Best Museums of Athens, Greece

A visit to Athens is a visit to a thriving metropolis steeped in ancient history, a place in which the origins of Western Civilization took root and have shaped modern values, ideas, and culture. The ancient ruins, edifices, and artifacts are fascinating and important, but Athens also has some incredible museums that help inform and interpret these sites, providing valuable context and interpretation for the history all around you. Here are some of the best museums in Athens:

National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is one of the best archaeological museums in the world, with many of the most important artifacts ever found in Greece. The massive neo-classical building is in keeping with the collection inside, with art and artifacts dating back to Neolithic times. Some of the most famous artifacts housed at the museum are the gold Mask of Agamemnon, the Artemision Bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon, and the mysterious Antikythera Mechanism. The collection of antiquities is so huge that it would take two full days to see everything, and the museum also includes a library with over a century of volumes on art, science, and philosophy, including antique and rare volumes. 

Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum was built specifically to store, preserve, and display the amazing artifacts from the Acropolis itself, preserving them from destruction from wear, weather, or loss. The museum is itself built on an archaeological site, and visitors can look down through the glass floor to observe excavation taking place below. Many artifacts that were once in place on the Acropolis and Parthenon are now moved into the Acropolis Museum, with replicas replacing them onsite, in an effort to balance protecting and preserving the ancient artwork, allowing it to be appreciated up close and in detail, and also allowing that same artwork to be seen and interpreted in context. Among the knowledgable, there is debate about whether it is better to visit the museum before touring the Acropolis, in order to better understand and appreciate the importance of the site when you see it, or whether it is better to visit the museum afterward, to provide more information and context to deepen your first impressions. Either way, this museum is an essential companion to a visit to the Acropolis itself, and isn’t to be missed when in Athens.

Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum is unique in that it offers a broader view of Greek history and culture than other national museums in Athens. Its collection features all of Greek history, from antiquity to modernity, and also showcases the influences and effects of other cultures on Greek history and culture. This broader, more comprehensive view of Greece offers valuable insights and a broader understanding of how Greece has interacted with the rest of the world throughout its long history. A visit to the Benaki Museum showcases aspects of Greek culture beyond the Golden Age, and helps unite the past with the present. It’s particularly interesting for modern visitors of Greek ancestry, where Greek Americans and Greek Canadians can learn more about the forces that shaped Greek migration.

Museum of Cycladic Art

The Museum of Cycladic Art offers yet another angle on the fascinating art and culture of Greece. The Cycladic civilization dates back to the early bronze age on the islands of the Aegean, and this museum offers the largest and best collection of art and artifacts from these unusual people. The museum also houses important collections of ancient Greek and Cypriot art. But it also has a variety of exhibitions, workshops, and activities designed to broaden appreciation of art from all places and time periods. There are programs and activities designed specifically for kids and families, as well as lectures and workshops for adults. Designed to engage all visitors in art, creativity, and exploration, the Museum of Cycladic Art is much more than that.

Athens is full of amazing museums and exhibitions, with something for nearly everyone. There is a museum of classic cars, museums of ancient Greek technology and musical instruments, even a a gastronomy museum with drinks until late. Broaden your understanding and appreciation of Greek culture and history with a visit to a few of these fascinating museums.