Things to do in Athens, Attica: The Best Museums

November 27, 2021 Kiesha Cripe

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.
Restaurants in Athens

70 Adrianou, Plaka, Athens 105 56 Greece +30 21 0331 4437 [email protected] http://www.pandora.gr
Excellent
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5.0 based on 90 reviews

Pandora Art Gallery

Pandora Art Gallery operates since 1975, in the old town of Plaka under the shadow of the Athens Acropolis, serving International clients who travel to Greece for tourism or business from across the globe. All Art items as Paintings, sculptures and ceramics are well crated in wooden boxes, certified by the National Gallery of Greece, insured and delivered door to door via UPS.

Reviewed By 213kashifh

Absolutely loved the place. As soon as walked in overwhelmed by the paintings on display. Unfortunately, one cannot take photographs in the gallery. Great art work by artists. I could have sat there all day spellbound by some of the artwork. A must see when visiting the area even if one can only dream of buying as prices are quite high!

2. Digital Museum Plato

Alkmeonos 1, Athens 104 42 Greece +30 21 0514 2138 http://www.plato-academy.gr/en/web/guest/museum
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5.0 based on 16 reviews

Digital Museum Plato

3. Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology

Pindarou 6, Athens 10671 Greece +30 21 1411 0044 [email protected] http://Kotsanas.com
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5.0 based on 290 reviews

Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology

Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology in the heart of Athens. In a unique historic Art Nouveau building (Unfortunately there is no access for people with disabilities because the building has been listed and unfortunately no relevant intervention can be made), Pindarou 6 and Akadimias St. in Kolonaki, with a total area of 700 square meters, guests will have the unique opportunity to get to know a relatively unknown aspect of Ancient Greek culture through the exhibition "The Hi-Tech Inventions of Ancient Greece – The origins of our modern technology", which includes approximately 100 selected exhibits, reconstructed inventions, from the robot-servant and the "cinema" of Philon to the automatic theater of Heron, and from the Hydraulic Clock of Ktesibios to the Antikythera Mechanism. At the same time, the same building will permanently house the independent exhibition of Ancient Greek Musical Instruments with 42 fully functional, reassembled reconstructed musical instruments.

Reviewed By 357alexm - Toronto, Canada

Very happy we went there. Exceeded our expectations. Not too big, but most of the artifacts are interactive. The young people working at the desk were very happy to guide us and explain the various artifacts. Going through this museum you realize how close the ancient Greeks came to discovering the steam engine and how close we were to having the industrial revolution two millennia before it actually happened.

4. Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation

Eratosthenous 13, Athens 11635 Greece +30 21 0725 2895 [email protected] http://www.goulandris.gr
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5.0 based on 60 reviews

Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation

The museum of the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in Athens houses the Foundation's rare Collection of modern and contemporary art, with works by Cézanne, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, El Greco, Chagall, Rodin, Miró, Parthenis, Tetsis, Tsarouchis, Moralis and will also hold temporary exhibitions of Greek and foreign artists. Apart from exhibition spaces, the museum - with a total surface area of 7,250 m2 spread over 11 floors - also houses a shop and Café - Restaurant, art library, children’s workshop and a state-of-the-art auditorium. Concerts, theatrical productions, discussions, activities for children and adults and educational workshops complement the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation philosophy, in a series of innovative events harmoniously incorporated in the museum setting.

Reviewed By amazing008 - Thessaloniki, Greece

I was very proud of my "acquaintance" with the Museum of the Basil & Eliza Goulandris Foundation . "Jewel" not only for Athens but also for the whole country, this precious gift of the couple who loved the art and wanted to share it with the general public by giving him a wonderful collection unique works of art that he has fought in many cases to obtain. Almost fifty years ago, Basil and Eliza Goulandris made their legendary collection — one of the most important private collectionscreated in the second half of the 20th century - with patience and longing to be exhibited at the museum But it was not easy! It took a long time (27 years !!!!) to negotiate, postpone, frustrate until the doors of the "jewelry" museum open. In an imposing building that balances between neoclassical and modern, a few meters from Kallimarmaro it was housed the dream of Basil and Eliza Goulandris, 180 works and objects by creators whose name alone provokes an "uproar" for art lovers, creators who never imagined they would come to Greece and they adorned the walls of a Greek museum. Works by Dominic Theotokopoulos, Paul Cézanne (the first artist to purchase the couple), Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Goggen, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre Bonar, Georges Braque, Juan Miro, Vasili Kandinsky, Paul Clay, Jackson Pollock, Francis Bacon, Alberto Giacometti, Mark Sagall, Cesar, Ben Nicholson, Giorgio de Quirico and others find visitors on the 1st and 2nd floors. On the 3rd and 4th floor Greek artists such as Constantine Parthenis, Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Gikas, Giannis Tsarouchis, George Bouzianis, Giannis Moralis, Giannis Gaitis, Panagiotis Tetsis ,, Dimitris Mytaras, Alekos Fassianos, George Zogolopoulos , Sofia Vari, George Rorris, Pavlos Samios, Michalis Tombros, Sotiris Sorongas, Kostas Tsoklis ... "get to know" the visitors. One room is dedicated - by the Goulandris couple - to their important collection of French furniture and artifacts. You are amazed at the furniture from their Paris apartment — including Vasilis Goulandris's office — dating from the 18th century as well as unique aesthetic Chinese artifacts from jade and porcelain. And "bow" with respect to the front in their portrait (crafted by George Rorris), thanking them mentally for their great contribution.

