The monuments of the Acropolis have withstood the ravages of past centuries, both of ancient times and those of the Middle Ages. Until the 17th century, foreign travellers visiting the monuments depicted the classical buildings as being intact. This remained the case until the middle of the same century, when the Propylaia was blown up while being used as a gunpowder store. Thirty years later, the Ottoman occupiers dismantled the neighbouring Temple of Athena Nike to use its materials to strengthen the fortification of the Acropolis. The most fatal year, however, for the Acropolis, was 1687, when many of the building’s architectural members were blown into the air and fell in heaps around the Hill of the Acropolis, caused by a bomb from the Venetian forces. Foreign visitors to the Acropolis would search through the rubble and take fragments of the fallen sculptures as their souvenirs. It was in the 19th century that Lord Elgin removed intact architectural sculptures from the frieze, the metopes and the pediments of the building.
In 1833, the Turkish garrison withdrew from the Acropolis. Immediately after the founding of the Greek State, discussions about the construction of an Acropolis Museum on the Hill of the Acropolis began. In 1863, it was decided that the Museum be constructed on a site to the southeast of the Parthenon and foundations were laid on 30 December 1865.
The building program for the Museum had provided that its height not surpasses the height of the stylobate of the Parthenon. With only 800 square meters of floor space, the building was rapidly shown to be inadequate to accommodate the findings from the large excavations on the Acropolis that began in 1886. A second museum was announced in 1888, the so-called Little Museum. Final changes occurred in 1946-1947 with the second Museum being demolished and the original being sizably extended.
By the 1970s, the Museum could not cope satisfactorily with the large numbers of visitors passing through its doors. The inadequacy of the space frequently caused problems and downgraded the sense that the exhibition of the masterpieces from the Rock sought to achieve.
The Acropolis Museum was firstly conceived by Constantinos Karamanlis in September 1976. He also selected the site, upon which the Museum was finally built, decades later. With his penetrating vision, C. Karamanlis defined the need and established the means for a new Museum equipped with all technical facilities for the conservation of the invaluable Greek artifacts, where eventually the Parthenon sculptures will be reunited.
For these reasons, architectural competitions were conducted in 1976 and 1979, but without success. In 1989, Melina Mercouri, who as Minister of Culture inextricably identified her policies with the claim for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, initiated an international architectural competition. The results of this competition were annulled following the discovery of a large urban settlement on the Makriyianni site dating from Archaic to Early Christian Athens. This discovery now needed to be integrated into the New Museum that was to be built on this site.
In the year 2000, the Organization for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum announced an invitation to a new tender, which was realized in accord with the Directives of the European Union. It is this Tender that has come to fruition with the awarding of the design tender to Bernard Tschumi with Michael Photiadis and their associates and the completion of construction in 2007. Today, the new Acropolis Museum has a total area of 25,000 square meters, with exhibition space of over 14,000 square meters, ten times more than that of the old museum on the Hill of the Acropolis. The new Museum offers all the amenities expected in an international museum of the 21st century.

Opening Hours:

Winter Season Hours (1/11-31/3)
Monday to Thursday:09:00-17:00 
Friday: 09:00-22:00
Saturday-Sunday: 09:00-20:00

Summer Season Hours (1/4-31/10)
Monday: 08:00-16:00
Tuesday to Sunday: 08:00-20:00 μ.μ.
Friday: 08:00- 22:00

General admission fee: (1st of November - 31st of March) €5
Discount ticket: €3
General admission fee: (1st of April - 31st of October) €10
Discount ticket: 5€


Tickets are available for sale either at the Museum’s Ticket Desk or via its e-ticketing service.
Free entry: 25 March, 18 May (International Museum Day), 28 October.

In Greek City-State Democracy, the "agora" was more than a marketplace; it was the nucleus of civic life. This vibrant space brought together people of all backgrounds to deliberate and solve issues, serving as a social, cultural, administrative, and economic hub that epitomized the democratic ideal.
During the 5th century, the Ancient Agora was adorned with temples, altars, and public buildings. Notable structures included the Temple of Hephaestus, Vasileos Stoa, and the Stoa of Attalus, which now serves as a museum for Agora excavations. It reached its final form in the 2nd century AD.
The Agora endured periods of destruction and looting by the Persians (480 BC), Romans (86 AD), and Heruli (267 AD). After lying dormant following the Slavic invasion in 580 AD, it was resettled around 1000 AD, culminating in the construction of the Church of the Holy Apostles. In 1204, it again faced desolation after an invasion by Leo Sgouros.
Rediscovered by the German Archaeological Society in the late 19th century, the Agora's systematic excavation has been led by the American School of Classical Studies since 1931. Since 1957, the Hellenic Archaeological Society has overseen the site, preserving this historic treasure.

