Greece has over 240 museums covering 4,000 years of history: from archaeology and folklore to modern art. Most are located where excavations took place, so you’re getting the full context: site plus artifacts.

The biggest museums are in Athens and near major archaeological sites, but you’ll find smaller, interesting ones on most islands too.

Athens & The Mainland

The National Archaeological Museum, Athens

It’s one of the world’s largest archaeological museums and comprises around 20,000 exhibits covering everything from Prehistoric times to Late Antiquity.

Admission is €20 year-round (as of 2026). Open Wednesday-Monday 8:30 AM-3:30 PM, Tuesdays 1-8 PM.

The Acropolis Museum, Athens

Located on the southern slope of the Acropolis hill, it houses over 4,000 ancient works in five permanent collections, plus temporary exhibitions. The top floor aligns with the Parthenon itself, so you can see the temple through the windows.

Admission is €15 (summer season April-October) or €10 (winter November-March). Open Tuesday-Sunday 8 AM-8 PM.

>> Also read about The Acropolis of Athens

The Archaeological Museum of Delphi

Right next to the archaeological site, the museum houses artifacts from the 18th century BC through Late Antiquity. The star piece is the Charioteer statue and there are four permanent collections.

Admission is €20 (Combined Ticket) and the opening hours vary with the seasons (8 AM / 8:30 PM to 3:30 PM / 5 PM / 8 PM)

The Archaeological Museum of Mycenae

Mycenae was a major civilization center in the second millennium BC. The museum has a model of the site and over 2,000 artifacts.

Admission is €20 (combined with the archeological site) and the museum is open daily 8 AM-9 PM in summer (closes at 3:30 PM in winter).

The Archaeological Museum of Ancient Olympia

Located near the ancient Olympia site, it focuses on the ancient Olympic Games and what they meant to Greek culture.

Admission is €20 (combined with the archeological site) and the museum is open daily 8 AM-9 PM in summer (closes at 3:30 PM in winter).

The Vergina Royal Tombs

It’s one of Greece’s most spectacular museums. You can visit the four tombs themselves plus the artifacts inside. The site includes a small temple.

For prices and opening hours, make sure to check the official site (they start €12 and the site technically opens around 8 AM).

Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens

It houses one of the most complete collections of Cycladic Art in the world. The museum is famous for the marble figurines from the 3rd millennium BC that influenced 20th-century artists.

General admission is around €12 and the opening hours vary according to the day of the week (10 AM / 11 AM to 5 PM / 8 PM).

Benaki Museum, Athens

The exhibits comprise Greek art from prehistoric to modern times, plus Asian art collections. The main museum focuses on Greek culture across the country’s entire history. There are a total of over 100,000 artifacts.

General admission is around €12 and the opening hours are 10 AM to 6 PM (closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays)

National Gallery, Athens

It reopened in 2021 after a €60 million renovation and now covers 20,760 square meters, almost double its previous size. The museum houses over 20,000 works of Greek paintings, sculptures, and engravings, plus western European art.

The price range is € 10 and opening hours depend on the day of the week (10 AM / 12 PM – 6 PM / 8 PM).

National Geological Museum, Thracomacedones (outside Athens)

Opened in 2025, it showcases Greece’s mineral wealth and geological history. 40% of displays are virtual, including VR tours of Lavrio and Chalkidiki mines, Naxos emerald mines, and Meteora. It’s one of Europe’s best geological museums.

Entrance is free and the opening hours are 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (closed over the weekend).

Thessaloniki

Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

The museum houses major archaeological finds from northern Greece, featuring objects from Prehistoric through Roman periods.

Ticket price is €10 and is 09:00 – 17:00 daily (excluding on Tuesdays).

Museum of Byzantine Culture, Thessaloniki

The collection spans 2nd to 20th century and has items mostly from Thessaloniki and Macedonia—coins, seals, sculptures, icons from churches, homes, and cemeteries.

Opening hours vary by season (8 AM / 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM / 8 PM).

MOMus Air, Thessaloniki Airport

It opened in December 2025 in the departure area. It’s a “museum without walls” featuring digital installations, multimedia exhibits, and contemporary art, making for a unique airport museum experience.

Entrance is free.

Crete

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

It’s one of Greece’s most important archaeological museums featuring a complete collection of Minoan civilization artifacts. Also covers Neolithic through Greco-Roman periods. Currently open (previous renovations completed).

Entrance fee is €20 and the opening hours vary depending on the season.

The Archaeological Museum of Sitia

It houses major finds from Eastern Crete sites and the highlights include pottery and statues.

Entrance fee is €5 and the opening hours are 8:30 AM -3:30 PM.

Cyclades

Museum of Prehistoric Thera, Santorini

The museum is home to archaeological finds from ancient Akrotiri. You’ll see impressive frescoes and sculptures from the Hellenistic period in the three permanent collections.

Entrance fee is €10 and the museum is open Tuesday-Sunday 8:30 AM-3 PM.

General Info

Most museums offer reduced or free admission for EU citizens under 25, children under 18 from non-EU countries, students, teachers, and other groups. Also, many museums are free on certain national holidays and the first Sunday of each month during winter (November-March).

Hours and prices change, so check individual museum websites for details.

You might also want to read about:

>>Museums in Athens
>>Museums in Thessaloniki
>>Best Islands for History Buffs
>>Day trips from Athens
>>Day trips from Thessaloniki

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