Athens Benaki Museum

Location: Vasilissis Sofias Ave

Benaki Museum in Athens, Greece: Originally the home of Emmanuel Benakis, the Benaki museum was handed over to Greece by his heirs after his death in 1929. Meant to house the collection of the son of Emmanuel Benakis, Antonis, the Benakis Museum was opened up to the public in 1931. The building was constructed in 1867-1868 by Ioannis Peroglou, a wealthy merchant.

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The building then transferred into the hands of businessman Panagis Charokopos and then in 1910, it was again sold to Emmanuel Benakis, who made significant changes to make the house more suitable for his family. Finally, architect Anastasios Metaxas made the final alterations that came into effect when the building was converted into a museum in 1931, this included extending its west side.

After Antonis Benakis death in 1974, many more items were added to the museums already extensive collection. Some of its more prominent collections include photographic and historic, Neo-Hellenistic, architecture archives and also a Department of Childhood which includes an interesting collection of toys and games. Also showcased are various pieces of modern and modernistic art by Greek artists. There are also exhibitions of the Cycladic, Minoan and Mycenaean art, as well as items from the Byzantine period.

The modern collection in the museum consists of artifacts more religious in nature, as compared to the earlier collections. This includes wooden paintings, decorative items, textiles, traditional costumes, jewels and much more. The religious artifacts date to the post-Byzantine era and have been retrieved from all over Greece and also Greek communities in other parts of the world.

Address: Vasilissis Sofias Ave and Koubari st, 1
Phone: (+30) 210 36 71 000

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How to get there

There are many ways to reach Benaki Museum, from any location in Athens.

Tours: Discover Benaki Museum with an organized tour, starting from 17 euros.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked Athens transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: 0030 693 881 8288, 0030 694 597 2090, 0030 690 943 9292 or book your taxi online.

On foot: As Benaki Museum is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Syntagma or Evangelismos metro stations, in approximately 10 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro station is “Syntagma” on lines 2 and 3. Note that Benaki Museum is located within a 10-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is “Kipos”. Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.

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