Excavations at the Kerameikos archaeological site commenced in 1863 under the guidance of the Archaeological Society. Since 1913, the German Archaeological Institute of Athens has continued this important work. The site features a small museum constructed in 1936 at its entrance, showcasing discoveries from the Kerameikos excavations. These artifacts offer valuable insights into the daily life and customs of ancient Greeks.

Visitors can explore the evolving burial practices across different periods, view numerous offerings interred with the deceased, and examine ostraka (vessel fragments) inscribed with the names of notable Athenians as part of the "ostracism" process, which expelled individuals considered a threat to the Republic.

In the museum's forecourt, you'll find 4th-century tombstones and a section of flooring from Pompeii. Inside, rooms house archaic tombstones integrated into the Themistocleian wall, as well as sphinxes, lions, and kouroi from the archaic era. The classical period's relief columns exude grandeur and dignity. Notable highlights include the tomb relief of the young horseman Dexileos, the column of Dimitria and Pamphili, and the depiction of the mother Amfareti with two women. Dominating the center is the Bull, an epitaphic monument honoring Dionysios of Kolyteos.

Opening Hours:
Winter:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesdays: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Summer:
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Ancient Kerameikos, as the name implies, was a district associated with potters. Situated on the northwestern fringes of ancient Athens, it extended both within and beyond the city walls that intersect the present-day excavation site. Two gates, the Dipylos and the Holy Gate, linked the interior and exterior of Kerameikos.
The area outside the Gates was the largest and most renowned Attic cemetery, known as the "Public Sign." The Holy Gate took its name from the Holy Way, which the Eleusinian Mysteries procession followed. Today, a section of the ancient Iridanos River still flows through the Holy Gate, allowing visitors to walk at the same level as Athenians in classical times.
During the archaic period, the site was characterized by substantial burial mounds. In the classical era, the Holy Way transformed into a traditional cemetery with family burial enclosures adorned with elaborate sculptural decorations. In contrast, the Dipylos road was used for official burial ceremonies for fallen warriors interred at the Public Mark.
The famous Panathenaic Road, which began at Dipylos and led into the city, had an official purpose. Between these two gates stood the Pompeio building, where preparations were made for the Panathenaic procession in honor of Athena, the site's patroness.
The street of tombs contains tombstones showcasing high artistry and aesthetics. Prominent among them are the stele of Dexileos, a young horseman, the bull sculpture in Dionysios's precinct, and the Hegisos stele.

Opening Hours:
Winter:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesdays: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Summer:
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

One of the most important museums of Modern Greek History, with great contribution to culture and science, invites us on a journey to the beginnings of higher education in Greece for the period 1837-1841. Housed in one of the few surviving buildings of proothonikis period under the Acropolis, "gazing" panoramic Ancient Agora and Plaka. The "Cleanthis Residence" -here lived Stamatios eminent architects Kleanthis and Edward Schaubert selected for the first urban and architectural drawings of the Athens-called "Palio University", and hosted the first University of the independent Greek state the period 1837-1841.
On the occasion of 150 years of the Athens University operation in the spring of 1987 opened at the historic building of Athens University History Museum, which was established to collect, preserve, preservation and enhancement of the academic heritage of the first academic institution in the country.
 The wide collection constantly enriched by donations or purchases includes portraits of professors from the era painters, textbooks, photographs of life at the University, rare scientific instruments (medicine, physics, chemistry, pharmacology), manuscripts, diplomas, Rector reasons, PhD theses, yearbooks, medals, stamps, etc.
Part of the permanent exhibition is also the interesting new section: "A house for a museum: The history of the building", dedicated to the long history of the building, in particular architecture and the stories of ordinary people who hosted during the 19th and 20th century . The exhibits include three-dimensional representation of the building construction phase, excerpts from interviews of past occupants, photographs and personal objects of everyday use.

Opening hours:
Monday - Friday 9:00 -16: 00


Every first Sunday of the month the museum is open 11: 00-16: 00 and is carried free tour at 13:00.

Entrance: € 2 for adults, 1 € for children from 12-18 years, cost of participation in educational programs and tours. More information at tel .: 210 3689502-6.

