In the town that laid the foundations for contemporary western civilization, the museums alone is enough to keep you in Greece for a long time. The wealth of the historical, folkloric, artistic and all other kinds of exhibits, permanent or temporary, which is presented to one in the capital of Greece is truly inexhaustible.
The most important museums in Athens are the following:
National Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum ranks among the top ten museums in the world. It's impressive collection is housed in a beautiful neoclassic building near the juncture of Alexandras Avenue on Patission Avenue. There is a gift shop, and a cafe in the sculpture garden. The entrance fee is EUR5.8. Children under 6 and EU students get in free.
The museum is a five minute walk from Victoria Station and a 10 minute walk from Omonia. The Trolly #'s 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,11,13, and 15 all stop there.
Hours:
Tue-Fri: 8am-7pm
Mon:12:30pm-7pm
Sat, Sun & Holidays:8:30am-3pm
(there is an internet cafe right next door where you can send e-mail home)
The Benaki Museum
Agia Sofias and Kouvari.
Phone: 367-1000
Open Mon, Weds, Fr, Sat: 9 to 5
Thurs and Sun they close early.
Tuesday it is closed.
Entrance: EUR5.8
After at least 5 years of rennovations it is finally open again. Starting at the bottom floor with the ancient stuff and going up through the various periods of Greek history, my favorite part is the third floor and the heroes of the Greek Revolution and the birth of the modernb state of Hellas. Just walk up Vass Sophias from Syntagma with the National Gardens on your right. Then you reach the end of the Gardens look to your left and that is it.
The Goulandris Museum of Cycladic and Ancient Greek Art
4 Neofytou Douka St, Koloniki
Phone: 722-8321 or 722-8323
This Outstanding collection of ancient Cycladic art is excellently curated. Open daily except Sundays and Tuesdays from 10am to 4pm. Admission is EUR1.2
Kerameikos Museum
148 Ermou
Phone: 346-3552
Tues-Sun:8:30 to 3
Closed Monday
Entrance EUR1.5
The ancient cemetery of Athens at the bottom of Ermou past the Monastiraki flea market has a nice little museum. The site itself though off the beaten path is one of my favorites. Lots of pottery and tombstones.
Museum of Greek Folk Art
17 Kydatheneon St Plaka
Phone: 323-1577
Embroideries, wood carvings, jewelery, and other traditional folk art. The museums not-to-be-missed collection of ceramics is housed in a beautifully renovated former mosque at 1 Areos Street on Monastiriki Square. Open daily except Mondays from 10am to 2pm. Admission is EUR1.5.
Jewish Museum
39 Nikis street at Kydatheneon in the Plaka
Phone: 323-1577
Before the Nazi occupation and the decimation of Greece's Jewish population, many of Greece's Jewish communities traced their roots back to the Spanish Inquisition and before to Classical Greece. Art and artifacts from Jewish communities through the ages, as well as documentation of the Holocaust amkes this museum a cultural treasure. This museum was the creation of my 9th grade history teacher Nikos Stavrolakis. Opening hours: Daily 9.00-2.30, except Saturdays and Sundays 10.00-2.00
Admission EUR1.5
National Gallery
50 vas Konstandinou street (opposite the Hilton)
Phone: 723-5937
The permanent collection of modern Greek painters and international contempory artists includes large-scale sculptures. Open daily from 9am to 3pm. Open Sunday from 10am to 2pm. Closed Tuesday.
National Historical Museum
13 Stadiou street (in the old Parliament Building)
Phone: 323-7617
This museum is perfect for those interested in the Greek War of Independence and it's artifacts. Open daily from 9am to 1:30pm. Closed Mondays. Admission is EUR1.5. Free on Sunday.
Museum of Popular Musical Instruments
1-2 Diogenes St
Plaka
Phone: 325-0198
This is my friend Groves Willer's favorite museum in Athens and I am inclined to agree with him. You can wander around listening to different instruments and styles of music through headphones at each exhibit.Open daily from 10am to 2pm. Wednesday from 12 to 6pm. Closed on Mondays. Admission Free. Visit John Marlowe's review at http://www.greecetravel.com/musicmuseum/index.html
Byzantine Museum
22 Vasilissis Sofias Ave
Phone: 721-1027
A divine collection of Byzantine Icons, Mosaics, Sculptures, Bibles, Garments and more. Open Tuesdays to Sunday 8:30am to 3pm. Admission is EUR1.5.
War Museum
2 Rizari Street and Vass. Sofias Avenue (next to the Byzantine Museum
Phone: 729-0543
War implements from ancient times to this century including armor, swords, torpedos, and fighter planes. Photographs of various Greek campaigns and battles.Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 2pm. Sunday from 9:30am to 2pm. Closed Mondays. Admission free.
Theatrical Museum
50 Acadamias st
Phone: 362-9430
Greek theatre History. Photographs, programs, masks, costumes, posters etc. Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 2:30pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Admission free.
Greek Historical Costume Museum
Phone: 362-9513
7 Dimokritou st, Kolonaki
Mon, Weds, Fri:10-1
Thurs: 5:30-8:30
Entrance Free
Frissiras Museum of Contemporary Greek and European Painting
3 & 7, Monis Asteriou str. (at the junction of Monis Asteriou and
Kidathinaion str), 10558 Plaka
Phone: (00301)3234678, 3316027
Wednesday-Friday 11.00-19.00
Saturday-Sunday 10.00-15.00
The Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
The Frissiras Museum of Contemporary Greek and European Painting is the only museum of its kind in Greece. It houses a private collection of contemporary paintings and drawings as well as temporary exhibitions of Greek and European artists, in two fully renovated neoclassical buildings of the 19th century.
There are others, including the Acropolis Museum which is on the Acropolis. Don't forget the Children's Museums on Kydatheneon street and Voulis streets. Especially if you have children. Also the Metro stations at Syntagma and the Acropolis have archaeological displays worth visiting. be aware that sometimes the hours change with the seasons. You can also find the hours in thr Athens News.
