The 5 Best History Museums in Athens

It should come as no surprise that a city as old as Athens should have a great collection of history museums. Most feature easy-to-follow guides, a variety of exhibits, and convenient locations near the finest hotels in Athens (like the Royal Olympic Hotel and the Plaka Hotel) and the city’s world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here are our picks for the best places to learn even more about the fascinating world of Ancient Greece:

1. National Archaeological Museum

Home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of artifacts in Greece, the National Archaeological Museum is a must-see tourist attraction. Luckily, its convenient location in the heart of Athens’ historical centre makes it very easy to find. Built in three stages throughout the second half of the 19^th century, the architectural compound comprises different styles. Indoors, you will find a fantastic collection of exhibits that showcase the history of Greece. Highlights include the Prehistoric collection’s Neolithic objects, the paintings and frescoes of the Thera collection, and the fascinating Epigraphic Museum (wherein you will find the largest collection of Greek inscriptions in the world, of which the earliest dates back to 454-453 BC.)

2. Athens City Museum

The Athens City Museum was founded in 1973, and it is housed within a Neoclassic building from 1833. The building can be found in the heart of the city centre, right on Kafthmonos Square and close to other attractions. Once the temporary Palace of King Othonas in the mid-1800’s, the building now attracts visitors with its fascinating exhibits. The artifacts are mainly from the beginning of the 18^th and 20^th centuries. Highlights include furniture from King Othonas’ residency and collections of paintings, watercolors and engravings by travelers who visited Athens years ago. There is also a plaster model of Athens as it was in 1872.

3. Byzantine Museum

Founded in 1914, Athens’ Byzantine Museum has since called the Ilisia mansion home. Once the private residence of the Duchess of Placentia, the striking structure now attracts large groups of visitors. They come, of course, to see the Byzantine Museum’s fascinating exhibits of Greek artwork from the 4^th to 19^th centuries. Sculptures, paintings, mosaics and small decorative objects (ie. cloth, coins, metal pieces, silver, pottery) are on display to shed some light on the country’s history. Be sure to take in the ancient wood carvings and the ikons from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine eras.

4. Benaki Museum

Named for its founder, Anthony Benaki, the Benaki Museum ranks among Greece’s best museums. It is actually the largest independent museum in the country, and supposedly the first to have come about through a collector’s love for his homeland. The exhibits showcase the finest examples of Greek art, spanning from prehistory to modern times. Within the refurbished neoclassical building, you can find everything from original paintings to decorative furnishings. Anyone with an interest in Athens’ history should definitely pay a visit to the Benaki Museum. Luckily, the establishment is easy to find in the heart of the historical center.

5. N.P. Goulandris Foundation Museum of Cycladic Art

A fairly new addition to Athens’ cultural landscape, the N.P. Goulandris Foundation Museum of Cycladic Art was founded in 1986. The purpose of the museum was to house the collection of Cycladic and Ancient Greek art that belonged to Nicholas and Aikaterini Goulandris—and it has to this day. The collection can be found within the original neo-classical Stathatos House (a part of the museum since 1991) and the main building in the centre of Athens. Home to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Cycladic Art, this institution is a one-of-a-kind attraction in Athens. Please note that it is closed on Tuesdays and Saturdays.