war museum.

Here, in no particular order, is our list of the ten best museums in Athens.

Ten Best Museums in Athens

National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum in AthensThe National Archaeological Museum in Athens

If you only have time to visit one museum when you're in Athens then make it the National Archaeological Museum. It's the finest collection of Greek art and artefacts in the world, and it's one of those rare national museums whose collection is so rich that it doesn't have anything on display from beyond the country's own borders.

You should allow at least half a day to visit, though if you are pushed for time consider booking a guided tour before you go, which will make sure you don't miss any of the highlights. For more information read our full page on the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Acropolis Museum

Entrance to the Acropolis Museum in AthensEntrance to the Acropolis Museum in Athens

Photo by Arno Senoner on Unsplash

Time for two of the best museums in Athens? Make this the second one, after the National Archaeological Museum. It tells the fascinating story behind the building of the Acropolis, with marvellous views of the Acropolis and Parthenon across the road.

In all it has over 4,000 items on display, all of them found on the Acropolis rock or the surrounding slopes. There are also glass floors in some of the rooms so that you can see the archaeological site on which the museum was built. For more information see the Acropolis Museum website.

Benaki Museum

An Owl Bracelet from the Benaki Museum in AthensAn Owl Bracelet from the Benaki Museum in Athens

A short walk from Syntagma Square stands the grand mansion that once belonged to the Benakis family. It now houses the Benaki Museum, a spectacular collection of over 100,000 items covering Greek history. It began with the Benakis family's own collection, but further acquisitions since it opened in 1930 have meant that satellite museums have been opened, showcasing Asian and Islamic art, leaving the main museum to concentrate on Greece. For more details see our full page devoted to the Benaki Museum.

Byzantine and Christian Museum

Athens Byzantine and Christian MuseumAthens Byzantine and Christian Museum
Photo: Joy of Museums

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

This is a little further on from the Benaki Museum, on the other side of the road. It isn't the best-known of Athens' museums, but it's long been one of our favourites. That's partly because of the buildings and the grounds, but also its displays of over 25,000 icons, paintings, frescoes, ceramics, manuscripts, and many other items. We like it so much we wrote a full page about the Byzantine and Christian Museum.

Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art

Goulandris Museum of Cycladic ArtCycladic Statues
Photo by Jean Housen

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

This is also definitely on our list of the top museums in Athens, a few minutes further on from the Benaki Museum on the same side of the street. It dramatically and very effectively displays the graceful sculptures of the Cycladic civilisation, which influenced modern artists such as Picasso and Modigliani. In fact Picasso was the subject of one of the museum's ongoing series of special exhibitions, which have included Ai Weiwei, El Greco, Dali, and Caravaggio. Check what's on when you're in Athens, and read our full page about the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art.

National Historical Museum

Athens National Historical MuseumAthens National Historical Museum
Photo by Reinhard Dietrich

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

This museum is housed in what was the Greek Parliament Building from 1858 to 1934. That's reason enough by itself for a visit, as you get to see the very grand debating chamber. Other highlights include a room devoted to Lord Byron, containing some of his belongings, and a vast archive of charming old photographs. See our full page about the museum here.

Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments

Museum of Greek Folk Musical InstrumentsMuseum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments

We both love music and play instruments so naturally we rate this as one of the best museums in Athens. However, we've also sent non-musician friends to visit and everyone has loved it. As with some of the other museums, one of the attractions is to see inside the building it's housed in, in this case a Plaka mansion.

It displays a collection of over 600 musical instruments spanning a period of about 300 years. The real fun thing is that the display cases have headphones so you can hear the instruments being played. They include bouzoukis, Cretan lyras, drums, flutes, and bagpipes. The museum doesn't have a website but you can get all the information you need here.

Jewish Museum of Greece

Jewish Museum of GreeceJewish Museum of Greece

This museum is housed in a neoclassical mansion, with the outside remaining as it was but the inside was completely and stylishly redone to house this collection of over 6,000 items. It tells the history of Jewish people in Greece, not flinching from the horrors of the holocaust when Athens, like other places in Greece, lost most of its Jewish population. There are also temporary exhibitions, a modern art gallery, and a comprehensive photographic archive. For further information visit the website of the Jewish Museum of Greece.

Museum of Islamic Art

Benaki Museum of Islamic Art in AthensBenaki Museum of Islamic Art in Athens

This newer museum was purpose-designed to better display over 8,000 items of Islamic Art that were originally part of the main Benaki Museum collection, which didn't have space to put everything on display. It's in a neoclassical mansion not far from the Kerameikos cemetery. It's a superb collection, one of the most important in the world, and the items are beautifully displayed. It covers Islamic art from India, Asia, the Middle East, Egypt and North Africa, Sicily, Spain and elsewhere. For information about visiting see the main Benaki Museum website.

