greek temple virtual tour

EXPLORE THE ACROPOLIS

The Virtual Tour of the Acropolis monuments consists of high-resolution gigapixel images and panoramas of the most prominent monuments - the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike - as well as detailed photographic displays of selected views from the outer surface of the ancient walls surrounding the hill. Each view is complemented with descriptive information about the monuments and selected areas of interest.

An orthophoto map of the site’s area facilitates orientation and navigation of the visitor to each viewpoint. The images allow detailed zooming onto the architectural features of the monuments, which are otherwise difficult to experience during an onsite visit. Visitors can comprehend the location of the monuments in relation to its surroundings or even to realize a virtual "walk" through the site by selecting at will their own successive viewpoints.

CONTRIBUTORS

The application is an initiative of the Acropolis Restoration Service (YSMA) and comprises an upgrade from a previous version with a focus on extending the app’s functionality to both stationary and portable devices. The decision to adopt "state of the art" technological solutions to "bring online" the entirety of the archaeological site is not merely a statement for the preservation work undertaken by the institution, but also a great contribution to the institution's mission to promote access to cultural heritage. Enhanced visual access may be used as a starting point for interested parties and potential visitors to get to know the monuments, but also as a scientific or educational tool to enable research in various disciplines.

The application has been created through the collaboration of the Documentation Office of YSMA with Culturplay that specializes in the provision of digital media solutions and interarctive tools for the cultural heritage domain.

The following people worked for this application: YSMA - Project supervision, Content management: E. Lempidaki, I. Alexopoulos, M. Katsianis, K. Koutsadelis, D. Mavromati, E.Petropoulou

• Culturplay - Project production
• Design, Programming, Image Processing: A. Giannakidis
• Panoramic Photography: G. Gerogiannis
• Technology Consultant: A. Skorjanc
• Programming: Y. Stergiou, G. Giakoumidakis, G. Papadakis
• Typography: A. Mouriadou, E. Bountouraki
• Production Support: L. Mantzourani

PRODUCTION DETAILS

The production of panoramic photomosaics at resolutions of several gigapixels was realised between 2010 and 2014 by employing established practices of digital image acquisition and processing.

In order to achieve the best possible mapping of natural lighting on the monuments together with the display of shaded details, High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging techniques were used for capturing and combining different exposure levels of the same theme.

Starting from the RAW photos all the way up to the combined and color-corrected finalised panoramas, all intermediate outputs were maintained in order to be able to reproduce and control the entire manufacturing process for future reference.

The krpano viewer and revelant tools are used for the display of the panoramic images within the application. Techniques to minimize the optical deformation of the monuments were applied during the construction of the photomosaics and are also used for their rendering within the application.

Particular emphasis was also placed on the typographic formatting of all textual information included, especially with respect to its effective adaptation to different screen sizes. Moreover, a series of interface controls were developed to facilitate user navigation tasks on touch screens.

The contents of the application are stored in a Content Delivery Network that significantly accelerates data serving to end-users.

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VIRTUAL GREECE: HOW TO VISIT GREECE FROM HOME

Sometimes the best plans simply don’t go according to plan. Your longed-for and carefully researched and planned trip to Greece can’t go ahead, for reasons you just can’t control. But don’t despair, there are ways to still enjoy a Greek experience from the comfort of your own home. Here’s how to enjoy a great virtual Greece vacation!

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Greece: Parthenon

The view facing the West Pediment of the Parthenon.

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Visiting the gallery

Opening times.

Daily: 10.00–17.00 ( Fridays: 20.30 ) See full opening hours

Advance booking advised

Gallery audio guides.

Listen on the Audio app, available on the  App Store  and  Google Play .

The Parthenon was built as a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.

It was the centrepiece of an ambitious building programme on the Acropolis of Athens.

The temple's great size and lavish use of white marble was intended to show off the city's power and wealth at the height of its empire. Room 18 exhibits sculptures that once decorated the outside of the building.

The pediments and metopes (square spaces between triglyphs in a Doric frieze) illustrate episodes from Greek myth, while the frieze represents the people of contemporary Athens in religious procession.

Rooms 18a and 18b feature fragments of the Parthenon sculpture and also pieces of architecture. Video displays using computer graphics explain how the sculptures were placed on the building, and a touch tour for visually impaired visitors includes a model, some original architecture and plaster casts of the frieze.

Take a virtual tour

Examine one of our most popular attractions, the  Parthenon sculptures , away from the crowds.

Gallery facts

The word  parthénos  (παρθένος) meant 'maiden, girl' or 'virgin, unmarried woman'.

The temple was decorated with sculptures representing scenes from mythology and cult, while inside the building stood a colossal image of Athena Parthenos, constructed of gold and ivory.

The temple was richly decorated with sculptures, designed by the famous artist Pheidias, which took until 432 BC to complete.

The Parthenon sculptures have been on permanent display since 1817.

The frieze shows the procession of the Panathenaic festival, the commemoration of the birthday of the goddess Athena.

On either end of the main room are transepts (in a cross-shaped church, transepts are either of the two parts forming the arms of the cross shape, projecting at right angles from the nave). Displayed here are sculptures from the east and west pediments including Iris, goddess of the rainbow, and Dionysos. On the walls are metopes carved in high relief.

