National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Tours

After meeting your friendly and informative guide at the entrance to the National Archaeological Museum your will start your journey through the fascinating history of Ancient Greece. Recognized as one of the greatest exhibitions worldwide, you'll have access to famous relics of the past such as the Gold 'Deathmask of Agamemnon', the 2000-year old 'Antikithera mechanism', the 'Cup of Nestor', the 'Ring of Theseus', not to mention masterpieces of sculpture like the statues of Aphrodite and Poseidon.  For travelers not wanting to miss the essentials of Greece, to the most dedicated of history enthusiasts, this is a hugely informative & fascinating tour suitable for all ages. This tour is simply a must when planning your itinerary in Greece.

The National Archaeological Museum is the largest museum in Greece and one of the world's great museums. Although its original purpose was to secure all the finds from the 19th century excavations in and around Athens, it gradually became the central National Archaeological Museum and was enriched with finds from all over Greece. Its abundant collection, with more than 11,000 exhibits, provides a panorama of Greek civilization from the beginnings of prehistory to late antiquity. The museum is housed in an imposing neoclassical building from the end of the 19th century, which was designed by L. Lange and remodeled by Ernst Ziller. The vast exhibition space, numerous galleries on each floor accounting for a total of 8,000 square meters, houses five large permanent collections. For example, the Collection of Prehistoric Antiquities, which includes works of the great civilizations that developed in the Aegean from the 6th millennium B.C. to 1050 B.C. (Neolithic, Cycladic and Mycenaean) and finds from the prehistoric settlement at Thera. The Sculptures Collection shows the development of ancient Greek sculpture from the 7th to the 5th centuries B.C. with unique masterpieces. The Vase and Minor Objects Collection, which contains representative works of ancient Greek pottery from the 11th century B.C. to the Roman period, also includes the Stathatos Collection, a corpus of minor objects from all periods. In the Bronze Collection, you'll find many fundamental statues, figurines and minor objects. And finally, you'll see the only Egyptian and Near Eastern Antiquities Collection in Greece, with works dating from the pre-dynastic period (5000 B.C.) to the Roman conquest.

Your private tour will start with the Acropolis, a complex of buildings that includes the Parthenon (main temple), the best example of classic architecture from the 5th-century BC, Erectheion (the temple with 6 female figurers, Caryatides), the Temple of Athena Nike (Wingless Godess), Propylaia (the monumental Gate), Odeon of Herodus Atticus, Dionysus theater and finally, the Mars Hill or Areios Pagos (the first ancient court and the place that St. Paul preached Christianity for the first time in Athens). The next stop will be the Temple Of the Olympian Zeus (the largest temple in Hellenic and Roman times), the Panathenian Stadium (the stadium of the first Olympic Games in 1896), the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier and the Changing of the Guards (Euzones) in front of the Greek Parliament, opposite the Syntagma or Constitutional Square. After that, you will see the Trilogy of Athens (the Academy, the First University of Athens and the National Greek Library) and finally, the Lycabettus Hill (the highest point of Athens) and don't forget to take some pictures and a memory in your mind and heart of the entire city. Drive through Plaka (the oldest neighborhood in Athens), a picturesque quarter of the city, where there are little shops with handmade crafts and gifts for you to buy and Monastiraki (Flea Market), where you can have a pleasant walk and shop with your friends and family. If time permits, your next stop will be the ancient Greek Agora or the Roman Agora (ancient markets), where you'll find the Temple of Hephaestus (the most well preserved temple in Greece), the Stoa of Attalos and the beautiful St. Catherine Orthodox Church. When you feel hungry, get ready to taste some famous Greek cuisine and have a memorable lunch. The tour will guide you to a traditional Athens restaurant or tavern. It's up to you to choose from a variety of flavors of the most well-known Greek dishes. After lunch, enjoy a visit to the New Acropolis Museum, where you can see the marbles of the Parthenon and a superb collection of artifacts and relics found on the Acropolis excavations or the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, almost twice the size of the previous one that houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety of archaeological locations not only Greece, but the Middle East and the Balkans as well from prehistory to late antiquity.

