If you are the type of person who wants to mix travel with art, Athens is the destination to be as far as Greece is concerned. This is where most artistic activity takes place, especially during the long "non-summer" months.
Besides the major museums -with permanent exhibitions- listed in a separate page, this is a list of art galleries and culture centers that host temporary exhibits and shows. -Do not make the mistake to consider them second class just because I haven't listed them under "museums", as some of them often feature major names that make the headlines in the art news section. Some are typical "galleries" while others are art spaces / culture centres with a more varied focus. My only criterion for this classification is whether they have a permanent exhibit or not. A few of these spaces also host concerts occasionally but I will list concert places in a different page of the blog. I have included some basic information on each one, including their website so that you may check out the exhibits they have on display at the time of your trip. Most galleries are found in the central Kolonaki neighborhood, while others - usually newer ones - are located in cheaper areas where rents are more affordable and costs can be kept down. For most of these spaces, entrance is free but the most established ones do charge an admission fee (see details below - major ones are marked so as to stand out).
Like museums, most galleries are closed on the following dates: January 1, March 25, Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday (falls in April or May), May 1, December 25-26, while some are also closed on October 28, November 17 and/or Sundays.
Like museums, most galleries are closed on the following dates: January 1, March 25, Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday (falls in April or May), May 1, December 25-26, while some are also closed on October 28, November 17 and/or Sundays.
Art Galleries in Athens, Greece
AD Gallery
Type / decription: photography, drawing, painting, sculpture, constructions, video.
Hours: Tue-Fri:12:00-20:00, Sat:12:00-16:00
Ticket Prices:
Public Transit: Monastiraki Metro Station
Address: 3 Pallados St. [Psyrri], Athens
Tel: 210-32.28.785
Website: http://www.adgallery.gr/
AMP
Type / decription: pop art.
Hours: Tue-Fri:12:00-20:00, Sat:12:00-16:00
Ticket Prices:
Public Transit: Monastiraki Metro Station
Address: 26 Epikourou St. & 4 Korynis St. [Psyrri /Koumoundourou Square], Athens
Tel: 210-32.51.881
Website:
Astrolavos Artlife Gallery
Type / decription: painting, engraving, sculpture
Hours: Tue-Sat: 10:00-15:00 and Tue, Thu, Fri: 17:30-20:30
Ticket Prices:
Public Transit: Evangelismos Metro Station, Syntagma Metro Station
Address: 11 Irodotou St. [Kolonaki], Athens
Tel: 210-72.21.200
Website: http://www.astrolavos.gr/
Astrolavos Dexameni Gallery
Type / decription: painting, engraving, sculpture
Hours: Tue-Fri:10:30-15:00 & 18:00-21:00, Sat: 10:30-15:00
Ticket Prices:
Public Transit: Syntagma Metro Station, Evangelismos Metro Station
Address: 11 Xanthippou St. [Kolonaki], Athens
Tel: 210-72.94.342
Website: http://www.astrolavos.gr/
Athens Art Gallery
Type / decription:
Hours: Tue-Fri:10:00-14:00, 18:00-21:00, Sat: 10:00-14:30
Public Transit: Syntagma Metro Station
Address: 4 Glykonos St. [Kolonaki], Athens
Tel: 210-72.13.938
Website: http://www.athensartgallery.gr
Benaki Museum - Pireos St. Building
Description: The epicenter of modern arts in Greece, since its opening in 2004. Painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, concerts, etc. No permanent exhibition in the building at Pireos St., so I can technically list it here.
Relevant posts: Agenor Asteriadis exhibition at the Benaki Museum (Pireos St. Annexe) (2011).
Visit Duration: Depends on exhibit / show. About 1 hour for each exhibit.
Hours: Wed, Thu, Sun: 10:00-18:00, Fri-Sat: 10:00-22:00, Closed in August. Also, seehere.
Prices: Depends on exhibit / show. 3-10€ per exhibition (reduced price: 2-6€ for >65, students and European Youth Card holders). Complete access ticket: 12-15€ (reduced price: 10-12€)
Accessibility: All the building is fully accessible.
Public Transit: Buses 815, 049, 914, 838, B18, Gamma18, 21 (Kamba Bus Stop). Also,Metro Station Petralona (Line 1) (1000m walk) and Keramikos (Line 3) (600m walk).