It is located on the subway terminal station in Piraeus and brings us in touch with the evolution and the history of the electric train through the years. The museum was inaugurated in November 2005, having a collection of 2000 items (exhibition and storage) and more than 3000 books, documents and photographs, which will form the basis for the expansion of the Museum and the opening of a library. The Museum was the vision of Manolis Fotopoulos, employee of the Greek Electrical Railway since 1990. He started the implementation later in 1995 as a pensioner, at the offices of the Society of that time in Menandrou Street, in order to highlight the history of the progress of the electric railway and the participation therein of all employees in the company. Starts "... with a lantern and a hat ...". Searches in all areas, warehouses, yards, even the barrels with the debris from Piraeus to Kifissia and in terms of experience and his passion, he collects anything considered useful for the opening of the Museum. After many great efforts this hall where the museum is nowadays allocated, was found.

Opening hours: Daily 09: 00-14: 00.

Free admission.

The Erechtheion, an extraordinary ancient Greek temple from the Classical period (425-406 BC), stands out with its unique south side featuring Caryatids—statues of daughters serving as columns. Beneath these figures rested the tomb of the mythical Cekrops, founder of Athens and initiator of the cult of Athena Polias. The temple was dedicated to Athena and Poseidon, commemorating their dispute where Athena's spear made an olive tree sprout against Poseidon's trident striking the rock. The Erechtheion housed the famed xoanon (wooden statue) of Athena, and every four years, the Panathinaia festivals celebrated the goddess with new offerings and garments. The main structure, adorned with Ionic columns and surrounded by a zoophoro, pays homage to the ancient cult of Erechtheus. Notably, altars dedicated to heroes like Erichthonius and gods like Hephaistos are found on-site, with the sacred location accessible during the Acropolis monument's opening hours.

Not receiving the recognition it deserves, but it is unique in Greece and the largest of its kind worldwide. The Epigraphic Museum was founded in 1885 to research, study, recording, preservation and promotion of ancient Greek inscriptions housed in the south wing of the ground floor of the building of the National Archaeological Museum. Its exhibits include 14 078 ancient Greek inscriptions of various kinds (tombstones, memorial lists epigrams from public funerary monuments inscribed bases archaic statues, resolutions, dedicatory inscriptions, etc.) in stone, marble and clay, derived mainly from Attica, but other areas of the ancient Greek world. Primarily written in Greek language, and there are few Latin, around 40 Jewish inscriptions of 16th-17th century, few Ottoman inscriptions and even fewer in other languages. The Greek inscriptions time placed in different historical periods, from the 8th BC century to the 5th-6th AD, with a few examples from the Byzantine period and modern times.
The findings stand out the most ancient stone inscription from the Acropolis, the city's laws of Athens, and the column with the economics of the construction of the gold and ivory statue of the goddess Athena by Phidias.
At the site of the Museum organized temporary exhibitions of ancient Greek inscriptions and contemporary art exhibitions with works inspired by the Greek writing and ancient inscriptions.

Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 08: 00-15: 00, Mon closed.
From April 1st to October 31st: Full €4, reduced €2

From November 1st to March 31st: €2

Single Ticket for three days: €15

Valid for the National Archaeological Museum, the Epigraphic Museum, the Numismatic Museum and the Byzantine and Christian Museum.
No discounts are applied to the single ticket.

It was established in 1965 in order to promote science, education and the protection of endangered species and habitats in the country. It contains collections of animals, shells, minerals, rocks and fossils covering the fossil of Greece.
Hundreds of visitors, mostly students are trained every day with the primary objective of shaping environmental conscience. Both at the exhibition halls of the Natural History Museum, and the Gaia Centre, the professional staff of the museum guides visitors and provides useful information on everything of Planet Earth, from its creation up to nowadays!
Significant research for collecting, recording and study of botanical, zoological, geological and paleontological national wealth of the country, continues into the laboratories and constantly updates collections. Furthermore, by opening the Gaia Center two more excellently equipped laboratories of Ecology Soil and Biotechnology and Bioanalytical Chemistry, were added to the research of natural resources that support life: soil, water, atmosphere, related to nutrition and health.
The museum also has a library of scientific publications relating to naturalistic science, two cafe-bars and halls suitable for conferences, lectures, seminars and company presentations.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 9:00 to 14:30 / Saturday and Sunday: 10: 00-15: 00.
Public holidays: closed
July and August: closed

Tickets: General admission: 6€
Children 5-18 years old, unemployed, students, students in classrooms, people over 65 years old (a group visit): € 4
Free Admission: Teaching personnel (upon demonstration of ID,Guides (upon demonstration of ID),Members of «Friends of GNHM» or of other museums (upon demonstration of ID), Journalists (upon demonstration of ID), Disabled persons

