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The National Archaeological Museum (Greek: Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο) in Athens houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety of archaeological locations around Greece from prehistory to late antiquity. It is considered one of the greatest museums in the world and contains the richest collection of Greek Antiquity artifacts worldwide. It is situated in the Exarcheia area in central Athens between Epirus Street, Bouboulinas Street and Tositsas Street while its entrance is on the Patission Street adjacent to the historical building of the Athens Polytechnic university.
The first national archaeological museum in Greece was established by the governor of Greece Ioannis Kapodistrias in Aigina in 1829. Subsequently, the archaeological collection was relocated to a number of exhibition places until 1858, when an international architectural competition was announced for the location and the architectural design of the new museum.
Many of the greatest achievements in ancient Greek sculpture and painting are housed here in the most important museum in Greece. Artistic highlights from every period of its ancient civilization, from Neolithic to Roman times, make this a treasure trove beyond compare. With a massive renovation completed, works (more than 11,000 of them) that have languished in storage for decades are now on view, reorganized displays are accompanied by enriched English-language information, and the panoply of ancient Greek art appears more spectacular than ever. While the classic culture that was the grandeur of the Greek world no longer exists—it died, for civilizations are mortal—it left indelible markers in all domains, most particularly in art, and many of its masterpieces are on show here. The museum's most celebrated display is the Mycenaean Antiquities. Here are the stunning gold treasures from Heinrich Schliemann's 1876 excavations of Mycenae's royal tombs: the funeral mask
Leggo Tung LeiFeb 5, 2018
Really well laid out museum, some absolutely amazing artifacts with well explained exhibits. Can easily spend a few hours here if you have the time. It's also very reasonably priced, so definitely have this on your list of places to check out if you have a spare afternoon!
Finn LindsayMar 1, 2018
I don't want to say anything bad about this great museum and its huge exciting collection of antiquities - only positive criticism: it is a pity that among thousands and thousands of objects there is nothing dedicated to attract the attention, especially the attention of the kids. Our kids were just bored: the only 2 places where they have shown interest were on the first floor: one room with blue light of exposition (nothing really special, but it shows how little is needed to make kids interested) and another room containing 2 human skeletons. I would prefer my kids to see less but be interested and motivated - many museums in the world understand this and add some simple quests for the kids (ex. find 5 Athenas) or some little interactive games (ex. distinguish different Greek gods). Otherwise, it is tough for kids and as a result tough for adults as well. For adults something more complex can be done in our time of computers and applications. Another comment is regarding the guards in the museum rooms. They are probably bored with their job, and are not paid for anything apart from words like "Don't touch the glass" or "You should not copy the pose of a statue" - this last demand surprised me since I've never heard of it anywhere. I've asked "why" and the answer was "it is a museum rule". I believe every rule should have a reason and I was really interested in the reason behind this demand, maybe some story or something else.And I find it a shame that a person working in a museum did not (want to) explain it to us (visitors).
Roman GorbonosovFeb 16, 2018
The collection of statues is impressive and varied from the ancient Mycenaean period to the late Roman empire downfall. Plenty to see for at least a couple of hours (for a cursory view). When we went there was a temporary exhibition about the Odissey - really interesting and well arranged with music and atmospheric effects. Don't forget to peek into the central garden area.
Paolo TagliaferriMar 1, 2018
A very nice place to visit in Athens. Lots of exhibits - a whole day wouldn't be enough to read every description and contemplate, although many of the items on display are similar to one another. The new Odyssey exhibition was amazing, with blue lights adding to the vibe.
Mateusz PoznaniakFeb 4, 2018
A stunning collection! Much better than the architectural Acropolis museum. This museum is well worth a whole day visit. Take your time and savour the beautiful exhibits. There are lots of places to sit and rest if you are getting tired! Pop down to the cafe in the delightful cloister garden to rest weary feet and have a bite to eat. Then explore the rest of the museum. Museum staff are very friendly. Shop is only disappointing part!
