Hellenic National Archaeological Museum

The Basics

Trace ancient Greek art through the ages as you walk the permanent collections, encompassing sculpture, metalwork, and antiquities. The National Archaeological Museum is easy to navigate and exhibits are clearly labeled, so many travelers explore independently. But a guided walking tour, especially a private tour, can yield dividends when it comes to navigating more than 11,000 artifacts. Tickets are available for the museum itself, or choose a combo ticket valid for multiple museums.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The National Archaeological Museum is a must for history buffs and art lovers alike.

• The museum houses a cafe and a shop.

• The hop-on hop-off bus stops at the museum.

• The museum is wheelchair accessible, with a ramp at the entrance, elevator access, and accessible bathrooms.

How to Get There

The National Archaeological Museum sits about two miles (three kilometers) north of Athens’ historic center in the Exarchia district. Given the challenges of driving in Athens, most visitors arrive by public transport. Ride the metro to Omonia (Line 2) or Victoria (Line 1), or choose between a wealth of bus and trolley options: bus 5 connects to the Acropolis. The hop-on hop-off bus also stops at the museum.

When to Get There

The museum is open daily, with abbreviated hours on Tuesday, and extended hours from April 1 through Oct. 31. The museum is closed for major holidays. To beat the crowds, visit early in the day and avoid weekends and days when admission is free.

Know Your Ancient Greek Civilisations

As you’d expect in Athens, classical Athenian culture—which produced democracy, the Parthenon, and the plays of Sophocles—is well represented at the National Archaeological Museum. But other civilizations from ancient Greece feature strongly, including the Minoans, who occupied Crete and spawned the legend of the Minotaur; the Mycenaeans, who fought the famous battle for Troy; and the Ptolemies, the Hellenistic ancient Egyptian dynasty to which Cleopatra belonged.

Ways to explore

Trace ancient Greek art through the ages as you walk through the permanent collections, encompassing sculpture, metalwork, and antiquities. You can buy tickets online and explore independently as the Hellenic Archaeological Museum is easy to navigate with clearly labeled exhibits. However, a guided walking tour, especially a private tour, can yield dividends when it comes to navigating a collection that spans more than 11,000 artifacts: Options run from scavenger hunt tours, which bring the museum to life for families, to full-day experiences covering a wealth of Athens’ archaeological sites.

Accessibility

The museum is wheelchair accessible, with a ramp at the entrance, elevator access, and accessible bathrooms.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Bring a small purse or day pack, as anything larger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches (30 x 30 x 15 centimeters) must stay in the cloakroom.

What to wear

Comfortable clothing and footwear for the expansive museum

Not allowed

Tripods, flash photography, phone calls, phone notifications

Amenities

Café, restrooms, cloakrooms, Wi-Fi

Address

The National Archaeological Museum sits about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) north of the Acropolis in central Athens.

Driving

Given the challenges of driving (and parking) in Athens, most visitors arrive by public transport—although taxis, rideshares, and tours are alternative options.

Public transportation

Ride the metro to Victoria (Line 1), a bit less than a 10-minute walk, or Omonia (Line 1 and Line 2), a bit more than a 10-minute walk. The hop-on hop-off bus also stops at the museum.

Best times to visit

The museum is open daily, but closes on Tuesday mornings and December 25 and 26, January 1, March 25, May 1, and Orthodox Easter Sunday. Hours are extended in summer.

Best days to visit

To beat the crowds, visit early in the day and avoid weekends and days when admission is free.

Best months to visit

For mellow temperatures without the peak season crowds, visit Athens over the shoulder seasons of May and September.

Special events

The museum offers free admission on March 6, April 18, May 18, October 28, the last weekend of September, and the first Sunday in November, December, January, February, and March.