Renowned as the centre for the foundation of Western thought, as well as being a modern, vibrant city in its own right - Athens is one of best cities to visit in the world, and with so many online companies such as Travelzoo offering cheap flights it’s never been easier to get there.
Once you are in Athens there is so much to see and do that you really won't have time to do it all in a one week break. This is why some people return year after year. If you been a few times, or fancy something a little more obscure than the usual “big-hitters” like the Acropolis or the Panathinaiko Stadium, then here are few of the less well know museums that the city has to offer.
The Museum of Greek Popular Instruments is a hidden gem. This museum is a good place to visit with small children as a lot of the instruments can be listened too and there is often someone playing live for your aural delectation. It’s also free to get in, so a good sightseeing option if you are on a budget. Dating from the 18th Century to the present day, there are about 1200 instruments on display at the museum ranging from the commonplace to the weirdest contraptions known to man.
Another unusual museum that is easy to miss is The Museum of Greek Folk Art. This is an excellent museum to visit if you're interested in Greek theatre as it has some of the most spectacular costumes, masks and puppets, dating from 1650 to the present day, representing a period in Greek history often overlooked in favour of the obvious appeals of the Golden Age of Greek cultural dominance. There are also displays of traditional embroidery, silver work, pottery and other artefacts offering an idiosyncratic and engaging insight into Modern Greek culture.
Finally, if you're interested in ancient coins then there is no better place to visit than the Numismatic Museum. This museum houses 600,000 coins ranging form antiquity through the Roman and Byzantine Periods to present day. There is also a collection of coins from the Middle Ages in Western Europe. As well as the vast number of coins there are also displays showing medallions and precious stones, both of which are quite spectacular.
More details of all these fascinating museums can be found at the Greece Museums Guide, which provides a comprehensive overview of a huge variety of Hellenic museums.
While browsing through the many Athenian museums is unlikely to be the most hazardous type of travel you could ever undertake, it’s still essential to ensure that you arrange decent travel insurance that will cover you in the event of a medical emergency or loss or theft of your property. There are so many websites online offering good travel insurance that it can be quite daunting, try a site like AA Travel for some very good deals.
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