Best Museums of Athens
National Archaeological Musem
Well, you made it to the land that gave birth to Classical culture and deeply shaped modern thinking. And visiting one, two, or even more museums during your stay in Athens can give you knowledge and information that are way more valuable than anything else. There is so much variety, that everyone, from students to tourists, from researchers to families with children can enjoy some quality time in one of the museums of the city. At the end of the post we added for your convenience some tips and details about the days with free entry to museums and archaeological sites through the year and some package deals that will give you access to multiple museums with one comprehensive ticket. Enjoy!
#1 National Archaeological Museum
We start with the biggest and oldest museum in Greece, which is also very close to the Nubian Hostel! After a ten-minute walk you will find yourself outside the most important cultural venues of the country with collections that take you back to the pre-historical age up to the 5th Century AD. Given its magnitude, some people find it tiring to see the whole of it at one go, but, as soon as you realise the contribution of these ancient objects to our modern world, these exhibits will become truly awe-inspiring.
The ticket fee varies depending on the time of the year, but do consider hiring a guide if you are not on a tight budget. Many visitor categories, like EU students, have free admission; visit the museum’s website to check if you are entitled to free entrance!
#2 The Acropolis Museum
Open to the public since 2009, this very modern museum is provided with big windows so that, from almost every corner of it, you will be able to enjoy the view of the Parthenon on the backdrop. The Acropolis Museum is indeed a highlight on your museum list when you come to Athens: the findings unearthed during the excavations around the citadel are wisely displayed so the visitor can relate to the culture and everyday life of the peoples who have dwelled in this part of the city since the Greek Bronze Age. There has been much talk about whether some exhibits – stolen or lost through the years and ended up in foreign museums, such as the Elgin marbles of the Parthenon – should be given back to Greece; for the time being, the visitor will be able to appreciate beautifully crafted copies replacing the originals for the sake of completeness.
#3 National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST)
If you are into contemporary art, then the EMST is the one museum you should visit in Athens. Although it was founded in 1997, just in 2015 it finally got its permanent location. After years of wandering in temporary exhibition areas of the city, this museum in now well established in the hearts of Athenian art lovers and its located in one of the most modern buildings of the Greek capital. Check the website of the museum to find out about its permanent and temporary exhibitions.
#4 National Gallery (Alexandros Soutsos Museum)
There’s only one museum in Athens where you can discover the history of Greek modern art. After its expansion in 2021 in a new building complex in the heart of the city, the National Gallery is the flagship of the new era of Athenian museums. In its permises guests can get familiar with all the important Greek artists of modern art at the permanent or the temporary collections, also at the garden-outdoor sculpture gallery.
The National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum is part of the seven locations that constitute the Greek National Gallery.
#5 Benaki Museums
Under its administration there are 5 museums, and one more is about to open where you will be able to see more than 120 thousand(!) artworks from the Paleolithic period up to this day. The magnitude of these exhibitions can be regarded as crazy, but the Benaki foundation has taken its mission very seriously. The main building is in the city center – very close to Syntagma square – and hosts one of the most interesting museums in Athens, thanks to its unique variety of collections, including Cycladic art and Modern Greek folklore.
From Greek culture to Islamic Art, anyone can enjoy a day or two spent at one of the Benaki museums wandering around the exhibits, participating in the workshops, visiting the libraries or just relaxing at one of the cafés. Please make sure you check the different locations before your visit, as the Benaki museums are spread all over the city.
#6 Cycladic Art Museum
Started as a private collection, the museum is focused on ancient Aegean cultures (Greece and Cyprus) with artifacts older than 5000 years old in its premises. The three permanent collections of the museum displays Cycladic and Ancient Greek Art, but very often special exhibitions of contemporary painters, sculptors and artists from around the globe take place. This museum will amaze you when you realize the extent of the artistic and cultural production in this small dot of the planet, a heritage that makes it a living cultural institution despite its size. This museum is definitively one of our top picks! Keep in mind that there are two entrances, one for the permanent and one for the temporary exhibitions. The buildings are interconnected so one ticket will give you full access to any exhibition.
#7 Numismatic Museum
Hosting a stunning collection of coins from Ancient to Modern Greece and from the whole world, the Numismatic Museum is hosted in the former house of the archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann and was designed by the architect Ernst Ziller. The museum shows the history of money and trade from antiquity up to today: coins, medals, stamps and many more objects are arranged in a ‘time travel sequence’ from the 14th century BC till the modern era, and many of them are stored in the museum’s laboratory. The garden is a gathering point for the Athenians for a coffee or a lunch break during the day while jazz concerts, held from time to time in the summer, are a bonus. The museum is only a 10 minutes’ walk from Nubian Hostel; while strolling on Panepistimiou Street you can’t miss the metal gates that lead you to the museum.
#8 Epigraphic Museum
In the south wing of the National Archeological Museum, this special museum is the largest of its kind. The inscriptions hosted here were written during Greece’s archaic period up to the Roman Imperial era and were mostly found in Attica, the region of Athens, but not only. A translation into English and a description of the exhibits are displayed in some of the rooms of the museum, and the visitors can access more information at the museum’s library using the reference number of each inscription. Kind of specific this one, but a very interesting museum!
#9 Archeological Museum of Piraeus
Last one, and a bit out of track since it is in Piraeus, the main port of Athens. Its main purpose is to introduce you to sculptures and artifacts that were discovered in the area of Piraeus and on the coasts of Attica. The exhibitions date mostly back to the Bronze Age, the Classical period and the Roman Times. Two of the ten most important large-scale Classical bronze sculptures in the world, one of Artemis and one of Athena, are hosted in this modest but very important museum, which displays several exhibits that you will not be able to find anywhere else. With a short trip by the train from Omonoia station, only 10’ from Nubian Hostel, you will have an absolutely enjoyable experience, especially if you have some spare time for the outdoor areas of the museum.
