Greece › Athens › Museums › Goulandris Natural History Museum
Updated: August 18, 2022
By Santorini Dave
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Tickets: GetYourGuide.com (Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.)
The family-friendly Goulandris Natural History Museum, the first national history museum in Greece, is located in Kifisia, a northeastern suburb of Athens. It was founded as a Botanical Museum in 1964 by philanthropists Angelos and Niki Goulandris in order to promote interest in the natural sciences and call attention to the need to protect wildlife and species from extinction. In 1977, the museum expanded to include zoology, paleontology, and geology. It is now dedicated to environmental study, conservation, and protection, with the goal of preventing and reversing the loss of Greece’s natural habitats.
For decades, scientists at the museum have been studying Greece’s environment. The nation’s geographic location and climate allow for a degree of biodiversity that sets it apart from anywhere else in Europe. In 1999, the Goulandris Museum established the GAIA Center for Environmental Research and Education, whose goal is to influence new environmental policy in Greece, Europe, and across the globe.
Housed in a beautiful 1875 neoclassical building, the museum’s permanent display is arranged across the first floor and includes insects, mammals, birds, reptiles, shells, rocks, minerals and fossils from Greece, Africa, and North America. Temporary exhibitions and the GAIA Center are on the 2nd floor. There is limited English signage on display, but visitors can learn all about the exhibits before viewing them in the museum’s computer area. A museum shop and café are on site, as well as a beautiful garden restaurant. Located about 15km northeast of central Athens, but accessible by metro; the Kifissia station (green line/line 1) is about an 800-meter walk away.
Goulandris Natural History Museum Hours and Information
- Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 2:30pm, 10am to 3pm Saturday and Sunday. Closed on public holidays and the month of August.
- Website: gnhm.gr
- Location: Levidou 13, Kifisia
- Telephone: +30 21 0801 5870
- Admission Fee: General Admission 10€; seniors and children 5 to 18 years of age 6€; children 2 to 4 years of age 2€.
- Free Entry: Children under 2, disabled visitors.
- Parking: Street parking, nearby pay lot.
- Nearest Metro: Kifissia
Goulandris Natural History Museum
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About Santorini Dave
I'm Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a short article on tips for visiting Santorini with kids. We're now a small team of writers and researchers dedicated to providing the best travel content on the internet. We focus on Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece, offering recommendations for top hotels, neighborhoods, and family-friendly hotels worldwide. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.