National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum
The National Gallery in Athens presents more than 1,000 works of modern Greek art and European painting in the renovated Central Building.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The first law providing for a national gallery was published in 1834, but the institution was officially established on 10 April 1900, with the painter Georgios Iakovidis as its first curator. The original core consisted of 258 works from the collections of the Polytechnic and the University, and in 1901 the collection of the lawyer Alexandros Soutsos, bequeathed to the state, was handed over. Later bequests, such as those of Averof and Fokas, greatly expanded the collections, and in 1918 a sculpture collection was added.
For about half a century the gallery had no permanent home and was housed in the Polytechnic, in the Casa d'Italia and in the Archaeological Museum. The foundation stone of the Central Building on Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue was laid in 1964, the first section opened in 1968 and the completed building in 1976.
An extensive extension added a third floor, an underground wing and shared spaces, and the renovated Central Building opened in March 2021. Sculpture is presented in the National Sculpture Gallery at Goudi, which has operated since 2004, while the gallery has branches in Sparta, Corfu, Nafplio and Aegina.
Highlights
- Permanent exhibition with more than 1,000 works of modern Greek art
- Works by Domenikos Theotokopoulos
- Ionian School and post-Byzantine art – Cretan School
- European painting and Greek printmaking
- Outdoor sculpture, with works by Rodin and Avramidis
- ILISSOS café-restaurant on the ground floor
Permanent exhibition
- Μόνιμη έκθεση – More than 1,000 works of modern Greek art in thematic sections, from post-Byzantine art and the Cretan School to modernism and contemporary art, and outdoor sculpture.
- Founded
- 1900
- Director
- Μαρίνα Λαμπράκη-Πλάκα
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5 |
Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month from 1 November to 31 March, 6 March, 18 April, 18 May and the last weekend of September.
On free admission days no group or school visits or guided tours by museum staff take place. The prices refer to the permanent exhibition.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Ramp at the main entrance, ramps and lifts to all floors, and clear signage. Wheelchairs are available by telephone reservation. For a disabled parking space, please contact the museum.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Educational programmes for schools and families.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Ευαγγελισμός
Metro Line 3, Evangelismos station. Buses 550 and 10, Pinakothiki stop. About 20 minutes on foot from Syntagma Square.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There is a bicycle parking area on Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, near the main entrance.
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Free WiFi. ILISSOS café-restaurant on the ground floor, with the same opening hours as the museum. Shop at the entrance and lockers for storing items.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Educational programmes and guided tours are organised by reservation. Tour apps are available from the museum's website. |
