Free admission to archaeological sites, historical sites, monuments and museums owned by the State

1. Admission to archaeological sites, historical sites, monuments and museums owned by the State and managed by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports is free of charge for all visitors (without fee payment), on the following dates:

• 6 March  (in memory of Melina Mercouri)
• 18 April  (International Monuments Day)
• 18 May  (International Museums Day)
• The last weekend of September annually (European Heritage Days)
• 28 October  (National Holiday), and
• every first Sunday of each month from November 1^st until March 31^st

2. The following categories of visitors are entitled to free admission:

a. Children and young people up to the age of 25, from EU member-states, upon presentation of their ID card or passport for verification of their age and country of origin.

b. Children up to the age of 18, from non-European Union countries, upon presentation of their passport for verification of their age and country of origin.

c. Persons over 25 years, being in secondary education (evening schools, second-chance schools) and in vocational schools from EU member-states and countries of the European Economic Area, upon presentation of attendance certificate bearing evidence of its duration.

d. Escorting teachers and their students during educational visits of schools and institutions of primary, secondary and tertiary education from EU member-states and countries of the European Economic Area.

e. People entitled to Social Solidarity Income and members dependent on them, upon presentation of their ID card and certificate of free entry based on eligibility to the programme showing the duration, as well as a valid document certifying dependent members.

f. Greek unemployed citizens upon presentation of their ID card and valid unemployment card or recent renewal of it.

g. Persons with disabilities and one escort (only in the case of 67% disability), irrespective of the country of origin, upon presentation of their ID card or passport and Disability Certificate issued by the Single Body of Social Insurance (decision of the Disability Certification Center-KEPA) for Greek citizens or similar certificates issued by a corresponding authorised foreign body.

h. Greek parents of families with many children, the children being up to the age of 25 and irrespective of age if they have disabilities, upon presentation of their ID card and a valid certificate of a large family status by the Greek Supreme Confederation of large family parents and the Disability Certificate (issued by the Disability Certification Center).

i. Greek parents of families with three children, the children being up to the age of 25 and irrespective of age if they have disabilities, upon presentation of their ID card and a valid family status certificate issued by the Municipality and the Disability Certificate (issued by the Disability Certification Center).

j. Greek single parent families with children up to the age of 25 and irrespective of age if they have disabilities, upon presentation of their ID card and a valid family status certificate issued by the Municipality and the Disability Certificate (issued by the Disability Certification Center).

k. Refugees, upon presentation of the International protection applicant card or a Travelling document of the 28th July 1951 Convention (a passport of recognized refugee) or a Foreign travelling document (a passport of recognised holder of subsidiary protection) or residence permit.

l. Greek citizens performing their military service, with valid military service identification card.

m. Greek -Olympic Winners upon presentation of their ID card and membership card of the Hellenic Olympic Winners Association.

n. Official guests of the Greek State, after request of the competent Ministry (Directorate/Office for Protocol) and approval by the General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage.

o. Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), upon presentation of their ID card or passport and their valid membership card.

p. Members of Societies and Associations of Friends of State Museums and Archaeological Sites, managed by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, upon presentation of their valid membership card.

q. Active employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Archaeological Resources Fund, the Acropolis Museum and the Kanellopoulos Museum, upon presentation of their service ID card.

r. Scientists licensed for purposes of photographing, studying, designing or publishing antiquities, upon presentation of the relevant license.

s. Members of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece, upon presentation of their valid membership card.

t. Greek tourist guides, upon presentation of their professional ID card.

u. Journalists, upon presentation of a valid journalist ID card.

v. Holders of a three-year Free Entry Pass.

w. Members of the Association of Greek Art Historians, upon presentation of their valid membership card.

3. The following categories of visitors are entitled to obtain a three-year Free Entry Pass-retaining the right of renewal-issued by the competent Services of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports:

a. Active members of the Central Councils and Regional Councils of Monuments of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

b. Active members of the Board of Directors of the Archaeological Resources Fund, the Acropolis Museum and the Kanellopoulos Museum.

c. Active Directors and members of Foreign Archaeological Schools in Greece.

d. Contract employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Archaeological Resources Fund, the Acropolis Museum and the Kanellopoulos Museum. Renewal of the free pass is possible if they continue to be employed by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Archaeological Resources Fund, the Acropolis Museum and the Kanellopoulos Museum.

e. Retired employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Archaeological Resources Fund, the Acropolis Museum and the Kanellopoulos Museum.

f. Civil Servants in the Legal Advisor Office of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

g. Greek active teachers in primary, secondary and tertiary education. In the case of substitute/hourly teachers, renewal of the free pass is possible if they continue to be employed as teachers.

h. Graduates of Departments of History and Archaeology of Schools of Philosophy, as well as graduates from Schools of Architecture, Fine Arts, Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, including Technicians of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art from Greece or from equivalent Schools of EU member-states and the European Economic Area, as well as holders of Master’s or PhD Degrees from those Schools and Departments.

i. Graduates of Museum Studies programmes and Schools and Departments of Cultural Management of Higher Education Institutions in Greece or equivalent Institutions of EU member-states and the European Economic Area, as well as holders of Master’s or PhD Degrees in those studies.

j. Students and graduates of the Preparatory and Vocational School of Fine Arts of Panormos Tinos.

k. Police officers of the Department of Cultural Heritage and Antiquities of Security Directorates.

