The Acropolis Museum in Athens brings together sculptures and archaeological finds from the Acropolis and its surrounding slopes. Opened in 2009 and designed by Bernard Tschumi, the glass-and-concrete building stands over an ancient neighbourhood; transparent sections of floor reveal the excavated streets and foundations below.
The top-floor Parthenon Gallery is aligned with the temple itself, visible through the glass. Its display combines original marble sculptures with casts of pieces held elsewhere, including at the British Museum, making the gaps in the surviving ensemble visible. Elsewhere, five of the Erechtheion’s original Caryatids can be seen up close, while Archaic statues preserve traces of the bright paint that once coloured ancient Greek sculpture.
Book tickets online in advance, particularly during the busy spring and summer months, and allow at least two hours for the collection. Check opening hours before visiting, as they vary by season. The museum restaurant is worth a pause for its terrace and Acropolis views.