War Museum of Athens

Athens War Museum TriremeAthens War Museum Trireme

A war museum might sound like it could be a sombre experience, and in places it is, but it's an enthralling place too. It tells the story of Greece through the lens of armed conflict, but it's much more than a series of displays about wars and battles. Outside the entrance are some military vehicles old and new, and inside are model ships, weapons, miniature cities, temple friezes, and an engrossing telling of the role Greece played in World War II. See our full page on the War Museum of Greece.

Our Pick of the Athens Guides

Lonely-Planet-Pocket-Athens.png

Other Athens pages

  • This walk around the Kolonaki neighbourhood of Athens starts and ends in Syntagma Square and takes you to several museums, Kolonaki Square and Mount Lykabettos.

    A Walk around Kolonáki

    This walk around the Kolonaki neighbourhood of Athens starts and ends in Syntagma Square and takes you to several museums, Kolonaki Square and Mount Lykabettos.

  • The Athens War Museum is a fascinating look at Greek history through the lens of warfare from ancient battles to the Greek War of Independence and World War II.

    Athens War Museum

    The Athens War Museum is a fascinating look at Greek history through the lens of warfare from ancient battles to the Greek War of Independence and World War II.

  • Athens car rental options include almost all of the major international car hire firms such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Europcar.

    Athens Car Rental

    Athens car rental options include almost all of the major international car hire firms such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Europcar.

  • The Athens National Historical Museum is in the former Greek Parliament building and houses an archive of historical artefacts and documents.

    Athens National Historical Museum

    The Athens National Historical Museum is in the former Greek Parliament building and houses an archive of historical artefacts and documents.

  • The best views in Athens include views from the Acropolis and of the Acropolis from the top of some of the city’s several hills and from hotels and restaurants.

    Best Views in Athens

    The best views in Athens include views from the Acropolis and of the Acropolis from the top of some of the city’s several hills and from hotels and restaurants.

  • This drive around Attica offers visitors high hills, beach resorts, small villages and classical sites like Marathon and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

    A Drive around Attica

    This drive around Attica offers visitors high hills, beach resorts, small villages and classical sites like Marathon and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

  • Easter in Athens is, like everywhere in Greece, the biggest religious celebration of the year and this page tells you what to expect over the Easter weekend.

    Easter in Athens

    Easter in Athens is, like everywhere in Greece, the biggest religious celebration of the year and this page tells you what to expect over the Easter weekend.

  • The Athens Acropolis has the city's most iconic building, the Parthenon, along with other historic buildings and is where the Elgin Marbles were taken from.

    Athens Acropolis

    The Athens Acropolis has the city's most iconic building, the Parthenon, along with other historic buildings and is where the Elgin Marbles were taken from.

  • Ten Fun Things to Do in Athens include eating in the Central Market, watching the sun set over the Acropolis and seeing one of the world's oldest theatres.

    Ten Fun Things to Do in Athens

    Ten Fun Things to Do in Athens include eating in the Central Market, watching the sun set over the Acropolis and seeing one of the world's oldest theatres.

  • Athens, an Eater's Guide to the City, is published by Culinary Backstreets, who do walking food tours in Athens and the book recommends the best places to eat.

    Athens Eaters Guide

    Athens, an Eater's Guide to the City, is published by Culinary Backstreets, who do walking food tours in Athens and the book recommends the best places to eat.

  • Mount Lykabettos is the highest hill in Athens and provides some of the best views of the city, with a funicular cable car the easiest way to get to the top.

    Mount Lykabettos

    Mount Lykabettos is the highest hill in Athens and provides some of the best views of the city, with a funicular cable car the easiest way to get to the top.

  • The best things to do in Athens, Greece, include top archaeological sites like the Acropolis and must-see attractions such as the National Archaeological Museum

    The Best Things to Do in Athens

    The best things to do in Athens, Greece, include top archaeological sites like the Acropolis and must-see attractions such as the National Archaeological Museum

  • Athens walking tours and other experiences like cookery lessons, ceramics workshops, dining with a family, and street art are available from Alternative Athens

    Athens Walking Tours and Other Experiences

    Athens walking tours and other experiences like cookery lessons, ceramics workshops, dining with a family, and street art are available from Alternative Athens

  • Syntagma Square or Constitution Square is the main square in Athens and has a metro station, the Greek Parliament building, hotels, cafes, and a post office.

    Syntagma Square

    Syntagma Square or Constitution Square is the main square in Athens and has a metro station, the Greek Parliament building, hotels, cafes, and a post office.

  • This beginner's guide to Greek architecture explains how to tell your Ionic from your Doric columns, and what to look for in temples and Byzantine churches.

    Greek Architecture

    This beginner's guide to Greek architecture explains how to tell your Ionic from your Doric columns, and what to look for in temples and Byzantine churches.

  • There's all kinds of entertainment in Athens whether you're interested in theatre, dance, classical music, jazz, Greek music, rock music, disco, opera or movies.

    Entertainment in Athens

    There's all kinds of entertainment in Athens whether you're interested in theatre, dance, classical music, jazz, Greek music, rock music, disco, opera or movies.

