Guide to the National History Museum: Admission, Exhibition, Directions

Housed in the old Parliament building, the National Historical Museum brings the history of modern Greece to life with its collection on the country's eventful recent past.

In this complete guide to the National History Museum 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 Historical Museum?

The National Historical Museum in the Old Parliament houses a chronological collection covering the country's history, from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 through Ottoman rule to the present day. The main focus is on the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829) and the establishment of the Greek state.

On a tour of the rooms of the former Greek Parliament, visitors primarily discover uniforms, flags and weapons from the time of the Greek War of Independence, but also traditional jewellery, manuscripts, paintings and graphics.

Traditional costumes, neo-Greek handicrafts and personal belongings of historical figures such as kings and politicians make up another large part of the permanent exhibition.

The Museum Building

The National Historical Museum is housed in the old Parliament building of Athens, built between 1858-1875 to designs by François Boulanger.

The fact that the building served as the seat of the Greek Parliament from 1875 to 1935 is also one of the reasons why the National History Museum stands out among the museums in Athens. You can also visit the restored meeting room of the Old Parliament.

In front of the old parliament building there is also a bronze equestrian statue of General Theodoros Kolokotronis, one of the supreme commanders of the Greek War of Independence. Two cannons, dating from the Greek War of Independence, flank the building.

Temporary Exhibitions

The museum offer is regularly supplemented by temporary exhibitions on various topics. A current overview and preview can be found here.

Museum Shop

The museum also has a museum shop with a large selection of books, postcards and various souvenirs.

Admission, Tickets and Guided Tours

How Do I Get to the National Historical Museum?

The National Historical Museum in the Old Parliament is located in the historical center of Athens, near Syntagma Square.

Due to its central location, it can be reached very easily. From the Monastiraki district, for example, the museum is just an 11-minute walk away. Syntagma Square is even just a 5-minute walk away. If you are traveling by public transport, it is best to take Metro 2 to “Panepistimiou”.

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 "Omonia" station. From there it is a 10 minute walk to the National Historical Museum.

History of the National Historical Museum

The foundation of the National Historical Museum dates back to the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece. Since its founding in 1882, it has been dedicated to collecting and preserving objects that shed light on the history of modern Greece.

In 1960, the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece was able to take over the old parliament building in Kolokotronis Square, which served as the seat of the Greek Parliament from 1875 to 1935. The building was turned into a museum over the next two years to display the evidence of Greek history accumulated over the decades.

Since 1962, the National Historical Museum, which is still run by the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece, has presented its collections on the history of modern Greece in the Old Parliament.