The Benaki Museum was founded at the home of Emmanouil Benakis after his dead in (1842-)1929. It was left to the Greek nation by his heirs to house the collection of his son, Antonis Benakis. The museum opened to the public in 1931.

HISTORY:
The Benaki Museum ranks among the great benefactions which have enriched the material assets of the Greek state. At the same time, it is the oldest museum in Greece, which functions as a Foundation under Private Law.
 
COLLECTIONS:
This group of collections comprises many distinct categories totalling more than 30.000 items illustrating the character of the Greek world through a spectacular historical panorama: from antiquity and the age of Roman domination to the medieval Byzantine period, from the fall of Constantinople (1453) and the centuries of Frankish and Ottoman occupation to the outbreak of the struggle for independence in 1821, and from the formation of the modern state of Greece (1830) down to 1922, the year in which the Asia Minor disaster took place.

OPENING HOURS:

MAIN EXHIBITION BUILDING
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 9:00 - 17:00
Thursday: 9:00 - 24:00
Sunday: 9:00 - 15:00

It is closed on Tuesday and the following holidays: March 25th, May 1st, August 15th, October 28th, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Easter Day, Easter Monday, Clean Monday, Holy Spirit Day.

The Shop and the Snack bar-Restaurant is open during the opening hours of the Museum.

MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 9:00 - 15:00
Wednesday: 9:00 - 21:00

TICKET FOR THE MAIN BUILDING EXHIBITION
Full admission: 6 
Temporary Exhibition
 3  
Reduced admission:
 50 %
 - persons over 65
 - an adult accompaning a child
  
Free admission:
 - every Thursday (except temporary exhibition and guided groups)
- for disabled persons and an escort
- students and persons under 18
- ICOM members and Friends of the Benaki        Museum
- academics and teachers
- archaeologists
- conservators
- journalists