Unveiling Athens’ Cultural Treasures: Exploring the City’s Art Museums
Known for its history and art scene, it’s no surprise that Athens brims with art museums that fascinate every art lover. From modern art museums to ancient art heavens, you can visit a wide variety of places to immerse yourself in the artistic charm of Athens.
In this article, we will help you unveil the city’s cultural treasures, introducing you to the best art museums in Athens. Let’s dive in!
- The National Gallery – Alexandros Soutzos Museum
- The National Museum of Contemporary Art
- The Museum of Cycladic Art
- The Byzantine and Christian Museum
- The Acropolis Museum
- The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture
- Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation
1. The National Gallery – Alexandros Soutzos Museum
The National Gallery of Greece is undoubtedly one of the must-visit art museums in Athens -especially for those who love discovering new artists!
Housed in a beautifully renovated industrial-style building on Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, this museum features an extensive collection of over 5,000 artworks by iconic local and international artists, including El Greco and Vincent van Gogh.
The National Gallery’s permanent and non-permanent collections cover everything, from paintings and prints to sculptures and installations, so visiting the museum is a truly fascinating experience. It is arguably the perfect Greek museum in Athens to introduce yourself to the full spectrum of local art, from post-Byzantine times until today!
Address: 50 Vasileos Konstantinou str., 116 34, Athens
2. The National Museum of Contemporary Art
If you are interested in contemporary art, EMST, one of the best contemporary art museums in Athens, should not be missing from your bucket list! Housed in a beautifully restored former beer factory on Syngrou Avenue, this museum features a permanent collection that includes works of some of the most prominent Greek and international artists.
However, the impressive artworks are not the only reason you should visit this museum; the striking architecture, which almost outshines the artworks, and the thought-provoking temporary collections are also reasons to visit EMST.
What’s more, the National Museum of Contemporary Art has a social and educational role, offering visitors the opportunity to dig deeper into modern art through several activities and educational projects!
Address: Kallirois Ave. & Amvr. Frantzi Str. (Former Fix Factory), Athens, 11743, Greece
3. The Museum of Cycladic Art
Housed in a beautiful building on Neofytou Douka Street, the Museum of Cycladic Art features an extensive collection that covers everything from prehistoric jewelry to ancient figurines dating back to the Bronze Age. In fact, it showcases one of the most complete collections of Cycladic art in the world!
In addition to Cycladic treasures, the main building of the Museum of Cycladic Art houses an impeccable collection of ancient Greek and Cypriot art. However, if you are more of a contemporary art lover, head to the museum’s second building, an impressive neoclassical-style mansion on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, where several temporary exhibitions of contemporary art take place.
If you’re staying in a hotel in Kolonaki, visit the Museum of Cycladic Art -you’ll instantly get why it’s considered one of the best Greek art museums in Athens!
Address: Neofytou Douka 4, 10674 Athens
4. The Byzantine and Christian Museum
The Byzantine and Christian Museum offers a glimpse of the Byzantine era’s artistic and religious heritage through over 25,000 impressive exhibits, including sculptures, murals, icons, manuscripts, pottery, and textiles dating from the 3rd to the 20th century AD.
Beyond historical religious artifacts, this museum also features temporary contemporary art exhibitions, creating an interesting mix of different art styles that capture the evolution of art through the ages.
Last but not least, another reason you should visit the Byzantine and Christian Museum is its lush garden, where you can enjoy your drink surrounded by history and natural beauty, before visiting the museum’s gift shop to purchase some lovely Byzantine-inspired souvenirs!
Address: 22 Vas. Sofias Ave., 106 75 Athens
5. The Acropolis Museum
If you want to dive into the past and explore the fascinating history of ancient Greek art, then the Acropolis Museum is the place to go! Boasting outstanding architecture (it is designed by Bernard Tschumi) and a breathtaking view of the Acropolis Hill, this museum marries the past with the future, creating an irresistible experience for visitors.
The Acropolis Museum houses a wide range of stunning ancient artifacts related to the Acropolis, from the iconic Caryatids to the Parthenon marbles, as well as statues and everyday objects.
Some of the highlights you should not miss during your visit are the parts of the Athena Nike Temple and the Hekatompedon, the ‘Calf-bearer’ statue, the relief of the ‘Pensive Athena’ and the ‘Peplos Kore’ statue. After delving into the past of Athens, visit the museum’s excellent restaurant to savor a traditional meal or sip on a drink with panoramic Acropolis vistas!
Extra tip: The Acropolis Museum is one of the best museums to explore ancient artifacts in Athens with your kids, as it offers several family-friendly activities!
Address: Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, 11742 Athens
6. The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture
The Benaki Museum, housed in an imposing neoclassical-style mansion in Kolonaki on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, is arguably one of the best places to introduce yourself to Greek history and art!
Its extensive collections feature a wide variety of artifacts spanning from the Neolithic era to the 20th century, and include everything from ancient sculptures to jewelry, providing excellent context for understanding various aspects of Greek culture.
So, whether you are interested in Byzantine art, Prehistoric Greek art, or Neo-Hellenic art, you will be fascinated by the museum’s impressive artifacts. Before you leave, consider ascending to the museum’s roof terrace to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine savoring the mesmerizing view of the cityscape!
Address: Koumpari 1, 10674 Athens
7. Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation
Ηoused in a beautiful 11-story building in Pagrati, the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation showcases one of the largest private art collections of the second half of the 20th century.
It focuses on modern and contemporary art, featuring works by notable Greek and international artists such as van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Hatzikyriakos-Ghikas, Parthenis, and Tsarouchis.
At Basil & Elize Goulandris Foundation visitors can enjoy both permanent and temporary art exhibitions, as well as a café-restaurant, a gift shop, an art library, and a children’s workshop with educational programs. It’s arguably one of the must-visit art museums in Athens!
Free Museums in Athens
Although there aren’t many free museums in Athens, the entrance to some museums is free on certain days throughout the year. Specifically, there is free entry to museums, archaeological sites, and art galleries in Athens owned by the state on the first Sunday of each month from November 1st to March 31st. Additional days with free admission to state museums include:
- The last weekend of September
- October 28th
- March 6th
- April 18th
- May 18th
Athens is a city with a rich artistic legacy, combining ancient charm with contemporary flair and creating an interesting artistic mash-up that fascinates visitors! Are you ready to immerse yourself in art history in Athens’ museums?