Reduced rates of single tickets

1. The following categories of visitors are entitled to 50% reduced admission in single tickets, during the period from 1^st of April to 31^st of October:

a. Parents accompanying primary education schools visits from EU member-states and the European Economic Area.

b. Escorting teachers of educational visits of schools and institutions of primary, secondary and tertiary education from non-European Union countries.

2. Senior citizens over 65 from Greece or other EU member-states and the European Economic Area are entitled to 50% reduced admission in single tickets, upon presentation of their ID card or passport for verification of their age and country of origin, during the period from 1^st of November to 31^st of May of each year.

The entrance fee to the Museum remains stable throughout the year.

Clearance of the galleries begins 20 minutes before closing time. Essential work may necessitate closing galleries without previous notice.

The Museum does not have parking facilities on-site.
Private parking spaces serving private vehicles are located at Mpoumpoulinas Street, Zaimi Street and on Alexandras Avenue.

ACCESS

Article 1: Entry ticket

1.1 Access to the Museum premises requires possession of a valid entry ticket.

1.2 Valid entry tickets comprise:

• ticket issued at the reception ticket desk which shows the valid date and/or current visiting hours,
• ticket purchased on-line, presented either in printed or in digital form,
• in cases of reduced ticket price or free entry, ticket accompanied by the relevant documents and/or the bearer’s ID which justify reduced ticket price or free entry,
• in cases of participation in an educational program or event taking place at the Museum (workshops, seminars, lectures, etc.), relevant ticket, as issued electronically or at the Museum ticket desk.

1.3 Ticket sales general rules are also available on the Museum’s webpage (https://www.namuseum.gr/en/episkepsi/).

1.4 The Museum may, at its discretion, decide the temporary closure of individual exhibition areas of the Museum, without prior notice, thus in such a case there is no full or partial refund of the ticket value.

Article 2: Access rules and checks

2.1 Visitors must adhere to the date – and, if applicable, the timetable – noted on their ticket. At peak times and in adherence to safety regulations, to ensure the quality of the visit, the Museum’s personnel can ask visitors to wait outside the Museum premises.

GENERAL RULES OF VISIT

As the overall safety of visitors, security staff as well as of the exhibits and the building is of paramount importance, please take notice of the following:

• Leave in the locker room (cloakroom) any large object (including luggage) exceeding 30 x 30 x 15 cm, sport equipment (rackets, etc.),
• Do not enter the Museum carrying objects dangerous to the safety of visitors and public health and safety,
• Do not consume food or drink, except in the premises of the Museum intended for this purpose,
• Do not enter with pets, except for guide-dogs accompanying people with disabilities,
• Please set cell phones to silent mode and avoid their use while touring the exhibition areas,

In all exhibition areas of the Museum visitors are not allowed to smoke and/or use electronic/vapour cigarettes.

Article 3: Priority access

3.1 The Museum offers priority access to its premises to holders of “no queueing tickets”, namely visitors who have purchased their tickets online.

3.2 The National Archaeological Museum has a separate entrance for people with disabilities on the side of Vas. Herakleiou Street.

Access is possible either by a ramp from the main view of the Museum or directly from the pavement of Vas. Herakleiou (see plan on the Interior Premises Map).

Also, at the basement level there is a W.C for the disabled with all the appropriate infrastructure. There are elevators to access the underground level and the first floor.  A wheelchair is also available on demand at the museum’s information desk. As for people with total or partial loss of vision, they can ask at the museum information desk for a list of 20 exhibits of the Sculpture Collection that can be accessed.

Finally, there are organized educational programs and services for groups of people with total or partial loss of vision (tactile thematic tours and workshops), with deafness and special educational needs, implemented by archaeologists of the National Archaeological Museum, depending on the demand of the interested persons in the context of special occasions (anniversaries).

3.3 Pregnant women and people with reduced mobility also have priority access to the Museum’s facilities.

Article 4: Closing times

4.1 Ticket sales conclude 30 minutes before the Museum’s planned closing time.

4.2 Visitors are requested to start leaving the Museum’s premises 20 minutes before planned closing times. The Museum’s personnel calls visitors to move towards the exits so that the last visitor departs the Museum’s premises by closing time.

