SISer

I will be in Athens for a few hours when my cruise ship docks in port. I plan on visiting the Acroplois and the Plaka. I am not keen on visiting Museams when I travel. I would like to know fodorites opnions on the Archaeological Museum in Athens is it a must see?

Thanks in advance.

HappyTrvlr

It is a major must see and one of the most memorable museum experiences I've ever had. Most of the most significant antiquities from Ancient Greece are displayed there.

111op

Well what would you be doing if you skip the Museum? If you had to choose between Acropolis and the Museum, then obviously you should go to the Acropolis.

sheila

It's one of the great disappointments of my travels that it was closed both times we went through Athens. I haven't seen it, tehrefore, but I would consider it to be high up my "must see" list

111op

I just went last year. It was also closed when I went to Athens before.

Of course it's a must see, but then sometimes one is forced to choose. The best bits are the Mycenean treasures (the Agamemnon death mask, especially), the kouroi and the frescoes from Akrotiri.

But you can at least see similar stuff elsewhere -- in the Met in NYC, for example -- the Met has a famous kouros. And it also had the Euphronios krater (I think the only one that was intact) until it was returned to Italy.

Maria_H

It's worth seeing as it puts all those ancient sites into perspective. Seeing the stones of the Acropolis. etc, is like seeing the bare bones - all the finds displayed in the museum brings it all to life.

JoanneH

The first time I was in Athens it was also on cruise ship and I had appx 8 hours. None of the canned tours suited me so I hired a driver for the day – not cheap but I went where I wanted and spent the time I wanted to at each place I had chosen to go. We was able to be at the Acropolis when it opened before the bus mobs, go to the museum – I allowed 2 hours not a great deal of time but we was able to see the main things, and I considered it very worth while and in fact have been back since and spent almost a day there. We saw a few other sites friends and I had wanted to see and do the Temple of Poseidon which is way out of town. It cost me about 200e for the day which I split with two friends which made it not that bad you could do the same. The freedom and flexibility to do what you want when you want is worth the price JMHO.

flanneruk

"Most of the most significant antiquities from Ancient Greece are displayed there. "

Cobblers.

Most Greek antiquities are still standing on the sites - from Marseilles to Turkey - the Greeks colonised.

Most Greek antiquities in museums are spread through museums around the world. The Athens Archaeological Museum has more than any other - though not THAT many more than, say Heraklion, Thessalonica or the mausoleums of Macedonia - but indifferently displayed. It probably IS the world's best museum of ancient Greece - but it's got an awful lot of competitors, many run with a great deal more concern for visiors - and certainly several will be a lot more convenient for you. Unless you're a serious specialist in Greek history, there's nothing in this museum that's head and shoulders more vital to see than the Greek antiquities on display in New York, Paris, London, Rome, Venice or Berlin.

If you don't like museums in general, don't go within a million miles of this one even if you've got all the time in the world: it'll turn you off other museums and likely dissuade you from spending leisurely time understanding and appreciating what the ancient Greeks did. If you're short of time, what I've just said in spades and raised to the third power.

With a few days in Athens, and with an average tolerance of museums, obviously this should be on your list. Neither apply in your case,. so avoid at all costs.

sheila

Flanner, have you been since the Olympics?

cova

I am with flanner in this case.

We went there this summer, mostly because it was very near to our hotel, so we headed there on our arrival day and we spent three "very packed" hours. we spent most of the time in the primitive section : cycladic figurines and the Agamenon treasure. The Akrotiri frescoes disappointed me a little bit, I was expecting more. And the cafe was lovely.

If you are expecting the "big" things, you should head to the great museums in London, Paris, Rome or Berlin.

The new Acropolis Museum wasn´t opened yet in August. We saw it from the top of the Acropolis and then we saw a presentation at the airport, and it really looks amazing and a place to visit. I think it was supposed to open now, in October.

Bye, Cova

111op

Well I think the Mycenean gold is pretty unique and interesting and even stunning. Not sure if you can find the equivalent easily elsewhere.

I agree that the Akrotiri frescoes are not really that well preserved -- understandably, considering they are about 3-4000 years old.

Sadly I forgot about the Cycladic collection until I had left the museum. I guess that's a good reason to go back some day!

yipper

Hi,
I think you should go to the museum if you are not cutting out the Partheon or the Plaka. The good news is, it is a small museum and it does not take a long time to go through. I like the idea JoanneH had of hiring a driver. I love the temple of Posideon. The location and the ruin are wonderful. Plus travling along the coast road allows for beautiful views. Enjoy!

Yipper