The National Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits Greek and international art from the post-war period to the present day in the building of an old brewery.
In this complete guide to the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens, you'll learn all about the exhibition, history, and helpful information about how to get there and tickets.
What Can I Do at the National Museum of Contemporary Art?
The National Museum of Contemporary Art, or EMST for short , is one of the few museums in Athens that focuses on modern art.
Housed in the former building of the large FIX brewery, the museum presents a total of 172 works of art in its permanent exhibition. These cover the period from the post-war period to the present day.
The exhibits come from Greek and international artists. The 78 representatives include Chryssa, Jannis Kounellis, Stephen Antonakos, Gary Hill, Oliver Ressler, Gulsun Karamustafa and many more. Her works deal with themes such as "memories", "political narratives", "mythology of the familiar" and "new perspectives".
The collection can be divided into the following categories:
Temporary Exhibitions
Various temporary exhibitions enrich the permanent exhibition at the museum. You can find an overview of the current temporary exhibitions here. A preview of the upcoming temporary exhibitions can be found here.
Events
The National Museum of Contemporary Art organizes a variety of events and activities, including dance and music performances, conferences, lectures, book launches and film screenings. Here you will find an up-to-date overview of all events.
Museum Shop
In the museum shop, you will find a rich selection of books, stationery, accessories, decorative items and much more.
Admission, Tickets and Guided Tours
How Do I Get to the National Museum of Contemporary Art?
Housed in a former brewery, the EMST is located in the Koukaki district, right next to the Syngrou-Fix metro station. The museum is within walking distance from the Acropolis. It only takes 11 minutes to walk.
Since the museum is located next to a metro station, you can easily reach it by public transport. The best option is to take Metro 2 to Syngrou-Fix.
Cruise passengers arriving from Piraeus Port can go to the nearby Piraeus Metro Station and board the M1 line. A single ticket is sufficient for the 18-minute journey to Omonia station. From there, take metro line 2 and travel 5 minutes to “Syngrou-Fix”.
The main entrance to the museum is on Kallirrois Street. Visitors with reduced mobility are advised to use the Syngrou Street entrance.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The current opening hours can be found on the official website of the museum.
The National Museum of Contemporary Art is located in the former FIX brewery in the Koukaki district, right next to the Syngrou-Fix metro station. It is only 11 minutes walk from the Acropolis.
The easiest way to get to the Museum of Contemporary Art is by Metro 2 to “Syngrou-Fix”. The museum is right next to the metro station.
Admission fees apply to enter the National Museum of Contemporary Art. However, visitors with disabilities and their companion, as well as children under the age of 13, are admitted free of charge to the museum. A detailed list is available here.
History of the National Museum of Contemporary Art
The National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) was founded in 2000. Until the museum found a permanent home on Syngrou Street, it presented its collection of modern art in various locations. These included the Athens Concert Hall, the Athens School of Fine Arts and the premises of the Athens Conservatory.
It was not until May 2015 that the museum was able to move to its current location in the former building of the FIX Greek brewery. The building was converted into a museum for this purpose and is very impressive in itself.
However, the completion of the museum building was to take the next few years. Only a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNSF) in July 2018 made it possible to complete it and helped the museum to develop its full potential.
EMST has been fully open again since February 2020.
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