Athens: Museums, Exhibitions & Discounts

Athens is one of the world's oldest cities and is the capital and largest city of Greece. In many ways it can be called the birthplace of Classical Greece, and therefore of Western civilization. Athens is now a global city and one of the biggest economic centers in southeastern Europe. The heritage of the classical era is however still evident in the city. It is represented by many works of art and ancient, the most famous of all being the Parthenon, a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis. Besides this, Athens also still features some Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments. The Acropolis itself (the ancient citadel) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the medieval Daphni Monastery (an eleventh-century Byzantine monastery).

Because of its antiquity and influence, the city is full of museums and galleries. Major ones include the National Archeological Museum, the Acropolis Museum, the Benaki Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Museum of the Ancient Agora. Visual arts also enjoy a big share in the culture and everyday life in Athens. Next to the bigger National Gallery and the Benaki Museum, Athens features many small private galleries that are spread throughout the city.