National Archaeological Museum Athens: Tickets, Hours and Highlights
Greece's largest archaeological museum holds the Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera mechanism and the Artemision bronze. Here is how to plan a visit without missing them.
The National Archaeological Museum is at 44 Patission Street (also called 28is Oktovriou), about ten minutes on foot from Victoria or Omonia metro stations. As of November 2026, admission is €20 all year, with free entry on the first and third Sunday of each month from November to March. Allow at least three hours.
It is the largest archaeological museum in Greece. The collection runs from the Neolithic period to late antiquity, with finds from Mycenae, the Cyclades, the Antikythera shipwreck and sites across the country. It is run by the Ministry of Culture, so the state rules on free and reduced entry apply.
How much is a ticket and who gets in free?
The full ticket costs €20 as of November 2026, the same in summer and winter. Electronic tickets are sold through the Ministry of Culture’s ticketing system, which you can reach from the museum’s official website, and at the desk.
Under the Ministry of Culture rules listed by the museum, entry is free for everyone on these dates:
- 6 March (in memory of Melina Mercouri)
- 18 April (International Day for Monuments and Sites)
- 18 May (International Museum Day)
- the last weekend of September (European Heritage Days)
- 28 October (national holiday)
- the first and third Sunday of every month from 1 November to 31 March
Some visitors enter free on any day after showing ID. The main groups are EU citizens up to age 25 and children from non-EU countries up to age 18. Other free categories include people with a disability of 67% or more plus one escort, refugees with the relevant documents, and journalists with a valid press card. Bring a passport or ID card, as staff check age and nationality.
What are the opening hours in winter and summer?
The museum works on two seasons, and Tuesday is a late-start day all year. The published dates for the season that ended in November 2026 were:
| Season | Wednesday to Monday | Tuesday |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (16 November 2025 to 3 May 2026) | 08:30 to 15:30 | 13:00 to 20:00 |
| Summer (4 May to 15 November 2026) | 08:00 to 20:00 | 13:00 to 20:00 |
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. The winter 2026–27 dates follow the same pattern if the museum keeps last year’s schedule, but check the official page before you go. The museum is closed on 25 and 26 December, 1 January, 25 March, 1 May and Orthodox Easter Sunday.
In winter, Tuesday evening is the only time you can visit after work. It is often quieter than a weekend morning.
Which rooms should you not miss?
If you have only two hours, these four stops cover the pieces most visitors come for. Pick up a floor plan at the entrance; room numbers change when galleries are rearranged.
| Highlight | What it is | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Mask of Agamemnon | A gold funeral mask found by Heinrich Schliemann at Mycenae in 1876. It is roughly three centuries older than the age usually linked with King Agamemnon, so the name is a nickname. | Mycenaean hall, straight ahead from the entrance |
| Cycladic figurines | Flat, white marble figures from the Cycladic islands, made more than 4,000 years ago | Prehistoric collection, next to the Mycenaean hall |
| Artemision bronze | A bronze god, either Zeus or Poseidon, about 2 meters tall, recovered from the sea off Cape Artemision. The missing weapon is why scholars still argue about who he is. | Sculpture galleries, ground floor |
| Antikythera mechanism | Corroded bronze fragments of a geared device that modeled the movements of the sun, moon and planets, found in a shipwreck off Antikythera in 1901 | Antikythera shipwreck displays, with models showing how the gears worked |
Two more are worth the detour. The Jockey of Artemision, a bronze horse and young rider found in the same area as the Artemision god, is close to it. The upper floor holds the Thera frescoes from Akrotiri on Santorini, wall paintings buried by a volcanic eruption more than 3,500 years ago.
Are there temporary exhibitions?
Yes. The museum runs several temporary exhibitions each year, usually on the ground floor and in the basement halls. They are normally included in the general ticket. Check the “Temporary Exhibitions” section of the museum site for what is on during your visit, and the “Events” section for talks and evening openings.
How long should you allow?
Three hours covers the highlights and a walk through the main sculpture halls. A full visit, including the Egyptian collection and the upper floor, can take most of a day. The museum café in the inner courtyard is a good break halfway.
On a winter weekday you have seven hours between opening and closing. That is plenty, but arrive early on free Sundays, when lines at the ticket desk get long.
How do you get to the museum?
- By metro to Victoria (Line 1). Walk south down 28is Oktovriou or through Pedion tou Areos park for about 10 minutes.
- By metro to Omonia (Lines 1 and 2). Walk north up Patission Street for about 10 minutes.
- By trolleybus. Several lines run along Patission Street and stop outside the museum. Use the OASA Telematics app for live times.
A 90-minute ticket costs €1.20 as of November 2026; our guide to Athens public transport fares and tickets explains which card to buy. The area around Omonia is busy at night, so the Victoria walk through the park is the calmer option after dark.
Bottom line
If you live in Athens, save the visit for a free first or third Sunday between November and March, and go at opening time. Visitors on a short trip get more from a Tuesday evening in winter, when the halls are quieter and the ticket desk has no queue.
FAQ
Is the Antikythera mechanism in Athens?
Yes. The surviving fragments are in the National Archaeological Museum, displayed with other finds from the Antikythera shipwreck. Reconstructions next to them show how the gears worked.
Is the National Archaeological Museum free on Sundays?
Only on the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March, plus a few fixed dates such as 28 October. On other Sundays you pay the normal €20 ticket.
Can I visit the National Archaeological Museum and the Acropolis Museum on the same day?
You can, but each takes about three hours, and the two are about 30 minutes apart by metro. Our Acropolis Museum guide covers tickets and floors there. Most people enjoy them more on separate days.
Is the museum open on Tuesday mornings?
No. On Tuesdays the museum opens at 13:00 and stays open until 20:00, in both winter and summer.