Alice NewtonApr 2, 2018
Athens has a lot of history and a lot of beautiful and amazing places to visit. The national archaeological museum of Athens is one of the best places I had the chance of going to! These is so much history in the wall of the museum and there is so much so see and read there. The museum is surprisingly huge! It's deceiving on the outside as the museum wraps all around the building in a giant circle. There is also an upstairs section to view as well. The statues and models are absolutely breathtaking and have detailed descriptions. I really enjoyed the break down of the museum and there is a worker in each room to answer question you may have (best to their knowledge) and to keep anyone from causing damage or harm to anything in the room. There are other parts of the world and power nations dedicated to certain rooms as well such as Egypt and Rome. The hours are pretty good as well. They are accurate on the web site but you want to make sure you have at least 2 or 3 hours to comfortably see and experience the museum in its entirety. You do have to pay to get in but the ticket is only 5 euro (prices might be higher depending on the time of year) be careful towards closing time! They don't play around. They close the gift shop 20 minutes early and try to have everyone out and the doors locked 10 minutes before closing! Over all a great place to take your friends or family to learn some amazing history of the area and even other places around the world!
jonathon hounsellMar 11, 2018
This museum is perfect for those who know a little bit about Greek mythology or history or those who have studied Greek architecture. I really enjoyed this museum and spent all afternoon in it. The sculptures are beautiful and upstairs they have some frescos from the islands of Greece. The only thing I didn’t like about the museum was the area it was in—it seemed less safe or just less taken care of the the central part of Athens. So, like always, be careful of your items while walking around this part of the city.
Rebecca VenturaMar 23, 2018
The NAM is a workout but worth the legwork. Housed in a majestic building it boasts 8,000m2 worth of galleries, in a veritable what’s what of Greek civilization, from prehistory to late antiquity. The NAM is made up of six permanent exhibitions. A quick look through the Museum’s comprehensive website will help your orientation before you set out.
J. Michael SeyfertMar 28, 2018
One of the best collections of Ancient Greek art in the world. Particularly known for the wonderful large-scale bronzes in the collection, which are very rare objects you don’t find in many museums. The horse and boy jockey is worth the price of admission alone! It’s not a flashy new museum, but all the better for that. Simply an incredible collection you’d be crazy to miss if you’re in Athens!
Zora SandersApr 11, 2018
The Archaeological museum of Athens has a great collection of ancient Greek Art. When you enter you can start left and walk around in the building to go from the Archaic Period to the Roman Era. Within you may find a few masterpieces, for example the bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon. In a side room of the main exposition you can find the Antikithera mechanism, this always impresses me because it was the first analogue computer ever made. Right at the centre of the museum you can find the Golden death mask of king Agamemnon, when you’re familiar with the Iliad and the Trojan war it is really impressive to see this. I recommend visiting in the off-season on the first Sunday of the month. When you’re visiting in the high season I recommend coming here as soon as it opens to avoid the hordes of tour groups.
benniemastApr 26, 2018
The museum was a wonder! It is so large. You need at least 2.5 hrs to go through it. If you want to take your time and enjoy the experience, make it a half day trip or longer. Everywhere you turned there would be a new room! Try to go through the exhibit at their starting entrance, usually the exhibit is in chronological order. The size of some of the artifacts are astounding! Must see when visiting Athens. Be careful around the museum, it isn't the safest part of town, but don't let that stop you from visiting!
Mary Lee KingJun 16, 2018
A wonderful museum to learn more about the history of Athens beyond the Acropolis! The layout is well structured to focus on different types of art and time periods so you can selectively chose the ones that you're interested in. The in-depth informational displays provide great details and context so you can understand the pieces that you're looking at. This museum is open until 8pm in the summer but I would recommend visiting in the mid-afternoon to escape the heat.
Kevin SongJun 20, 2018
Many of the greatest achievements in ancient Greek sculpture and painting are housed here in the most important museum in Greece. Artistic highlights from every period of its ancient civilization, from Neolithic to Roman times, make this a treasure trove beyond compare. With a massive renovation completed, works (more than 11,000 of them) that have languished in storage for decades are now on view, reorganized displays are accompanied by enriched English-language information, and the panoply of ancient Greek art appears more spectacular than ever. While the classic culture that was the grandeur of the Greek world no longer exists—it died, for civilizations are mortal—it left indelible markers in all domains, most particularly in art, and many of its masterpieces are on show here. The museum's most celebrated display is the Mycenaean Antiquities. Here are the stunning gold treasures from Heinrich Schliemann's 1876 excavations of Mycenae's royal tombs: the funeral mask
Leggo Tung LeiFeb 5, 2018
Really well laid out museum, some absolutely amazing artifacts with well explained exhibits. Can easily spend a few hours here if you have the time. It's also very reasonably priced, so definitely have this on your list of places to check out if you have a spare afternoon!