Be inspired by the Acropolis with the colonnaded majestic Parthenon temple, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of Olympiad Zeus, the Panathenaic Olympic Stadium or Kalimarmaro, the dazzling Acropolis Museum and the captivating National Archaeological Museum. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from Mount Lycabettus, 300 metres above sea level before being tantalised by the neoclassical buildings of the ‘architectual trilogy’ consisting of the National library, Athens University and the Academy of Athens. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the Royal Guards at Constitution Syntagma Square is also intriguing! Lively Monastiraki known for iconic landmarks such as the ruins of Hadrian’s library, the Stoa of Attalos and the ancient Agora together with its flea market is of significant interest! Explore the narrow cobblestone streets lined with tiny shops, sidewalk cafes and authentic tavernas at Plaka!

Visit the National Archaeological Museum, which is considered to be one of the greatest museums in the world. Its abundant collections, with more than 20,000 exhibits, provide an overview of Greek civilisation up to Late Antiquity. Your guide will take you through the numerous galleries, revealing all the stories that lie beneath the artifacts. You will find many treasures from the past, including sculptures, jewelry, pottery, and the incredible Antikythera Device - a 2000 year-old mechanism found in a shipwreck, which is considered the first computer in human history. You will also enjoy a vehicle tour. You will pass by more distant but equally important sites in the city, such as the Panathenaic Stadium, Zappeion, the monument of the Unknown Soldier, and see the changing of the guards.

Journey back in time to explore the culture and heritage of Athens with a visit to the Acropolis and its monuments. Admire incredible views over the city and discover the ancient temples dedicated to Greek gods and goddesses. Meet your expert guide outside the Acropolis Museum to begin your fantastic half-day tour.  Visit inside the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum to see sculptures, vases, jewellery, and more from ancient Greece. See iconic landmarks including Hadrian’s Library, the Parthenon, the Stoa of Attalos, and the Ancient Agora. End your tour with a sightseeing walk through the Plaka neighborhood.

Start with meeting your guide via pickup from your hotel in Athens. First drive by Hadrian's Arch, a monumental gateway resembling a Roman triumphal arch. Stop at the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, a colossal temple at the center of Athens. Visit the nearby Acropolis with its famous Parthenon. Next, discover the Olympic Stadium at Kallimarmaro, the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.  Travel to Mount Lycabettus to enjoy magnificent panoramic views of Athens. Visit the breathtaking Athens National Archaeological Museum housing some of the most important artefacts from around Greece. After this stop, drive by the neoclassical buildings of the 'architectural trilogy' consisting of the National Library, Athens University, and the Academy of Athens. Pass by Stadiou Street with the remarkable statue of Theodoros Kolokotronis, the General of the War of Independence of 1821. After discovering some of Athens' main sights, travel along the Athens Riviera, the coastal road that passes the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni ,Voula, and Varkiza towards Cape Sounion. Be captivated by the crowning jewel of the peninsula, the spectacular Temple of Poseidon. Built between 444 and 440 BC, it is one of the major monuments of the Golden Age of Greece. Enjoy your refreshments at the snack bar overlooking the temple and the sea. Next, make your way to Kavouri where you will treat your taste buds to delicious Greek delicacies by the Saronic sea, before travelling back to the designated drop-off point in Athens.

