Guide to the Jewish Museum of Greece: Admission, Exhibition, History

At the Greek Jewish Museum, you can get a glimpse into the history of the Greek Jewish community.

In this complete guide to the Jewish Museum of Greece 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 Jewish Museum of Greece?

The Jewish Museum of Greece in downtown Athens is one of the three museums in the country that sheds light on the roughly 2000-year-old Jewish heritage in Greece.

The focus of the collection of around 10,000 exhibits is on modern times. But objects that prove that Jews have been living on Greek soil since ancient times are also on display.

Exhibits such as sacred objects, works of art, writings, but also everyday objects and costumes are shown in thematically structured rooms, which extend over an area of 800 m². You get an insight into the life of the Jewish community in the country, but also aspects such as the persecution of the Jews in Greece or their support in the Greek struggle for liberation.

The permanent exhibition is divided into the following subject areas.

Temporary Exhibitions

The museum organizes temporary exhibitions of historical, ethnographic or artistic content, presented in the dedicated exhibition areas. A current overview can be found on the museum's website .

The museum's temporary art exhibitions can be found here.

Events

The museum also offers a variety of events, seminars, conferences and activities.

An overview of upcoming events can be found here. 

Admission, Tickets and Guided Tours

How Do I Get to the Jewish Museum of Greece?

The Jewish Museum of Greece is easily accessible thanks to its central location in downtown Athens. The museum is in close proximity to attractions such as the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, the Hellenic Parliament, and the National Garden.

The nearest metro station is Syntagma, served by lines 2 and 3. From there it is only a 6 minute walk. It's just as easy with the Hop on Hop off bus tour, which also stops at Syntagma Square (Station A1 "Syntagma"). Alternatively, a number of buses and the T1 tram also go to the vicinity of the Jewish Museum of Greece.

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 approx. 20-minute journey to the "Monastiraki" station. From there it is an 11-minute walk to the museum. It's even easier with the hop on hop off bus tour, which takes you to station P5 “Acropolis Museum”. From there it is only an 8-minute walk.

History of the Jewish Museum of Greece

The Jewish Museum of Greece was founded in 1977 with the support of the Jewish community of Athens. At the time, the museum was housed in an annex to an Athens synagogue and housed mostly World War II objects, ritual objects, jewelry and documents.

Over time, more and more exhibits from all parts of Greece were brought together for the museum's exhibition. As a result, in 1984 it was necessary to move to a larger building.

Two decades after its founding, the museum moved to its current location in central Athens. The new museum building, a neoclassical building from the 19th century, was inaugurated on March 10, 1998.

As one of the few museums in the country dedicated to the history of the Greek Jewish community, collecting, preserving and researching exhibits for this purpose, the Jewish Museum of Greece is considered one of the must-see museums in Athens.

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