  • Two of the best cocktail bars in Athens, MoMix Kerameikos and The Clumsies, are making creative cocktails using that most Greek of Greek spirits, Metaxa.

    Best Cocktail Bars in Athens

    Two of the best cocktail bars in Athens, MoMix Kerameikos and The Clumsies, are making creative cocktails using that most Greek of Greek spirits, Metaxa.

  • Athens Food Tours are being introduced by new company The Greek Fork, and will include tours of the Central Market, and the best street food.

    Athens Food Tours

    Athens Food Tours are being introduced by new company The Greek Fork, and will include tours of the Central Market, and the best street food.

  • The Pnyx hill near the Acropolis is one of Athens' true hidden gems, a place to wander freely away from the crowds and discover ancient places and mysteries.

    The Pnyx

    The Pnyx hill near the Acropolis is one of Athens' true hidden gems, a place to wander freely away from the crowds and discover ancient places and mysteries.

  • The Changing of the Guard in Athens takes place outside the Parliament building at the top of Syntagma Square and is a must-see for visitors.

    Changing of the Guard in Athens

    The Changing of the Guard in Athens takes place outside the Parliament building at the top of Syntagma Square and is a must-see for visitors.

  • The Greece Travel Secrets guide to the original Athens Olympic Stadium, built for the 1896 Olympic Games and open to the public for jogging and photography.

    Athens Olympic Stadium

    The Greece Travel Secrets guide to the original Athens Olympic Stadium, built for the 1896 Olympic Games and open to the public for jogging and photography.

  • Pictures of Athens from the Greece Travel Secrets website

    Pictures of Athens

    Pictures of Athens from the Greece Travel Secrets website

  • Athens Airport hotels include the luxury Sofitel at the terminals, Holiday Inn near the airport, and others close by like the Hotel Pantheon.

    Athens Airport Hotels

    Athens Airport hotels include the luxury Sofitel at the terminals, Holiday Inn near the airport, and others close by like the Hotel Pantheon.

  • Amusing children in Athens is easy as there is lots to do including a children’s museum, planetarium, beaches, and easy excursions to the nearest islands.

    Amusing Children in Athens

    Amusing children in Athens is easy as there is lots to do including a children’s museum, planetarium, beaches, and easy excursions to the nearest islands.

  • The National Archaeological Museum is one of the best things to see in Athens, and the best museum in the world for seeing Greece's archaeological treasures.

    National Archaeological Museum

    The National Archaeological Museum is one of the best things to see in Athens, and the best museum in the world for seeing Greece's archaeological treasures.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. Athens City Festival Continues with Free Events for All

    The 3rd This is Athens – City Festival is currently underway, showcasing a diverse array of entertainment events and creative activities suitable for families and adults. An initiative of the Athens D…

    Read More

  2. Jet2: Additional Capacity to Skiathos and Lesvos for Summer 2025

    UK tour operator Jet2holidays and leisure airline Jet2.com have expanded their summer 2025 program by adding 35,000 seats to various destinations, including two Greek islands.

    Read More

  3. Report: 4 Greek Islands Among Most Cheapest Holiday Destinations for Brits

    Kalymnos, Thassos, Lefkada and Skopelos have been identified as some of the most affordable destinations for British travelers booking package holidays this summer, according to a recent analysis by W…

    Read More

  4. Zakynthos’ Famous Shipwreck Beach Closed Again for the Summer

    Greek authorities have once again decided to keep one of the country’s most-visited beaches, Navagio on the island of Zakynthos, closed to the public due to safety risk.

    Read More

  5. Study: Athens Among Best Cities for Family Science Trips

    Athens is ranked as one of the top European cities for family science trips, according to a report by Ubuy, a global e-commerce platform. Ubuy’s new report reveals Europe’s top 20 cities where familie…

    Read More

  6. Technopolis: New 3-day Beer Festival Coming to Athens in May

    A new beer festival is coming to Athens and for three days will quench the thirst of beer lovers with well-known and rare labels from around the world as well as from Greek microbreweries. Lager? Pils…

    Read More

  7. May 1: Greece Labor Day Strikes to Halt Public Transport, Ferries

    Transportation and travel in Greece will be disrupted on Wednesday, May 1, as public transport and ferry employees have announced their participation in strike mobilizations to mark May Day. According…

    Read More

  8. Easter Cookies from Smyrna, a 100-Year-Old Recipe

    Discover the secret to making the most delicious Easter koulourakia (cookies) from Smyrna, passed down through five generations.

    Read More

  9. 5 Reasons to Spend Easter in Meteora

    Renowned for its spectacular “hanging” monasteries and reverent atmosphere, Meteora is the perfect place to spend Greek Easter.

    Read More

  10. 3 Must-Visit Islands for Greek Easter

    Boasting spectacular landscapes and unique local traditions, the islands of Lesvos, Ikaria and Andros are ideal vacation destinations for Greek Easter.

    Read More