The essential Athens V.I.P. tour for new ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle (or you)
Where the "stars" are mostly anchored in the past...but also, that's the point
ATHENS — Let’s face it my fellow Americans, and others: we don’t have a great track record with ambassadors. Oh, oui, we started out pretty good: think Benjamin Franklin, our wily first ambassador to France. Then something called campaign fundraising intruded, and just trace that arc to, say, Pamela Beryl Digby Churchill Harriman as our envoy to Paris in more recent times.
In Greece we got to Geoffrey Pyatt, the Democrat operative who will go down in history as the guy who along with former deep-stater Victoria Nuland prodded Ukraine into confrontation with Russia, and following him the porcine George Tsunis — who notably had some problems with geography.
After that parade of nebbishes, about all former Fox television host and latest American Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle really needs to do to improve the picture is show up — which finally, after some delays, she has.
I don’t agree with some Greek media that she is “a bit of a dork.” Guilfoyle is a seasoned media professional and brings an energy to the post that has been altogether missing. The only potential quibble is that due to her high profile and fame she risks getting a little detached from some of the real Greece.
One Greek newspaper ran a headline that read in part, “Be Careful Kimberly”, accompanied by the gentle admonishment that Greece is more than just fancy parties and the wealthy tycoons that throw them.
Of course, glamor is Greece, or at least in part — the planeloads of Americans that come here for vacation aren’t lured by the prospect of waiting for a tour bus or standing in line at a museum but rather by the accumulated power of culture and history, by the promise of a breath or two of Greek island air and an Instagrammable sunset the likes of which aren’t a regular feature of summer nights in Cleveland. The enduring mystique of Jackie O…
In any case, the cultural heavyhitters of Athens appeal to all demographics and cut across all party lines. In fact, the real party in Greece is the sum of everything we don’t have ourselves, through no fault of our own — we simply haven’t been around long enough. But Greece has. With that in mind, here are the top spots around town that our new ambassador really shouldn’t miss.
Because Athens isn’t just a city of ruins—it’s a living museum in itself. From glittering marble statues to avant-garde installations in converted breweries, the Greek capital’s museums reveal a story that stretches from the Bronze Age to right now. Whether you’re a history buff, art lover, or just someone who likes air-conditioning and good coffee between ruins, here it goes…
1. The Acropolis Museum
Address: Dionysiou Areopagitou 15 | acropolismuseum.gr
Aside from the Parthenon itself, the Acropolis Museum is Athens’ crown jewel—a sleek glass temple that gazes up at its ancient inspiration. Inside, over 4,000 artifacts tell the story of the city’s most sacred hill, from the Parthenon’s intricate frieze to delicate everyday pottery. Don’t miss the top-floor Parthenon Gallery, where sculptures align perfectly with the monument outside. Arrive early (or late) to dodge the tour groups, and linger in the café terrace for one of the best views in town. Also, don’t miss breakfast or lunch at the museum’s restaurant:
2. The National Archaeological Museum
Address: 28is Oktovriou 44 | namuseum.gr
If Greece had a single time capsule, this would be it. The National Archaeological Museum houses one of the world’s richest collections of ancient art—from the Mask of Agamemnon to breathtaking bronze statues dredged from shipwrecks. It’s vast, and it’s overwhelming in the best way. Plan a few hours here, and focus on a few eras to keep your sanity intact.
3. The Benaki Museum
Address: Koumpari 1 | benaki.org
Stepping into the Benaki Museum feels like walking through the chapters of Greek history. From Byzantine icons to 19th-century costumes, it stitches together the fabric of Greek identity across centuries. The neoclassical building is as elegant as its contents, and the temporary exhibits are always a bit hit with Athenians. Also, the rooftop café makes for a charming spot to rest your museum-weary feet.
4. Museum of Cycladic Art
Address: Neofitou Douka 4 | cycladic.gr
Sleek, white, and quietly powerful, this museum celebrates the minimalist beauty of the Cycladic civilization—those mysterious marble figurines that inspired Picasso and Brancusi. The Museum of Cycladic Art bridges the prehistoric and the modern, housed in a contemporary space that’s as refined as its exhibits. Comes complete with great cafe and gift shop. too.
5. Byzantine & Christian Museum
Address: Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 22 | byzantinemuseum.gr
Hidden behind serene gardens in Kolonaki, this museum is a luminous journey through a millennium of Byzantine art. Gilded icons, fresco fragments, and mosaics transport you to a more spiritual side of Greek heritage. It’s quieter than the big hitters—ideal for a reflective afternoon.
#SecretsoftheCity: The open-air restaurant-cafe of the Byzantine & Christian museum, in a garden setting, is a haven in the heart of Athens
6. National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum
Address: Leof. Vasileos Konstantinou 50 | nationalgallery.gr
After a major renovation, the National Gallery shines anew, displaying more than 20,000 works from post-Byzantine art to Greek modernism. It’s a feast of color and national pride, capturing the country’s struggles, revolutions, and rebirths on canvas.
7. National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST)
Address: Former FIX Brewery, Kallirois Ave. | emst.gr
Once a beer factory, now a beacon of modern art—the EMST pulses with energy. Its industrial shell houses thought-provoking works from Greek and international artists. If ancient marble leaves you craving something raw and current, this is your fix. Crave weird food? Try the restaurant.
8. National Historical Museum - Old Parliament House
Address: Stadiou 13 | nhmuseum.gr/en/
“The National Historical Museum is permanently housed in the Old Parliament Building at Stadiou Street (Kolokotronis square) since 1960. The Museum narrates the history of Modern Greece: the period of Ottoman and Latin rule, the Greek War of Independence (1821), the liberation struggles, the creation of an independent state, the political, social and spiritual development of the Greeks up to the present day.”
The Old Parliament House, founded in 1858 by Queen Amalia, was the first permanent base of the Greek National Assembly.
9. Numismatic Museum of Athens
Address: Panepistimiou 12 | nummus.gr
Forget about Bitcoin. It’s real coins that tell stories, and this museum spins an entire epic out of drachmas and denarii. Housed in the stately Ilion Melathron (once home to archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann), it’s an under-the-radar gem complete with a shaded garden café perfect for a midday escape.
10. War Museum of Athens
Address: Rizari 2–4 | warmuseum.gr
If you prefer your history with a side of strategy and steel, the War Museum traces Greece’s military legacy from antiquity to modern times. Displays of armor, aircraft, and ancient weaponry offer a visceral look at how this small nation defended its ideals across millennia. Read more about it here.
