About Acropolis Museum
Opened in 2009, this stunning modern museum houses every artifact found on the Acropolis rock and its slopes. Designed by Bernard Tschumi, the building features a glass floor revealing ancient ruins below and a top-floor Parthenon Gallery aligned with the temple above. With over 4,000 objects spanning Bronze Age to Roman Greece, it's one of the world's greatest archaeological museums.
⏰ Opening Hours & Best Times
- Hours: Monday 9 AM-5 PM | Tuesday-Sunday 9 AM-8 PM (until 10 PM Fridays) | Extended summer hours May-October
- Best time: Weekday mornings (9-11 AM) or Friday evenings for fewer crowds
- Least crowded: Tuesday-Thursday mornings in winter
- Perfect pairing: Visit Acropolis first (8 AM), then museum (11 AM) with context fresh in mind
- Closed: January 1, Easter Sunday, May 1, December 25-26
💰 Costs
- General admission: €15 (April-October) | €10 (November-March)
- Reduced ticket: €10 for students with ID, seniors 65+
- Free entry: Under 18, March 25, October 28
- Audio guide: €5 (available in multiple languages)
- Group guided tours: €35-50 per person (expert art historian, 2 hours)
- Private guide: €180-280 for up to 6 people (doesn't include tickets)
- Combo tours: €55-80 per person (Acropolis + Museum together, 4-5 hours)
Pro tip: Combination Acropolis + Museum tour offers best value and deepest understanding of ancient Greek art and architecture.
🎯 Why Use a Guide
- Decode sculpture: Guides explain artistic techniques, symbolism, restoration challenges
- Parthenon controversy: Expert context on British Museum marbles dispute
- Mythology stories: Every sculpture depicts gods, heroes, battles - guides bring them to life
- Conservation insights: How archaeologists preserve 2,500-year-old artifacts
- Connect to Acropolis: Museum makes more sense after visiting the actual site
- Skip overwhelm: 4,000+ objects - guides focus on highlights and masterpieces
✨ Don't Miss
- 🏛️ Parthenon Gallery - Top floor recreates temple frieze at exact orientation
- 👯 Caryatids - Five original maiden columns from Erechtheion (one in British Museum)
- 🗿 Moschophoros - Archaic statue of man carrying calf, stunning preservation
- 🎨 Pediment sculptures - Gods and giants battle from Parthenon's triangular ends
- 🏺 Glass floor - Ancient neighborhood ruins visible beneath your feet
- 🎭 Procession frieze - 160m of Parthenon's continuous marble relief
- ☕ Rooftop restaurant - Stunning Acropolis views, excellent Greek cuisine
📝 Practical Tips
- Buy tickets online: Skip ticket queue, though rarely long compared to Acropolis
- Visit after Acropolis: Museum makes more sense with site visit fresh in memory
- Photography allowed: No flash, no tripods, personal use only
- Free WiFi: Throughout museum for research and sharing photos
- Museum shop: Excellent replicas, books, unique gifts
- Accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible, elevators to all floors
- Allow 2-3 hours: Don't rush the Parthenon Gallery - it's spectacular
- Storage available: Free lockers for bags, backpacks