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Athens Archaeological Museum | Visitor information at a glance
- What are the museum’s opening hours?
The National Archaeological Museum Athens's opening hours are from 1pm to 8pm on all Tuesdays of the year. And, from Wednesday to Monday, the museum is open from 08:30am to 3:30pm between 1 November and 31 March, between 9am and 4pm from 1 April to 13 May, and 8am to 8pm from 14 May to 31 October. - Where is the museum located?
The Athens National Archaeological Museum is situated on 28is Octovrious 44, Athina, 106 82, Greece. It is located close to the Polytechnic University of Athens. - How many entrances does the museum have?
The Archaeological Museum in Athens has 3 entrances- the main entrance with a Neoclassical facade, a side entrance on Vasileos Irakliou, and a rear entrance on Tositsa Street. - How many visitors does the museum see every year?
The Athens Archaeology Museum attracts around 500,000 visitors throughout the year, especially during the peak summer season, between June and August.
Best time to visit the Archaeological Museum in Athens
Peak season vs off-season
June to August are the best months to go museum-hopping in Athens. The warm temperatures are ideal for strolling through parks and having picnics outside. However, these months also attract the highest number of visitors to the city, leading to a surge in prices. Consider planning a visit around April to May or between September and October for pleasant temperatures and manageable crowds.
National Archaeological Museum Athens events
Weekday vs weekend
Although weekdays see a slightly fewer number of visitors as compared to weekends in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, popular exhibits like the Gold Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera mechanism, and the Artemision Bronze statue are always crowded. To avoid the morning rush, consider visiting the museum on a weekday, in the late afternoon, or in the evening, after 6pm.
National Archaeological Museum Athens collectionWhere is the Athens Archaeological Museum located?
Address: 28is Octovrious 44, Athina, 106 82, Greece
Find on maps
The Archaeological Museum in Athens is located in the Exarchcheia neighborhood, right in the middle of Patission Street surrounded by Bouboulinas Street on the side. The museum has a separate entrance on Vasileos Irakliou and another rear exit to the left of Tositsa Street.
- Nearest landmarks: Polytechnic University of Athens, Pedion tou Areos, Epigraphical Museum
- Nearest metro station: Victoria along the Green Line (Line 1)
How to get to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens?
By public transport
By car
- By bus: Buses 224, 608, and A8 stop at Polytechnio on Patission Street, a short walk from the museum. You can board these buses from various points in the city.
- By train: The city’s suburban railway network (Proastiakos) does not directly reach Patission Street. You can take any train from Lines P2, P3, and P3B, and reach Larissa station. From Larissa, you can catch the M1 metro to reach Victoria station.
- By metro: The Line 1 (Green Line) metro reaches Victoria station, a 10-minute walk to the museum. As you exit the Victoria station, head south on 3 September Street (3is Septemvriou), take a right on Ioulianou Street, and continue straight to reach Patission Street. The museum will be in front of you.
- By trolleybus: Trolleybuses are an eco-friendly way to reach the museum. Lines 1, 5, and 15 stop at Polytechnio on Patission Street, a few meters away from the Athens Archaeology Museum. They also provide scenic views of the surrounding Plaka neighborhood.
Driving from the Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” (ATH) to the National Archaeological Museum takes around 50 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic considerations. It is about 33.4km away. After exiting the airport, follow along the Attiki Odos highway. Cross the Vasilissis Sofias Avenue and continue down Syntagma Square to reach Patission Street.
Nearest parking:
- Mpoumpoulinas Parking (350 m away): A short walk from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, this spot offers reliable parking facilities.
- Radisson Blu Park Hotel (400 m away): You can park your vehicle inside the hotel premises when visiting the Athens Archaeology Museum.
- Zaimi Street Parking (950 m away): Zaimi Street, situated in the Exarcheia neighborhood, is another viable option for parking near the National Archaeological Museum. This street features both on-street parking and a few private parking facilities.
Know before you go
Facilities
Accessibility
Rules
Tips
Dine
Stay
Nearby
- Museum store: The Athens National Archaeological Museum store offers high-quality miniatures of ancient artifacts, books on archaeology, and Greek culture, and educational toys.
- Cafe: The museum cafe overlooks the garden and offers a variety of light beverages, including coffee, tea, soft drinks, and small bites like sandwiches and salads. The Athens Archaeology Museum cafe also showcases a number of temporary exhibitions. You do not have to pay any separate charges to visit them.
