Athens War Museum

The War Museum of Athens was inaugurated in July 1975 in the centre of the city, at Rizari 2-4. Its stated aim is to stimulate national memory and promote the historical continuity and unity of Hellenism: it collects, preserves and presents war relics, memorabilia and works of art from the military history of the Greeks, and studies and displays the nation's struggles from antiquity to the present day. The museum also serves as a space for research, study and training, for the conservation of relics and for organising temporary exhibitions in Greece and abroad.

The permanent exhibition is spread over four levels and follows Greek military history from antiquity to the present day. Room A covers prehistory and antiquity, with obsidian tools, bronze weapons and authentic Corinthian helmets; Room B is a digital exhibition on the 1821 Revolution in the Peloponnese; Room C is devoted to Alexander the Great and Room D to Byzantium, with models of war equipment and siege engines. Later rooms cover Frankish and Ottoman rule, the Greek Revolution of 1821 and the Balkan Wars. Air Force aircraft and firearms of various eras are shown in the open-air exhibition areas.

The exhibition halls are open 09:00–17:00 from 1 November to 31 March and 09:00–19:00 from 1 April to 31 October, and every Saturday the War Museum of Athens stays open from 09:00 to 22:00. The museum is closed on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December. Reduced hours apply on Good Friday (12:00–18:00), Good Saturday (9:00–15:00), 24 December and 31 December (both 9:00–15:00). Ticket sales end 30 minutes before closing time. The library is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 14:00.

General admission to the War Museum of Athens costs €6.00 and the reduced price is €3.00; tickets can be reserved through the museum's website. The museum's general rules ask visitors to leave any bulky object, including luggage, in the cloakroom at the entrance, not to bring objects dangerous to other visitors, not to eat or drink outside designated areas, and not to bring pets other than guide dogs accompanying people with disabilities. Mobile phones should be on silent in the halls, and smoking and electronic cigarettes are prohibited in all exhibition areas.

The War Museum's visiting rules allow visitors to photograph exhibits with a portable camera as long as no flash is used, and to photograph and film people inside the museum provided that the character of the exhibits is not affected or offended and the proper functioning of the museum is not impeded. Exhibits bearing a sign to that effect may not be photographed. Photography with a camera on a tripod, as well as filming or videography, is allowed only with the permission of the Museum Directorate, so request permission in advance if you plan to bring a tripod or record video.