Museum · Makrygianni, Athens (Attica)

Acropolis Museum

Bernard Tschumi's glass-and-concrete museum of finds from the Acropolis, built over an excavated ancient neighbourhood

Ambient sound · similar settingA tree full of cicadas on a Greek summer day

Photo: Athens at a Glance (@athensglance) / Unsplash

Discover Acropolis Museum

Standing about 300 metres from the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum is the natural partner to a visit to the rock above. Its galleries hold the original sculptures, offerings and architectural pieces found on the Acropolis and its slopes, displayed in natural light so that you see them much as the ancient Athenians did.

The building is part of the experience. Glass floors at the entrance reveal the excavated streets and houses of an ancient Athenian neighbourhood beneath your feet, while the glazed top-floor Parthenon Gallery is aligned with the temple itself, so you can study the frieze and metopes and then look up to see where they once stood.

Don’t miss

01Glass floors and an entrance ramp that look down onto the excavated ancient neighbourhood
02The Gallery of the Acropolis Slopes with finds from the sanctuaries around the hill
03The Archaic Acropolis Gallery with its Korai maidens and horsemen statues
04The Parthenon Gallery, laid out with the frieze, metopes and pediments around a glass hall facing the temple
05Sculptures from the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion
06The ground-floor café terrace overlooking the excavation

History & culture

The story of Acropolis Museum

The first Acropolis museum was built on the rock itself between 1865 and 1874, set in a hollow south-east of the Parthenon. It served for well over a century but could not cope with the growing number of finds or visitors, and it closed in 2007.

An international architectural competition held in 2000 was won by Bernard Tschumi with Greek collaborator Michael Photiadis. Their design rests on pillars above an archaeological excavation discovered on the site, and its three main levels and two intermediate levels cover 14,000 square metres of exhibition space. The new museum opened to the public on 20 June 2009 and today displays over 4,000 objects.

Local life & traditions

For Athenians the museum is both a cultural landmark and a political statement: the Parthenon Gallery was designed to hold the complete frieze, and the spaces left for the sculptures held in the British Museum are a quiet but pointed reminder of Greece's long-standing request for their return. School groups visit throughout the year, and the forecourt and café are popular meeting points in the Makrygianni district.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Allow two to three hours. Start on the ground floor with the excavation and the finds from the slopes, climb to the Archaic gallery, then take the lift to the Parthenon Gallery before returning to the first floor for the Erechtheion and Athena Nike sculptures. The excavation beneath the building can also be explored as a separate area.

The museum runs a busy programme of talks, family activities and seasonal events, including evening openings at certain times of year. Its second-floor restaurant has a terrace looking at the Parthenon, a popular stop between galleries.

When to go

The museum is a good choice in any season and a welcome refuge from the summer heat or winter rain. Visit early in the day or later in the afternoon to avoid tour groups, and consider seeing it just after the Acropolis so the sculptures are fresh in context.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Opening hours (as published by visitgreece.gr): Winter (1 Nov - 31 Mar): daily 09:00-17:00, last entry 16:30. Summer (1 Apr - 31 Oct): Monday 09:00-17:00; Tuesday-Sunday 09:00-20:00, last entry 30 minutes before closing. Closed on official public holidays Source: visitgreece.gr ↗
Admission (as published, Oct 2026): General EUR 20, reduced EUR 10 Source: visitgreece.gr ↗
Tickets: The museum ticket is separate from the Acropolis site ticket; reduced and free tickets are issued only at the museum ticket desk with proof of eligibility Source: theacropolismuseum.gr ↗
Address: 15 Dionysiou Areopagitou, 11742 Athens; tel. +30 210 9000900 Source: visitgreece.gr ↗
Getting there: Metro Line 2 (Anthoupoli - Elliniko), plus several bus and trolleybus routes Source: visitgreece.gr ↗
Café: The ground-floor café, next to the museum shop, can be used without buying a ticket Source: theacropolismuseum.gr ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Bring proof of age or student status if you may qualify for a reduced or free ticket; these are only issued at the desk.
Photography without flash is usually allowed in most galleries, but check signs, as some areas may be restricted.
Visit the Parthenon Gallery on a clear day for the best view across to the temple.
Large bags may need to go to the cloakroom, so arrive a few minutes early.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Acropolis Museum: food, markets & places to stay

The museum sits on the pedestrian street of Dionysiou Areopagitou at the foot of the Acropolis, a few steps from Akropoli metro station. Plaka begins just across the street, and the Makrygianni and Koukaki neighbourhoods behind the museum have bakeries, cafés and small grocery shops. The Acropolis south-slope entrance is a short uphill walk away.