Begin your tour early in the morning with a visit to the Acropolis of Athens. Located in the middle of modern Athens, the "sacred rock" proudly displays a set of marble monuments that express their outstanding universal value. Walk uphill through the Propylaea grand marble entrance, as you contemplate the hills of Philoppapus, Pnyx, and Mars. Discover the astonishing construction of the Parthenon, the most splendid temple ever built by the Greeks and dedicated to the goddess Athena. Admire the Erechtheion with its renowned Caryatids and the view of the temple of Athena Nike, before gazing at the infinite modern city from the hilltop, stretching between low mountains and the Aegean Sea. Explore all sides for panoramic views of the old town and its picturesque neoclassical buildings, as well as the ancient theater of Dionysus, the Roman temple of Zeus, and the world-famous Herodeion Theater. Continue on to the spectacular Acropolis Museum, the most modern museum of Athens. Made of concrete, steel and glass, it houses a wide collection of original sculptures from the Acropolis and its slopes, where the glass floor reveals to visitors the ruins of ancient buildings underneath. As lunchtime approaches, you can choose to dine in the museum’s restaurant or the museum district, near Plaka. In the picturesque district of Monastiraki, encounter the second-most-significant historical site of Athens, the Agora. Once a vivid and bustling marketplace, the Agora was for many centuries the heart of Athens, filled with stores, administrative buildings, public monuments, and temples. Stroll around the ruins of public monuments, the ancient parliament, and store stoas that once embellished the area. Find out more about philosophers such as Socrates, Athenian politics, and the society of Greek antiquity, and admire the temple of Hephaestus - the best preserved classical temple of Greece which offers panoramic views of all of Agora. Towards the latter stage of your tour, visit the local museum’s collection, which features ancient drachma coins, measurement weights, voting ballots, and high-quality pottery, among many other interesting exhibits. Finally, visit the National Archaeological Museum, which is the largest archaeological museum in Greece. Its collections represent the whole range of Greek history and art, from Prehistory to Late Antiquity and from Greek to Roman times.

Take a private tour of the ancient city of Athens on this 5-hour excursion with a personal guide. You will visit the Acropolis, icon of Athens perched on its plateau, and the National Museum, packed with antiquities. Tour the famous sites of Ancient Greece and get an overview of the modern city that will give you your bearings for the remainder of your vacation. Following a hotel pick-up, your first stop will be at the Panathinaikos Stadium, cradle of the first modern Olympic games, which took place in 1896. Pass by the Greek Parliament in the former Royal Palace of Syntagma Square and watch the fanciful Evzoni Guards in their amber tunics. Continue to the stately Zappion Conference Center in the National Gardens of Greece. Proceed past the Roman Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arc and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by more Evzones. You will pass the handsome Numismatic Museum at Schlieman's House, the Catholic Cathedral of Agios Dionysios Aeropagitis, Constitution Square and finally the Acropolis. Here you will visit the monumental marble gates of the Propylae, the Temples of Athena, Nike and Parthenon. See the famous Porch of Maidens at the Temple of Erectheion. Continue with a pleasant short trip past Herodion and Dionysos Theater, in order to meet the bus to drive you to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. The largest archaeological museum in Greece and one of the most important museums in the world, it is devoted to ancient Greek art. The tour officially ends here and you can continue exploring on your own, or if you prefer be dropped back at your hotel.

Discover the key ancient sites in Athens during a unique one-day experience filled with beautiful landscapes and archaeological adventures. Upgrade your tour to include a private guided tour with a licensed English-speaking guide, authorized to enter all the archaeological sites with you, or alternatively explore the sites at your own pace without a guide. Start the tour with pick up from your hotel in Athens where you will meet your driver and set off on your full-day tour. First, head over to the Acropolis for a tour of the most significant parts of this archaeological site. Walk uphill through the grand marble entrance and marvel at the astonishing construction of the Parthenon, a splendid temple built by the Greeks and dedicated to goddess Athena. Gaze down at the modern city of Athens from the hilltop, exploring all sides for panoramic views of the old town and its picturesque buildings. See the ancient Theater of Dionysus, the Roman Temple of Zeus, and the world-famous Herodeion theater. Then, visit the spectacular Acropolis Museum which houses a wide collection of original sculptures. Marvel at the glass-made floor which reveals the ruins of ancient buildings underneath. On the first floor, admire marble masterpieces and impressive views of the Acropolis Hill, the Lycabettus Hill, and the rest of the city. Next, take a drive around the most popular parts of modern Athens. Take a look at the extraordinary venue for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, the Roman temple of Zeus with its imposing pillars, the National Gardens, the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the outstanding 19th-century University of Athens, the Academia, and the National Library. Complete your tour with a visit to the archaeological site of Kerameikos. This unique, extended historical site served as the ancient cemetery of Athens. While walking around the site you can take a look at the ruins of the ancient defense wall that marked the city’s boundaries. Finally, visit the National Archaeological Museum, founded in the 19th-century, which hosts the richest and biggest collection in Greece.