The Goulandris Museum of Natural History is in the northern suberbs, in Kifisia, 15 km from the center of Athens.
It was founded by Agelos and Niki Goulandris in 1964. Originally, it operated as a Botanic Museum, while in 1977 it expanded in the areas of zoology, paleontology and geology.
The museum is inspired by the famous Natural History Museum of London, with which it cooperates, and has permanent exhibitions with stuffed animals, insects, plants, rocks and animal fossils.
In 1999 the Goulandris Natural History Museum created the Center for Environmental Research and Education GAIA, to serve as the museum of the future, devising a new environmental policy both in Greece and internationally. The GAIA Centre presents to visitors the evolution and functioning of planet Earth and its current state.
On the museum premises you will also find an excellent café-restaurant and a shop.
Goulandris Museum of Natural History: Address, Levidou 13 street & Othonos, Kifissia.
More information concerning the Goulandris Museum of Natural History can be found in www.gnhm.gr and the number 210 8015870.
The Piraeus Maritime Museum is in the area of Piraeus, 10 km from the center of Athens.
The museum was founded in 1949, it is the largest of its kind in Greece and on the premises of a total area of 2,500 square meters, it presents the Greek marine history and seafaring.
Starting from ancient times with the shipbuilding and development of ships, continuing in the Roman and Byzantine times, with particular reference to the years of the Greek Revolution of 1821 and ending in modern times, the Piraeus Maritime Museum shows the great achievements of the Greeks in shipping.
The museum also has a rich archive of document, photographs and an excellent library with rare editions of books and nautical charts.
Piraeus Maritime Museum: Address, Themistocles Akti, Freattyda, Piraeus.
More information about the Piraeus Maritime Museum can be found in the number 210 4516264.
The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments Phoebus Anoyanakis is in Plaka, the scenic area under the Acropolis, right next to the Roman Agora (Forum). Founded in 1991, the museum is housed in a lovely mansion of 1840.
The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments Phoebus Anoyanakis owes its existence to the musicologist Phoebus Anoyanakis and his collection of musical instruments, which formed the basis of the museum. This collection consists of over 1200 Greek folk musical instruments made from the 18th century until today.
All the instruments that are exposed in the museum are accompanied by audio examples, to enable visitors understand the sound of each instrument. In the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments Phoebus Anoyanakis, you will also find a small hall that hosts events and a shop that sells discs and musical instruments.
Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments Phoebus Anoyanakis: Address, Diogenous Street 1-3, Plaka.
More information concerning the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments Phoebus Anoyanakis, can be found in www.instruments-museum.gr and the number 210 3250198.
In Plaka, the picturesque neighborhood below Acropolis, lies the Museum of Greek Folk Art. The museum was founded in 1918 and hosts works of modern Greek cultural heritage. Its exhibits include collections of weaving, costumes, masquerades, shadow theater, jewelery, metalwork, pottery, wood carving, folk painting, stone carving and embroidery.
Museum of Greek Folk Art: Address, Kydathinaion Street 17, Plaka.
More information concerning the Museum of Greek Folk Art can be found in www.melt.gr and the number 210 3229031.
The War Museum is in the center of Athens, about 500 meters from Syntagma Square. The museum was inaugurated in 1975 and it operates in a building designed by distinguished Greeks, with professor Thoukidides Valentis as head. The building is distinguished by its special architecture and its most striking feature is that the first floor is larger in size than the ground floor.
Inside the War Museum visitors can admire, among others, collections of weapons, relics and objects from military operations of the Greek armed forces. Also maps, prints, books and documents narrate the story of war in Greece.
Entering the museum's courtyard you will find yourself in a small military aircraft exhibition, amidst cannons from different historical periods. The War Museum has a rich library, photo gallery and conference center, where events are organized, with themes relating to war and beyond.
The War Museum has branches in Thessaloniki, Tripoli, Nafplio and Chania.
War Museum: Address, Vasilisis Sofias street & Rizari, Athens.
More information concerning the War Museum can be found inwww.warmuseum.gr and the number 210 7252974.
The Byzantine and Christian Museum is in the center of Athens, about 400 meters from Syntagma Square. The museum was founded in 1914 and is housed in a building complex where Sophia de Marbois lived, best known in Greece as the Duchess of Plakentia.
The Byzantine and Christian Museum houses over 25,000 exhibits, including collections of sculptures, photographs, paintings, ceramics, mosaics, manuscripts and paintings of mainly religious content covering the period from the 3rd century AD to modern times.
Byzantine and Christian Museum: Address, Vasilisis Sofias street 22, Athens.
More information concerning the Byzantine and Christian Museum can be found inwww.byzantinemuseum.gr and the number 213 2139500.