Near the Monastiraki metro station, the impressive walls of Hadrian's Library stand as a testament to Emperor Hadrian's 21-year reign. Hadrian, an admirer of Athens and the arts, was an amateur architect and poet who frequently traveled throughout the Roman provinces, fostering a reputation as a pacifist Emperor.
Constructed in 132 AD, the library was a grand structure measuring 119 by 89 meters. It featured an inner courtyard with a peristyle of 100 columns and housed halls, amphitheaters, and reading rooms. A testament to the Romans' love for opulence and luxury, this remaining fragment serves as proof of their wealth.
The library's site has transformed over the years. In the 5th century, a temple was erected where the reservoir once stood, and during the Ottoman era, it served as the headquarters of Voivodeship. In the late 19th century, a significant fire led to excavations supervised by the Greek state and archaeologist Komanoudis. Hadrian's Library opened to the public in 2004, and extensive restoration efforts concluded in 2010, preserving its current appearance.

The Hellenic Motor Museum is located in the heart of Athens, on Tritis Septemvriou Street, a stone's throw from the National Archaeological Museum, constituting an attraction for lovers of speed by March 2011, when it was founded.
Housed in the ultra modern multiplex Capitol Mall, it is spread over three floors of total area 5.000sq.m. and includes more than 110 leading global automotive cars, giving guests the opportunity to experience the history and development of the four wheels from 1895 until the end of the last century. Collection (Theodore & Gianna Foundation Charagionis) includes alternating exhibits and houses models that are no longer active as Avions Voisin, Adler, Packard, Facel Vega, Delage, Iso, Dino, Stanguelini, Siata, Frazer Nash, Hrg, Elva, Miler , Offenhauser, and popular modern models such as Bentley, Rolls Royce, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Bristol, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, etc. the speed lovers here will seize the opportunity to lead the simulator F1 and get to see an old garage.
In the "gems" of the Hellenic Motor Museum came to add new permanent exhibition "TRANSPARENCY", comprising five 'transparent' cars and four educational models of the decades 1940-1970, giving visitors the opportunity to see the mechanics of a car.



Opening hours:
Monday-Friday 10: 00-14: 00, Saturdays 11: 00-18: 00, Sunday 11:00 to 18:00.
Guided tour every Sunday at 12:30.
Every Sunday free screenings for visitors Museum Amphitheatre by showing the ticket.
Ticket:
General admission: € 8
Reduced: € 5 (valid for children 6-12 years old, students, large families, unemployed and people over 65 years old)
Groups (4 people or more): € 5
Admission with tour: € 12 *
Reduced with tour: € 8 *
* For every Sunday at 12:00.
Free admission for children under 6 years old.

The Museum of Cycladic Art was founded in 1986 to house the collection of Cycladic and Ancient Greek art of Nicholas and Aikaterini Goulandris. It is dedicated to the study and promotion of the cultures of the Aegean and Cyprus, with special emphasis on Cycladic Art of the 3rd millennium BC millennium. Its exhibits include approximately 3,000 objects of Cycladic, Ancient Greek and Cypriot art.
Besides archaeological reports the MCA organizes contemporary art exhibitions that bring the public in contact with important artists of the 20th century (Dali, Picasso, etc.) and explore deeper relationships of ancient art and contemporary artistic expression.

Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday - Friday - Saturday 10:00 to 17:00, Thursdays 10: 00-20: 00 Sunday: 11: 00-17: 00, Tuesdays closed.
The museum is closed on 1/1 Sunday & Easter Monday, Holy Spirit Day, 1/5, 25-26 / 12, 25/3, 15/8.

PERMANENT & TEMPORARY EXHIBITION

General Admission: €12

Reduced Entrance: €9



TEMPORARY EXHIBITION ENTRANCE

General entrance: €6



REDUCED COMBINATION ENTRANCE

• Persons 65+
• Students 
• Persons 19-26
• Chamber of Fine Arts cardholders
• Visitor groups of 12+ people

FREE ADMISSION

• Cycladic Friends
• Children under 18
• Visitors with disabilities and their companion
• Greek unemployed citizens, with their current unemployment card
• Archaeology and art history students
• Greek Ministry of Culture employees
• Members of ICOM - ICOMOS

• Journalists
• Qualified tour guides

Stathatou Mansion (periodical exhibits), Vasilissis Sofias & 1, Irodotou Str. The two buildings are interconnected.