5. Museum of Cycladic Art

4 Neofytou Douka str., Athens 106 74 Greece +30 21 0722 8321 [email protected] http://www.cycladic.gr/en
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4.5 based on 1,189 reviews

Museum of Cycladic Art

A dynamic cultural institution in the centre of Athens, the Museum of Cycladic Art focuses on promoting the ancient cultures of the Aegean and Cyprus, with particular emphasis on Cycladic art of the third millennium BC. The Museum’s permanent collections include 3000 Cycladic, ancient Greek, and ancient Cypriot artefacts, witnesses to the cultures that flourished in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean from the fourth millennium BC to approximately the sixth century AD. The Museum of Cycladic Art’s temporary exhibitions focus on archaeology and modern and contemporary art with the aim to familiarize the public with important twentieth and twenty-first century artists and to explore the relations between ancient cultures and modern art. Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Thomas Struth, Louise Bourgeois, Sarah Lucas, Ugo Rondinone, Jannis Kounellis, Mario Merz, Ai Weiwei, and Cy Twombly are among the artists hosted.

Reviewed By Tiffanymd - Salida, United States

Special exhibit was amazing. Permanent collection also informative and inspiring. I especially liked the Cycladic floor.

6. National Archaeological Museum

Patision 44, Athens 106 82 Greece +30 21 3214 4800 [email protected] http://www.namuseum.gr
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4.5 based on 7,806 reviews

National Archaeological Museum

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.

7. Benaki Museum

1 Koumbari Street, Athens 106 74 Greece +30 21 0367 1000 [email protected] http://www.benaki.org
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4.5 based on 1,501 reviews

Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum is among the most extensive and innovative cultural organizations in Europa. Diverse cultures from all historical periods and geographical areas meet contemporary art across a network of venues all over Athens – and beyond. The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture presents the history and art of the Greek world from prehistory to the 20th century, through 6.000 objects arranged over four floors. Antonis Benakis (1873-1954) was a passionate art collector. He belonged to a cosmopolitan circle of connoisseurs and intellectuals in Alexandria, Egypt. Following his return to Athens and the death of his benefactor father Emmanuel, Antonis bequeathed to Greece his collections and parental home, which opened in April 1931 as the Benaki Museum. After a comprehensive refurbishment, the building reopened on 7 June 2000 as the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture while the remaining diverse collections have since been housed in new buildings (see Benaki Museum of Islamic Art).

Reviewed By Timotraveler - Helsinki, Finland

I have walked by this museum many times on my visits to Athens. It is close to the city center and Syntagma square and the Kolonaki area. I was totally amazed by the collection - it is well displayed and takes you on a historical tour of a collection of artifacts and art - best to start at the main floor and just follow the numbers for each rooms and this gives a great view or the development of the Athens and Greek region from ancient to more modern times. It was most fascinating and would definitely recommend this if you are there - it provides much more about the area then just the Parthenon. You can spend as much or as little time - but I would say a minimum of about 1 - 1.5 hours.

8. Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum

12 Kallisperi N. Adjacent to the New Acropolis Museum, Athens 117 42 Greece +30 21 0922 1044 [email protected] http://www.lalaounis-jewelrymuseum.gr
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4.5 based on 99 reviews

Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum

The ILJM is the only jewelry museum in Greece. It is a nonprofit cultural organization certified by the Greek Ministries of Finance and of Culture since 1993. The ILJMuseum is not government funded. The Museum strives to act as an international center for the continuation of traditional crafts especially the ancient art of silver and goldsmithery. In its twenty years of operation over 50 temporary exhibitions have been organized in Greece and abroad. 1200 specialized educational programs have reached over 90.000 children and 20.000 adults. Its future agenda includes introducing new initiatives on education of art and cultural education through fun and inspirational activities for both children and adults. Collaboration with international Museums, organizations and Educational institutions is needed more than ever to bring Greece in the front page of the international Cultural agenda.

9. Byzantine and Christian Museum

Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 22, Athens 10675 Greece +30 21 3213 9517 [email protected] http://www.byzantinemuseum.gr
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4.5 based on 968 reviews

Byzantine and Christian Museum

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.

10. Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments

Odos Dioyenous 1-3 Plaka, Athens 105 56 Greece 01-325-0198 [email protected] http://www.athensmuseums.net/museum.php?id=6
Excellent
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4.5 based on 109 reviews

Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments

Reviewed By permia

Housed in an elegant mansion from the 1840s the fabulous varieties of making music reflect the enduring love of Greek music. Its foundation was a 1978 donation of over 1000 folk instruments by musicologist Fivos Anoyanakis to the State, with the museum opening about 13 years later. We enjoyed strolling around the exhibits comprising wind, string plus so many more and listening to excerpts.

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