The National Historical Museum in Athens

Greece › Athens › Museums › National Historical Museum
Updated: August 11, 2022
By Santorini Dave

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Cream and burgundy neoclassical building with marble steps leading up to a large pillared entryway

The National Historical Museum is located in central Athens, one block northwest of Syntagma Square.

Tickets: Purchase at museum.

Founded in 1882, Athens’ National Historical Museum is the oldest museum of its kind in Greece. The museum’s permanent collection tells the story of Greek culture from ancient to modern times, with rooms and corridors narrating aspects of Greek society over different centuries and periods – most notably the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the start of the Ottoman Empire and Latin rule, and the country’s liberation struggles during the Greek War of Independence. Items on display include weapons, personal belongings, and memorabilia from historical personalities such as Lord Byron, historical paintings by Greek and foreign artists, authentic manuscripts, and a large collection of traditional Greek costumes and jewelry from various regions of Greece.

The museum was formerly housed in the main building of the Athens Polytechnic University, but moved in 1960 to its permanent home inside the Old Parliament Building on Stadiou Street in central Athens. The building housed the Greek Parliament from 1875 to 1932, until it moved to its current location at Syntagma Square. The grand Central Hall of the National Assembly is still used for conferences today; visitors can see it when entering the museum, located just behind the ticket desk.
The National Historical Museum is located in central Athens, one block northwest of Syntagma Square and about 1km from Monastiraki Square. The nearest metro stations are Syntagma or Panepistimio, both about a 300-meter walk on city streets.

National Historical Museum Hours and Information

  • Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm September to June. Tuesday to Sunday 10am-4pm July & August. Closed Mondays.
  • Website: nhmuseum.gr
  • Location: 13 Stadiou St.
  • Telephone: +30 210 323 7617
  • Admission Fee: 3€/person full admission, reduced admission 1.5€/person.
  • Free Entry: Every Sunday, March 25, May 18th, October 28th.
  • Parking: Street parking, nearby pay lots.
  • Nearest Metro: Syntagma, Panepistimio

Athens National Historical Museum

Neoclassical building with a statue of a general astride a horse.

Athens’ National Historical Museum in central Athens is housed within the beautiful former Greek Parliament building.

Elaborate desk, backed by flags, within a grand, pillared, room.

The Grand Hall of the National Assembly is still in use, and can be viewed by visitors.

Grand assembly hall with a view portico above

The museum space is adjacent to the Grand Hall.

Museum board illsutrating important dates in Greece's history

Using colorful displays and artifacts, the museum tells the story of Greek culture from ancient to modern times.

Colorful painting of an old Greek figure in elaborate dress

Diorama of an old Greek parlor next to a TV set for a doculentary viewing

Hallway lined with paintings and old guns

Mannequins in antique Greek costume around an elegant table

Suit of armor next to a museum display of helmets

White marble statue of an imposing figure in front of a flag

Paintings on a wall above a museum display case

Room with paintings on display and museum cases filled with artifacts

Red-pained hallway lined with paintings and statues

Part of a ship on display in a museum room

Elegant museum display in front of a curtained window

Flags and crowns on display in museum cases

Hallway lined with jewelry display cases, leading to a room with costumed mannequins

Museum room displaying traditional Greek clothing

Traditional Greek clothing on display in museum cases

Traditional Greek clothing and jewelry on display behind glass

Hallway lined with paintings and antique guns

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.