Acropolis Museum
Μουσείο Ακρόπολης · Athens (south slope of the Acropolis), Greece
Ancient ruins beneath glass floors, and a glass gallery on the top floor facing the Parthenon.
Know before you go
- Don't touch the exhibits
- don't take photos in galleries where it's banned
- don't stamp or jump on the glass floors
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
A gallery waiting for its sculptures to come home
Between 1801 and 1812, agents of the 7th Earl of Elgin removed about half of the Parthenon's surviving sculptures and shipped them to Britain, where they later entered the British Museum as the 'Elgin Marbles'. Elgin claimed the removal had the permission of Ottoman officials, but its legality is still disputed. When Greece asked for their return, it was told there was 'no suitable place to display them'; the top-floor gallery of the Acropolis Museum, opened in 2009, was built to match the temple's column spacing.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The Acropolis Museum holds all the finds from the Acropolis and its slopes, from the Bronze Age through Roman and Byzantine times; it opened on 20 June 2009. The old museum, built on the Acropolis in 1874, had long been too small for new finds; when Greece asked Britain to return the 'Elgin Marbles', it was told there was 'no suitable place to display them' — one reason for building the new museum. The top-floor Parthenon Gallery has the same column spacing as the temple itself, with glass on all four sides so the sculptures are seen in natural light; the building stands over ancient ruins, and parts of the floor are glass, revealing the excavations below.
Local customs
- Photography is banned in some galleries, so watch for signs
- backpacks may need to be checked in
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Greece: don't photograph military installations
- Put your camera away when you see military-zone signs
- Approaching or photographing military installations, vehicles and buildings
It is illegal.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Greece travel advice
Greece: drunken rowdiness and indecent behaviour lead to arrest
- Behave appropriately in public
- Drunken rowdiness and indecent exposure
- Wearing costumes that may be seen as offensive
Police will arrest you, and courts usually impose heavy fines or prison.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Greece travel advice
Greece: no fires, no barbecues
- Follow fire warnings when hiking
- Lighting fires or barbecuing in the countryside
Starting a wildfire is a criminal offence, even if unintentional.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Greece travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Don't touch the exhibits
- don't take photos in galleries where it's banned
- don't stamp or jump on the glass floors
Locals appreciate DO
Athenians appreciate visitors who see the museum before going up the Acropolis — once you understand the sculptures here, the temples on the hill make more sense.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | Midday in summer, to escape the heat |
|---|---|
| Time needed | 2 hours |
Travel tips
- It's a few minutes' walk from the Acropolis's south entrance
- summer middays on the hill are scorching, so climb first and retreat to the museum at noon
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