A museum that children love: the Museum of Illusions. After enjoying success in several major cities around the world, the concept also arrived in Greece in 2018, welcoming visitors to a street just a few steps from Monastiraki Square.
We tested it. And we loved it! This museum is great for families. Children (young and old) and parents alike enjoy the various games and activities.
The museum’s promise: to challenge our perception of reality while having fun. Promise kept!
And to save time, you can easily buy your ticket online:
Fun and experimentation
The Athens Museum of Illusions features more than 70 animations and visual games, offering a variety of experiences and testing the limits of our perception.
Here you’ll find various “experimental pieces”, games, optical illusions, holograms, light effects, mirrors and kaleidoscopes. And everything becomes very relative: the perception of space, vision, notions of gravity or size… our usual points of reference and our senses are somewhat disrupted.
What’s really great for children is that they can touch everything, try out the different animations and play freely with the objects on display. What’s more, at every stop you can take a photo with your smartphone. The result is a series of amusing shots that delight the whole family (with a special mention for the “upside-down” photo).
And, as an added bonus, all signs are in Greek + English. This helps us to understand how the various optical illusions work, and why the eyes see things that the brain cannot. In short, we have fun and learn at the same time, in a fun and creative way.
Games, holograms and optical illusions
Among the various installations in this museum of illusions, we particularly liked the following rooms:
- The “Infinity Room” is an octagonal room whose walls are covered in mirrors.
- The box in which the body disappears. Visually, you get the impression that only the person’s head is floating on a kitchen table. Get your cameras ready!
- The “ames room”, where you sometimes grow and sometimes shrink
- But also the “upside down” room: a room where everything is upside down. As a result, when you take a photo, you get the impression that people are hanging from the ceiling. Kids love it!
- The Vortex: a strange tunnel where everything seems to revolve around us. You feel dizzy, like you’re going through a cyclone.
- We also tested a strange room which, simply with the paintings and the inclination of the walls, makes us lose all our bearings. We found it almost difficult to walk upright, so visually chaotic is everything.
In conclusion, this museum of illusions is perfect for a family outing. Even adults and teenagers are easily taken in.
The Athens Museum of Illusions in practice
The Museum of Illusions in Athens is located at 119 Ermou Street, Monastiraki, and is entered via number 12 Astiggos Street. Google Maps point (Metro Monastiraki lines 1 and 3)
The museum isn’t very big. Depending on the world and the time spent on each animation, the visit lasts between 45 minutes and 1h30.
Opening hours
- Monday to Friday: 10am – 9pm (last entry at 8pm)
- Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 10pm (last entry at 9pm)
Age-wise, there’s something to appeal to the youngest (from around 4-5 years) as well as to teenagers. And everyone laughs when they see the photos taken in improbable situations.
You can book your ticket online via this link
Rates in 2024
- Free admission for children under 3
- 9€ for children aged 4 to 15
- 12€ per adult (+16 years)
- Family admission: €38 (2 adults + 2 children under 16)
- 10€ for students
A final word of advice: preferably go in the morning, when it’s less crowded.
Contact
- Phone: +30 210 220 1610
- Email : info@museumofillusions.gr
- Museum of Illusions Athens website
Gift ideas featuring the museum
Before you leave, don’t forget to visit the gift store at the museum exit and also at the online store which allows you to find the wooden toys present in the museum to take the time to continue the puzzle at home, as well as building sets, gadgets and accessories.
Laure M.
Updated February 20, 2024