Address: 138 Pireos St. & Andronikou St., Athens
Tel: 210-34.53.111
Website: http://www.benaki.gr
Bernier - Eliades
Type / decription: The gallery has "introduced to the Greek public numerous artistic currents, such as Arte Povera, Minimalism, Land and Conceptual Art and the younger generation of American and European artists"
Hours: Tue-Fri:10:30-18:30, Sat: 12:00-16:00
Public Transit: Thissio Metro Station
Address: 11 Eptahalkou St. [Thisseion], Athens
Tel: 210-34.13.935
Website: http://www.bernier-eliades.gr
Bios
Type / decription: Introduces itself as "Athens centre for today's art and cross media". Program heavy on concerts and dj sets but often includes theatre plays, film screenings, seminars and art exhibitions. Check out the "list view" in their site for a full schedule of upcoming events.
Hours: Mon-Sun: All day and most of the night. Check site for events' hours
Public Transit: Kerameikos Metro Station / Thission Metro Station
Address: 84 Pireos St. [Kerameikos], Athens
Breeder
Type / decription: Greek and foreign artists
Hours: Tue-Sat:12:00-18:00
Public Transit: Metaxourgeio Metro Station
Address: 45 Iasonos St. [Metaxourgeio], Athens
CAMP - Contemporary Art Meeting Point
Type / decription: In its own words, "CAMP aims to connect artists from Greece and abroad who work with the visual arts, music, performing arts and film to present innovative ideas and new and fresh proposals...". The ground floor of CAMP is simply a café but if you walk up the stairs (starting from the back of the café to the right) you will find yourselves into the upper floors, occasionally hosting exhibitions, projections and more.
Hours: Gallery hours Mon-Sun: 14:00-21:00. CAMP Coffee Culture: Mon-Sat: 10:00-03:00, Sun: 09:00-18:00
Public Transit: Omonia Metro Station / Monastiraki Metro Station
Address: 4 Efpolidos & 2 Apellou Street, City Hall Sq. (a.k.a. Kotzia Sq.), Athens
Cultural Centre of the City of Athens (Pnevmatiko Kentro Dimou Athineon)
Type / decription: Painting (often Greek painters)
Hours: Tue-Sat: 09:00-13:00 & 17:00-21:00, Sun: 09:00-13:00
Public Transit: Panepistimio Metro Station
Address: 50 Akadimias St., Athens
Tel: 210-36.21.601, 210-36.16.674
Gaia Art Gallery
Type / decription: painting, engraving, photography
Hours: Tue-Fri:18:00-21:00
Public Transit: Piraeus Metro Station, Buses 20, 040, 049, 300, 904, 915, A1, B1, Gamma1, E90, X96
Address: 103 Alkiviadou St., Piraeus
Gallery 7
Type / decription: painting, engraving, photography, video-art, installations
Hours: Tue-Sat:12:00-18:00
Public Transit: Syntagma Metro Station
Address: 7 Zalokosta & Kriezotou St. [Kolonaki], Athens
Gallery tou Notou
Type / decription: painting, sculpture
Hours: Tue-Sat:12:00-18:00
Public Transit: Aggelou Metaxa Tram Stop
Address: 21-23 Lazaraki St., Glyfada
Gregoriadis Gallery (Pinakothiki Gregoriadi)
Type / decription: Greek painting, etching and sculpture
Hours: Mon-Fri:09:00-22:00
Public Transit: Iraklio Metro Station
Address: 18 Marinou Antypa St., Neo Iraklio
Hellenic-American Union / Kennedy Gallery
Type / decription: Photography, video, installations
Hours: Mon-Fri: 12:00-21:00, Sat: 10:30-14:30
Entrance: free
Accessibility: Yes
Entrance: free
Accessibility: Yes
Public Transit: Panepistimio Metro Station
Address: 22 Massalias St. [Kolonaki], Athens
Herakleidon Museum - Experience in Visual Arts
Type / decription: Permanent collection of M.C. Escher and V. Vasarely. Temporary exhibits of sculpture, painting, drawing. Past exhibits include Toulouse Lautrec posters, engravings and drawings, Edgar Degas sculptures, Edvard Munch paintings. You get the picture!
