The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is dedicated to Greek culture from prehistory to the present day. It is one of the most famous museums in Athens.
In this complete guide to the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture in Athens, you'll learn all about the exhibition, history, and helpful information about how to get there, tickets, and tours.
What Can I Do at the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture?
The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is part of the Benaki Museum, the largest private museum in Greece. It is located in the main building of the Benaki Museum.
With its unique exhibition of objects of all kinds, the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is the only museum in the country that takes you through every era of Greek history and culture. A journey through the entire history of Greece from antiquity to modern times awaits you here.
Permanent Exhibition
The permanent exhibition can be divided into the following sections.
Temporary Exhibitions
Changing exhibitions of various artists are regularly held in the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture. A current overview and preview can be found on the museum 's official website.
Museum Building
The museum building itself is also worth seeing. The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is housed in the former villa of the Benaki family. The imposing villa that now serves as the main building of the Benaki Museum is a neoclassical mansion built in 1868.
Benaki Museum
In addition to the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture, the Benaki Museum has several museums and facilities.
You can find this, as well as more information about the Benaki Museum, in our Benaki Museum Guide.
Museum Restaurant
Art lovers can fortify themselves with Greek delicacies in the in-house restaurant.
Admission, Tickets and Guided Tours
How Do I Get to the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture?
The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is located right in the center of Athens. It is located opposite the National Garden in close proximity to Syntagma Square.
The easiest way to get to the museum is by metro 2 or 3 (stop "Syntagma") or with the hop-on hop-off bus tour to station A7 "Benaki Museum". Furthermore, numerous buses and trolleybus 3 serve the museum.
Those arriving from the Piraeus cruise port can go to the nearby Piraeus Metro Station and board the M1 line. A single ticket is sufficient for the journey to “Monastiraki” station. There you change to the M3 and travel one stop to "Syntagma". The museum is a 9-minute walk away.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The regular opening hours of the Benaki Museum are Wednesdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to midnight and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The current opening hours can be found on the official website of the museum.
The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is located in the former home of the Benaki family in central Athens. It is located opposite the National Garden in close proximity to Syntagma Square and the Hellenic Parliament. The exact address is: 1 Koumbari St. & Vas. Sofias Ave., 106 74 Athens
The easiest way to get to Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is by Metro 2 or 3 (“Syntagma” stop) or by Hop-on Hop-off bus tour to station A7 “Benaki Museum”. In addition, numerous buses and trolleybus 3 serve the museum.
Those arriving from the Piraeus cruise port can go to the nearby Piraeus Metro Station and board the M1 line. A single ticket is sufficient for the journey to “Monastiraki” station. There you change to the M3 and travel just one stop to "Syntagma". The museum is a 9-minute walk away.
Tickets for the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture are available at the on-site ticket offices and in our shop.
History of the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture
The Benaki Museum was founded in 1929 by wealthy art collector Adonis Benakis in honor of his father.
To this end, the passionate art collector, who began collecting numerous works in his youth, converted the Benaki family mansion into a museum. He donated it to the state along with his collection of more than 37,000 Byzantine and Islamic artifacts.
Several extensions were made to the museum building in 1965, 1968 and 1973 to make room for the numerous donations.
Since the last renovation from 1989 to 2000, the main building housing the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture focuses on Greek culture. Today, the museum is considered one of the most popular attractions in Athens.