Acropolis Museum (Museo Akropoleos)

Wander the Acropolis Museum (Museo Akropoleos) for a look at original pieces from the temples of the Acropolis, protected from further deterioration and presented with historical context. In the Parthenon Gallery, see the famous marble frieze recreated. View statues that predate the Acropolis itself in Archaic Gallery, and find pots, children's toys and other things used by the early settlers in Gallery of the Slopes.

In summer and Easter tourist peaks, a skip-the-line ticket saves time. The Acropolis Museum is set up for independent exploration, but it’s also a popular stop on Athens history tours. An Acropolis Museum tour makes the perfect introduction to the sights of the Acropolis above.

• The Acropolis Museum is a must for any visitor to Athens.

• Museum facilities include two shops, a cafe, and a restaurant, open late on Fridays.

• Completed in 2007, the Acropolis Museum replaced an older museum of the same name.

• The museum appeals to families, with activity backpacks for kids.

• The Acropolis Museum is fully wheelchair accessible, with accessible bathrooms and elevators. Wheelchairs are available, and service dogs are welcome.

The Acropolis Museum is a 10-minute walk from the Acropolis in downtown Athens, and many travelers combine a visit to the Acropolis with a tour of the museum. Driving in historic Athens is not recommended. Ride the metro to Acropolis (Line 2), catch a bus or a trolley to Makriyianni, take the tram to Leoforos Vouliagmenis, cycle, or go with a tour.

The museum is open daily, with extended hours in summer and cheaper tickets in winter. It is closed on major holidays. Visit midweek for a less crowded experience.

The Acropolis Museum’s most famous—and most controversial—display is the Parthenon Frieze, a 525-foot (160-meter) masterpiece by the fifth-century Athenian sculptor Phidias that once crowned the Parthenon temple. The white patches are plaster casts of its missing pieces, the Parthenon Marbles or Elgin Marbles, removed by Lord Elgin in 1801 and now held by London’s British Museum. Watch the film to learn more about the religious procession the frieze depicts.

Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours at the Acropolis Museum. Two hours are enough to view most of the exhibits at a leisurely pace. However, remember that the museum comprises four levels, including the basement-level archaeological site—this is not a museum you want to rush through.

Generally, yes, as the museum is one of the most popular Athens attractions. However, it also depends on the timing of your visit. Tickets are more likely to sell out in April–October and the middle of the day. The museum opens at 8am and often closes well into the evening.

It comes down to personal preference, but there are two factors to remember. Visiting the museum first can give you a better sense of the historical importance of the temples and statues in the Acropolis. Since the museum is air-conditioned, it remains cool in the heat of the day.

Yes, you can visit the Acropolis Museum without a tour. However, you will need to purchase admission tickets—and separate tickets for the Acropolis if you want to visit both attractions. You can visit the Acropolis on your own, but tours offer historical and architectural insights into the archaeological sites.

Yes, you can take pictures inside the Acropolis Museum in Athens with some limits. You can take amateur photographs and film for personal use in all areas of the museum except the first floor's Archaic Acropolis Gallery. Flash photography and professional equipment such as tripods are not allowed inside.

No, tickets to the Acropolis Museum don't grant admission to the Acropolis. To visit the Acropolis, purchase a separate ticket from the office below the main entrance to the Acropolis. Combination tickets to the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, and other attractions in Athens are typically sold by outside vendors.