No visit to Athens is complete without discovering the stories behind its most famous landmark. Sitting at the foot of the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum brings together archaeological finds from the Acropolis and its surrounding slopes, offering a fascinating look at the history, art and everyday life of ancient Athens.
For travellers planning a city break in Athens, the museum is an ideal companion to a visit to the Acropolis itself. Explore the archaeological site above the city, then step inside the museum to discover the sculptures and objects that give greater context to what you have just seen.
Why Visit the Acropolis Museum?
The Acropolis Museum is much more than somewhere to escape the Athens heat for a few hours.
The museum's permanent exhibition takes visitors through different periods of the Acropolis' history, from finds discovered on its slopes and the Archaic period to the monuments of the Periklean building programme and later antiquity.
One of its defining spaces is the Parthenon Gallery on the third floor, designed specifically to display the sculptures of the Parthenon. The museum also incorporates the remains of an ancient Athenian neighbourhood beneath the building, adding another layer to the experience.
What to See at the Acropolis Museum
The Gallery of the Acropolis Slopes
Begin with finds discovered on the slopes of the Acropolis. This opening part of the museum introduces the lives of the people who lived, worked and worshipped around one of the ancient world's most recognisable sites.
The Archaic Acropolis Gallery
Continue through the museum to explore objects associated with the Acropolis during the Archaic period. The collection provides a different perspective on the site before the monuments most visitors recognise today came to define it.
The Parthenon Gallery
The visit culminates in the third-floor Parthenon Gallery. For first-time visitors to Athens, this is one of the museum's essential stops and makes the connection between the objects inside the museum and the monument overlooking the city particularly powerful.
The Archaeological Excavation
Don't leave without looking below the museum itself. Its architecture incorporates the ruins of an ancient neighbourhood, with the archaeological excavation forming part of the museum experience.
Should You Visit the Acropolis or Acropolis Museum First?
There isn't one correct way to experience them.
Visiting the Acropolis first allows you to see the Parthenon and surrounding monuments in their original setting before discovering their history and surviving sculptures in greater detail inside the museum.
Alternatively, beginning at the Acropolis Museum can provide useful context before you climb to the archaeological site.
If you have enough time in Athens, we recommend including both rather than choosing between them. Our existing Athens guide content takes the same approach, combining the Acropolis and museum as part of a wider day exploring the historic city.
Acropolis Museum Opening Hours
The museum operates seasonal opening hours.
1 November to 31 March
• Monday to Thursday: 09:00-17:00
• Friday: 09:00-22:00
• Saturday and Sunday: 09:00-20:00
1 April to 31 October
• Monday: 09:00-17:00
• Tuesday to Sunday: 09:00-20:00
• Friday: 09:00-22:00
Opening hours can change around holidays and special dates, so always check the official Acropolis Museum website before visiting.
Acropolis Museum Tickets
Current general admission is €20, with a reduced admission ticket of €10 for eligible visitors. Tickets provide access to the museum's exhibition areas and the archaeological excavation beneath the museum.
Tickets can be purchased at the museum ticket desk or through its official online ticketing service. Reduced and free-admission tickets have separate eligibility requirements, so check the latest information before your visit.
Where Is the Acropolis Museum?
The Acropolis Museum is located at 15 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, Athens, directly in the historic heart of the city.
Athens Zafolia Hotel is located on Alexandras Avenue at the foot of Lycabettus Hill. The hotel's current visitor information places the Acropolis, Parthenon and Acropolis Museum at an indicative distance of approximately 4 km from the hotel. This makes it easy to combine the museum with other central Athens experiences while using the hotel as a base for exploring the city.
Make a Day of It
Don't treat the Acropolis Museum as an isolated attraction. Combine your visit with the Acropolis and Parthenon, then leave time to explore the historic streets and neighbourhoods surrounding the site. Our Athens Zafolia guides particularly recommend continuing into Plaka as part of an Acropolis day.
Back towards the hotel, you can experience another side of Athens around Lycabettus Hill and Kolonaki, giving you a day that moves naturally between ancient and contemporary Athens. The hotel is centrally located close to Lycabettus Hill with convenient access to the city's museums and historic attractions.
Where to Stay When Visiting the Acropolis Museum
A central base gives you the flexibility to experience more than Athens' most famous sights.
Located at the foot of Lycabettus Hill, Athens Zafolia Hotel provides a convenient base for exploring the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, National Archaeological Museum, Kolonaki, Syntagma Square and other areas of central Athens. Spend the day discovering thousands of years of Athenian history, then return to a quieter side of the city and the comfort of your hotel.