The Must-Visit Historical Sites and Museums in Athens

Athens or Athinai - one of the oldest cities of the world with a recorded history of over 3400 years dominates the Attica region and is the birthplace of Ancient Greek Civilisation. Situated along the coastal area of Athens Riviera, the first settlement in Athens dates back to 3000 B.C. on the rock of Acropolis, and the Parthenon stands till date to sing the glory of the bygone era. Evidence found in the Cave of Schist places the human settlement somewhere between 7000 and 11000 B.C.

Take a soul-searching trip to the ‘Eye of Greece, mother of arts and eloquence’ in the words of poet John Milton. If you are looking ahead to explore and learn about ancient history and rich civilization, there are some interesting and must-visit places and absolutely must things to do in Athens.

Athens is a perfect place to visit any time of the year, and you will find some interesting things to do in Athens every season and every day of the year. Spring season from March to May and fall months of September to November experiences sunny times and thinning tourist crowd ensuring better deals on hotels and flight tickets.

When preparing your list of things to do in Athens, make sure you add these attractions and explore ancient culture with a rich heritage and history as old as time itself.

Athenians surely knew how to celebrate and honor their makers, providers, and protectors, by building huge temples and palaces fitting their stature and status. Made with the finest available stones and marbles in those times, the temples were more like homes for their benevolent Gods. Tall statues and sculptures made from expensive metals, gold, ivory and semi-precious stones, special staff to take care of daily rituals, worshippers offering food, drinks, rich treasures, gift of harvest, share in profits and more showed their trust in alma-mater who controlled the forces of nature – sun, rain and winds, nourished their crops, drove their ships, tended their flocks and expanded their progeny. The magnificent architecture reflected the deference and respect they had for their Gods. Visiting the remnants of the glorious past is one of the most important things to do in Athens.

The Benaki Museum was established in 1930 by Antonis Benakis in fond memory of his late politician father, Emmanuel Benakis. The museum showcases an extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits on Greek history and culture from the prehistoric era to current times. Housed in the Benakis family mansion, it is one of the oldest museums in Athens operated as a private foundation. The museum features extensive collection on pre-historic, ancient Greek, Roman arts, Byzantine era, Islamic art, Chinese and Korean artefacts, historic heirloom collection, the Coptic art, post-Byzantine and Neo-Hellenic era art, a large collection of prints, paintings and drawing, pre-Columbian art, toys, games, historical archives, photographs, relics, works of renowned artists and masterpieces created by unknown talent, upcoming artists and more. The library has extensive collection books, periodicals, scientific catalog, manuscripts, and research material on various topics covering Greek history, art, folklore, religion, intellectual life, and more from the Turkish era to modern times. A vast collection of books from the Far East and Islamic art is also available. Various exhibitions and events are hosted regularly to showcase specific lines of the collection. Guided tours are available for the visitors to give them an in-depth understanding of the importance and relevance of their subject of interest.

The main facility, Museum of Greek Culture is located at Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Koumbari Street is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10.00 are to 6.00 pm, on Thursdays from 10.00 am to midnight, on Sundays from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm with Tuesday being a holiday. The other facilities, 138, Pireos St., Museum of Islamic Art, The Ghika Gallery, The Yiannis Pappas Studio, Nema, The Toy Museum are also worth a visit. Museum Shops and restaurants are available for the convenience of visitors. Keep a tab on the operating hours and holidays as the schedule is varied. Do keep this place on your list of things to do in Athens.

Next on your list of things to do in Athens is to visit this exclusive museum dedicated to the ancient art of goldsmithing and other traditional and decorative crafts of Athens, silver works and contemporary jewelry. Located close to the Parthenon, Acropolis, the Lalaonuis Jewelry Museum showcases a vast collection of historical exhibits, contemporary jewelry, and decorative art. Besides the permanent collections on display, temporary exhibitions, educational programs, guided tours are conducted here regularly. A research library, video rooms, museum shop, coffee shop, workshops, live artist studio, free Wi-Fi, QR Code Routes, online Lexicon encyclopedias, disable support and more are available for visitors’ convenience. The museum operates from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm on Wednesday and Saturday. The Museum is closed on Sunday, Monday, and other national holidays. Saturday is free entry for all, so plan your visit accordingly to save on entry fees or to keep away from the crowd.

One of the interesting things to do in Athens is to check out this unique museum and research center housing about 1200 popular Greek musical instruments from the 18^th century to date. Musicologist Fivos Anoyanakis dedicated half a century of study and research to make this place a reality. Apart from the permanent exhibits, the museum houses, a well-stocked library, archives, research centers, storerooms, lecture halls for seminars and educational programs, a museum shop, and a garden where traditional music recitals are held. Various education programs and activities are undertaken to spread awareness and preserve traditions. The facility is open from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm on Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday and from 12.00 pm to 6.00 pm on Wednesday. The Museum is closed on Monday. With no entry fees, it is one of the free things to do in Athens.

Established by Nicholas P. Goulandris Foundation in 1986, this museum focuses on ancient cultures of Aegean and Cyprus, a large collection of antiques, Cyclades exhibits from 3^rd millennium and Greek artifacts collected by Nicholas and his wife Dolly Goulandris over their lifetime. The museum’s main building houses the permanent exhibits and is connected to the new wing by glass roof corridor that houses exhibitions and offices. The building itself is a classic example of neo-classical architecture designed by Bavarian Architect Ernst Ziller. Spread across 6 floors, the main building has entire floors dedicated to Cycladic art, ancient Greek art- a history in images, ancient Cypriot art, scenes from daily life in antiquity, and auditorium and a private gallery.

