Athens Archaeological Museum

Location: Patission Ave
Don't miss: Museums guide (free admission dates and other useful info)

The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is located on Patission Avenue, close to Omonoia Square. The first Greek archaeological museum was established in 1829 on Aegina Island by Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias. When Athens became the capital of Greece in 1830, the Archaeological Museum was transferred and sited in different buildings each time, including the temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora and the University of Athens.

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The building that houses the museum used to house the Parliament and the Ministry of Justice afterward.
It was designed by the celebrated German architect Ernst Ziller and its construction was completed in 1889.

Some modifications to the original plans were made later by the Greek architect Panagiotis Kalkos when the building was given to the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece to turn it into the Archaeological Museum of Athens.
However, the amphitheater of the old Parliament can still be seen today and constitutes a live architectural treasure.
It has kept its imposing congress hall, which apart from hosting a remarkable historical legacy, is also used to house important cultural events.

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More about the Archaeological Museum

The permanent exhibit of the museum includes items from the ancient history of Greece.
The museum displays items from the prehistoric and Minoan Times, the Classical Period, the Roman and Hellenistic Times, the Byzantine Times, the Venetian Rule, the Ottoman Occupation, the Greek Revolution and the recent Greek history. In other words, the museum hosts exhibitions from all periods of Greek history.
Findings from excavations all over Greece are hosted in the museum's facilities. Excavations in Mycenae held by Heinrich Schliemann, for example, which gifted the museum the golden mask of Agamemnon. 

The southern section of the Archaeological Museum hosts the Epigraphic Museum, which displays about 15,000 Greek inscriptions, dating from the ancient to the recent times of Greece.
The museum also hosts a large library with rare manuscripts, science and philosophy books, and publications.
There are about 20,000 volumes in the museum's library, some of which date back to the 17th century.

Permanent Exhibitions

Ground Floor

• Collection of Mycenaean Antiquities
• Collection of Neolithic Antiquities
• Collection of Cycladic Antiquities
• Collection of Egyptian Antiquities
• Collection of Metalwork
• Stathatos Collection - a private collection of 971 items dating from the 5th millennium BC up until the Late Byzantine Era donated by Eleni Stathatos
• Sculpture Collection

First Floor

• Collection of Cypriot Antiquities
• Exhibition of Idols
• Collection of Antiquities of Thera
• Collection of Vessels and Decorative Arts
• Glass Exhibition
• Jewelry Exhibition
• Vlastos-Serpieri Collection - the collection of Michael Vlastos which includes 776 exhibits (vases, figurines, vessels and jewelry)

Also, a beautiful and cozy cafe is located on the museum's patio!

Address: 44, 28th of October Street (Patission Avenue)
Phone: (+30) 213 214 4800

Opening hours

Summer season (April 1st - October 31st): Tuesday: 13:00-20:00
Wednesday to Monday: 08:00-20:00
Winter season (November 1st - March 31st): Tuesday: 13:00-20:00
Wednesday to Monday: 08:30-15:30

Official website: www.namuseum.gr

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Archaeological Museum from any location in Athens.

Tours: Discover the Archaeological Museum with an organized tour.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: (0030) 18288, (0030) 18222, (0030) 18180. You can also book your taxi online.

On foot: As the Archaeological Museum is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Omonia (Red Line) or Victoria (Green Line) metro stations, in approximately 10 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro station is Victoria (Green Line). Note that the Archaeological Museum is located within a 10-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is "Politechnio" (Bus line 224). Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.