Byzantine and Christian Museum

The Byzantine and Christian Museum, located in the centre of Athens, is one of the most important national museums in Greece established in 1914, and one of the top museums in the world.

The museum has over 30,000 important and valuable artefacts in its possession including exceptional icons, sculptures, ceramics, ecclesiastical textiles, paintings, jewellery, frescos and mosaics. The artefacts date from between the 3rd and 20th century AD, and their provenance encompasses the entire Greek world, as well as regions in which Hellenism flourished. The size and range of the collections and value of the exhibits makes the Museum a veritable treasury of Byzantine and post-Byzantine art and culture.

The permanent exhibition is divided in two main parts:

The first is devoted to Byzantium (4th -15th c. AD) and contains 1,200 artifacts and the second entitled 'From Byzantium to the modern era' presents 1,500 artworks dating from the 15th to 20th century.

During the summer there are often concerts in the courtyard.

Opening Hours

Monday - Sunday: 8.00 am - 8:00 pm

For security reasons, the last visitors may enter 15 minutes before the museum closes.

Temporary exhibitions may have different opening hours.

Admission Fee

Full: €4, Reduced: €2

Free admission for children under 18 years old

A separate ticket may apply to temporary exhibitions.

Public Holidays

1st January: closed

25th March: closed

Good Friday: 12pm - 5pm

1st May: closed

Easter Sunday: closed

25th December: closed

26th December: closed

Reduced Admission available for

Participants in international conferences, following the approval of the Director General for Antiquities and Cultural Heritage;

Participants in excursions organized by the OEE;

Parents accompanying primary school children on educational visits;

EU senior citizens over 65 on presentation of their passport or ID card;

People entitled to a renewable three-year 'Free Entrance Pass'.

Free entry is available to

Free Entrance Pass holders;

Culture Card holders;

ICON-ICOMOS membership card holders;

EU citizens in Higher or Further education on presentation of their student ID;

Young people under 19 on presentation of their ID card;

Schoolchildren under 19 accompanied by a teacher;

'Friends of' museums and archaeological sites around Greek on presentation of a validated membership card;

Guides, on presentation of their Hellenic Ministry of Development ID;

Journalists on presentation of their union cards;

People accompanying blind visitors and people with mobility disabilities;

Conscripts on presentation of their military ID;

Antiquity and art conservators in possession of a special Ministry of Culture pass;

Employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, TDPEAE, TAPA and OPEP on presentation of their civil service ID.