Art Lover’s Guide to Athens

From the Parthenon to the National Archaeological Museum, here's where to go.

2 min read•Aug 26, 2019•By Theodora Sutcliffe

Hi, I'm Theodora!

A freelance writer and recovering nomad, Theodora divides her time between Britain and Bali. With bylines including CNN, BBC, the Guardian, Discover, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic Traveler, she’s working on a book, still blogs once in a while at EscapeArtistes.com, and spends far too much time on Twitter.

The gorgeous, ancient sculptures of Greece’s ruin-filled capital city have shaped European art for thousands of years. See below for the best ways to experience the city’s marble, gold, bronze masterworks—as well as some examples of more contemporary street art.

Why you are seeing these recommendations

Parthenon

At the Parthenon. | Photo Credit: Bisual Photo / Shutterstock

No visit to Athens is complete without a pilgrimage to the Acropolis. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the site houses the spectacular Parthenon temple as well as a variety of other monuments. The carvings that once decorated the Parthenon’s facade have been removed, but many can be seen at the nearby Acropolis Museum.

Benaki Museum of Greek Culture

Benaki Museum of Greek Culture on a sunny day. | Photo Credit: saiko3p / Shutterstock

This museum offers a variety of pieces ranging from Greek and Roman sculpture to Byzantine icons and gold jewelry, all amassed by the collector Antonis Benakis. The museum’s foundation also runs other venues art lovers should put on their list, including the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art and 138 Pireos, a contemporary gallery.

National Archaeological Museum

Outside the National Archaeological Museum. | Photo Credit: Constantinos Iliopoulos / Shutterstock

Greece’s defining archaeological museum offers a world-class selection of classical marble and bronze sculptures, as well as older artworks. Highlights include the golden mask once known as the Death Mask of Agamemnon, which dates back more than 3,500 years.

Museum of Cycladic Art

The Museum of Cycladic Art is a wonder. | Photo Credit: Aerial-motion / Shutterstock

While Athens is known primarily for the statues and ruins of Ancient Greece, the works at this museum—some of which date back to the third millennium BC—serve as a reminder that the region’s history goes back to even earlier times. The slender, abstract forms showcased here have inspired the likes of Picasso, Modigliani, Giacometti, and Barbara Hepworth.

Street Art

Athens is great for street art. | Photo Credit: dimitris_k / Shutterstock

If you’re looking to escape the ancient world and see a different, fresher side of Athens, join a street art tour. Exploring funky neighborhoods such as Exarchia with a local artist as your guide will snap you straight back to the 21st century.