Hours: Fri: 13:00-21:00, Sat-Sun: 11:00-19:00
Entrance: 6€. Students & >65: 4€, free for <=12
Accessibility: No.
Entrance: 6€. Students & >65: 4€, free for <=12
Accessibility: No.
Public Transit: Thission Metro Station, Kerameikos Metro Station
Address: 16 Herakleidon St. [Thission], Athens
Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Center
Type / decription: Photography, installations, video, painting, drawing, design, sculpture.
Hours: Tue-Fri:11:00-20:00, Sat: 12:00-16:00
Public Transit: Ambelokipoi Metro Station
Address: 48 Armatolon kai Klefton St., [Neapoli neighborhood], Athens
Kalfayan Galleries
Type / decription: Photography, painting, drawing, sculpture. Represents well-known foreign and Greek artists. Based in Thessaloniki.
Hours: Tue-Fri:10:00-20:00, Sat & Mon: 10:00-15:00
Public Transit: Evangelismos Metro Station, Syntagma Metro Station
Address: 11 Haritos St. [Kolonaki], Athens
Kapsiotis Art Gallery
Type / decription: painting, sculpture
Hours: Mon, Wed, Sat: 10:00-15:00, Tue, Thu, Fri:10:00-21:00
Public Transit: Kifissia Metro station. Buses A7, B7, E7 from Kaningos St., Athens; 550 from Paleo Faliro.
Address: 13 Aghiou Dimitriou St., Kifissia
Kouvoutsakis Art Institute (Pinakothiki Kouvoutsaki)
Type / decription: Fine art with emphasis on Greek figurative painting and sculpture.
Hours: Tue-Fri: 09:00-15:00, Sat-Sun:10:00-15:00
Public Transit: Kifissia Metro station. Buses A7, B7, E7 from Kaningos St., Athens; Bus 550 from Paleo Faliro.
Address: 11 Levidou St., Kifissia
Tel: 210-62.33.682
Website: http://www.kouvoutsakis-pinakothiki.gr/
Website: http://www.kouvoutsakis-pinakothiki.gr/
Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika Gallery (curated by the Benaki Museum)
Type / decription: House, workshop and gallery of the late Greek painter Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika. The house was built under his own supervision in the 1950's and donated to the Benaki Museum in the 1990's.
Hours: Mon-Fri: 10:00-14:00 (only after appointment)
Public Transit: Syntagma Metro Station. Buses and trolley-buses 3, 7, 8, 13, 022, 060, 200, 203, 204, 211, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 231, 235, 408, 419, 601, 603, 622, 815, A5, Gamma5, E6, E7
Address: 3 Kriezotou St., Athens
TAF (The Art Foundation)
Type / decription: modern & experimental art, theatre, concerts
Hours: Mon-Sun: 13:00-00:00
Public Transit: Monastiraki Metro station
Address: 5 Normanou St. [Monastiraki], Athens
Technopolis - Gazi
Type / decription: An old industrial complex (gas factory, thus the name) restored into an indoor and outdoor cultural centre, often hosting exhibitions, concerts, etc.
Hours: Depends on event
Public Transit: Kerameikos Metro station
Address: 100 Pireos St. [Kerameikos / Gazi], Athens
Tel: 210-34.61.589, 210-34.67.322
The Athens House of Photography
Type / decription: Photography. Gallery and specialized bookstore.
Hours: Winter hours: Wed.-Fri:14:00-20:00, Sat:12:00-20:00, Sun 11.00-18:00. Summer (June 1st - Sept 7th) hours: Wed-Fri 17.00-21.00, Sat 12.00-20.00, Sun 11.00-18.00.
Entrance: Free
Entrance: Free
Public Transit: Metaxourgeio Metro station
Address: Elefsinion St. & Kerameon St. [Metaxourgeio], Athens
Xippas
Type / decription: Photography, painting. Greek and foreign artists.
Hours: Tue-Fri: 12:00-20:00, Sat:12:00-16:00
Public Transit: Evangelismos Metro Station, Syntagma Metro Station
Address: 53 Patriarchou Ioakeim St. [Kolonaki], Athens
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