Acropolis Museum or National Archaeological Museum?

One vote for the Acropolis museum.

I would choose the Acropolis Museum!

The Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum cannot be compared.

The Acropolis Museum presents pieces and documents from the excavations of the Acropolis and its immediate surroundings, while the National Archaeological Museum, certainly less modern and flashy, is one of the largest in Europe and presents pieces and documents from all over Greece (or the geographical equivalent of present-day Greece) including the islands, and from all periods.

From a cultural and historical point of view, the National Archaeological Museum is in my opinion undoubtedly the best choice, especially when you have already visited the Acropolis.

Allow at least 3 hours for the National Archaeological Museum.

And after this visit, if I had money to spend overnight in the surroundings of Plaka, I would rather visit one or two roof top bars rather than walk again following a guide in the streets of Plaka :))

If you found the Acropolis interesting and inspiring, you might want to see its museum for the art works taken from the Acropolis just above, displayed in the positions they were in on the temple itself -- the pediment sculptures, metapes, the original columns from the "Porch of the Maidens," etc. It's a very well designed museum with easy access to all levels.

If your interests in ancient Greek art are more varied, the NAM has works from the Cycladic period up through the Hellenistic, generally well displayed in an older, larger building away from Athens' other tourist sights. It's a more comprehensive look, not so focused on the Acropolis buildings and their period. If you find that you can sightsee both days, you might want to take advantage of the bus to get you to the NAM and back, while you can visit the Plaka and Acropolis Museum more easily on your own (and save 89 bucks). Your call.

EDIT -- JoLui makes similar points above.

Strong vote for the National Archaeological Museum. I found it much superior to the Acropolis Museum.

Thanks all for your input. I does sound like I would hope to get to both museums, if possible.

If you visit the Acropolis, it's obvious to conclude with a visit to the Acropolis Museum to establish a connection with what you will see. Then you can admire the Acropolis from the museum, understanding many of its elements.

When I visited the archeological museum, I didn’t get anything out if it. Since that visit, I have read the Iliad and several books loosely based on Greek mythology, and watched every documentary on Ancient Greece. I also bought a guidebook to the museum. It looks so incredible, I can’t wait to go back. I know now how fantastic it is. So, if you do some research first and if your cruise stops in Santorini, Delos (Mykonos), Mycenae (Nafplio), Thessaloniki, etc, then you will probably enjoy the museum.

I've been to the NAM several times and the AM twice. For me there's no comparison. If I had to choose between them I'd want to re-visit the NAM, but I sincerely hope you can make time for both.

I really do hope we can do both, even if I decide to take the time to arrange the Acropolis Museum on our own. ( I confess to having become a rather lazy traveler in my old age.)

Sometimes those pre-planned ship's excursions are a complete waste of time, barely focused on what's significant with a fast "drive-by" of some of the highlights followed by a shopping experience (Plaka) designed to get you to spend your money. I hope yours does not fall into that category. For an amazing historical city like Athens I would encourage you to do some more research and consider a DIY approach instead. Start here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g189400-Activities-Athens_Attica.html

I have been to Athens dozens of times. I have been to both museums.... ever since the Acropolis Museum opened it is the one museum I go back to every time. Parts of it are breathtaking and it makes museum visiting fun. I vote defiantly for the Acropolis Museum.

Lee,
The Viking excursion I referenced does include admission to the Acropolis Museum. If we want more time than they allow, we can excuse ourselves from the tour group and use the free shuttle back to the ship on our own time frame. If I schedule that on the day we are in port overnight, we can use as much time as we have energy. We often schedule our days like that, with a group tour followed by time on our own.

We just visited both this past Saturday, Acropolis and Acropolis Museum in the morning and NAM in the afternoon, after a leisurely one hour lunch break, and really encourage you to try to see both if possible. Both are worthwhile, different enough and very enjoyable experiences.

I sometimes wonder about those who use this forum, but do not explore the wonderful Rick Steves site as a whole ... it is SO Helpful in planning for Athens particularly. His FREE downloads of D-I-Y audio files enable people to visit several landmarks + the top museum( Archeological) on their own schedule, if time is limited. Just click "Watch-read-listen" in LH list, then click Athens. You will find an audio guide to Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and Nat. Arch. Museum. The latter takes the "10 Must-See Treasures" .. which can get you in /out of Museum in a couple of well-spent hours ... not enough to experience all of its wonders, of course -- but you'll see the highlights without getting lost in long corridors of pots, pots, pots. Rick is so generous in offering this Free... don't overlook it!

I would add, in addition to janet's advice, that the NAM guide in English in PDF format with the map and description of the different rooms is available here:

https://tinyurl.com/3t69k7t5

For those who, like janet (and me), will have an overdose of pots of all sizes, colors, shapes and eras, don't forget to go to the upper floor which is apparently not covered by the RS audio guide and which includes superb glass, gold and silver objects as well as pieces from Akrotiri in Santorini

WOW Jolui, what a terrific Link! Bookmarked it instantly, & will print-out as well ... so worth it, for advance planning of route inside museum... straight to the best stuff. BTW, for those who can't for some reason, do the N.A.M., the Benaki can be an excellent surprise. On one eventful trip, one of our party broke her ankle on First afternoon in Athens 15 mins after entering N.A.M. (!) Good hosp. care, but then in wheelchair ... so next day we took her to Benaki, which has Elevators AND very curated, compact ancient-history displays ... able to do highlights from 500 BC- 300 ad, quickly. Bonus was top Floor all about Greece's struggle for freedom from Turkish centuries of oppression... dramatic & eye-opening.

Take advantage of the map and audio guides before it's too late, things will change at NAM. These informations will be obsolete (and the museum may be inaccessible for several months)

https://www.archdaily.com/996615/david-chipperfield-architects-unveils-winning-design-for-the-national-archaeological-museum-in-athens-greece

Thanks for the additional information, especially that related to the NAM. I am hoping that the extensive remodel there will not have created too much disruption by the time of our visit in October.

Great advise Janet. I actually printed out Rick’s maps to the Acropolis Museum, NAM, the Delphi Archaeology site and museum for this trip and used them all and found them to be extremely helpful. I didn’t just look at the top items but used them to make sure I didn’t miss any. Very, very helpful. Thanks Rick!

Janet,
I must confess that I have missed out on some really helpful information here! I have used the forums and watched all the shows, but never ventured beyond that. I will certainly correct that in the future. Thank you.