Museums, museums and more museums!
Athens, an open-air museum itself, is an astonishing cultural hub seamlessly connecting the past with the present and even the future. Essential element of this narrative, along with numerous archaeological sites, is the plethora of museums it offers for you to visit. Here are just some of them.
1. The Acropolis Museum: A bold reflection of the iconic rock of Acropolis with a sentimental outlook to the future of the site. The Acropolis Museum is continuously winning over the hearts of its visitors, earning it a year by year position among the best museums of the world and making it an attraction in itself. Its careful and meaningful design reveals the true importance of its unique exhibits. Its attractive setup guides the guest through the exhibit’s aesthetic value as it was meant to be revealed. It is also very easy to reach! From our hotel you can take either bus 122 or 171 to Elliniko Metro Station and from there simply take the Red Line to Acropolis Metro Station and you are right on the entrance! A must not miss visit when you are in Athens, even for just one day, the Acropolis Museum is sure to make a lasting impression on you.
2. The National Archaeological Museum: From the contemporary to the old, the National Archaeological Museum has the near impossible task of incorporating an incredible number of antiquities from different eras and parts of Greece into a single exciting archaeological exhibition, and it has done so for many decades. You will be fascinated by both the variety and the sheer volume of exhibits, be careful not to be overwhelmed! You can reach the museum from Apollonia using bus 171 to the Elliniko Metro Station, take the Red Line and get off at Omonia Metro Station. From there it is a short 5-minute walk along 28is Oktovriou Avenue.
3. Museum of Cycladic Art: Since its inception in 1986, the Museum of Cycladic Art has been renown as a jewel among Athen’s museums thanks to its unique focus on the enigmatic prehistoric Cycladic art, a form distinct from other exhbitions Athens has to offer. It has been praised for its elegant and enchanting design, rich cultural calendar full of events, lectures and side exhibitions and it is overall impressive guest experience. Using the metro system from the Elliniko Metro Station, you change at Syntagma, take the Blue Line towards the Airport or Ethniki Amyna and get off at the Evangelismos Metro Station. From there it is a simple 5 minute walk!
4. National Museum of Contemporary Art: Established in 2000, and changing a number of venues, it finally found its permanent base in the old FIX brewery. Its permanent collection spreads across two of its levels and it revolves around major Greek and foreign contemporary artists, and it will be hosting a series of side-exhibitions, art projects and events. Open daily except Mondays, 11:00 – 19:00, accessible via the Fix Metro Station or by the tram system (stop Fix).
5. Benaki Museum (Pireos Building): Part of the original Benaki Museum encompassing a number of buildings across Athens, the Pireos Building is the newest of them and part of the Pireos Avenue cultural revival. It boasts a number of concurrent exhibitions, installations, events and presentations thanks to its modern multifunctional design, ranging from architecture, photography to theater and traditional heritage. Best way to get to the museum is to take bus 171 from Varkiza to Elliniko Metro Station, pick the Red Line until Syntagma Metro Station and change to the Blue Line until Kerameikos Metro Station. From there you can follow Pireos Avenue (southbound) and after about 10 minutes you will be ready for the museum’s riches.
There are of course plenty more museums composing the rich intellectual tapestry Athens has to offer, like the Byzantine and Christian Museum and the Jewish Museum of Greece. Our reception would be more than glad to assist you in purchasing tickets, attending events and designing your unique cultural experience!