Location: Athens
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10 History Museums in Athens That You Shouldn't Miss
Once known for smog, traffic and tacky architecture, Athens is a city reformed thanks to fortunes brought by the 2004 Summer Olympics. Spotless parks and streets, an ultra-modern subway, new freeways, an accessible airport and all signs in perfect English make the city easily negotiable. Meriting more than a stopover en route to the islands, sophisticated Athens sites include many pillars of Western history, from the Acropolis to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, as well as treasures in the National Archaeological Museum.
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1. Archaeological Museum Of Kerameikos
2. National Archaeological Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,806 reviews
Reviewed By tashak574
An extensive and fascinating museum with many unimaginable finds. It can be an overwhelming experience even with several wings closed. The collection shed a great deal of insight on the various movements in design during Greek history and shared really fascinating and well kept artifacts from points we learn about in history class. We’re talking arrow heads from the battle of Marathon. It’s a good time.
3. Byzantine and Christian Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 968 reviews
Reviewed By Gordon_and_Sally_11 - Broken Hill, Australia
We visited this museum in July (still catching up on reviews) and thought it excellent. There is a wealth of artefacts to see - we took about 115 photos in just under two hours. Artefacts include icons, mosaics, pottery, glass, jewellery and sacrophagi. The museum is beautifully laid out, with the permanent exhibition arranged around five themes: (1) From the ancient world to Byzantium; (2) The Byzantine world; (3) Intellectual and artistic activity in the 15th century; (4) From Byzantium to the modern era; and (5) Byzantium and modern art. The museum is closed on Tuesdays from November to March. Photography without flash is permitted.
4. Numismatic Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 197 reviews
Reviewed By 914swd
Rare coins dating back thousands of years. Excellent exhibit of numerous collections of Greek and Roman coins along with the historical timelines. As a stamp collector, this is a must see exhibit.
5. The Jewish Museum of Greece
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 176 reviews
Reviewed By ogenias
Not big in size, but very important and well arranged. Beautiful costumes, small synagogue and more. Definitely worth a visit.
6. War Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 480 reviews
In 1964, the Hellenic State decided to found the War Museum, wishing to honor all those who fought for our country and its freedom. The design of the museum was undertaken by a team of distinguished scientists, headed by Professor Thoukidides Valentis of the National Technical university of Athens (N.T.U.A). On July 18, 1975, the President of the Hellenic Republic H.E. Constantine Tsatsos and the Minister of National Defense Evangelos Averof-Tositsas inaugurated the Museum. Its various activities include the publication of books, the establishment and maintenance of monuments and memorials and the aid to services and agencies all over Greece. The Museum’s exhibition areas are distributed over four levels (floors) and present images of Greek history from antiquity to the present.
Reviewed By permia
We thought the adjacent Tree Of Peace Sculpture an apt countermeasure to all that’s recorded and documented in the museum. With a sweep from stone age to modern it is a fabulously comprehensive account of warfare and battle down the ages. A number of stone weapons are shown and while rudimentary they undoubtedly yielded a heavy blow. Triremes, ancient warships, that were instrumental in guarding and defending the Athenian empire are well worth seeing. The Greek struggle for independence from the Ottomans features voluminously. Horrors endures are powerfully conveyed in paintings such as Hunger in Athens by Nicholas Egon. Sculptural representations from this war include the heroic Markos Botsaris, amongst others. Liberation Celebrations from WW II occupying forces are depicted in evocative black and white photos. A Statue of Jerzy Iwanow-Szajnowicz shows the Greek-Polish athlete who fought in the Greek resistance and was executed by the Germans.
7. Museum of the History of Athens University
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By jrp56 - Manchester, United Kingdom
Cost - Adults - 2 euros, Children aged 12 to 18 years old- 1 euro; not expensive and worth every 'euro'. and free the first Sunday of the month. N.B. The museum is open Monday – Friday: 09.00 -16.00; the first Sunday of each month from 11.00 until 16.00 with free admission for all. There is plenty to see and learn about the history of Greece. Its collections consist of old rare books, manuscripts, scientific instruments, portraits and much more.
8. Acropolis Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36,780 reviews
Modern, uptodate building on the foot of the Acropolis housing important ancient Greek statues and much more
Reviewed By Bugster111 - Chattanooga, United States
a stunningly beautiful museum with the unique properties of being able to see the ancient excavations underneath through the glass floor while also being able to have an exquisite view of the acropolis through the glass walls. Turning your attention inwards will allow you to see stunning pieces of art/history.
9. Angelos and Leto Katakouzenos Foundation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By konstantinosorfeask
Not very familiar to public! This residence hosted Office and Home (appr.400m2) of one of Athens' best well known couples : Dr Psyciatrist Aggelos Katakouzinos and his wife Lito, celebrity and cultural muse of the 1930s. Many Nobelists, Writers, Artists, Authors and celebrities of the 1930s - 1980s were invited here. Photos, pictures and several items decorate this wonderful historical establishment, just opposite the Greek Parliament, on the 5th floor of this 1960 block of flats.
10. Museum of the Ancient Agora
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 718 reviews
Reviewed By ErikFindlay
This is a great opportunity to view a classic Greek building in full maintenance. Notice the unusual split colonade with 2/3 riffed (top) and 1/3 round (bottom) columns. Notice the decorative end blocking ceramics/terracotta floral deign and corner designs of the roof - truly unusual - these where on all the original roofs of the ancient Greek temples - Inside take a look at the many astonishing artifacts stored in this ancient area of original Greece: the Angora: a mix of market and political scene under one roof - an early mall. Close by find the tower of the eight winds with the first public reliable clock of the ancient world based on water evaporation and dripping. Notice how the one city was grounded on the foundations of the previous. Here you get the best picture views of the Acropolis and temple of Hephestus approximately 4,000 years old, and with the inner sanctuary still intact.
