Guide to Benaki Museum of Islamic Art: Info, Exhibition, Admission

The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art is dedicated to one of the world's most important collections of its kind in the world of Islamic art. For this reason it is considered one of the most worth seeing museums in Athens.

In this complete guide to the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art 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 Islamic Art?

The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art houses a unique exhibition of Islamic artworks, showing the development of Islamic civilization from its earliest traces to the 19th century.

Over 8,000 exhibits from all over the world, including the Middle East, Mesopotamia, Persia, India, North Africa and Spain, take you into the world of Islamic art. Among other things, antique porcelain, jewelry, pottery and glassware, weaving work, sculptures, weapons and inscribed grave stelae can be seen.

Significant exhibits include two carved wooden door panels from 8th-century Mesopotamia, the bronze astrolabe of Ahmad ibn al-Sarraj, and a 10th-century reed wat from Tiberias.

The absolute highlight is the marble-clad interior of a reception room of a 17th-century Cairo mansion.

The museum building itself is also an eye-catcher. The Benaki Museum for Islamic Art is housed in an impressive classical villa. A visit to the basement is also worthwhile, because here are the remains of the old city walls of Athens and an ancient tomb, which were found and uncovered during renovation work on the building.

Temporary Exhibitions

The museum offer is regularly enriched by temporary exhibitions. A current overview and preview can be found on the official website of the museum.

Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art is a branch of the famous Benaki Museum, which has several museums and institutions.

You can find them, along with more information about the Benaki Museum, in our Benaki Museum Guide.

Cafe in the Museum

The museum has a café located on the roof terrace. You can enjoy a beautiful view of the historic district with a Greek frappe.

Admission, Tickets and Guided Tours

How Do I Get to the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art?

The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art is located in the historic Kerameikos district of Athens, near the ancient Kerameikos Cemetery.

It is a 15-minute walk from the Acropolis. If you are traveling by public transport, it is best to take the Metro 1 to the “Theseion” stop. There are also a number of buses that go near the museum.

Visitors 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. From there it is an 8-minute walk to the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art.

History of the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art

The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art, a branch of the prominent Benaki Museum, was established on July 27, 2004 to house part of the Benaki Museum's extensive collection.

Most of this collection comes from the passionate art collector Adonis Benakis, who lived in Alexandria until the early 20th century. He bequeathed his collection of more than 37,000 Byzantine and Islamic artifacts to the state and opened the Benaki Museum in 1929, which presents an important exhibition on Greek culture in its main building.

The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art, housed in a neoclassical villa in the historical district of Kerameikos , is enriched not only by the Benakis collection but also by loans and new acquisitions.

At the end of the 20th century, renovation work was carried out on the museum building, during which part of the old city walls of Athens and an ancient tomb were uncovered. These can be viewed today in the basement of the museum.

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