Sculpture of Ilissos - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

Figure of Dionysos - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

Metope of a Centaur and Lapith - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

Horsemen of the Frieze - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

Female figures from the Parthenon - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

Sculpture of a horse's head - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

Accessibility

• A large print guide is available.
• Some objects in this collection feature on the British Sign Language multimedia guide. This resource is temporarily unavailable.
• Some objects in this collection feature on the audio description guide, available on  Soundcloud .
• Seating is available.
• Step-free access.
• View sensory map .

Visit  Accessibility at the Museum  for more information.

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Greece: Athens

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The Parthenon and Ancient Athens, an animated virtual tour

Go back in time to Ancient Athens in the late 5th century B.C.E., “the way it would look in the years before the defeat in the Peloponnesian War ” (431 to 405 B.C.E.). This 6.5-minute CGI reconstruction by Ancient Athens 3D provides a 3D-rendered tour of The Parthenon , the most famous building in Greece . From the caption:

“It is a temple made of white Pentelic marble and was dedicated to goddess Athena , the patroness of the city of Athens. The construction began in 447 BC after the orders of the Athenian statesman Pericles . The architects were Iktinos and Callicrates , while the supervisor of the sculpture decoration was Phidias . The construction was completed in 438 BC and the last sculptures were placed in 432 BC.”

“It is a buildingof doric architecture , combining features of the Ionic order , too. The sculptures can be divided in three types: the metopes , the pediments , and the frieze . “Most of the Parthenon sculptures were taken in 1801-1812 by Lord Elgin and are now in the British Museum while most of the rest are in the Acropolis Museum .”

“The city of Athens was completely destroyed by the Persian army in the years 480-479 BC. In the years that followed, the Athenians managed to rebuild their city and by the middle of the 5th century BC, the statesman and general Pericles ordered an extensive construction programme that made Athens the centre of classical Greece.”

“It was the time when the great temples on the Acropolis hill were built (Parthenon, Erechtheion ) and many buildings of public administration for the Athenian Democracy … “The 3d reconstructions were made after the most recently published international research and a great effort was made to be as accurate as possible. Of course, simplifications and artistic license are present in order to technically manage a big project as this one.”

Then watch these related history videos on TKSST: • Ancient Greek and Roman artworks were brightly painted: How do we know? • Moving and restoring an ancient Greek mosaic • How to Make a Tesserae Mosaic • Greek Legacy: How the Ancient Greeks shaped modern mathematics

h/t Open Culture .

This Webby award-winning video collection exists to help teachers, librarians, and families spark kid wonder and curiosity. TKSST features smarter, more meaningful content than what's usually served up by YouTube's algorithms, and amplifies the creators who make that content.

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Screenshot of the entrance to the Acropolis, the Propylaea, from Google street view, via Clio Muse.

Taking a Virtual Tour of the Acropolis with Clio Muse

Professional audio tours combine with the power of google street view to provide engrossing, informative virtual visits to the acropolis and parthenon..

Paulina Björk Kapsalis | March 25th, 2020

I’ve been to the Acropolis of Athens before. In fact, I’ve climbed the Sacred Rock more than once, usually on hasty visits with friends from abroad – but for some reason I’ve never gone with a guide. My memories from those visits therefore have less to do with the things I learned (which was whatever little I picked up from information signs around the site), and more to do with the heat, taking selfies, and illicitly trying to listen in on other people’s guides. I finally made the decision to not visit again unless I had enough time to take a real tour.

Now, the tour I’m about to take isn’t the one I originally envisioned. It’s a virtual tour , launched by the audio guide company Clio Muse just as COVID-19 has frozen tourism the world over. Combining an audio guide providing information and stories of the sites, the ancient Athenians and their gods, with the 360° images of Google Street View , it promises to be the closest one can get to actually visiting the Acropolis right now.

All one needs is time, and since that is the one thing that I – like most everyone – have on my hands in abundance, it seems perfect.

© Clio Muse

Looking at the preview of the tour on the website, the marble columns of the Erechteion shine in the sunny weather, evoking various memories of summer, travel and adventure. In my dimly lit room, in self-isolation, it does look inviting. In fact, it looks so different from my reality, I know what I have to do. I pick up my laptop and move out on the balcony.

It’s a sunny spring day and birds are chirping away. Earbuds in, I imagine I’m on pedestrianized Dionysiou Areopagitou Street underneath the Acropolis. I turn and start walking up the stone paths between the trees of the Sacred Rock’s slopes, towards the ancient citadel with all those famous temples commissioned by Pericles in the 5th c. BC. And then I press play .

The tour begins at the south slope entrance , not at the main entrance. I have never entered through here before. The voice in my headphones informs me that we’ll be taking this route in order to see some of the sights many tourists miss, before heading up to the top of the rock.

The Theater of Dionysus

The first stop is the Theater of Dionysus. I’m “standing” in the second row of the simple stone bleachers, but I learn that the real places of honor were the fancier looking marble seats in the front row. My audio guide then wastes no time before diving into facts about the cult of Dionysus, the City Dionysia festival, and the famous playwrights of ancient Greece.