Finn LindsayMar 1, 2018
I don't want to say anything bad about this great museum and its huge exciting collection of antiquities - only positive criticism: it is a pity that among thousands and thousands of objects there is nothing dedicated to attract the attention, especially the attention of the kids. Our kids were just bored: the only 2 places where they have shown interest were on the first floor: one room with blue light of exposition (nothing really special, but it shows how little is needed to make kids interested) and another room containing 2 human skeletons. I would prefer my kids to see less but be interested and motivated - many museums in the world understand this and add some simple quests for the kids (ex. find 5 Athenas) or some little interactive games (ex. distinguish different Greek gods). Otherwise, it is tough for kids and as a result tough for adults as well. For adults something more complex can be done in our time of computers and applications. Another comment is regarding the guards in the museum rooms. They are probably bored with their job, and are not paid for anything apart from words like "Don't touch the glass" or "You should not copy the pose of a statue" - this last demand surprised me since I've never heard of it anywhere. I've asked "why" and the answer was "it is a museum rule". I believe every rule should have a reason and I was really interested in the reason behind this demand, maybe some story or something else.And I find it a shame that a person working in a museum did not (want to) explain it to us (visitors).
Roman GorbonosovFeb 16, 2018
The collection of statues is impressive and varied from the ancient Mycenaean period to the late Roman empire downfall. Plenty to see for at least a couple of hours (for a cursory view). When we went there was a temporary exhibition about the Odissey - really interesting and well arranged with music and atmospheric effects. Don't forget to peek into the central garden area.
Paolo TagliaferriMar 1, 2018
A very nice place to visit in Athens. Lots of exhibits - a whole day wouldn't be enough to read every description and contemplate, although many of the items on display are similar to one another. The new Odyssey exhibition was amazing, with blue lights adding to the vibe.
Mateusz PoznaniakFeb 4, 2018
A stunning collection! Much better than the architectural Acropolis museum. This museum is well worth a whole day visit. Take your time and savour the beautiful exhibits. There are lots of places to sit and rest if you are getting tired! Pop down to the cafe in the delightful cloister garden to rest weary feet and have a bite to eat. Then explore the rest of the museum. Museum staff are very friendly. Shop is only disappointing part!
Alice NewtonApr 2, 2018
Athens has a lot of history and a lot of beautiful and amazing places to visit. The national archaeological museum of Athens is one of the best places I had the chance of going to! These is so much history in the wall of the museum and there is so much so see and read there. The museum is surprisingly huge! It's deceiving on the outside as the museum wraps all around the building in a giant circle. There is also an upstairs section to view as well. The statues and models are absolutely breathtaking and have detailed descriptions. I really enjoyed the break down of the museum and there is a worker in each room to answer question you may have (best to their knowledge) and to keep anyone from causing damage or harm to anything in the room. There are other parts of the world and power nations dedicated to certain rooms as well such as Egypt and Rome. The hours are pretty good as well. They are accurate on the web site but you want to make sure you have at least 2 or 3 hours to comfortably see and experience the museum in its entirety. You do have to pay to get in but the ticket is only 5 euro (prices might be higher depending on the time of year) be careful towards closing time! They don't play around. They close the gift shop 20 minutes early and try to have everyone out and the doors locked 10 minutes before closing! Over all a great place to take your friends or family to learn some amazing history of the area and even other places around the world!
jonathon hounsellMar 11, 2018
This museum is perfect for those who know a little bit about Greek mythology or history or those who have studied Greek architecture. I really enjoyed this museum and spent all afternoon in it. The sculptures are beautiful and upstairs they have some frescos from the islands of Greece. The only thing I didn’t like about the museum was the area it was in—it seemed less safe or just less taken care of the the central part of Athens. So, like always, be careful of your items while walking around this part of the city.
Rebecca VenturaMar 23, 2018
The NAM is a workout but worth the legwork. Housed in a majestic building it boasts 8,000m2 worth of galleries, in a veritable what’s what of Greek civilization, from prehistory to late antiquity. The NAM is made up of six permanent exhibitions. A quick look through the Museum’s comprehensive website will help your orientation before you set out.
J. Michael SeyfertMar 28, 2018
One of the best collections of Ancient Greek art in the world. Particularly known for the wonderful large-scale bronzes in the collection, which are very rare objects you don’t find in many museums. The horse and boy jockey is worth the price of admission alone! It’s not a flashy new museum, but all the better for that. Simply an incredible collection you’d be crazy to miss if you’re in Athens!
