Athens Numismatic Museum

The basics

Located in one of Athens’ most beautiful Neoclassical mansions, the Numismatic Museum is included in many Athens full-, half-, or multi-day walking, driving, or electric tuk-tuk tours. You can also visit independently on a self-guided audio tour of the city’s Neoclassical architecture, pausing to admire the museum from outside or visiting the interiors for grand marble floors and walls painted with scenes of the ancient world.

The museum’s collections are thematically displayed in a series of lavish apartments and include rare and ancient coins from Hellenistic, Roman, medieval, and Byzantine times, as well as modern coins from European states. Be sure to take in rare treasures like gold coins dating back to Alexander the Great in 356 BC and to the Egyptian Pharaoh Ptolemy I in 305 BC. The library of some 12,000 books is also available for research purposes.

Things to know before you go

• Though the museum attracts coin and stamp collectors from across the world, its elegant neoclassical location is an attraction in itself and figures on many architectural tours and itineraries of the city.
• Whether you’re just stopping by the museum on a walking tour or taking in the vast collections inside, you’ll be spending a significant amount on your feet. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
• The museum has an outdoor café that offers a surprisingly peaceful respite from the bustle of Athens.
• The Numismatic Museum is accessible to wheelchairs, including the outdoor garden.

How to get there

The Numismatic Museum of Athens is located on Panepistimiou Street, next to Syntagma Square in central Athens. Take metro lines 2 and 3 to the Syntagma station or tram lines 2, 3, 4, 11, and 13. Otherwise, join a hop-on-hop-off bus tour or guided walking, driving, or electric tuk-tuk tour to admire the library as part of a wider itinerary.

When to get there

The museum is open daily, though closed on Monday mornings. The elegant interiors offer a welcome respite from the heat and chaos of downtown Athens, so stop in when you need to recharge with a bit of peace and quiet.

Neoclassical Architecture in Athens

The Numismatic Museum is located in the Iliou Melathron (Palace of Iliou), a late-19th century neoclassical residence that was once home to German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, who discovered Troy. The house, designed by Ernest Ziller in 1881, is as big an attraction as the museum and is surrounded on three sides by manicured gardens full of replicas of classical statues. Other important examples of neoclassical architecture in Greece’s capital city include the Athenian Trilogy (Academy of Athens, University of Athens, and National Library of Greece), National Archaeological Museum, and Greek Parliament building.