The carvings in what’s left of the stage front depict the myths of the ancient god, he tells me. Zooming in, I notice a satyr, depicted as if holding the structure up and crouching under the weight. Amazingly, this artwork seems like it’s even more fitting today, thousands of years of carrying that weight later, than it must have when it was put in place. There is also a low wall in front of me, which, the voice in my headphones explains, was added by the Romans to protect the audience during the gladiator battles and wild animal fights.

Clicking the arrow for the next spots on the map, I head to the Ascleipon (healing sanctuary) via the Stoa of Eumenes ; the latter, I learn, was once a 163-meter structure with two floors, built to protect theater goers from sun and rain during the breaks between plays.

© Google Street View

Asclepieion

I’m encouraged to find a spot in the shade of a tree, and as I imagine myself leaning against it, I am suddenly brought back to the reality of 2020, because this spot on the map was once a hospital . “The year was 430 BC,” the voice in my headphones tells me, “and Athens was struck by the plague , which gradually spread all across the city”. Ten years later, I learn, 25 percent of the Athenians had died from the disease, and this sanctuary and healing center was created in the honor of Asclepios, the god of medicine.

After I briefly thank technology and the almost two and a half millennia separating me from the actual Asclepieion and the ancient plague (as a good citizen I have recently learned to stay away from hospitals in epidemic times), I take some time to look around. I can see the path leading back to the Theater of Dionysus and on to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and I’m reminded that building hospitals next to theaters was once common practice, as watching a tragedy at a theater was considered therapeutic, and the ancient Greeks were well aware of the connection between a healthy mind and a strong body.

Moving on to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus , I seem to be “arriving” just in time for a play. This amphitheater looks quite different from the Theater of Dionysus. Constructed much later, in 161 AD, by the Roman magnate Herodes, it was once covered by an enormous wooden roof, and the still preserved 28-meter high back of the scene features the dynamic curves that were a popular architectural feature of the Roman Empire.

Some people have begun gathering on the bleachers below me. If this was real life, some famous play or world-known artist would likely be taking the stage soon (the theater returned to use in 1920).

On top of the Sacred Rock

Finally climbing the hill, my guide tells me all about the impressive structures I pass on the way; ramps, stairs, temples, bastions and marble pedestals create an impressive landscape which, seeing it this way, looks taken straight out of a fantasy video game (and not by chance – many of those games have been inspired by Greek temples).

Reaching the height of the temple of Athena Nike , I can see all the way to the sea as I’m told the story of Aegeus, the king of Athens, who from here saw the black sails of his son Theseus’ ship as he was returning from slaying the Minotaur on Crete, and, believing that his son was dead, jumped from the nearby bastion.

Finally, coming through the Propylaea , the majestic entrance building to the Acropolis, the 360° image really shows its best side, which in this case is up. The sky-high columns and the piece of the preserved roof make you ponder how the ancients managed to build like this without modern equipment (later, I will learn all about how the marble blocks were carried with the help of draft animals, ropes and cranes).

The Erechtheion

After the Parthenon, the Erechtheion is probably the most famous of the structures on the Acropolis, but looking at it from three directions on this tour, I realize that only a corner of it is usually represented in pictures (the Porch of the Caryatids ). My guide takes the time to show sides of the temple I wouldn’t have been able to identify in a quiz, and points out interesting details. For example, a hole in the ceiling is noticeable at the temple’s north entrance, where Zeus is said to have struck earth with a lightning bolt to kill Erechtheus.

Another amazing thing you won’t notice in pictures: the remains of the Mycenian Palace of Athens , which once occupied the plateau just in front of the eye-catching caryatids, long before any religious temples were built on the hill.

The Parthenon

Finally, the crown jewel, the temple so famous tourists are often confused about its name; is it “Parthenon”, is it “Acropolis”, are they one and the same? (It’s “Parthenon” – “acropolis” is the word for a citadel in any ancient Greek city, and this particular acropolis is the most famous because it was that of a superpower.)

Built in just nine years (447-438 BC), the Parthenon’s impressive size was necessary for it to house the 11-meter tall statue of Athena Parthenos . While the statue is long gone, my guide paints me a picture: “Made by Phidias, he used ivory for the flesh and more than 1,100 kilograms of pure gold for the clothes… The virgin supported a shield with her left hand, while a Winged Victory rested on her right hand. There was a small pool of water in front of her to provide the humidity required so that the ivory would not dry out and crack.”

© Shutterstock

Moving to another side of the temple, I’m asked to look at the famous Pentelic marble columns , and notice details like how the corner ones are thicker than the others – an intentional aesthetic choice as there was no wall behind those columns, and seeing them against the sky would otherwise make them appear thinner than the others. In fact, while seemingly a masterpiece of symmetry, there is almost no straight line on the Parthenon, but rather a myriad of optical illusions that make it seem so.

On a real visit, all the white at the Acropolis is blinding under a stark sun. On the one hand, that’ll help you remember the site as if bathing in a sort of divine light, but on the other hand will make you avert your eyes. The ancient Athenians knew this, and large surfaces of the Parthenon were therefore painted deep red, blue, gold and black.

