Cassandra's Athens Museum Guide
Athens, a city steeped in history, is now a city filled with incredible museums celebrating Greek art and culture. From ancient treasures to modern masterpieces, Cassandra’s top picks highlight the best places to explore Greece’s rich creative heritage.
The Ghika Gallery
Cassandra’s fascination with Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika continues to grow, and the Ghika Gallery in Athens is the perfect place to understand why. Donated to the Benaki Museum, this 1932 modernist building designed by Konstantinos Kitsikis once served as the artist’s home and studio. Today, it offers a rare glimpse into Ghika’s world and the influential ‘Generation of the 1930s’, whose work helped define modern Greek art and culture. Visitors can explore his library for a look at his creative influences and admire his elegant illustrations for poets such as Seferis and Cavafy, all within the very rooms where he lived and created.
Kriezotou 3, Athina 106 71, Greece
Open:
Thursday 12-8pm
Friday - Sunday 10am-6pm
The Benaki Museum
One of Athens’ most treasured cultural institutions, founded in 1930 by Antonis Benakis, the museum bridges Greece’s ancient past and modern identity through a vast and beautifully curated collection. From Byzantine icons and Ottoman textiles to 20th-century paintings and contemporary design, it captures the evolution of Greek creativity across centuries. Housed in a neoclassical mansion near Syntagma Square, the Benaki Museum is not just a gallery, it is a journey through the layers of Greek history and culture.
Koumpari 1, Athina 106 74, Greece
Open:
Monday 10am-6pm,
Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday 10am-11:30pm
Friday - Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 10am-4pm
Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery Museum
For jewellery lovers, the Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery Museum is a true gem. It was the first museum in Greece dedicated entirely to the art of jewellery, and one of only three of its kind worldwide. Established as a nonprofit cultural organisation, the museum celebrates the artistry of goldsmithing and silversmithing while spotlighting contemporary jewellery design. Beyond its dazzling displays, it serves as an international hub for craftsmanship and creativity, continuing the legacy of Lalaounis, one of Greece’s most visionary jewellery designers.
Kallisperi 12, Athina 117 42, Greece
Open:
Monday - Tuesday 9am-3pm
Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday - Friday 9am-3pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Museum of Cycladic Art
A must for visitors to Athens, the Museum of Cycladic Art offers a fascinating window into the ancient Aegean world. Its most captivating treasures are the marble female figurines - graceful, minimalist forms carved over 4,000 years ago that echo modern sculptures. Their timeless design has inspired artists from Picasso to contemporary creators. Don’t miss seeing these mysterious figures up close, they capture the beauty and enduring spirit of Cycladic civilisation. Don’t forget to visit the Cycladic Café downstairs, where lush greenery and Stelios Kois’s sculptural ceiling bathe the space in natural light, capturing the bright elegance of the Greek islands in the heart of Athens.
Neofitou Douka 4, Athina 106 74, Greece
Open:
Monday 10am-5pm
Wednesday 10am-5pm
Thursday 10-8pm
Friday - Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 11am-5pm
Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum is Athens’ most popular and unmissable destination. Built to showcase the treasures of the ancient Acropolis, it offers breathtaking views of the Parthenon just across the way. Inside, sleek glass galleries display masterpieces of classical art, from intricate friezes to monumental sculptures, bringing ancient Greece vividly to life. Whether you’re a history lover or a casual visitor, this museum is an absolute must-see.
Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, Athina 117 42, Greece
Open:
Monday 9am-5pm
Tuesday - Thursday 9am-8pm
Friday 9am-10pm
Saturday - Sunday 9am-8pm
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