The National Archaeological Museum is the largest museum in Greece and one of the world's great museums. Although its original purpose was to secure all the finds from the nineteenth century excavations in and around Athens, it gradually became the central National Archaeological Museum and was enriched with finds from all over Greece. Its abundant collections, with more than 11,000 exhibits, provide a panorama of Greek civilization from the beginnings of Prehistory to Late Antiquity.

The museum is housed in an imposing neoclassical building of the end of the nineteenth century, which was designed by L. Lange and remodelled by Ernst Ziller. The vast exhibition space - numerous galleries on each floor accounting for a total of 8,000 square metres - house five large permanent collections: 
The Prehistoric Collection, which includes works of the great civilizations that developped in the Aegean from the sixth millennium BC to 1050 BC (Neolithic, Cycladic, Mycenaean), and finds from the prehistoric settlement at Thera. 
The Sculptures Collection, which shows the development of ancient Greek sculpture from the seventh to the fifth centuries BC with unique masterpieces.
The Vase and Minor Objects Collection, which contains representative works of ancient Greek pottery from the eleventh century BC to the Roman period and includes the Stathatos Collection, a corpus of minor objects of all periods. 
The Metallurgy Collection, with many fundamental statues, figurines and minor objects.
And, finally, the only Egyptian and Near Eastern Antiquities Collection in Greece, with works dating from the pre-dynastic period (5000 BC) to the Roman conquest.	  	 		 

Opening hours:
Monday: 13.00 - 20.00,Tuesday to Sunday: 09:00 - 16:00
The National Archaeological Museum is closed on 25 - 26 December, 1 January, 25 March, Orthodox Easter Sunday and 1 May.

Admission fee
12€ (From April 1st until October 31st)
6€ (From November 1st until March 31st)

Three day Special ticket package:
15€
Valid for National Archaeological Museum, Epigraphic Museum, Numismatic Museum and Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens.

Free entrance:
visitors under 18 years old (by showing their I.D. or Passport) 
students from E.U. countries (by showing their University Card)
admission card holders (Free Entrance Card, ICOM, ICOMOS)
guides (by showing their professional card)
members of Societies of Friends of Museums and Archaeological Sites of Greece, by showing their membership card
escort of blind people and escort of persons with mobility difficulties
Entrance is free to all visitors on the following days: 
. 6 March (Memory of Melina Mercouri) 
. 18 April (International Monument Day) 
. 18 May (International Museum Day) 
. the last weekend of September (European Days of Cultural Heritage)
. 28 October (National Holiday) 
. the first Sunday of the month for the period between 1 November and 31 March
Clearance of the galleries begins 20 minutes before closing time. Essential work may necessitate closing galleries without previous notice.

The National History Museum since 1960 is housed in the Old Parliament, in Kolokotronis Square in central Athens. Established in 1884 by the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece (I.E.E.E.), established in 1882 by people of science and culture in an effort to rescue and salvage relics of modern Greek history. The National History Museum presents in chronological order the modern Greek history, from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the 20o century, through rich collections, folklore material, rare editions, historical documents archive and photographic documents. The exhibits include Greek flags, loot and weapons from the Revolution of 1821 and the subsequent liberation struggles, helmets and armor from the period of Venetian and Ottoman rule, sculptures, medals, medals, personal items of historical figures, watercolors, maps, paintings, etchings, traditional costumes, utensils and a rich collection of costumes costumes fighters, political, military, scholars and prelates.
The historic home of Lazarus Kountourioti Hydra is an annex of the National Historical Museum. Since 2001 it houses a folklore museum family relics, artifacts from the corresponding collection of the National History Museum and Gallery with contemporary Greek painters.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 09:00 - 14:30. Closed on Monday.

Tickets:
Over 18 years: €5 
Students and people over 65 years: €3
Free admission to children up to 18 years old.

Free admission: Sundays, March 25, May 18 and October 28.
On the occasion of the National Anniversary of March 25, 1821, the National History Museum will receive visitors with free admission Saturday, the 25th and Sunday, March 26, 2017 from 10:00 to 15:00.

The historic Athens Observatory, situated on Nymphs Hill along Apostolou Pavlou Walk, offers a captivating experience for visitors. The neoclassical building, illuminated at night, invites you to explore the mysteries of the universe.
The Thisio Visitor's Center, located in the Sina Building, houses remarkable telescopes, including the G. Vouris meridian telescope and a 16cm telescope. These telescopes have played a significant role in lunar mapping and astronomical research.
Evening tours are regularly conducted, with a maximum of 50 participants, weather permitting. The schedule for the year is as follows: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday (Greek-language tours):
•	19:00 (Nov-Mar)
•	20:00 (Sep, Oct, Apr)
•	21:00 (May-Aug)
Visitors can purchase tickets online, and the tour lasts approximately one hour. It's recommended to arrive 15 minutes before the start.
English-language guided tours are also available, commencing one hour after the Greek-language tours: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday (English-language tours):
•	20:00 (Nov-Mar)
•	21:00 (Sep, Oct, Apr)
•	22:00 (May-Aug)
Explore the cosmos at the Athens Observatory during these captivating tours.

