Athens War Museum
The Athens War Museum is a fascinating look at Greek history through
the lens of warfare from ancient battles to the Greek War of Independence and
World War II.
Byzantine Warship in the Athens War Museum
Don't be put off by the name or by the military hardware
outside the War Museum (or Polemikó Mouseío in Greek), for inside is a
fascinating collection covering many aspects of Greek history.
Military Vehicle
Displays
Outside the museum is a display of military vehicles. Children will enjoy climbing up to peer inside the cockpits of the Spitfires and Tiger Moths, and getting a close look at the anti-aircraft guns and some fairly primitive World War I hardware.
The Athens War Museum
Having examined the outside displays, go inside and take the
stairs or lift to the top floor, working your way down, though the layout on
the several floors is not strictly chronological. This makes more sense of a
visit, though, and you may wish to take a break in the café in the basement
afterwards.
Our Pick of the Athens Guides
Temple of Vassai
Friezes
As just one example of the museum's all-encompassing brief, it
includes copies of some dramatic friezes from the remote Temple of Vassai on
the Peloponnese, regarded as one of the most outstanding Greek temples outside
Athens. The friezes show military conflict, and art lovers will appreciate
stumbling across such skilful replicas of otherwise relatively inaccessible
pieces.
Ottoman Scimitars at the Athens War Museum
Photo by Tilemahos Efthimiadis
War Museum: Model
Cities
The museum covers conflicts dating back to the Greek myths,
the Trojan Wars and the tales of Homer. There are first-class models of many of
the fortified towns in Greece, such as Náfplion and Mystra, and others showing
great battle scenes from Greek history.
War Museum on World
War II
World War II is covered in some depth, including the Battle
of Crete and the sufferings of the Athenian population. There is also an extensive
collection of weaponry and uniforms.
Anti-Aircraft Missile Outside the Athens War Museum
Photo by Tilemahos Efthimiadis
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Some other Athens pages
Two of the best cocktail bars in Athens, MoMix Kerameikos and The Clumsies, are making creative cocktails using that most Greek of Greek spirits, Metaxa.
Athens is a top vacation destination. The Greece Travel Secrets Athens guide has information on hotels, museums, Athens airport and all the best things to do.
Athens Airport hotels include the luxury Sofitel at the terminals, Holiday Inn near the airport, and others close by like the Hotel Pantheon.
Athens Food Tours are being introduced by new company The Greek Fork, and will include tours of the Central Market, and the best street food.
The Athens Museum of Cycladic Art houses a remarkable collection of Cycladic figurines and other items and is one of the best museums in Athens.
The best things to do in Athens, Greece, include top archaeological sites like the Acropolis and must-see attractions such as the National Archaeological Museum
There are lots of flights from Athens to Santorini as well as a ferry service from Piraeus, with flights to Santorini leaving from Athens International Airport.
This extract of Artistic Athens in the Lonely Planet book Culture Trails takes visitors on a journey through the artistic side of Athens..
Pictures of Athens from the Greece Travel Secrets website
Athens walking tours and other experiences like cookery lessons, ceramics workshops, dining with a family, and street art are available from Alternative Athens
Piraeus is the port of Athens from where many ferries to the Greek islands depart, and it also has an Archaeological Museum and the Hellenic Maritime Museum.
The Athens Agora or ancient market is a must-see site and one of the best things to do in Athens with its restored arcade building, the Stoa, and its museum.
The Athens Byzantine and Christian Museum is housed in a beautiful villa with an underground wing and lovely gardens too.
This walk around the Kolonaki neighbourhood of Athens starts and ends in Syntagma Square and takes you to several museums, Kolonaki Square and Mount Lykabettos.
Around Monastiraki is the flea market, Athens cathedral, Kerameikos Cemetery, the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art and the Psirri and Gazi nightlife districts.
This beginner's guide to Greek architecture explains how to tell your Ionic from your Doric columns, and what to look for in temples and Byzantine churches.
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to the original Athens Olympic Stadium, built for the 1896 Olympic Games and open to the public for jogging and photography.
This Athens dining guide doesn't list restaurants but gives practical advice on types of eating places, tipping, hotel breakfasts and picnics.
Athens car rental options include almost all of the major international car hire firms such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Europcar.
A History of Athens from the first people to live on the Acropolis through the Golden Age of Pericles and Alexander the Great to the military junta.
Athens Airport car rentals include Alamo/National Car Rental, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, all with offices at the airport.
There's all kinds of entertainment in Athens whether you're interested in theatre, dance, classical music, jazz, Greek music, rock music, disco, opera or movies.
In My Athens on Greece Travel Secrets travel writer Mike Gerrard describes what he loves about Athens including the Acropolis and eating!
Greekality is a Greek company offering food tours in Athens including street food tours, wine and nightlife tours, vegan tours and cooking classes.
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Monastiraki Flea Market, followed by Sunday lunch at Sigalas on Monastiraki Square
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...
Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?
- Click on the HTML link code below.
- Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment,
your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.
-
The Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) has announced its participation in the 24-hour strike called by the General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) on Wednesday, April 9. The strike, which will…
Read More
-
Andros, named Greece’s top hiking island for 2025 by Conde Nast Traveler, boasts diverse landscapes, scenic trails, cultural charm and stunning beaches.
Read More
-
The Greek island of Karpathos, a true hidden gem, has earned a spot on GEO magazine’s list of Europe’s nine best-kept travel secrets.
Read More
-
Among the many city eateries offering modern and classic Greek cuisine, Mavros Gatos in Pangrati stands out as a prime example of what a true traditional taverna should be today.
Read More
-
A total of about 180 people arrived on two direct flights from Morocco, including actors as well as the core production team.
Read More
-
Greece Travel Secrets lists the ten best dishes to try in Greece, especially if it’s your first visit, and also discover the best places to find them.
Read More
-
Athens sizzles with culinary creativity, blending timeless classics and innovative flavors at unforgettable dining spots.
Read More
-
Greece’s public museums and archaeological sites will offer free entry on Sunday, March 2, and Thursday, March 6, following a decision by the Greek Culture Ministry. According to the ministry, on the…
Read More
-
Apano Meria, rich in geology and Cycladic history, captures the timeless charm of the Greek islands.
Read More
-
Taxi drivers in Athens will hold a 24-hour strike beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, February 19, in protest of changes to street mobility regulations and increasing competition from ride-hailing apps.
Read More