On a virtual tour, while it can’t beat actually walking on the rock on which Pericles once stood when his temples were being built, you also don’t feel the need to look away. Instead, you zoom.

Final Review

Clio Muse’s Acropolis Hill virtual tours feel like something between taking an audio tour, watching a documentary, and playing a video game. Each point begins with directions on how to get there, which makes me think the audio for the virtual tour are the same as for the regular audio tour that you can take in real life – however, the directions remain helpful even navigating via computer, as they provide an idea of the distances and what you would have seen moving from one place to another, if you were really there. Sometimes, I would have wished for clearer images, as zooming resulted in pixelated views, but overall, I’m impressed with how much I did see on this tour, which even had me noticing some details I’ve never spotted on a real life visit.

Tip: If you’re a rebel, you can, instead of following the tour from start to finish, also move around with street view using the arrows. To do so, when in the satellite view, pull Google’s Pegman to any spot on the map. Clio Muse’s audio spots will then appear around you as you get near them.

To take Clio Muse’s virtual tours, you need a computer or a smartphone with internet connection, and preferably headphones. The “Acropolis Hill” tour takes 1-3 hours, depending on how much time you spend “walking around” the hill. The price of the tour is €14,99, but is currently on sale at €9,99. Payment is possible via PayPal or credit card. Find the “Acropolis Hill” tour and other virtual tours on the company’s website, here .

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An app shows how ancient Greek sites looked thousands of years ago. It’s a glimpse of future tech

A man holds up a tablet showing a digitally overlayed virtual reconstruction of the ancient Parthenon temple, at the Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Greece has become a late but enthusiastic convert to new technology as a way of displaying its famous archaeological monuments and deepening visitors’ knowledge of ancient history. The latest virtual tour on offer is provided by a mobile app that uses Augmented Reality to produce digital overlays that show visitors at the Acropolis how the site and its sculptures looked 2,500 ago. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

A woman holds up a mobile phone showing a digitally overlayed virtual reconstruction of the ancient Parthenon temple, at the Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Greece has become a late but enthusiastic convert to new technology as a way of displaying its famous archaeological monuments and deepening visitors’ knowledge of ancient history. The latest virtual tour on offer is provided by a mobile app that uses Augmented Reality to produce digital overlays that show visitors at the Acropolis how the site and its sculptures looked 2,500 ago. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Tourists at the Acropolis this holiday season can witness the resolution of one of the world’s most heated debates on cultural heritage.

All they need is a smartphone.

Visitors can now pinch and zoom their way around the ancient Greek site, with a digital overlay showing how it once looked. That includes a collection of marble sculptures removed from the Parthenon more than 200 years ago that are now on display at the British Museum in London. Greece has demanded they be returned.

For now, an app supported by Greece’s Culture Ministry allows visitors to point their phones at the Parthenon temple, and the sculptures housed in London appear back on the monument as archaeologists believe they looked 2,500 years ago.

Other, less widely known features also appear: Many of the sculptures on the Acropolis were painted in striking colors. A statue of goddess Athena in the main chamber of the Parthenon also stood over a shallow pool of water.

“That’s really impressive ... the only time I’ve seen that kind of technology before is at the dentist,” Shriya Parsotam Chitnavis, a tourist from London, said after checking out the app on a hot afternoon at the hilltop Acropolis, Greece’s most popular archaeological site .

“I didn’t know much about the (Acropolis), and I had to be convinced to come up here. Seeing this has made it more interesting — seeing it in color,” she said. “I’m more of a visual person, so this being interactive really helped me appreciate it.”

The virtual restoration works anywhere and could spare some visitors the crowded uphill walk and long wait to see the iconic monuments up close. It might also help the country’s campaign to make Greek cities year-round destinations.

Tourism, vital for the Greek economy, has roared back since the COVID-19 pandemic, even as wildfires chased visitors from the island of Rhodes and affected other areas this summer. The number of inbound visitors from January through July was up 21.9% to 16.2 million compared with a year ago, according to the Bank of Greece. Revenue was up just over 20%, to 10.3 billion euros ($10.8 billion).

The app, called “Chronos” after the mythological king of the Titans and Greek word for “time,” uses augmented reality to place the ancient impression of the site onto the screen, matching the real-world view as you walk around.

AR is reaching consumers after a long wait and is set to affect a huge range of professional and leisure activities.

Medical surgery, military training and specialized machine repair as well as retail and live event experiences are all in the sights of big tech companies betting on a lucrative future in immersive services. Tech giant like Meta and Apple are pushing into VR headsets that can cost thousands of dollars.

The high price tag will keep the cellphone as the main AR delivery platform to consumers for some time, said Maria Engberg, co-author of the book “Reality Media” on augmented and virtual reality.

She says services for travelers will soon offer a better integrated experience, allowing for more sharing options on tours and overlaying archive photos and videos.

“AR and VR have been lagging behind other kinds of things like games and movies that we’re consuming digitally,” said Engberg, an associate professor of computer science and media technology at Malmo University in Sweden.

“I think we will see really interesting customer experiences in the next few years as more content from museums and archives becomes digitized,” she said.

