Month: March 2020

As the world’s scientific community works to tackle the novel coronavirus outbreak, most of us are facing restrictions that would have seemed unfathomable just a couple of weeks ago. As we shelter in place, practice social distancing or go into self-quarantine or self-isolation, we’re having to come to terms with massive upheavals in our daily lives, work and travel plans. And while it’s crucial to follow expert advice and keep ourselves and each other safe, being confined to your home doesn’t mean that you have to stop exploring.

At Discover Greek Culture, we pride ourselves on offering some of the best cultural tours in Athens and beyond and helping visitors from around the world experience Greek history and culture. We’re not about to stop just because we’re working from home.

Without further ado, here’s a selection of virtual tours that will let you enjoy a taste of Greece without leaving your house!

Acropolis & the Parthenon

Enjoy a look around the Acropolis and the Parthenon, one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, to see key monuments, learn about the different structures, and take in the sweeping views across Athens. A series of high-resolution images and panoramas let you explore the Acropolis –the Parthenon, Propylaea, Erectheion, the Temple of Athens Nike, and the ancient walls surrounding the hill.

Acropolis Museum

The award-winning Acropolis Museum is dedicated to showcasing findings from the Acropolis of Athens and boasts a collection of more than 4,000 artifacts. Get a taste of the extraordinary experience with a virtual journey  inside the Parthenon Gallery and the Archaic Acropolis Gallery.

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Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum – which is actually a total of seven open-to-the-public museums spread across the Greek capital – is one of the country’s finest cultural institutions. While premises will remain closed for the coming time, Benaki offers 360˚ virtual tours of all galleries and hundreds of works of art (with audio guides available in six languages) for four of its museums:The famed Benaki Museum is actually made up of 7 open-to-the-public museums spread across the Greek capital. Its flagship location, the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture (or simply Benaki Museum), is undoubtedly one of the country’s finest museums; housed in a beautiful neoclassical building next to the National Garden and Hellenic Parliament, it houses a unique exhibition on Greek culture arranged diachronically from prehistory to the 20^th century.

Benaki Museum of Greek Culture

Benaki Museum of Islamic Art

Benaki Museum: Ghika Gallery

Benaki Museum: The Yannis Pappas Studio

Museum of Cycladic Art

Browse through 159 photos of precious artifacts from the Museum of Cycladic Art, a prestigious museum dedicated to the ancient cultures of the Aegean and Cyprus and focused on Cycladic art of the 3rd millennium BCE.

National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum (NAM) is the largest museum in Greece and one of the most important in the world. It houses the largest and most significant collection of artifacts from prehistory to late antiquity, offering visitors an extraordinary opportunity to explore ancient Greek culture. You can browse the museum’s collections , learn about each period and view some of the most important artifacts online.

Athens has long been celebrated for its incredible contribution to the world in fields such as art, democracy, philosophy, and science. For centuries, people have been coming to the city to experience its unique atmosphere and history. And today that’s easier than ever. From fabulous antiquities to fascinating modern history, Athens is full of fantastic museums that are a great way to discover the city’s — and the country’s — heritage.

So are you looking for the best museums to visit in Athens? Look no further! From the award-winning Acropolis Museum to the world-renowned treasures of the National Archaeological Museum and the enchanting 19th century artifacts of the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture, here’s our list of the best must-visit museums in Athens.

ACROPOLIS MUSEUM

The crown jewel of the city’s museums opened its doors to the public in 2009 and has been bringing home international awards and distinctions ever since. The museum houses more than 4,000 artifacts from the Acropolis, including the Parthenon’s magnificent 160m long frieze, and is itself built over ancient ruins that can be viewed through the glass floors. Visitors can also enjoy stunning views of the Parthenon from the museum’s lovely café and restaurant.

Closest metro station: Acropolis

Find out more: Acropolis Museum

MUSEUM OF THE ANCIENT AGORA

Housed in the Hellenistic Stoa of Atallos, which was originally built in the 2nd century BCE and reconstructed in the 1950s, the Museum of the Ancient Agora — aka the Agora of Athens Museum aka the Archaeological Museum of the Athenian Agora — showcases artifacts unearthed at the city’s Ancient Agora. Its main focus is the Agora’s role in ancient as well as commerce and everyday life in the heart of the ancient city.

Closest metro station: Monastiraki

Find out more: Museum of the Ancient Agora

BENAKI MUSEUM

The famed Benaki Museum is actually made up of 7 open-to-the-public museums spread across the Greek capital. Its flagship location, the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture (or simply Benaki Museum), is undoubtedly one of the country’s finest museums; housed in a beautiful neoclassical building next to the National Garden and Hellenic Parliament, it houses a unique exhibition on Greek culture arranged diachronically from prehistory to the 20^th century.

Closest metro station: Evagelismos, Syntagma

Find out more: Benaki Museum of Greek Culture

BYZANTINE & CHRISTIAN MUSEUM

With thousands of artifacts from across the Greek world spanning a period from the 3rd to the 20th century CE, the museum takes visitors on a fascinating journey through Byzantine and post-Byzantine art and culture.

Closest metro station: Evagelismos, Syntagma

Find out more: Byzantine & Christian Museum

MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF ATHENS

Housed in the former residence of Greece’s first royal family, this hidden offers a glimpse into the joy, optimism, and splendor of the 19th century Kingdom of Greece. The museum’s delightful café, Black Duck Garden, is a hidden oasis in the heart of the city.

Closest metro station: Panepistimio

Find out more: Museum of the City of Athens

MUSEUM OF CYCLADIC ART

Dedicated to the ancient cultures of the Aegean and Cyprus and focused on Cycladic art of the 3rd millennium BCE, the Museum of Cycladic Art houses some of the world’s most iconic bronze age artifacts as part of a collection that spans from 3000 BCE to the 4th century CE.

Closest metro station: Evagelismos, Syntagma

Find out more: Museum of Cycladic Art

NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

One of the most important archaeological museums in the world, the National Archaeological Museum (NAM) houses an extraordinary collection of ancient Greek artifacts that spans from prehistory to late antiquity, including stunning masterpieces from the Mycenean and Hellenistic periods. NAM is home to such treasures as the golden Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera mechanism, and the colorful frescoes from Akrotiri on Santorini.

Closest metro station: Omonoia, Viktoria

Find out more: National Archaeological Museum

NATIONAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Housed in the Old Parliament Building, the National Historical Museum showcases the history of modern Greece, from Ottoman rule through the Greek War of Independence and the establishment of the modern Greek state.

Closest metro station: Panepistimio, Syntagma

Find out more: National Historical Museum

WAR MUSEUM

From ancient artifacts to fighter jets, the Athens War Museum documents the country’s military history from antiquity to the present. Exhibits include weapons, armor, maps and other memorabilia connected with the Greek Armed Forces.

Closest metro station: Evagelismos, Syntagma

Find out more: War Museum