Zora SandersApr 11, 2018
The Archaeological museum of Athens has a great collection of ancient Greek Art. When you enter you can start left and walk around in the building to go from the Archaic Period to the Roman Era. Within you may find a few masterpieces, for example the bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon. In a side room of the main exposition you can find the Antikithera mechanism, this always impresses me because it was the first analogue computer ever made. Right at the centre of the museum you can find the Golden death mask of king Agamemnon, when you’re familiar with the Iliad and the Trojan war it is really impressive to see this. I recommend visiting in the off-season on the first Sunday of the month. When you’re visiting in the high season I recommend coming here as soon as it opens to avoid the hordes of tour groups.
benniemastApr 26, 2018
The museum was a wonder! It is so large. You need at least 2.5 hrs to go through it. If you want to take your time and enjoy the experience, make it a half day trip or longer. Everywhere you turned there would be a new room! Try to go through the exhibit at their starting entrance, usually the exhibit is in chronological order. The size of some of the artifacts are astounding! Must see when visiting Athens. Be careful around the museum, it isn't the safest part of town, but don't let that stop you from visiting!
Mary Lee KingJun 16, 2018
A wonderful museum to learn more about the history of Athens beyond the Acropolis! The layout is well structured to focus on different types of art and time periods so you can selectively chose the ones that you're interested in. The in-depth informational displays provide great details and context so you can understand the pieces that you're looking at. This museum is open until 8pm in the summer but I would recommend visiting in the mid-afternoon to escape the heat.
Kevin SongJun 20, 2018
Many of the greatest achievements in ancient Greek sculpture and painting are housed here in the most important museum in Greece. Artistic highlights from every period of its ancient civilization, from Neolithic to Roman times, make this a treasure trove beyond compare. With a massive renovation completed, works (more than 11,000 of them) that have languished in storage for decades are now on view, reorganized displays are accompanied by enriched English-language information, and the panoply of ancient Greek art appears more spectacular than ever. While the classic culture that was the grandeur of the Greek world no longer exists—it died, for civilizations are mortal—it left indelible markers in all domains, most particularly in art, and many of its masterpieces are on show here. The museum's most celebrated display is the Mycenaean Antiquities. Here are the stunning gold treasures from Heinrich Schliemann's 1876 excavations of Mycenae's royal tombs: the funeral mask
Leggo Tung LeiFeb 5, 2018
Really well laid out museum, some absolutely amazing artifacts with well explained exhibits. Can easily spend a few hours here if you have the time. It's also very reasonably priced, so definitely have this on your list of places to check out if you have a spare afternoon!
Finn LindsayMar 1, 2018
I don't want to say anything bad about this great museum and its huge exciting collection of antiquities - only positive criticism: it is a pity that among thousands and thousands of objects there is nothing dedicated to attract the attention, especially the attention of the kids. Our kids were just bored: the only 2 places where they have shown interest were on the first floor: one room with blue light of exposition (nothing really special, but it shows how little is needed to make kids interested) and another room containing 2 human skeletons. I would prefer my kids to see less but be interested and motivated - many museums in the world understand this and add some simple quests for the kids (ex. find 5 Athenas) or some little interactive games (ex. distinguish different Greek gods). Otherwise, it is tough for kids and as a result tough for adults as well. For adults something more complex can be done in our time of computers and applications. Another comment is regarding the guards in the museum rooms. They are probably bored with their job, and are not paid for anything apart from words like "Don't touch the glass" or "You should not copy the pose of a statue" - this last demand surprised me since I've never heard of it anywhere. I've asked "why" and the answer was "it is a museum rule". I believe every rule should have a reason and I was really interested in the reason behind this demand, maybe some story or something else.And I find it a shame that a person working in a museum did not (want to) explain it to us (visitors).
Roman GorbonosovFeb 16, 2018
The collection of statues is impressive and varied from the ancient Mycenaean period to the late Roman empire downfall. Plenty to see for at least a couple of hours (for a cursory view). When we went there was a temporary exhibition about the Odissey - really interesting and well arranged with music and atmospheric effects. Don't forget to peek into the central garden area.
Paolo TagliaferriMar 1, 2018
A very nice place to visit in Athens. Lots of exhibits - a whole day wouldn't be enough to read every description and contemplate, although many of the items on display are similar to one another. The new Odyssey exhibition was amazing, with blue lights adding to the vibe.