- Free Wi-Fi: The museum offers free Wi-Fi throughout the premises, including the basement. This service is beneficial for visitors, who want to download an audio guide or want to look up any information about the artifacts.
- Restrooms: The National Archaeological Museum Athens also has accessible and well-maintained washroom facilities, with wide stalls for wheelchair users to stroll in comfortably.
- Cloakroom: You cannot possibly carry a large suitcase or backpack when touring the extensive National Archaeological Museum Athens collection. You can drop off your belongings in the museum’s cloakroom. Be sure not to leave valuables inside your bags.
- Wheelchair accessible: The Athens Archaeology Museum is accessible to visitors in wheelchairs. The main entrance, with a Neoclassical facade, has a ramp to ensure wheelchair users can stroll inside. They have a side entrance on Vasileos Irakliou, especially for visitors with limited mobility and pregnant women. There are elevators connecting the basement to the first floor.
- Wheelchair available: The museum basement has a wheelchair, in case you want to avail yourself of it. Make sure to inform the authorities before your visit.
- Tactile workshops and audio-guided tours: The National Archaeological Museum in Athens offers a special tactile experience, where visitors with partial or full vision loss can touch and feel around 20 ancient artifacts. The museum also organizes other inclusive experiences for visitors with other kinds of special needs.
- Guide dogs: While pets are not allowed in the museum, you can bring your guide dogs on your tour. Ensure that they are well-behaved and on a leash.
- Avoid flash photography: You are not allowed to click pictures with flash inside the museum. Also, avoid artifacts with signs and symbols when clicking pictures.
- Avoid selfie sticks and tripods: Do not bring tripods and selfie sticks inside the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. You may interrupt other visitors’ points of view if you set up heavy camera equipment in front of the objects.
- Do not bring outside food inside the galleries: You are not allowed to munch on outside food when touring the galleries. However, you can grab a bite at the museum’s cafe after finishing your tour of the exhibits,
- Do not leave valuables in the cloakroom: The museum has a cloakroom where you can leave your backpacks and belongings. Do not leave any important documents, cash, or jewelry in your bags.
- Keep a few hours on hand: When touring the Archaeological Museum in Athens, keep at least 3 to 4 hours on hand to comfortably explore all the 11,000 exhibits, spread across the basement and the first floor. Also, wear comfortable, closed shoes for your visit to avoid shoe bites and aching heels.
- Visit the garden: The museum’s garden is dotted with lush green pine trees and a series of colorful flowered beds. Take a stroll along the garden after finishing your tour of the museum.
- Start your tour with lesser-known exhibits: Popular collections like the Mycenean and the Cycladic are often crowded with visitors, no matter the season. To save time, consider visiting the pottery, vases, and minor crafts section first.
- Plan a day trip: The National Archaeological Museum is situated quite close to the Epigraphic Museum, Pedion tou Areos Park, and the Benaki Museum. You can plan a day trip and visit all these attractions one after the other.
- Arrive late in the afternoon: To escape the morning rush, arrive late in the afternoon, or the evening, after 6pm. There are fewer visitors around this time. If you are considering an evening visit, note that most of the exhibits close by 8pm, so you will have less time to enjoy the displays.
- Guerilla Chef Burgers (700m away): Premium quality burgers
Must-try dishes: ‘Guerilla Classic’, made with a juicy beef patty, fresh lettuce, tomato, and cheese, ‘Smokey BBQ burger’, filled with smoky bacon, cheddar cheese, and tangy sauce - Restaurant Paula (350m away): Traditional Greek
Must-try dishes: Moussaka, a baked casserole with layers of eggplant, minced meat, and bechamel sauce, Souvlaki, skewered chicken pieces served with pita and tzatziki sauce - Cookoomela Grill (850m away): Vegetarian and vegan Greek street food
Must-try dishes: ‘Vegan Gyro’ with marinated and grilled mushrooms and fresh vegetables in a warm pita pocket, ‘Falafel Wrap’, made with crispy falafels, hummus, and a mix of fresh herbs - Irene’s House of Pizza (1km away): Italian
Must-try dishes: ‘Classic Margherita’ with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and fresh basil, ‘Greek Pizza’ with feta cheese, olives, onions, and tomatoes - Atitamos (850m away): Modern Greek
Must-try dishes: ‘Lamb Kleftiko’ with slow-cooked lamb, potatoes, garlic, and herbs, grilled octopus, topped with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon
- Affordable stays:
Marina Athens Hotel (1.5km away)
Delphi Art Hotel (1.3km away)
Acropolis View Dream (800m away) - Mid-range hotels:
Athens One Smart Hotel (750m away)
COLORS Hotel Athens (900 m away)
Melia Athens (1.3km away) - Luxury hotels:
Radisson Blu Park Hotel Athens (1.2km away)
Wyndham Grand Athens (1.7km away)
Novotel Athenes (700m away)
- Epigraph Museum: The Epigraphic Museum, situated within the same building as the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, is dedicated to the study of ancient Greek inscriptions. It houses over 14,000 stone-carved texts, which offer insights into the daily life, politics, and legal systems of ancient Greece.
