Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

About the museum

The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki has its roots in 1912, when the Ephorate of Antiquities was founded fifteen days after the city was handed over to the Greek state. Until 1925 the antiquities of Macedonia were kept in temporary premises, including the Government House and the Ottoman Idadiye school. In 1925 the Yeni Mosque was handed over to the Archaeological Service and became the city's first museum.

In 1950 a large plot near the International Fair was allocated for a new building, designed by the architect Patroklos Karantinos. The museum opened in 1962 with the finds from the Derveni tombs, and in 1980 a new wing by the architect A. Voyatzis was completed. In 1998 the finds from Aigai were transferred to Vergina, and the museum presented the exhibition “The Gold of the Macedonians”.

In 2001 the museum became an independent regional service of the Ministry of Culture. A major renovation of the Karantinos and Voyatzis buildings followed, to designs by Nikos Fintikakis, and in September 2006 the museum reopened with five new thematic exhibitions covering the region from prehistory to late antiquity.

Highlights

• The Gold of the Macedonians, the largest collection of gold wreaths from cemeteries in Macedonia
• Prehistoric Macedonia
• Thessaloniki, Metropolis of Macedonia
• Outdoor exhibitions “Field, House, Garden, Place” and “Memory and Stones”
• Interactive presentation “Macedonia: From Tesserae to Pixels”
• Finds from the Derveni tombs

Permanent exhibitions

• Προϊστορική Μακεδονία – Life in Macedonia from 5,000 to 200,000 years ago.
• Θεσσαλονίκη, Μητρόπολη της Μακεδονίας – The history of ancient Thessaloniki through antiquities and monuments.
• Ο χρυσός των Μακεδόνων – The largest collection of gold wreaths and other precious finds from cemeteries in Macedonia.

Founded

1962

Operated by

Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and every first and third Sunday of the month from 1 November to 31 March.

Free admission is also granted, among others, to recipients of the Social Solidarity Income, unemployed people, large families and single-parent families, refugees, conscripts, members of ICOM and ICOMOS, guides and journalists, upon presentation of the appropriate proof.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance has a ramp from Stratou Avenue and a wide door, and a wheelchair is available on request. The two exhibition floors are connected by lifts and platform lifts, and there are accessible toilets in the complex. Tactile tours are offered for visitors with visual impairments; for deaf visitors there is the free SignGuide app with a guide in Greek Sign Language, and visit guides are available for people on the autism spectrum. Parking for people with disabilities is possible on M. Andronikou Street or in the museum car park, which has two accessible spaces.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Programmes for families and children, as well as visit guides for children on the autism spectrum.

Getting there & parking

About 15 minutes on foot from Aristotelous Square.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café-bar open daily 09:00–17:00. The shop follows the museum's opening hours.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit