Museums in Greece
Greece is bursting with museums and archaeological sites
Did you know that Greece has the most archaeological museums in the world?
Greece boasts a total of 196 different archaeological museums, spread across the mainland and the islands. The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is considered the most important archaeological museum in Greece. It houses one of the most valuable collections in the world. This museum dates back to 1829. Construction of the current museum in the center of the Greek capital wasn't completed until 1889. Until then, this valuable archaeological collection was largely displayed on the island of Aegina .
Greece's most visited archaeological museum
In Athens, the Acropolis Museum is another very important and beautiful archaeological museum. The Acropolis Museum is the most visited archaeological museum in Greece and, with a surface area of no less than 25,000 m², one of the largest museums in the country. Its rich collection is impressive, and the layout allows you to view many of the finds from virtually every angle. Through the tall, wide glass windows, you can see the Acropolis and, beyond that, the Parthenon. For more information, see here.
Museum about the life of Maria Calas
The Maria Callas Museum in Athens opened in 2023, just weeks before the 100th anniversary of the great Greek soprano's birth. Located at 44 Mitropoleos Street in the Greek capital, the museum explores various facets of Callas's career and personal life. "I think we're primarily targeting 'ordinary visitors' who may not know much about opera," museum supervisor Erato Koutsoudaki told the Associated Press . "So we invite visitors to start with the rooms where you can listen to and see Callas perform iconic arias from the great operas. Then you can learn more about who this woman was and why she was so important," Koutsoudaki said. The upper floors of the building feature a recreation of a room from her Parisian apartment. Other rooms display her costumes, along with handwritten letters and a sketch of a Manolo Blahnik design inspired by Callas.
The museum also features letters, jewelry, a series of stamps from Kyrgyzstan and Congo, and numerous awards from Callas. See here .
Archaeological museums in mainland Greece
Ancient Olympia in the Peloponnese also has its own archaeological museum. So does the oracle at Delphi in Central Greece. Two real crowd-pullers on mainland Greece.
Perhaps less well-known, but just as beautiful, are the tombs of Vergina . The accompanying impressive archaeological museum is located in the largest underground tomb. A visit is often combined with a city break to Thessaloniki . In this second-largest city in Greece, the archaeological museum is also well-stocked and highly recommended.
Archaeological museums in the Greek islands
The Greek islands also boast numerous archaeological museums. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum on Crete boasts one of the largest collections on the island. Historical artifacts dating back up to 5,500 years are on display. This Cretan museum underwent a thorough renovation in 2014.
On Santorini , the Prehistoric Museum of Thira, located in the capital, Fira, is a worthwhile archaeological museum. Numerous archaeological finds from Akrotiri, some as old as 3,600 years old, are on display here. This collection includes some rare statuettes and ancient murals.
Rhodes also boasts beautiful archaeological finds, many dating back to the Middle Ages (the period of the knights). These artifacts are exhibited in the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Archaeological Museum in Rhodes Town. While we can't name all 196 archaeological museums individually, Greece has the most archaeological museums in the world.
Acropolis of Athens
A visit to the Acropolis of Athens is, of course, a must when visiting Athens. It's a chance to admire the beautiful ancient architecture and art, and it also allows you to appreciate Greece's rich history and its influence on Western civilization. Please note that bookings are required starting December 8, 2023. See Acropolis here .
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More about museums in Athens can be found here
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If you want to book a museum or other event in Athens, simply do so here.