Greece’s Culture Ministry and national tourism authority are late but enthusiastic converts to technology. The popular video game Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which allows players to roam ancient Athens, was used to attract young travelers from China to Greece with a state-organized photo contest.

Microsoft partnered with the Culture Ministry two years ago to launch an immersive digital tour at ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games in southern Greece.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the innovations would boost accessibility to Greece’s ancient monuments, supplementing the recent installation of ramps and anti-slip pathways.

“Accessibility is extending to the digital space,” Mendoni said at a preview launch event for the Chronos app in May. “Real visitors and virtual visitors anywhere around the world can share historical knowledge.”

Developed by Greek telecoms provider Cosmote, the free app’s designers say they hope to build on existing features that include an artificial intelligence-powered virtual guide, Clio.

“As technologies and networks advance, with better bandwidth and lower latencies, mobile devices will be able to download even higher-quality content,” said Panayiotis Gabrielides, a senior official at the telecom company involved in the project.

Virtual reconstructions using Chronos also cover three other monuments at the Acropolis, an adjacent Roman theater and parts of the Acropolis Museum built at the foot of the rock.

___ AP photographer Petros Giannakouris in Athens contributed.

The best 10 + 1 Virtual Tours in Greece (and beyond)

• Work With Me

Last Updated on January 26, 2023 by Celeste .

“I miss our travels,” said my daughter a few days ago. Exploring Greece and visiting museums or ancient monuments are not possible right now. Since the corona crisis has kept us home in our Athenian suburb, history and culture seem far away. That is why we started exploring virtual tours in Greece.  

Virtual Tours, exploring from home

If you cannot travel to your favorite place, virtual tours can fill the gap. They are also a great resource for planning your next trip. In Greece, several museums, archaeological sites, and other organizations have stepped up their online game, putting (kid-friendly) virtual tours right at our fingertips. Through these virtual tours, we get to explore Greece at any time that we want and without waiting lines or summer heat. Combine these advantages with the fact that kids love anything on an iPad or tablet, and you have a winning solution. Finally, a virtual tour is a great gift for anyone who loves travel but cannot get to the actual place right now!

My 10 favorite virtual tours in Greece

There are quite a few excellent online tours available. To make things easier for you, I have listed my 10 favorite virtual tours in Greece . Travel with kids from the comfort of your own living room, happy exploring!

1 Virtual Tour of the Acropolis in Athens

The Acropolis is the name of the hill on which ancient Athens was founded. When the first inhabitants left the top and moved to the foothills of the Acropolis, temples and sanctuaries were erected. The most famous of all is the  Parthenon temple , dedicated to  goddess Athena  – the patron goddess of Athens city. The Acropolis is the best-preserved monument of the ancient world in Greece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Discover the most famous monument of Greece during a virtual tour of the Acropolis in Athens . Engaging audio commentary (in English) combined with satellite views will travel you to the most captivating ancient citadel, right from the comfort of your sofa.

For more information and for booking your Virtual Tour of the Acropolis, please click here.

2 Google Arts and Culture

This part of Google features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world’s most famous museums, sites and other cultural attractions to your living room. Explore ‎360° videos of Greece and the rest of the world and visit the Acropolis Museum, Naxos, Ancient Corinth and other places in Greece.

3 The National Archaeological Museum

The largest museum in Greece, the National Archaeological Museum , features over 11,000 exhibits, that provide the virtual visitor with a panorama of ancient Greek culture from prehistory to late antiquity.

4 National Geographic

I can’t think of a brand more suited to offering free insight in (Ancient) Greece than National Geographic. From artistry to politics, Ancient Greece left a considerable impression on world history and this is a great tool to teach your kids how the legacy of Ancient Greece has evolved over thousands of years with short videos and more. Have a look at this virtual tour of an Ancient Greek cult.

Virtual Tours in Greece

5 visit the ancient agora, the temple of zeus and the acropolis.

The self-guided audio tours of Clio Muse allow you to remotely visit renowned museums and sites in Greece and beyond from home. Follow the street cats in Athens or explore the impressive Ancient Agora and the Temple of Zeus without leaving your house! No special equipment or apps are needed, you can buy and view them on your browser.

For more information and for booking your virtual tour to the Acient Agora, the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis, please click here.

6 You Go Culture

For anyone interested in Greek history and culture, this high-quality platform with free virtual tours is a must-exploring! The beautifully designed website has videos and other resources for myths, arts and crafts, destinations and experiences in Greece. With videos of music and wonderful places as well as tours and lots of cultural information by the E-Learning Center of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Great for parents and older kids.

7 The Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum also offers museum fans a virtual tour through its exhibits. Thanks to its online collection, you can virtually wander the museum’s exhibit spaces and permanent collections of ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine art. At Benakids , children can read a letter from the Toys of the Benaki Museum, while staying at home and participating in a drawing contest.

8 Greece from Home

Greece from home is a platform with videos of Greeks from around the world, Greek-inspired music, mythology, cuisine, arts, crafts, fashion, sport and style. The YouTube channel also offers cooking classes of renowned chefs and a selection of videos of destinations and experiences from around Greece.