Mateusz PoznaniakFeb 4, 2018
A stunning collection! Much better than the architectural Acropolis museum. This museum is well worth a whole day visit. Take your time and savour the beautiful exhibits. There are lots of places to sit and rest if you are getting tired! Pop down to the cafe in the delightful cloister garden to rest weary feet and have a bite to eat. Then explore the rest of the museum. Museum staff are very friendly. Shop is only disappointing part!
Alice NewtonApr 2, 2018
Athens has a lot of history and a lot of beautiful and amazing places to visit. The national archaeological museum of Athens is one of the best places I had the chance of going to! These is so much history in the wall of the museum and there is so much so see and read there. The museum is surprisingly huge! It's deceiving on the outside as the museum wraps all around the building in a giant circle. There is also an upstairs section to view as well. The statues and models are absolutely breathtaking and have detailed descriptions. I really enjoyed the break down of the museum and there is a worker in each room to answer question you may have (best to their knowledge) and to keep anyone from causing damage or harm to anything in the room. There are other parts of the world and power nations dedicated to certain rooms as well such as Egypt and Rome. The hours are pretty good as well. They are accurate on the web site but you want to make sure you have at least 2 or 3 hours to comfortably see and experience the museum in its entirety. You do have to pay to get in but the ticket is only 5 euro (prices might be higher depending on the time of year) be careful towards closing time! They don't play around. They close the gift shop 20 minutes early and try to have everyone out and the doors locked 10 minutes before closing! Over all a great place to take your friends or family to learn some amazing history of the area and even other places around the world!
jonathon hounsellMar 11, 2018
This museum is perfect for those who know a little bit about Greek mythology or history or those who have studied Greek architecture. I really enjoyed this museum and spent all afternoon in it. The sculptures are beautiful and upstairs they have some frescos from the islands of Greece. The only thing I didn’t like about the museum was the area it was in—it seemed less safe or just less taken care of the the central part of Athens. So, like always, be careful of your items while walking around this part of the city.
Rebecca VenturaMar 23, 2018
The NAM is a workout but worth the legwork. Housed in a majestic building it boasts 8,000m2 worth of galleries, in a veritable what’s what of Greek civilization, from prehistory to late antiquity. The NAM is made up of six permanent exhibitions. A quick look through the Museum’s comprehensive website will help your orientation before you set out.
J. Michael SeyfertMar 28, 2018
One of the best collections of Ancient Greek art in the world. Particularly known for the wonderful large-scale bronzes in the collection, which are very rare objects you don’t find in many museums. The horse and boy jockey is worth the price of admission alone! It’s not a flashy new museum, but all the better for that. Simply an incredible collection you’d be crazy to miss if you’re in Athens!
Zora SandersApr 11, 2018
The Archaeological museum of Athens has a great collection of ancient Greek Art. When you enter you can start left and walk around in the building to go from the Archaic Period to the Roman Era. Within you may find a few masterpieces, for example the bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon. In a side room of the main exposition you can find the Antikithera mechanism, this always impresses me because it was the first analogue computer ever made. Right at the centre of the museum you can find the Golden death mask of king Agamemnon, when you’re familiar with the Iliad and the Trojan war it is really impressive to see this. I recommend visiting in the off-season on the first Sunday of the month. When you’re visiting in the high season I recommend coming here as soon as it opens to avoid the hordes of tour groups.
benniemastApr 26, 2018
The museum was a wonder! It is so large. You need at least 2.5 hrs to go through it. If you want to take your time and enjoy the experience, make it a half day trip or longer. Everywhere you turned there would be a new room! Try to go through the exhibit at their starting entrance, usually the exhibit is in chronological order. The size of some of the artifacts are astounding! Must see when visiting Athens. Be careful around the museum, it isn't the safest part of town, but don't let that stop you from visiting!
Mary Lee KingJun 16, 2018
A wonderful museum to learn more about the history of Athens beyond the Acropolis! The layout is well structured to focus on different types of art and time periods so you can selectively chose the ones that you're interested in. The in-depth informational displays provide great details and context so you can understand the pieces that you're looking at. This museum is open until 8pm in the summer but I would recommend visiting in the mid-afternoon to escape the heat.
Kevin SongJun 20, 2018
Wander is a travel search engine that allows you to find the perfect travel destination that fits your budget and preferences.