Best Live Venues in Athens
We wanted to dedicate our first article to what we love the most here at Nubian Hostel… Music. And what is better than Music? Live Music!! So, we will provide you with the best music venues in Athens where you can listen to some of your favourite artists (also some you never heard of), mix with the locals and get the vibes the crowd can give out. So, keep reading and you will find out where all the big music events happen, where Athens’ music lovers gather for Rock, Electronic or even Greek Folk live music, always with a positive mood!
#1 AN Club
After 45 years in the local underground music scene, An Club is the Godfather of all live venues in Athens and most of the rock artists you know have performed at this landmark of the city’s music culture. Of course, nowadays musicians of many genres such as Hip Hop and Reggae have their time here, but Rock remains this venue’s much loved style with local bands having gigs every weekend. In a walking distance for Nubian Hostel and near the Exarchia square, don’t miss the chance to check out this legendary place.
#2 Odeon of Herodes Atticus
This ancient theater, built in 161AD will leave you stunning with it’s acoustic and listening to a music concert while sitting on the marble seats is a unique experience for every music lover. Operas, musicals, ancient tragedies, during the spring and the summer period, gather thousands of people and with 5000 capacity there is enough space for many locals to enjoy. But even Sting and other top musicians have performed, since it is considered a privilege for artists to give a live show in a theater people are entertained for more than two thousand years. If you don’t have the chance to attend a concert, you can pay a visit during the day as part of your sightseeing.
#3 TEMPLE
Temple is one of the latest entries in Athens’s live venues, but it is already one of our top favorites! With clear sound and a warm atmosphere, Temple has already presented us to few of the best artists of Electronic music (mostly Techno), Rock bands and local and foreign Hip Hop artists. You will find it at the heart of the city’s night life area and very close to the Metro station of Kerameikos, making it easy for you to get there and come back to your Hostel even if you want to dance till the morning. Check out their Facebook page for their upcoming events and parties and most probably they got you covered whatever your thing in music is.
#4 Gagarin 205
In it’s full name it defines its self as a Live Music Space, because that’s exactly what it is. The line ups are insane at this venue bringing to the Athenian audience the superlative of the global music industry for more than 20 years. Although its true concert character, the Greek Cult Movie Festival is organised every year and music documentaries are in the schedule so don’t miss to check their website for all the upcoming events and you might be surprised.
#5 Six D.O.G.S.
This multi-venue that includes a live stage, a club, an art gallery, and a secret (!) cafe, really changed Athens’ nightlife and even the city center itself. Located in Monastiraki, Six D.O.G.S came almost 15 years ago to the music life of the capital and since then it remains a top choice having selected Electronic music artist playing at the club’s decks while it’s live scene has introduced us to some of the best artists of the local Rock, Experimental and Hip Hop. Occasionally all its’ facilities are open, and day to night festivals pop up every few weekends.
#6 FUZZ Club
Probably the busiest venue in Athens where live concerts take place every weekend with a huge variety of artists, styles and rhythms. Although it is not located at the center of the city the performances are mostly sold out and with the capacity of 1000 people the atmosphere is exploding. Both local and foreign groups get on the stage and the concert goers of Athens know that FUZZ is a venue of real quality.
#7 Athens Concert Hall
Mostly known as Megaron, it is considered one of the most advanced cultural venues in the world. Here you will come if you want to listen to top orchestras and musical ensembles, with great acoustic that takes the musical experience to a whole different level. Located in the center of Athens, in one of the buildings that are a landmark for the architecture of the city. But what you will really love, are the The Concert Hall Gardens where during the summer outdoor concerts and ensembles are organised with the locals sitting on the grass while listening to the crème de la crème of classical and Greek musicians.
#8 Half Note Jazz Club
But not only Jazz. Many Greek contemporary and avant garde musicians perform at this old time classic for the city’s Jazz aficionados with an authentic atmosphere and the vibe of a Brooklyn live stage. If you are interested in sitting on a table, treat yourself with a good spirit and feel the emotions only Jazz can awake, then this is the place for you. Booking in advance is highly recommended since no other venue in Athens is so dedicated to this fine music genre and the line ups are considered selected.
#9 Stavros tou Notou
This venue serves the Greek music culture for the last 25 years and all the artists that are considered to be known for their music quality have performed on it’s stage. If you want to discover the local music scene and how Athenians enjoy on their very own rhythms, then you should definitely visit. Where else can you hear Greeks singing loudly on songs that touch their souls?
#10 ARCH Club and Live Stage
One of the most diverse live stages you can find in Athens. Musicians from Post-Rock, Indie, Dark-Wave, even Stand-Up comedy are at the front line! A true concert hall with excellent sound, every live show organised here makes the Athenian music fans have this place packed.
We really hope you found this article useful and make it part of your visit to Athens. Check out our blog often since we are going to introduce you to all the great things you can see, do and feel during your stay. Nubian Hostel in the heart of Athens, at a walking distance to most of the major attractions and well connected with the transportation system. Look for prices and availability at our website and find the perfect stay for your trip.
Welcome to Nubian’s Blog!
Hello everyone,
from here we are going to spread out the word about what makes Athens a unique city and a must visit for every traveler. The idea behind making this blog for our website is to make sure our guests and everyone else who plans to visit Athens is going to get the most out of this amazing and vibrant city. The Greek capital is a year-round destination and the number of visitors is only rising every year. She has everything you are looking for, either it is a city break or you just want to spend a few days and then explore the mainland or the islands.