9 Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation

Help your kids to get inspired by the artworks in the online  collection, of the Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation where they will meet several artists who drew inspiration from their favorite everyday objects. In We create from home , kids and teens up to 15 years old are invited to create their own artwork that will be exhibited in the museum when it opens again. My kids love it! For terms of participation, head over to the website .

10. 360 Tourist Net / Free Virtual Tours in Greece

The 360 Tourist Net website offers a dazzling amount of virtual tours around the world. Click on the Greek flag and find 165 free virtual tours in Greece . By clicking through the photos, similar to Google Street View, we were able to travel from the port to Hydra island. A great way to prepare for a trip!

11 Ancient Olympia

At the Archaeological Site of Olympia you can make a virtual tour while you are on the site. Using a pair of virtual reality glasses in front of the ruins of every temple you can see how it looked like thousands of years ago.

Have you tried any virtual tours in Greece? What is your experience with your kids, did they like it? Let me know in the comments!

PS. If you want to learn more about Greece and its history and culture, try reading some Greek mythology with your kids. Click here to find our recommended 20 best Greek Mythology books for kids.

Related Posts

• Virtual Vacations in Greece
• The best 10 Virtual Tours in Greece

My 10 Best Books about Greece

• Virtual Tours in Athens’ Museums, 4 great tours for families

Greece from Home

Celeste is a Dutch Italian mom of two daughters. She was born & raised in The Netherlands, but lives in Athens, Greece for 25+ years. Celeste studied Culture and holds a Tourism degree. Whether you and your family live in Greece or are visiting, this blog will show you the very best ways in which to celebrate family life here.

Virtual Tours in Athens Museums | 4 great tours for families

This article is great! If it help, you can teach your child to read, this video reveals how any child aged 2-9 can quickly learn to read at home: https://bit.ly/36nmkge

wow excellent post. I miss travelling too and i can’t wait to travel to Greece this year with my wife and 2 kids. I hope the situation with the Corona to be better until July.

Your recommended virtual tours are great, i was also searching online to find virtual tours of Greece and i discovered something amazing that i think it is very interesting.

At the Archaeological Site of Olympia you can make a virtual tour while you are in the Site. Using a pair of virtual reality glasses in front of the ruins of every temple you can see how it looked like thousands of years ago. I think kids would love something like that when we go there. Here is the website i found this on: https://www.olympiabackintime.com/

Also i found a great game for kids about Ancient Greece here : https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z7nrydm/articles/z2ngf82

Keep up the good work and i hope soon everyone will be able to travel again.

Thank you very much for your kind comments and feedback. My aim is to provide as much information as possible to parents and feedback is always helpful. I will insert your suggestions in the post! Let me know when you are able to get to Greece!

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Top-10 Greek Museums you can [virtually] visit

Walking in a museum for the first time is one of the best feelings in the world! You become like a child again, anxious to start exploring this whole new world. You discover stories and objects and new meanings, making everlasting memories.

Sometimes, however, if there’s a global pandemic going on, for example, we are unable to visit the museums ourselves. Fortunately, we can still virtually visit them and get a good taste of what they have to offer!

The past year I’ve been “walking around” in museum exhibitions and exploring many collections, from the comfort of my home.

1. National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum is the largest and one of the most fascinating museums in Greece. Its vast collections include amazing treasures mainly from the Greek past, waiting for you to discover. The website guides you through the collections , offering lots of information and many photos of several interesting objects. Additionally, there are several virtual or digital exhibitions you can visit. Learn more about politics in ancient Greece in the “Athenian Democracy; The freedom of the individual as a political value” . Lose yourself in the harmony and beauty of Greek aesthetics in the “Countless Aspects of Beauty” . Get to know Hadrian , the Roman Emperor who loved Athens, at the “HADRIAN AND ATHENS. Conversing with an ideal world” . Explore the stories of ancient Greek battles at the “Glorious Victories. Between Myth and History” . Discover Greek antiquities along with European artworks of the 18th and 19th centuries at the “These are what we fought for… Antiquities and the Greek War of Independence” .

2. Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum , one of the most popular museums in the country, offers on its website a variety of online experiences (which they’re still enriching). First of all, you can watch a 5-minute video here for a quick view of the museum, or you can take your time exploring at your own pace through Google Arts and Culture , here . My favourite though is the several applications of the website . You can do so many things! Spend a morning in ancient Athens , be part of a wedding ceremony , colour the statue of Peplos Kore , study thousands of years of Acropolis’s history , read ancient inscriptions , and so much more. In addition to this, if you’re a kid (or feel like one), there’s a whole website of fun applications, educational activities and games just for you! Not a big fan of applications? Not a problem! Enjoy just reading about the exhibitions and seeing many exhibits , starting with the highlights .

3. Benaki Museums

Benaki is a network of museums and galleries , many of which are offering virtual experiences. You can take a 360˚ virtual tour choosing among four galleries. There’s also an audio guide for the tour in six different languages. Visit the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture (also known as the central building) to explore Greek history through artefacts from prehistory to the 20th century, the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art , one of the most important of its type in the world, the Ghika Gallery to admire the wonderful collection of the artist Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika , and the Yannis Pappas Studio , to see a unique example of the workspace of an artist devoted to both sculpture and painting. Furthermore, you should really watch some of the Benaki CLOSE-UPS, a series of really cool videos where you can get a closer look and hear the fascinating stories behind specific objects.