Founded in 1834, the Numismatic Museum is considered one of the oldest public museums in Greece. For the accommodation of the chosen Iliou Melathron Mansion, one of the architectural masterpieces of Ernst Ziller, in Panepistimiou Street. The building was built in 1880 and first occupant was the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann and philhellene, hence the second name "Heinrich Schliemann Mansion."
The permanent exhibition of the Numismatic Museum includes the unique in Greece and the Balkans coin collection, presenting a pleasant way the history of coinage from 7th century until today. On two floors you will have the opportunity to see chronologically coins from the ancient Greek world, the Roman, Byzantine but also Medieval and modern times to modern Greek drachma. Specifically, out of about 500,000 coins mainly currencies and medals, lead seals, seals, stations, spits and talents.
On the first floor there is a shop where you can buy replicas of ancient Greek coins and memorabilia, while the garden works great cafe the Numismatic Museum.

Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 08:30 - 15:30. Monday closed.

Closed on Public Holidays 1/1, 25/3, Easter Sunday, 1/5, 25-26 / 12.

Tickets:  € 3 (for the period 1 November 2022 – 31 March 2023)
Single Ticket: € 15
(Valid for National Archaeological Museum, Byzantine & Christian Museum, Numismatic Museum, Epigraphic Museum)

The Herodes Atticus Conservatory, located on Dionysiou Aeropagitou Street at the southwest base of the Acropolis, is accessible to the public during performances, mostly held in the summer. Visitors exploring the Acropolis archaeological site can also catch a glimpse of the Herodeion from the alley behind the stands.
Herod the Atticus, an Athenian orator and Roman senator renowned for his wealth and public contributions, undertook the construction of the Conservatory in honor of his wife Regillas around 161 AD. The monument was a marvel in antiquity, featuring an impressive wooden ceiling made of Lebanese cedar. A century later, it suffered damage during the Heroulian raid when Athens was sacked and was later incorporated into the city's fortifications.
The Conservatory once had a three-story arched facade with a wooden tile roof. Today, two of the three floors of the stage area remain, standing at a height of 28 meters. Restoration work on the stands, initiated in 1950 by architect Anastasios Orlandos, made it one of the world's oldest operating theaters. Since 1955, the Herodeion has hosted the Athens Festival, welcoming internationally acclaimed artists such as Maria Callas. Throughout the summer, concerts and theater performances make use of this iconic venue nestled on the Acropolis slope.

Following the "Persian Wars," Athens ascended as a prominent power in the Greek realm. The Periclean-led Republic played a pivotal role in the city's construction. Virgin Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, held a central position among the city's deities, symbolizing War Victory, Peace, and Prosperity. The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena, constructed between 447 and 438 BC, stands as the third oldest in position and a lasting icon of the classical era. It serves as the Ark of Western cultural values, embodying principles such as Democracy, Equality, Justice, and Dignity, foundational concepts originating from Greek thought.
The Parthenon, a testament to Athens' wealth, culture, and glory, is a marvel of ancient Greek engineering and mathematical prowess. Despite its apparent straightness, a vertical line is a rarity, showcasing the complexity of the architectural design. Architects Iktinos and Kallikrates combined Doric and Ionic elements in their design. The temple comprises four main sections, with the opisthonaos leading to the opisdomos, the city treasury safeguarding funds of the sacred alliance. The pronaos, on the eastern entrance, grants access to the primary temple where a 12-meter statue of Athena, crafted by sculptor Pheidias, stood. The statue, made of golden ivory, featured Athena holding a winged victory in her right hand, while her left rested on a shield.
Various intricate sculptures adorned the Parthenon:
East Pediment: Illustrating the birth of Athena.
West Pediment: Depicting the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for the city's sovereignty.
Frieze: Scenes from the Panathenaic procession.
Metopes: Rectangular slabs portraying mythological scenes tied to Athens' history, with the north side featuring the Trojan War, the west side depicting the Amazon battle, and the south side illustrating the centaur battle.

