21 of the best · Athens, Greece
21 of the Best Art Galleries & Museums in Athens
From the Acropolis sculptures and Cycladic figurines to Picasso and the boldest new Greek artists: the best art museums, foundations and contemporary galleries in Athens, from Kolonaki to Metaxourgeio.
Our 21 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in Athens
Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Athens.
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Greek art since 1900
National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum
Greece's most important art museum, founded in 1900 and reopened after a major expansion: Greek painting and sculpture from the post-Byzantine era to the 20th century, from El Greco to Ghika, plus European masters.
50 Vasileos Konstantinou AvenueExplore View on map
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Contemporary art
EMST – National Museum of Contemporary Art
Greece's national museum of contemporary art, in the converted Fix brewery, with Greek and international art from the 1960s to today. Open Tuesday to Sunday, with late opening on Thursdays.
Kallirrois Avenue & Amvrosiou Frantzi StreetExplore View on map
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Picasso to Van Gogh
Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation
Opened in 2019 in a 1920s neoclassical mansion with a ten-storey extension, showing the Goulandris collection of modern masters such as Van Gogh, Cézanne, Picasso and Giacometti alongside great Greek artists.
13 Eratosthenous StreetExplore View on map
The full list: Art, A–Z
Show 18 of 21 places on a map
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Classical sculpture
Acropolis Museum
The masterpieces of the Acropolis, from the Caryatids to the Parthenon sculptures, displayed in light-filled galleries at the foot of the rock, with the Parthenon in view.
15 Dionysiou Areopagitou StreetExplore View on map
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Pop & street art
Allouche Benias Gallery
The Athens branch of a New York gallery, opened in 2018 in a 19th-century mansion, with art that draws on pop and street-art influences.
1 Kanari StreetExplore View on map
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Picasso to Van Gogh
Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation
Opened in 2019 in a 1920s neoclassical mansion with a ten-storey extension, showing the Goulandris collection of modern masters such as Van Gogh, Cézanne, Picasso and Giacometti alongside great Greek artists.
13 Eratosthenous StreetExplore View on map
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Greek culture
Benaki Museum
Founded by Antonis Benakis and opened in 1930, a sweeping journey through Greek art and culture from prehistory to the 20th century, in a neoclassical mansion with a lovely rooftop café.
1 Koumbari Street & Vasilissis Sofias AvenueExplore View on map
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Big exhibitions
Benaki Museum Pireos 138
The Benaki Museum's large contemporary venue near Kerameikos metro, home to major temporary exhibitions of art, architecture, design and photography.
138 Pireos StreetExplore View on map
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Since 1977
Bernier/Eliades Gallery
Opened in 1977, the gallery that introduced Arte Povera, minimalism and conceptual art to Greece; in Thiseio since 1999, with a second space in Brussels.
11 Eptachalkou StreetExplore View on map
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Art & music
B&M Theocharakis Foundation
A foundation for the fine arts and music opened in 2007 in a 1928 building opposite the National Garden, with exhibitions of Greek and international art, concerts and a café.
9 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue & 1 Merlin StreetExplore View on map
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Emerging artists
Dio Horia Gallery Acropolis
Founded in 2015, with spaces in Athens and Mykonos, focusing on emerging artists from the periphery, a few steps from the Acropolis Museum.
5–7 Lempesi & 16 Porinou StreetsExplore View on map
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Since 1989
Eleni Koroneou Gallery
Open since 1989, with contemporary painting of international standing and support for emerging local artists.
30 Dimofontos & 7 Thorikion StreetsExplore View on map
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Contemporary art
EMST – National Museum of Contemporary Art
Greece's national museum of contemporary art, in the converted Fix brewery, with Greek and international art from the 1960s to today. Open Tuesday to Sunday, with late opening on Thursdays.
Kallirrois Avenue & Amvrosiou Frantzi StreetExplore View on map
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Blue-chip art
Gagosian Athens
The Athens outpost of the global gallery, opened in 2017 in a listed modernist mansion, showing major international artists.
22 Anapiron Polemou StreetExplore View on map
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Art & science
Herakleidon Museum
Founded in 2004 by collectors Paul and Anna-Belinda Firos, with two buildings in Thiseio showing art, including works by M.C. Escher, and hands-on exhibitions linking art, maths and science.
16 Irakleidon & 35 Apostolou Pavlou StreetsExplore View on map
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Greek contemporary
Kalfayan Galleries
A leading gallery for contemporary Greek art, with roots in Armenian cultural collecting, in a glass-box building in Kolonaki.
11 Charitos StreetExplore View on map
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La Divina
Maria Callas Museum
The world's first museum dedicated to the great soprano, opened by the City of Athens in 2023 in a restored neoclassical building opposite the cathedral. Four floors tell her story through costumes, jewellery, letters, photographs and recordings, with immersive listening rooms, a shop and the La Divina café on the ground floor. Closed on Mondays.
44 Mitropoleos StreetExplore View on map
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Cycladic figurines
Museum of Cycladic Art
Famous for its striking marble Cycladic figurines, more than 4,500 years old and an inspiration to modern artists, with ancient Greek and Cypriot art and big contemporary shows in a neoclassical mansion.
4 Neofytou Douka StreetExplore View on map
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Ancient masterpieces
National Archaeological Museum
One of the world's great museums of ancient art: the gold Mask of Agamemnon, the bronze Artemision god, Cycladic art and the Antikythera mechanism.
44 Patision StreetExplore View on map
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Greek art since 1900
National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum
Greece's most important art museum, founded in 1900 and reopened after a major expansion: Greek painting and sculpture from the post-Byzantine era to the 20th century, from El Greco to Ghika, plus European masters.
50 Vasileos Konstantinou AvenueExplore View on map
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Since 1995
Rebecca Camhi Gallery
Running since 1995 and known for showing artists such as Nan Goldin and Nobuyoshi Araki, in a neoclassical house in Metaxourgeio.
9 Leonidou StreetExplore View on map
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Bold & conceptual
The Breeder
One of the city's most influential contemporary galleries, showing colourful, conceptual work with pop culture and new media in a restored building in Metaxourgeio.
45 Iasonos StreetExplore View on map
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Shows & talks
The Project Gallery
An art space founded in 2018 with group shows, performances and talks, in a Monastiraki building with a rooftop bar.
3 Normanou StreetExplore View on map
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50+ years
Zoumboulakis Galleries
Founded more than 50 years ago and representing many of Greece's major artists, with a design and antiques shop near Syntagma.
6 Kriezotou StreetExplore View on map
Join the conversation
Seen a great exhibition or show in Athens? Share your discoveries and tips with other visitors and Athenians.
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Commercial galleries are free to visit; most are closed on Sundays and Mondays and between shows, so check what's on before you go. Museum tickets and opening hours change with the season.
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