4. Byzantine and Christian Museum

If you’re interested in Greek medieval history and Byzantine art you should check the virtual tour of the Byzantine and Christian Museum , where you can explore its permanent exhibition. Alternatively, take a look at their digitized collections for pictures and details of several objects, or learn through playing games !

5. Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki offers a fantastic digital “walk-through” of its permanent exhibitions . You can read all about the different time periods and aspects of ancient Macedonia and look at the unique and extraordinary objects in the collections. In addition to information and good-quality photographs , you can also access floor plans and see photos of gallery views to get a taste of the museum’s physical space. For a quick view, check the highlights . Last but not least, you can read and download (free access) catalogues of past exhibitions !

6. Historic Residence of Lazaros Koundouriotis

Have you ever wondered what was it like to live on a Greek island in the 18th and 19th centuries? Now you can find out by visiting the Historic Residence of Lazaros Koundouriotis . This beautiful historic mansion is located on Hydra island and it used to belong to an eminent local family. Today, it’s part of the National Historical Museum network and it houses a permanent exhibition about the Koundouriotis family, as well as art exhibitions displaying works of Periklis Vyzantios, Konstantinos (Dikos) Vyzantios, and Panagiotis Tetsis. Take a virtual tour and start exploring!

7. The Bath House of the Winds

Speaking of visiting historical buildings, the Bath House of the Winds (part of the Museum of Modern Greek Culture) is a really fun place you can visit online. Dating around the 15th-17th century, it’s the only public bath of Athens surviving today. With this virtual tour , you’ll get to know this unique building and learn about the bathing rituals of people long ago. If you’re interested to know more about the everyday life of Greeks from antiquity until the 18th cent. focusing on bathing etc. check the interactive timeline “Hygiene Objects and Toiletries” and the “The history of baths as buildings” .

8. Goulandris Natural History Museum

Goulandris Museum is a treat for all the natural history fans out there. The first of its kind in Greece, now it has thousands of samples in its Botany, Marine biology, Terrestrial Zoology, Geology, and Paleontology collections. You can virtually visit the museum’s permanent exhibition, separated into three main sections: animals (vertebrates), geology , and botany-insects-hydrobiology . The exploration is quite relaxing, as the information of the several stations of the tour is in a form of a brief, yet very informative video .

9. Archaeological Museum of Thebes

The Archaeological Museum of Thebes is a really cool museum, which definitely worth a visit. You can explore the captivating history of the important city of Thebes ( Thiva ) and the greater area of Boeotia . Take a 360˚ virtual tour of the permanent exhibitions, watch videos , check out 3D models of objects and read through the book guide of the museum. You’ll discover heroes and myths you’ve probably heard about, and you’ll be surprised by the richness of the museum’s collections , spanning from the Palaeolithic to the Post Byzantine periods.

10. Museums of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation

The PIOP foundation has a network of seven museums and it offers a 360° experience on its website. You can’t explore the museums yourself, however, you can get a taste of their permanent exhibitions through 360° photographs . Moreover, you can fully explore one of their temporary exhibitions, which was organised in collaboration with the National Historical Museum of Athens . The navigation is easy and it has many stops where you can see the exhibits and clearly read all the texts. At the “’21 allios’ The Greek War of Independence in PLAYMOBIL dioramas” exhibition you’ll have fun learning about the Greek War of Independence with the help of cute Playmobil figurines !

Honorable Mentions

Apart from my top-10 list, there are some more online experiences that I’ve enjoyed and I think are worth a mention. If you’re interested in fine arts, you should check the virtual tour of the B & M Theocharakis Foundation . I’ve also liked the Archaeological Museum of Tegea , which offers virtual views of many different ancient places in the Tegea area (Arcadia, Peloponnese).

Have you visited any of these museums online? How about others that I haven’t mentioned and should have? Let me know in the comments below!

Useful Links

• Acropolis Museum
• Acropolis Museum for kids
• Archaeological Museum of Tegea
• Archaeological Museum of Thebes
• Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
• Bath House of the Winds
• Benaki Museum
• B & M Theocharakis Foundation
• Byzantine and Christian Museum
• Historic Residence of Lazaros Koundouriotis
• Goulandris Natural History Museum
• Museum of Modern Greek Culture
• National Archaeological Museum
• National Historical Museum
• Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation

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Red Square & Moscow City Tour

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Description

Highlights:.

• Experience medieval Kitay Gorod (China town).
• Wander picturesque Red Square and Alexander Garden.
• Explore grand Christ the Savior Cathedral on our Red Square tour.
• Breathtaking panoramic views from Patriarch bridge.
• Enjoy a hearty lunch on the large open verandah and marvel at the stunning views of the Kremlin.
• Learn about Russian culture from the local through relaxed cultural discussions.

Tour Itinerary:

Red square:.