In the latter half of the 1st century, the Roman market of Athens was constructed, to shift the city's commercial activities from the ancient market, establishing Athens as a Roman-era economic hub. Julius Caesar and Augustus sponsored this edifice, their names inscribed on the western propylaea.
This 111x98m building encloses a spacious rectangular courtyard encircled by Ionic-columned arcades, shops, and storehouses. It features two gateways, with the west gate, known as the "Archegetidos Athena Gate," still preserved in the Doric style.
East of the Roman Agora stands the "Aerides," officially named the Clock of Andronikos Kyristos or Tower of the Winds. Constructed by the astronomer Andronikos from Cyrus, Macedonia, in the first half of the 1st century AD, it's the world's oldest meteorological and horological station. This octagonal Pentelic marble tower with a conical roof depicts the eight winds and sundial rays, with an interior hydraulic clock powered by water from the Acropolis.
Over centuries, the tower was repurposed as a temple, church bell tower, and Dervish lodge. It was partially buried and later fully excavated by the Hellenic Archaeological Society.

School Life and Education Museum can offer you a unique cultural and recreational experience: activities inside the Museum, guided tours to archaeological sites, special programs for families and tailor made tours that cover every interest. Experienced museologists and tour guides will help you discover the secrets of Athens.

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10.00 – 18.00, Weekend: 11.00 – 19.00, Monday Closed
Admission Fee: 3€
Free Admission to teachers, children under 12 years old, members, and holders of Museum card.

Restored by the American School of Classical Studies from 1953 to 1956, the Stoa of Attalus now serves as the Museum of the Ancient Agora in its original eastern location. Gifted by Attalus II of Philadelphus around 150 AD, this covered structure with a floor was a thriving commercial hub and meeting place for Athenians.
Featuring Doric and Ionic colonnades, the Stoa's unique design showcases the architectural prowess of its benefactor. Its exhibits directly relate to the functioning of Athens' democratic society, as the Agora was the epicenter of public life. Unfortunately, destroyed by the Heruli in 267 AD, it became part of the Late Roman Wall of Athens. Today, the Museum stands as a captivating relic, preserving the essence of ancient Athenian public life.

An exquisite outdoor museum is found in the heart of Athens, between Vasilissis Amalias and Vasilissis Olgas avenues, in the southeastern of the Sacred Rock. Also known as Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, it was famous for being one of the biggest temples of the Hellenistic and Roman times. 
The foundations of the temple were laid by Peisistratos the younger in 515bC. However, its construction stopped with the tyranny abolition and began again during the Macedon domination. The king of Syria, Antiochos IV Epiphanes assigned the unfinished project to the Roman architect, Cossutius but after his death, the temple was ceded once again. Construction was completed between 129-131aC by the philhellene Roman emperor, Hadrian.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus was made of marble from Penteli and had 104 huge columns of Corinthian style, but today only 15 are still standing. Busts of prestigious men and statues adorned the internal part of the temple which was dedicated to Zeus but unfortunately, no statue is preserved. They say that the temple was destroyed in an earthquake during the Byzantine times. Today, it forms an outdoor museum that everyone can visit.

Opening Hours:
Winter Season: Daily 08.00 - 15.00
Summer Season: Daily 08.00 - 19.00

Tickets: Full: €6, Reduced: €3 Special ticket package: Full: €30, Reduced: €15 and is valid for five (5) days.
Valid for: Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora of Athens – Areopagus, Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, Archaeological Site of Lykeion, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora, North slope of Acropolis, Olympieion, Roman Agora of Athens, South Slope of Acropolis.

The Temple of Hephaestus, a remarkable Doric masterpiece within Athens' Ancient Market, was erected in 449 BC to honor Hephaestus, the god of fire and the arts, and Athena, the patron goddess of the arts. Despite the loss of its once-housed bronze statues, this temple has been remarkably preserved, serving as a symbol of Greece's ancient heritage.
While the architect's identity remains unknown, they were likely influenced by the Parthenon's construction and had designed other notable regional temples like those dedicated to Poseidon in Sounio, Nemesis in Ramnouda, and Ares in Menidi. The temple's eastern front depicts Hercules' labors, and the pronaos showcases Theseus' heroic feats on the Zoophorus, while metopes on the north and south tell his tales.
Theseus, a pivotal figure in Athenian history, united Attica's municipalities and established his reign. His heroic feats include vanquishing the Amazons, defeating the Centaurs, abducting Helen from Sparta, and slaying the Minotaur, a creature once appeased with a gruesome tribute by the Athenians.

