Description
Location
Located in the historic area of Makryianni, the Museum stands about 300 meters southeast of the Parthenon. Its entrance is adjacent to the start of Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian walkway, which links it to the Acropolis and other key archeological sites in Athens. The top floor of the Museum, the Parthenon Gallery, offers a panoramic view of the Acropolis and modern Athens.
Architectural Description
The overall scope and form of the Acropolis Museum were greatly determined by its own exhibits, in particular its vast collections of architectural sculptures, including large pediments from Archaic-era temples, and votive statuary, but especially the diverse sculptural decorations of the Parthenon. Exhibition of the latter called for a rectangular hall mirroring the forms and proportions of the ancient temple itself within a space of at least 3,200 square meters. The Museum’s foundations, on the other hand, had to be successfully adapted to accommodate the archaeological remains of ancient buildings brought to light through the systematic excavation of the building site. An intensive collaboration between architects and archaeologists led to suitable solutions being found for the final location for the Museum’s foundation columns, without damaging the surrounding antiquities. The ongoing archaeological excavations were conceived as an enormous exhibition to be integrated into the Museum, while a plan was also adopted for the most important artifacts unearthed to be displayed within the archaeological site.
The Museum’s architecture boldly seeks to maintain, through its highly transparent glass facades, a direct visual connection between its exhibits, the Rock itself and the in-situ Acropolis monuments from which the Museum’s exhibits originate. At the same time, it allows a panoramic view of the historic surrounding hills and mountains of Attica, as well as of the contemporary urban environment. Similarly, glass floors in the Museum’s interior allow the view of the underlying excavated area to be incorporated into its galleries. In this way, the Museum precludes being cut off from its setting – instead becoming a continuation of it and affirming its integral relationship with the ancient Athenian landscape.
The Museum’s exhibition units are mainly topographical and thematic. The first large gallery features a glass-floored ramp that emulates the Acropolis’ slopes and showcases the archaeological discoveries made there. On ascending to the first-floor level, with its initial high ceiling and skylights, one finds displays from the Archaic Acropolis, while in a western section are presented sculptures from the Athena Nike temple and the Erechtheion, as well as architectural members from the Propylaia. The culmination of the Museum’s exhibition plan, the third floor, is devoted exclusively to the sculptures of the Parthenon. The final exhibition unit, reached after returning to the north wing of the first floor, includes works from the 5th cent. BC to the end of antiquity.
When to go
The museum is open all year round, with shorter opening times during the winter months.
- It is closed on some national holidays.
- It’s worth visiting early (before 10:00) or after 16:00, to avoid the crowds (just watch out for the earlier midweek closing times during the winter).
- If you’re in Athens on a Friday, take advantage of the 22:00 closing time
Tickets & Duration
- Tickets cost €5-10 (excluding tour guide) depending on the season.
- Certain pre-paid tickets will allow you to avoid lengthy queues at peak times.
- Most guided tours last 2-3 hours.
Virtual tour of the Acropolis Museum
Facilities
Accessibility
- Special ramps for wheelchairs and strollers at all Museum entrances.
- Elevator access and WCs for people with disabilities available on all floors.
- Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Information Desk.
- A short guide to the Museum written in Braille is available in Greek and in English at the Information Desk.
- People with disabilities can bring their guide-dogs during their Museum visit.
- Museum maps are available at the Information Desk.
Children and families
- Strollers for small children can be borrowed at the cloakroom, on the ground floor.
- A parents’ room for the care of babies and small children is available on the first floor.
- Family backpacks and family trails are provided on loan for free at the Information Desk.
- Family audio tour at the Information Desk.
- Kids Corner with digital games is located on the second floor, next to the restaurant.
- Further information on the Museum family activities can be found in the section Children and Families.
Archaeologist-Hosts
- To enhance your visit in the Museum’s galleries, our Archaeologist-Hosts provide additional information on the exhibits with the help of portable electronic services and rich visual aids.
- Under their guidance, visitor and school groups have the opportunity to see and touch various materials, tools and models of ancient artifacts related to the Museum's collections and antiquity.
- Visitors also have the opportunity to participate in gallery talks led by our Archaeologist-Hosts. Further information can be found in the section gallery talks.
Gallery
Map
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