Article 5: Supervision of minors

5.1 If minors lose their way inside the Museum, they will be accompanied by guard staff to the Museum’s reception area.

Article 6: Accidents, illness, unexpected occurrence

6.1 Any accident, illness or unexpected occurrence must be reported to the guard staff or any other member of the Museum’s staff immediately.

6.2 In case of a dangerous situation/event, this must be reported to the Museum’s staff immediately. Both staff and visitors are required to remain as calm as possible. If the building needs to be evacuated, this must be done in an orderly and calm manner, in accordance with the instructions of the Museum’s staff.

Article 7: Internet and WiFi access

Internet access is available within the areas of the Museum via a shared WiFi network  which visitors with any type of digital device with WiFi capability can connect to. Access to this service is subject to the acceptance of the General Use Regulation of the WiFi network which describes the terms of use of the specific service.

CLOAKROOM

Article 8: Process

8.1 Visitors are required to deposit bulky items such as luggage, rucksacks and large bags, in the cloakroom located in the Museum’s reception lobby.
8.2 The following items cannot be left at the cloakroom:

• Coats,
• Cash, cheque books, credit & debit cards,
• ID cards, passports and other identification documents,
• Valuables (jewellery, cameras, computers, cell phones etc.).

Possible disregard for the above is the responsibility of the visitor.

8.3 The Museum bears no responsibility in case of loss, theft or damage to fragile and/or valuables left by visitors at the cloakroom.

Article 9: School visits

School visits to the National Archaeological Museum take place from Monday to Friday, in Museum’s opening hours.

Necessary conditions:

Visits for the period from 1 September to 31 December must be scheduled in September, and in December for the period from 1 January to 31 May.

Useful information:

• There is the possibility of guided tours by tour guides located in the museum area after telephone appointment,
• No parking space available for buses,
• Students are asked to have only small bags with them, which they will leave in the museum’s wardrobe upon arrival.

Article 10: Adult groups

As adult group is considered a group of ten (10) to a maximum of thirty (30) adults in addition to the escort.

PHOTOGRAPHY, FILMING

Article 11: Photography and filming

• It is allowed to photograph antiquities with a portable camera without flash, free of charge.
• Flash photography is not allowed.
• Photographing and filming of persons inside the Museum is allowed as long as the character of monuments is not affected or offended and the proper operation of the Museum is not obstructed. (Government Gazette 2812 / Β / 04.07.2019 article 2 par. II subparagraph b, d)
• It is not allowed to photograph ancient objects bearing a relevant plate.
• Photographing with a camera on tripods and filming or videotaping are allowed only with the relevant permission of the Directorate of the Museum.

Article 12: Painting reproduction of exhibits

Permission is not required in the case of free-hand sketching as long as it does not cause any disturbance to other visitors and is done on a drawing pad, painting board or drawing folder which does not exceed 50×40 cm. Permitted drawing materials are pencil, charcoal and pen.

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

Article 13: Use of video surveillance system

A video surveillance system is in use in the areas of the Museum. The images collected by the video surveillance system are destroyed within 15 days of filming, if in accordance with current legislation, there is no event to justify their possession for a longer period of time.

GENERAL REGULATION

Article 14: Availability of Regulation

The current Regulation is available, upon demand, at the Museum’s reception desk and on the Museum’s website.

Article 15: Non-adherence to Regulation rules

Any violation of the Regulation exposes the visitor to expulsion from the Museum and may lead to legal proceedings. Expulsion can be temporary or permanent. The relevant decision has immediate effect and does not allow for refund of the value of the entry ticket. It is also noted that for any attempt or perpetration of theft, destruction and/or damage criminal sanctions may be incurred.

The staff of the National Archaeological Museum is at your disposal so that your visit is an unforgettable experience.

For group visits with a guide please observe strictly the following instructions:

• Use of wireless guided tour, whenever available, in order to secure social distancing.

Before the visit of people with disabilities please make sure to contact on the phone the National Archaeological Museum.

• We would be grateful for your cooperation in relation to the instructions given by the staff of the National Archaeological Museum, whenever this is necessary, in accordance with the general guidelines for health standards and safety of the visitors and the people working in the Museum.

Also, at the basement level there is W.C for the disabled with all the appropriate infrastructure.  To access both the basement level and the first floor, there are elevators. A wheelchair is also available in the museum’s information. As for people with total or partial loss of vision, they can request a list of 20 exhibits of the Sculpture Collection that can be accessed by museum information.

Finally, there are organized educational programs and services for groups of people with total or partial loss of vision (tactile thematic tours and workshops), with deafness and special educational needs, implemented by archaeologists of the National Archaeological Museum, depending on the demand of the interested persons in the context of special anniversaries.

Useful information :

1. There is the possibility of guided tours by tour guides located in the museum area after telephone appointment,
2. No parking space available for buses,
3. Students are asked to have a small bag with them, which they will leave in the museum’s wardrobe upon arrival.