Benaki Museum
Μουσείο Μπενάκη
A Greek cultural history museum that began as a private collection, showing costumes, icons and art from prehistory to modern times. The rooftop café overlooks the National Garden.
The Benaki Museum was founded in 1930 by collector Antonis Benakis. Its main building is a neoclassical mansion, which displays Greek artefacts in chronological order, from prehistory and the Byzantine period through the Ottoman era to the War of Independence. Its highlights are folk costumes, icons and the carved wooden reception room. Admission is about €12, and entry is free on Thursday evenings. It lies on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, a 10-minute walk from Syntagma Square, next to the Museum of Cycladic Art.
Opening hours
Wed, Fri & Sat 10:00–18:00; Thu 10:00–24:00; Sun 10:00–16:00
Nearby sights
- Museum of Cycladic Art
- National Garden & Zappeion
- Syntagma Square & Changing of the Guard
- Panathenaic Stadium
- Mount Lycabettus
- Temple of Olympian Zeus & Hadrian's Arch
- Plaka
- Anafiotika