- Kerameikos Archaeological Site: This archaeological site is one of the most important ancient cemeteries in Athens. The Kerameikos is also an ancient pottery site and includes remains of the ancient city hall, the Dipylon Gate, various tombs, and monuments.
- Benaki Museum: Founded by Antonis Benakis, the museum’s vast collection offers a diverse collection of Greek artifacts, spanning prehistoric times through the Byzantine period to the modern era.
- Panathenaic Stadium: Popular as the world’s only white marble stadium, this venue hosted the 1896 Olympic Games and is the site, where the Olympic flame is handed over to the host nation of the upcoming games.
Frequently asked questions about visiting the National Archaeological Museum in Athens
Why is the Athens Archaeological Museum famous?
The National Archaeological Museum in Athens houses the richest collection of ancient Greek artifacts in the whole world. The museum boasts items spanning all the centuries of Greek civilization, from the Neolithic, Archaic, Classic, and Roman periods. Look out for the Gold Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera mechanism, and the Mycenean Warrior Vase.
How do I access entry inside the museum?
You need to book National Archaeological Museum Athens tickets to access entry inside the galleries. There are over 11,000 exhibits, spanning a number of centuries, from Greek antiquity to Roman times. These tickets allow you to skip ahead of long lines and enjoy a self-guided audio tour of the exhibits.
What are the museum’s opening hours?
The National Archaeological Museum Athens opening hours are from 1pm to 8pm on all Tuesdays of the year. From 1 April to 13 May, the museum is open from 9am to 4pm between Wednesday and Monday. The exhibits remain open to the public from 8am to 8pm from 14 May to 31 October and from 8:30am to 3:30pm from 1 November to 31 March between Wednesdays and Mondays.
What is the best time to visit the museum?
The spring and fall months of April, May, September, and October are the best months to visit the Athens Archaeology Museum. The weather is pleasant and the crowds are more manageable than in the summer months of June to August.
Where is the museum located?
The Archaeological Museum in Athens is situated on Patission Street, flanked by the Vasileos Irakliou Street. The museum’s address is 28is Octovrious 44, Athina, 106 82, Greece.
How to get to the Archaeological Museum in Athens?
To get to the museum, get on any bus between 224, 608, and A24 to reach Polytechnio, a few meters from the National Archaeological Museum. You can also use the Green Line (Line 1) metro and reach Victoria Station, a short walk from the museum.
Can I visit the museum with my children?
The Athens National Archaeological Museum offers various educational talks and workshops, which are designed to accommodate visitors of all ages. You can bring your children to the museum’s exhibits. Please ensure that they do not touch any artifacts and keep them close at all times.
Is the National Archaeological Museum in Athens accessible to visitors in wheelchairs?
Yes, the Athens National Archaeological Museum is designed to accommodate visitors with disabilities. Their main entrance has ramps and an elevator connects the two levels of the museum. It also has a separate entrance on Vasileos Irakliou to admit visitors in wheelchairs and pregnant women.
Does the museum have a cafe?
The museum has a cafe, where visitors can rest their feet in a tranquil setting after touring the exhibits. The cafe sells a number of beverages like tea, coffee, soft drinks, and light snacks, like pita sandwiches and Greek salads, made with fresh, seasonal vegetables.
Does the museum allow dogs?
While the museum does not allow pets inside their premises, you can bring along your guide dogs, provided that you have an authorized document stating you need their assistance.
How long does it take to tour the museum?
We recommend you spend at least 3 to 4 hours inside the museum. The National Archaeological Museum in Athens has one of the most extensive collections of ancient Greek artifacts, spanning several centuries of Greek civilization, along with digital displays and interactive VR simulations. You need to keep a few hours on hand to enjoy these collections to the fullest.