Adjacent to the Acropolis Propylaea on the right, stands a modest Ionic temple from the Classical Age, commissioned by the political leader Pericles in Athens. Constructed as part of the city's reconstruction initiative, the temple reached completion around 425 BC. During the Roman era, it was dedicated to Athena Nike Apterous, with Pausanias noting that the wooden statue of Athena within lacked wings to prevent it from flying away from Athens. The original wooden temple was destroyed by the Persians.
The classical-era Temple of Athena Nike was amphiprostyle, featuring four monolithic columns on its east and west sides, and an altar for goddess sacrifice in front. Encircling the temple is a marble metal railing to ensure visitor safety. The temple's roof boasted bronze gilded capes adorned with winged victories and other mythological creatures. Its purpose was to venerate Athena Nike, the bestower of military victories, reflecting the prevailing optimism amid the conflict with Sparta. Inside the small nave, an enchanting statue of Athena stood, holding a pomegranate in one hand and her helmet in the other. This dual representation symbolized both the nature of war and the benefits of peace emerging from conflict.
The sculptor Agorakritus crafted the bas-reliefs and pediments, depicting scenes of battling gods, heroes, giants, and Amazons, though much of these intricate details have unfortunately been lost to time.

Cape Sounio, the southernmost point of Attica, is home to the remarkable Temple of Poseidon. This temple, built during the classical period of Athens (444 - 440 BC), stands on the ruins of an earlier structure, perched on a 60-meter cliff.
In Greek mythology, Poseidon, the God of the Sea, reigned alongside his wife, Amphitrite. Ships approaching the coast were welcomed by the radiant white Temple of Poseidon, a symbol of maritime prowess. The trident he held was used to catch tuna, offered at the Sanctuary of Poseidon.
The intriguing use of geometrical connections in ancient city planning is exemplified by the Temple of Poseidon, forming an isosceles triangle with the Temple of Hephaestus in Theseio and the Temple of Aphaia in Aegina. This showcases the precision and foresight of ancient architects and city planners.

The Theater of Dionysus, on the southern slope of the Acropolis, is ancient Greece's most significant outdoor theater and the world's oldest known theater. It was the hub of Athenian drama education and hosted the Great Dionysia, the city's grand religious celebration.
This massive structure, part of the Dionysus Eleuthereus Shrine, dates to the 4th century BC but incorporates elements from the Peisistratid dynasty in the 6th century BC. Multiple alterations over time make it challenging to ascertain its original form.
The theater could accommodate around 15,000 spectators seated in rows. Today, only 13 rows from the central line of the Classical era remain, along with remnants from the Roman period. A restoration project, initiated in 2002, is underway, adding 13 new stone seating rows from Corinth.

It literally travels us to the stars! The New Digital Planetarium at Eugenides Foundation is the most meaningful and significant training effort in the fields of astronomy and sciences, as a recreational stargate! In an ultramodern projections hall with capacity of 280 people, children and adults have the opportunity to make a virtual journey into space, to see the history of the universe in the most vivid, perfectly understandable way and indulge in various scientific fields. The spectacular arched sloping screen (also known as Dome) with a diameter of 25m and surface 950 sqm, the three-dimensional virtual reality systems, the audio devices and the advanced technological equipment classify Eugenides Planetarium among the best planetariums worldwide. Its facilities also include showrooms, scientific library and a modern conference center.

General tickets:
Movie Dome:
Normal: € 8
Reduced: € 5
Group: €5
School: €5

Digital Dome film:
Normal: €6
Reduced: €4
Group: €4
School: €3

Combination tickets (discount offered when tickets for two different projections are simultaneously purchased)

Movie Dome:
Normal: €6
Reduced: €4
Digital Dome film:
Normal: €4
Reduced: €3

The reduced ticket pertains to children, students, soldiers, large families, unemployed and people over 65 years (with ID card).

Free entrance for disabled persons and their companion, but also for SMEs (free to the business card holder and a companion).

Museums

Acropolis Museum

Ancient Agora of Athens

Archaeological Museum Kerameikos

Archaeological Sight of Kerameikos

Athens University History Museum

Electrical Railway Museum

Erechtheion

Epigraphical Museum

Goulandris Natural History Museum

Hadrian's Library

Hellenic Motor Museum

Museum of Cycladic Art

National Archaeological Museum

National Historical Museum

National Observatory of Athens

Numismatic Museum

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Parthenon

Roman Agora and the Tower of the Winds

School Life and Education Museum

Stoa of Attalus

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Temple of Hephaestus

Temple of Athena Nike

Temple of Poseidon at Sounion

Theater of Dionysus

The Planetarium at the Eugenides Foundation