There are over 20 museums in Thessaloniki, ranging from history & art museums to war museum, water works museum, the only photography museum in Greece, railway museum and music museum. No matter what you are interested in, there is always something for you to visit in this lovely Greek city.

Museum of Byzantine Culture

Official website

Address (main) : 2, Stratou Ave., GR-546 40 Thessaloniki

Admission: €2

Opening hours: Mon 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tue –Sun: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Open since 1994, it’s one of the most important museums in Thessaloniki, depicting the history of Byzantine culture in Macedonia, in general, and Thessaloniki in particular.

The main building houses several important permanent exhibitions, including: the early Christian Period, the Middle Byzantine Period, the late Byzantine Period and the Post Byzantine period. The collections include sculptures, mosaics, wall paintings and reliquaries.

Temporary exhibitions are held within the White Tower . Currently, the exhibition held here comprises the history of the city.

Both the main building and White Tower offer a lovely coffee shop for the visitors to relax after visiting the exhibits.

Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

Official website

Address: 6, M. Andronikou St., GR-546 21 Thessaloniki

Admission: €6 ; Free admission for visitors under 19 years old;

Opening hours: Mon: 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. ; Tue-Fri, Sat & Sun: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Recently reopened after a period of extended renovation, the museum highlights various aspects of the culture which developed in Macedonia, particularly in Thessaloniki area. Five thematic exhibits comprise the permanent collections within the museum. They depict Thessaloniki’s history starting from 200,000 years ago until the Archaic and Classic periods.

War Museum of Thessaloniki

Address: Grigoriou Lambraki – Pedio Areos 3

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Sat & Sun 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Open since 2000, the Museum’s goal is to preserve historical memory in Northern Greece. The permanent exhibits include the Modern Greek history , from the turn of the century until the Second World War. You can see photographs, uniforms, weapons, ships, maps, paintings and post cards.

Thessaloniki Museum of Photography

Official website

Address: 44, Andreou Georgiou St., GR-546 27 Thessaloniki

The only museum in Greece dedicated to the art of photography is located in Thessaloniki. The permanent collection includes historical and contemporary photographs of both Greek and foreign photographers. The temporary exhibitions change every month so make sure to check the website before planning your visit here. The museum offers an incredible café as well as a library.

Water Works Museum of Thessaloniki

Address: 49, 26th Octovriou St., GR-546 27 Thessaloniki

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

A relatively new (open since 2001) and interesting museum, its aim is to provide the visitors a glimpse at the history of supplying water to the city. It is housed in the Old Pump House. Within the museum you can see old electricity circuit switchboards, electricity generators and pumping units. Steam engines as well as diesel engines – along with how they work – are also on display.

Railway Museum of Thessaloniki

Address: Nea Monastiriou 128, Military Station – Sorting Post

Admission: Free

Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Open since 2000, the museum presents the history of the railways in Greece. There’s a huge map on display containing all the lines marked on it. You can also see old engines, furniture from the carriages of the former Greek royal family, an old restaurant carriage from the Orient Express, technical manuals and uniforms. There’s also a children’s train departing from the new railway station of Thessaloniki.

Other museums which can be visited for free:

The following museums in Thessaloniki can be visited for free:

• Ataturk Museum
• Municipal Art Gallery
• Art Gallery of the Society for Macedonian Studies

>>more information on Free things to do in Thessaloniki

Important notes:

Free admission in all public museums on:

• March 6
• April 18
• May 18
• June 5
• the last weekend of September
• all official Greek holidays during which the museums are open

All museums are closed on:

• Dec 25 (Christmas Day) and 26
• January 1
• March 25
• May 1 (Labor Day)
• Easter Day

>>Don’t forget to read about the Museums in Athens