Tickets to National Archaeological Museum of Athens
Tickets to National Archaeological Museum of Athens grant access to the largest museum in Greece, featuring over 11,000 exhibits covering seven millennia of Hellenic civilization. With your admission, you can explore five permanent collections inside a 19th-century neoclassical building on Patission Street, where the Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera Mechanism, and the Artemision Bronze share more than 8,000 square metres of galleries.
Book your tickets for the National Archaeological Museum
Other attractions near the Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum holds the Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera Mechanism and the Akrotiri frescoes, so it fits naturally into the rest of the Athens attractions alongside the Acropolis and the other classical sites:
What can you see inside the museum?
Six highlights stand out from the rest of the works:
Mask of Agamemnon
Heinrich Schliemann unearthed the gold funerary mask at Mycenae in 1876, inside Grave Circle A. It dates to 1550-1500 BC, three centuries before the Trojan War, and most likely covered the face of a Mycenaean ruler whose identity remains unknown. Hammered from a single sheet of gold, the portrait sits at the centre of the museum's Mycenaean collection in Room 4.
Plan your visit in advance
Opening hours
The museum operates on two seasonal schedules:
- Winter season (from Νovember 16th, 2025 to May 3rd, 2026):
- Wednesday – Monday: 08:30 – 15:30 (last admission: 15:00).
- Tuesday: 13:00 – 20:00 (last admission: 19:30).
- Summer season (from May 4th, 2026 to Νovember 15th, 2026):
- Wednesday – Monday: 08:00 – 20:00 (last admission: 19:30).
- Tuesday: 13:00 – 20:00 (last admission: 19:30).
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing, and the ticket desk closes at the same time year-round.
What should you know before visiting the Athens Archaeological Museum?
- Arrive early to beat the crowds: doors open at 8:00 in summer and 8:30 in winter, and the first two hours are the quietest stretch. Tuesday afternoons, when the museum opens at 13:00, also offer a calm window for those who prefer a slow start.
- Plan for two to three hours inside: five permanent collections spread across two floors and roughly 8,000 square metres of galleries, so even a focused visit takes time. The Mycenaean and Cycladic wings tend to absorb half of that slot for first-time visitors.
- Wear comfortable shoes: marble floors run the full length of the building, and no shortcuts connect the prehistoric, sculpture, and bronze wings. Benches inside the galleries are sparse, so plan rest stops at the central atrium or the café.
- Use the cloakroom for bags: backpacks and large bags must go to the entrance cloakroom, which is free of charge. Small purses, camera bags, and water bottles can stay with the visitor in the galleries.
- Photography is allowed without flash: tripods, selfie sticks, and professional rigs are not permitted, and some temporary exhibitions restrict photography. Signs at the entrance of each gallery flag any extra rules in force that day.
- Pick up the floor plan at the desk: the information desk hands out a free map of the main rooms and masterpieces. The Antikythera Mechanism (Room 38), Mask of Agamemnon (Room 4), and Artemision Bronze (Room 15) are easy to miss without it.
- Pair the museum with the Epigraphic Museum: the neighbouring Epigraphic Museum stands on the same block and tends to be quieter. A half day covers both with time to spare.
- Accessibility is built in: wheelchair loans, accessible restrooms, elevators, and the Vassileos Herakleiou Street ramp cover the whole building. The information desk provides tactile materials and a list of 20 sculptures suitable for tactile exploration on request.
