A couple can combine the neoclassical building, free guided tour, rooftop SNFCC park stroll, and café break, but limited privacy and short visit time reduce the overall romantic value.
Why 1-2 hours visit duration is ideal for couple trip: This gives time to admire the façade, browse key manuscripts and take photos without rushing.
Admire the Doric façade:
Walk up the grand staircase to study the simple, clear Doric columns and neoclassical details.
Tip: Visit in the morning for soft light on the portico and fewer visitors.
Browse rare Greek manuscripts:
Explore the display of over 4,500 manuscripts in the main exhibition hall.
Tip: Use a translation app to read exhibit labels if you don’t read Greek.
Visit the oak reading hall:
Step into the quiet hall lined with oak tables under natural light.
Tip: Find a seat by the window for a peaceful break and cultural atmosphere.
Photograph interior and exterior:
Capture the symmetry of the three-building trilogy: Library, Academy and University.
Tip: Frame the three façades in one shot from Panepistimiou Street for a classic view.
Visit in spring or autumn to avoid summer heat and crowds; the shaded portico stays cool on sunny days.
Explore These Activities
Louise
The cafe here is enclosed in the incredible National Library. Sadly although the building is incredibly well designed with views if you go up the lift, I would consider it very tourist unfriendly. We ordered some food, however were then asked to come up and pay, even though it was table service for others. We were confused and wanting to eat more, however thought they must be closing. We went outs...
MM
It's a nice looking building with a facade that conforms to the 21st century floor-to-ceiling glazing architectural ideal. It's nice, but it's not exceptional nor inspiring, which one might think it should be considering the historical attribution to Ancient Greece as a cultivator of knowledge, wisdom, and the love of both. The inside is an open space, which does not inspire wonder, curiosity, th...
Waheed
Pretty nice place for studying. I also managed to get good signal for hotspot and data.
Zyra Catherine
I visited the National Library of Athens during my trip, and it was a beautiful place to explore. While I didn’t go for academic purposes and can’t comment on the books or services, the building itself is impressive, and the atmosphere is nice. The views from the top are also lovely, and there’s a small cafe where you can relax and take it all in. If you’re in Athens, it’s definitely worth a visi...
SuperJ 1240
Marvelous library with restaurants, shops, and a lovely waterside, in addition with a whole system of garden at the top of the library. The National Library of Greece is the main public library, located in Athens. Founded by Ioannis Kapodistrias in 1832, its mission is to locate, collect, organize, describe and preserve the perpetual evidence of Greek culture and its uptake over time, as well as ...
Item | Cost (Approx.) |
---|---|
Entrance fee | EUR 0 |
Coffee for two | EUR 8 |
Metro tickets for two | EUR 2.4 |
Total Estimated | EUR 10.4 |
Note: All prices are indicative and may vary. Please check directly with the venue for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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Address: Leof. Andrea Siggrou 364, Kallithea 176 74, Greece
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