The museum is open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm on Thursdays, 11.00 am to 5.00 pm on Sundays. The museum is closed on Tuesdays and other holidays. Plan your visit and do include this to your list of things to do in Athens.

Discover the treasures of Greek culture, the National Archaeological Museum houses a large number of important artifacts from Greece and surrounding locations. Everything from prehistoric to late antiquity is on display. The Stathatos collection and the collection of metalwork unearthed during excavation, shipwrecks, and more. The Cypriot and Egyptian antiquities are also on display. The museum is operational from 1.00 pm to 8.00 pm on Tuesdays, and 8.30 am to 4.00 pm on Monday and Wednesday from 1 November to 12 April and during the rest of the year on Tuesday from 12.30 pm to 8.00 pm and on Monday and Thursday from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm. The admission fee is half from November to March. The Museum located at 44, 28^th of October (Pattison) is a must tick on the list of things to do in Athens.

Inscriptions from early history to the late Roman period are on display in the Epigraphical Museum. Decrees, tribute lists, alliance treaties, various records, stone inscriptions, and more are safeguarded and preserved here. The museum aims to protect, conserve, display, promote, the epigraphical collection. Information about the exhibits is displayed in Greek and English for the visitors. Bibliographic references are available for those interested in looking up for more details on particular topics. Digital cataloging is a work in progress. The museum is housed in the ground floor, south wing of the National Archaeological Museum, and comprises large atriums, courtyards, large hypostyle corridors, galleries, office, and conversation laboratories. The museum has free entry for all and is operational from 8.30 am to 3.00 pm Tuesday to Sunday. It is closed for public entry on Mondays.

This museum is dedicated and focused on the findings on the site of Acropolis, Athens. It is built to house every artifact found on the rock and surrounding slopes from the Bronze Age to the Roman and Byzantine era. One can cover the entire museum in about two hours or spend an entire day exploring and understanding each exhibit in detail. The Acropolis hall of slopes displays findings from settlements established. The hall of Archaic Acropolis exhibits sculptures and findings from 7^th century B.C. to the end of the Persian war period. The Parthenon Hall exhibits ancient inscriptions and detailed account of constructions of the famous Statue of Athena, the virgin in video presentation format. The Propylaea, Athena Nike, sculptures of Erechtheus, and Erechtheion frieze are on display here. The 5^th B.C to 5^th A.D. era artifacts mainly the Sanctuary of Artemis of Bravonia, the tombs of the Roman era, and the anecdotes of classical and Hellenistic times are found here. Various temporary exhibitions, events, thematic presentations, group tours for school kids, and visitors are organized regularly. Do add this wonderful place on your things to do in Athens list. The museum timings are different for summer and winter seasons. From April to October, the museum is operational on Mondays from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, Tuesday to Sunday 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, and on Fridays till 10.00 pm. November to March, from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday, Friday from 10.00 pm and on Saturday Sunday till 8.00 pm. The excavation base follows a different time table.

Built-in 1759, The Tsistarakis Mosque is a beauty from the Ottoman era. Exploring the influence of Turks is one of the interesting things to do in Athens. Once a place of religious importance is now turned in to the museum and is amongst the popular tourist destination. The mosque has an interesting history, the Athenians considered it as cursed place and reason for famine outbreak. It is said that several columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus were used to build the structure and attracted the wrath of God on Athens. Eventually, the Sultan punished and expelled General Zisdaraki, who was responsible for the same. Some minarets were destroyed during the Greek revolution. Eventually, the mosque was used as army warehouse, prison, barracks; over a while, it was restored as Museum. Temporary exhibitions and events are held here. The place is open to the public 24 hours a day.

Save a day to explore the interesting neighborhood of Plaka, a village on the hillside with narrow cobblestoned streets. Tiny shops selling clothes, traditional jewelry, local souvenirs, tiny cafes, and family-run taverns tucked in quiet corners serving interesting local delicacies and drinks. Catch up a classic movie at Cine Paris or spend an entire day exploring the neighborhood and clicking interesting pictures for your travel diaries. Plaka developed around ancient Athens about three thousand years ago and has been inhabited since then. The picturesque village gives you the feel and nostalgia of old Athens. Lovely neo-classical structures and ancient ruins make perfect settings for postcards and pictures. Take a stroll on Adrianou Street and find bargains for some interesting artifacts and curios to take back home as a souvenir, everything from tacky touristy items to finest quality olive oil and local products made from olive trees, soaps to kitchenware, junk jewelry to gold items handcrafted by local artisans is available.

Besides these, explore the beaches and secluded coves along the coastline from Glyfada to Cape Sounion, go on a culinary trip and explore the lip-smacking, healthy local cuisine, shop for unique curios and souvenirs to take back home as memories. There are a million things to do in Athens, and yet you will want to come back here to get some more of Athens.

To enjoy Athens to the fullest, book your tickets well in advance and plan a trip of a minimum of 3 days. Make yourself a list of things to do in Athensand keep checking off the bucket list. If you are looking to cover Santorini, Mykonos, and other parts of Greece, a 10 days trip would be ideal. Customize your search to find the best deals on flight tickets and hotel bookings.