The Kerameikos in Athens is one of the most important archaeological sites in the city. It presents important finds from the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos.
In this complete guide to Kerameikos in Athens, you'll learn all about the Archaeological Museum, the archaeological site and the history of the historic district, as well as helpful information about how to get there and tickets.
What Can I Do at Kerameikos?
The most famous cemetery of ancient Athens is located in the historical district of Kerameikos. Important citizens and war heroes of Athens were buried here.
Today it is one of the most important archaeological sites in Athens. Visitors to Kerameikos can tour the archaeological site and discover ancient walls, stately tombs with sculptural masterpieces, and two city gates: the Sacred Gate and Dipylon, the two main gates of ancient Athens.
There is also a small museum on the site, the Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos. It shows important finds from the area, covering the period from the 3rd millennium B.C. BC to the time of Roman rule and were found during excavation work after 1915.
The exhibits are displayed in chronological order, as well as by origin and subject. In the first hall and in the atrium, visitors will find ancient sculptures. The remaining three rooms house finds such as pottery and vases, as well as tombstones and grave goods, including gold jewelry and everyday objects. This gives the visitor an insight into ancient ceramic production, but also into burial customs and the cult of the dead in antiquity.
The unique backdrop of the area is also ideal for a romantic walk.
Museum Shop
A small museum shop with a selection of books, gifts and souvenirs can also be found on the museum grounds.
Admission, Tickets and Guided Tours
How Do I Get to Kerameikos?
The Kerameikos archaeological site is located in the Athens district of the same name, near the Acropolis. Thanks to its central location between two metro stations, it has good public transport connections. It can be reached from the Monastiraki district after an 11-minute walk or by taking the M1 metro line (to "Thisseio").
Visitors arriving from the cruise port in Piraeus can walk to the nearby Piraeus metro station and get on the M1 line. A single ticket is sufficient for the 15-minute ride to the "Thisseio" station. From there it is another 5 minutes walk.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The archaeological site and museum of Kerameikos is open all year round. The current opening hours can be found on the official website of the museum.
The archaeological site of Kerameikos is located in the district of the same name in Athens, close to the Acropolis and just an eleven-minute walk from the Monastiraki district. The full address is: Ermou 148, 10553 Athens
Thanks to its central location between two metro stations, the Kerameikos has good public transport connections. From the Monastiraki district you can reach it with an 11-minute walk or by subway line M1 (to “Thisseio”).
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 15-minute journey to Thisseio station. From there it is a 5 minute walk.
Tickets are available at the ticket counters on site and online in our shop.
History of Kerameikos
In ancient times, Kerameikos housed one of the most important ancient cemeteries. As was usual at the time, the largest and oldest Attic cemetery extended outside the city walls. The area was also an important center for Attic pottery, which is why numerous clay vessels were found in the excavation work.
Scientific excavations on the site of Kerameikos were first carried out in 1863 by the Greek Archaeological Society. Since 1913, the excavations, archaeological research and restoration measures have been accompanied by the German Archaeological Institute. The finds from the older excavations can be seen in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. All the finds discovered from the beginning of the German excavation work are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, which was founded in 1937 and expanded over time.
Today, Kerameikos, along with the Acropolis, the Agora and the Olympieion, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the city, making it one of the most worth seeing places in Athens.
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