Russia and Moscow are synonymous with Red Square and the Kremlin and that's hardly surprising as you'll find these places absolutely stunning!

• - Walk-through the Resurrection Gate and don’t forget to flip a coin so you’ll be sure to come back one day!
• - Visit the world's famous Kazan Cathedral .
• - See the State Department Store (GUM), once the Upper Trading Stalls, which were built over a century ago and still operating!
• - Admire the lovely St. Basil's Cathedral! The French diplomat Marquis de Custine commented that it combined "the scales of a golden fish, the enamelled skin of a serpent, the changeful hues of the lizard, the glossy rose and azure of the pigeon's neck" and wondered at "the men who go to worship God in this box of confectionery work".
• - Walk by Lobnoye Mesto (literally meaning "Execution Place", or "Place of Skulls"), once Ivan the Terrible's stage for religious ceremonies, speeches, and important events.
• - Entering the Alexander Garden , you’ll take in spectacular views of Russian architecture from ancient to Soviet times, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame. Watch Changing of the Guard Ceremony every hour in summer and every half an hour in winter.

Kitai-gorod:

Stroll along medieval Kitai-gorod with its strong ancient Russia feel, known for its bohemian lifestyle, markets and arts.

• - Nikolskaya Street. Here you will find the Russia's first publishing house, the second oldest monastery, and Ferryn Pharmacy, known as the number one pharmacy back in Soviet times and famous for its Empire-style architecture.
• - Ilinka Street. The financial street of the Kitaigorod (China Town) district, where you’ll find the Gostiny Dvor (Merchant’s Yard), which is now a showroom for Ferraris and Maseratis. The street was designed in the 1790s by Catherine the Great.
• - Varvarka street. The oldest street in Moscow, which dates back to the 14th century, and still has remnants of early Muscovite architecture, such as the Old English Court and the Palace of the Romanov’s.
• - Kamergersky Lane. Only a small road of about 250 meters, it is home to some of the oldest artifacts of the city, as each building holds a fascinating story. Some of Russia's most famous writers, poets, and composers from as far back as the Golden Age of Russian culture, have lived or worked on this lane.

Historic City Center

Walk the historical old center of Moscow with its cool local vibe, including the main Tverskaya street , and indulge in desserts in the first grocery “Eliseev's store” , housed in an 18th century neoclassical building, famous for its baroque interior and decoration.

From our tour. Impressions of our American tourist:

At 3:30, as energy flagged, lunch was on the agenda at a Ukrainian restaurant.  Just in time!  We asked our guide to order for us.  We all had the same thing....borscht (the Ukrainian version has beans and more tomatoes than the Russian version, which has more beets and includes beef). 

The special high bread served is called galushki.  Our main course was golubtsy...a dish of minced meat rolled in braised cabbage leaves.  Both dishes called for optional sour cream as a topping....of course, yes, please....I recommend it. 

Full, satisfied, and completely refreshed, it was off to Red Square and St. Basil's and GUM department store.  Red Square is not so named because of the color of the brick walls of the Kremlin.  Rather the word for 'red' and the word for 'beautiful' are similar in pronunciation....and, there you have it. 

As we made the turn by the National Museum in front of which is the mounted sculpture of the "Marshall of Victory," Giorgy Zhukov from WWII and caught our first view of St. Basil's, my friend and I simultaneously emitted "Oooohhhhh!"  There it was....the iconic onion domes of St. Basil's!  Hooray....it was open until 7....we had about 30 minutes and were allowed in, AND we could take photos with no flash. 

Now, I can give you a taste of what we saw in the other cathedrals in Cathedral Square.  What we learned is that St. Vasily and St. Basil are one in the same....Russian/English.  He was a common man who wandered Moscow unclothed and barefoot.  But, all, even Ivan the Terrible, heeded his opinions derived from his visions.  Ivan had this cathedral built over his tomb. 

As we exited and took photos up close of the onion domes, Inna presented us with chocolate (how did she know we were ready for another energy boost, and we each got a big piece of chocolate.  The baby's name pictured on the wrapper of this famous Russian chocolate is Alyonka....the Russian Gerber baby, don't you think? 

One could wear out the credit card in GUM's (capitalized because it is actually a government abbreviation), but the 'kitty' and my credit card stayed in my pocket as we strolled through the glass-topped arcade. 

We then strolled through some of Moscow's lovely pedestrian streets; paused to listen as a wonderful quartet performed Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in an underground passage to cross the busy street (hooray!....we DID have our 'classical concert' experience after all; a request Alina tried in vain to fill because none was scheduled those days), saw the Bolshoi, which means 'big' (my friend has yet to recover that their performance schedule did not coincide with our cruise), saw the Central Telegraph Building, dating from the 1930's, and made our way to the Ritz-Carlton to see the night view of Moscow from the rooftop bar, called O2. 

There were fleece blankets to wrap yourself in....yes, it got that cold when the sun set.  We each ordered something hot to drink...the ginger, mint, lemon tea served to me in a parfait glass (for 600 rubles...about $9....you pay for the view here!) was delightful and hit the spot perfectly.  It was time to call it a night....

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting city tour, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time.

*This Moscow city tour can be modified to meet your requirements.

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