National Archaeological Museum Athens Opening Hours | Best time to visit, duration, & tips

Today

Open 09:00–16:00

National Archaeological Museum

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  • The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is open from 1pm to 8pm on all Tuesdays of the year.
  • It is open from 8:30am to 3:30pm from Wednesday to Monday between 1 November and 31 March.
  • From 1 April to 13 May, it is open from 9am to 4pm.
  • And, from 14 May to 31 October, the museum remains open from 8am to 8pm.

Apr 1 TO May 15 Timings

Days (Apr 1 TO May 15)

TIMINGS

Monday09:00–16:00
Tuesday13:00–20:00
Wednesday09:00–16:00
Thursday09:00–16:00
Friday09:00–16:00
Saturday09:00–16:00
Sunday (Today)09:00–16:00

May 16 TO Oct 31 Timings

Days (May 16 TO Oct 31)

TIMINGS

Monday08:00–20:00
Tuesday13:00–20:00
Wednesday08:00–20:00
Thursday08:00–20:00
Friday08:00–20:00
Saturday08:00–20:00
Sunday08:00–20:00

Nov 1 TO Dec 31 Timings

Days (Nov 1 TO Dec 31)

TIMINGS

Monday08:00–17:00
Tuesday13:00–20:00
Wednesday08:00–17:00
Thursday08:00–17:00
Friday08:00–17:00
Saturday08:00–17:00
Sunday08:00–17:00

Jan 1 TO Mar 31 Timings

Days (Jan 1 TO Mar 31)

TIMINGS

Monday08:30–15:30
Tuesday13:00–20:00
Wednesday08:30–15:30
Thursday08:30–15:30
Friday08:30–15:30
Saturday08:30–15:30
Sunday08:30–15:30
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  • The Athens National Archaeological Museum is closed on 1st January, 25th March, Easter Sunday, 1st May, 25th and 26th December.

Best time to visit the National Archaeological Museum

Weekday vs Weekend

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  • Weekends: Weekends are comparatively more crowded. Reach the museum late in the evening, after 6pm, or after the noon hours for slightly fewer visitors. Use public transport when traveling on weekends, for the main entrance has limited parking, and tends to get congested. 
  • Weekdays: Weekdays are not as crowded as the weekends. However, popular collections like the Mycenean exhibits and the Cycladic exhibits always have a line of visitors in front of them. Start your tour with the vases, minor crafts, or the Egyptian collection to save time.

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Pleasant
Crowded
Very Crowded
Closed

Peak season vs low season

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  • Peak season (June to August): The summer holidays and warm temperatures attract the highest number of tourists, leading to a surge in prices. 
  • Mid-season (April, May, September, & October): The cooler temperatures and manageable crowds are perfect for exploring. 
  • Low season (November to February): The colder months have very few visitors, even around the popular exhibits.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Off Season
Moderate Season
Peak Season

How long should I spend at the museum?

Ideally, you need at least 3 to 4 hours to go through all the collections, take an audio-guided tour of the displays, and play around with the museum’s reconstruction technology and VR simulations. Most artifacts have information snippets in front of them. These text blocks will help you understand the history of the artifact. With more time on hand, you do not have to rush from one object to the next.

You can do a quick tour of the most significant collections like the Egyptian, Mycenean, and Cycladic exhibits in around an hour. However, we recommend you reserve at least half a day to explore the exhibits comfortably without feeling rushed.

Frequently asked questions about Athens Archaeological Museum hours

The National Archaeological Museum Athens is open from 1pm to 8pm on all Tuesdays of the year. Between 1 November and 31 March, the museum is open from 8:30am to 3:30pm between Wednesday and Monday. The exhibits are open from 9am to 4pm from 1 April to 13 May between Wednesday and Monday. And, from 14 May to 31 October, the museum is open from 8am to 8pm between Wednesday and Monday.

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