In 1863 a small museum was erected to house the Greek artifacts, followed in 1888 with a second building. In the 1970's the museum was too small for the many visitors it attracted and new building competitions were held. Today the museum is 10 times larger than before.
The museum is located 300 meters from the Acropolis in Makriyannis, a historic district of Athens. It is only two kilometers from Syntagma Square, a popular political gathering spot and conveniently near the Acropolis Metro Station.
The museum houses five permanent collection halls. The collections contain artifacts from jewelry to sculptures. The halls are the Hall of the Slopes of the Acropolis; Hall of the Ancient Works; Hall of the Parthenon; Propylaea, Athena Nike, Erechtheion; and the 5th century BC--5th century AD.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on Mondays. The museum is also closed on holidays.
There are two shops located in the museum. The shops carry gifts, postcards, stationery and souvenirs relating to the Acropolis.
There are 2 café/restaurants in the museum. The Brown café has a glass floor that allows patrons to view the archaeological excavation. The second floor restaurant has beautiful views of the Acropolis. Both offer beverages, coffee and sandwiches. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
