Archaeological Museum of Sparta
Archaeological Museum of Sparta
Archaeological Museum of Sparta
3.5
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3.5
163 reviews
Excellent
42
Very good
49
Average
49
Poor
12
Terrible
11
William S
17 contributions
May 2022
The trip to Sparta started at 0830, and our initial destination was the Corinth canal. Thanos and I enjoyed a quick break for snacks, and a history lesson of the ancient and progressive desire to move ships from the Ionian Sea to the Agean Sea. Following Corinth, we arrived at Sparta! The city was tighter than I had expected, but modern and vibrant. A short trip brought us to the location of the ancient Spartan civilization. We were allowed to wander at our leisure, and to see/touch/smell everything until we were content. We marveled at the current excavation site, perhaps evaded some overprotective archeologists (I assure you, we did not encroach on any digs…just a bit out of bounds). Thanos was able to rebuild the ancient kingdom with clear descriptions and discussion about their somewhat isolated location, the surrounding mountains, and he even pointed out the riverbed by which the warrior training (Agoge) was undertaken by all Spartan boys. Then, he provided a one-on-one private tour of the Spartan Museum, with the bust of Leonidas proud and prominent. Following through the historical museum was like wading through millennia of history, and we were completely uninterrupted during our discussions of the prominent players, the family trees filled with power struggles. Thanos’ knowledge and enthusiasm while describing every moment along the way was infectious…years of reading about this history was pale in comparison to the vibrant explanation and description he provided.
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny P
Indianapolis, IN43 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
A smaller museum but one of my favorites. You can really see the items in detail. The courtyard itself is also very beautiful.
And I feel obligated to warn everyone going to Greece that the museums allow personal photos/videos but NO SELFIES!! They do a bad job advertising that, so I witnessed many a person get yelled at (I was reprimanded here!) for attempting to take a selfie. Not a problem to not take selfies, but I wish they would do a better job telling people because they clearly care a lot about NO SELFIES!!
And I feel obligated to warn everyone going to Greece that the museums allow personal photos/videos but NO SELFIES!! They do a bad job advertising that, so I witnessed many a person get yelled at (I was reprimanded here!) for attempting to take a selfie. Not a problem to not take selfies, but I wish they would do a better job telling people because they clearly care a lot about NO SELFIES!!
Written 6 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mountaiinandsealover
Athens, Greece18 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
The Museum has many archaeological findings from the Lakonia area and a statue called "Leonidas" which was created in 480 b.C. in memory of the Spartan general who fell with all his 300 men fighting the Persians in Thermopylae in that year.
Written 30 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MestaChios
London, UK235 contributions
Oct 2013 • Family
If you are interested in artifacts belonging to the Spartans then this museum has some real gems, but you should come armed with a good guidebook (The Blue Guide and The Oxford Archaelogical Guide are both good) if you wish to understand what you are seeing. It is a small museum, but the entrance fee is small to match. For my family it gave us a happy hours entertainment.
Written 28 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fuchsiagrl
Phoenix, AZ84 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
I was pleasantly surprised at this museum. It is pretty small, but they have some very interesting pieces including mosaic tile work, masks, sculptures, tablets with ancient writing, jewelry and tools. The building itself was neat as well. The lady at the door was very friendly.
Tip: We did not see an actual parking lot. Google maps took us to the back of the building, where we parallel parked. I recommend driving around the block and scoping it out before deciding where to park. The entrance is through a fenced in courtyard. It takes less than an hour to see the entire collection.
Tip: We did not see an actual parking lot. Google maps took us to the back of the building, where we parallel parked. I recommend driving around the block and scoping it out before deciding where to park. The entrance is through a fenced in courtyard. It takes less than an hour to see the entire collection.
Written 11 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jessndenAZ
Sierra Vista, AZ232 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
We were really expecting this museum to be great, being right in the middle of Sparta and all but what a disappointment. First off barely anything is marked and few of the signs are translated into English. What they do have doesn't really correlate to the warrior Spartans, but are just boring pieces that could be found anywhere in Greece. And no bathroom in a museum! RIdiculous, I had to walk blocks to find one! Don't waste your time or money if you visit Sparta.
Written 26 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony W
Darwin, Australia64 contributions
Oct 2014
off the beaten track but worth a visit. Not only for the "classical" history but also for the amazing history that followed - very little of which is studied at anything except post-grad level. Not a GREAT museum, but useful, interesting and comeptant
Written 11 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Theta P
1 contribution
Aug 2015 • Family
This must be, by far, one of the worst museums in Greece. A very poor collection of exhibits, extemely poorly presented.
- Was there any map of Anicent Sparta or a model to get an idea how the city was organised and its surroundings? NO.
- Was there any activity pack for the children? NO
- Was there any video about life in anicent Sparta? NO
- Did the museum provide any guide in any language? NO.
- How about a simple A4 list of the exhibits by room to guide the visitor? NO.
- Any book about the history of ancient Sparta in the tickets' office? NO.
- Was Leonidas bust (the only famous piece of the Museum) impressive? WE WILL NEVER FIND OUT as the bust is on loan abroad to other museums since 2013. Instead of putting an exact copy of the original (so that visitors can be 'compensated' by getting some sense of this art work) the curators of the museum have put in its place a tiny photo (taken by a mobile?) next to a short note that this famous piece is away.
Overall: pathetic.
The only good thing about this museum was the garden at its front.
- Was there any map of Anicent Sparta or a model to get an idea how the city was organised and its surroundings? NO.
- Was there any activity pack for the children? NO
- Was there any video about life in anicent Sparta? NO
- Did the museum provide any guide in any language? NO.
- How about a simple A4 list of the exhibits by room to guide the visitor? NO.
- Any book about the history of ancient Sparta in the tickets' office? NO.
- Was Leonidas bust (the only famous piece of the Museum) impressive? WE WILL NEVER FIND OUT as the bust is on loan abroad to other museums since 2013. Instead of putting an exact copy of the original (so that visitors can be 'compensated' by getting some sense of this art work) the curators of the museum have put in its place a tiny photo (taken by a mobile?) next to a short note that this famous piece is away.
Overall: pathetic.
The only good thing about this museum was the garden at its front.
Written 26 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
674IanM
London, UK62 contributions
Apr 2013 • Friends
It is a small building of course, albeit in a pleasant garden space in the middle of town. Information on the nature and purpose of some of the exhibits is lacking as others have pointed out. But some of what could be identified through references from guide books to the various archaeological sites enabled us to get some sort of understanding of a society which has been much described but too little explained.
In this way I think the museum does have something to contribute to a visit to Sparta though as an adjunct rather than as a prime object. The reality of the so-called Leonidas bust is just as strange as its photographs.
This museum will not shatter any preconceptions but your visit will be the more enjoyable for any knowledge and expertise that you yourself are able to bring.
In this way I think the museum does have something to contribute to a visit to Sparta though as an adjunct rather than as a prime object. The reality of the so-called Leonidas bust is just as strange as its photographs.
This museum will not shatter any preconceptions but your visit will be the more enjoyable for any knowledge and expertise that you yourself are able to bring.
Written 8 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mikyza79
George Town, Grand Cayman20 contributions
Sept 2013 • Solo
It is quite disappointing, 2 rooms on the left and 2 on the right and you are done! It takes maximum 10 minutes to visit the whole museum. It is so small and poor that the entrance should be free.
Written 25 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the statue of Lycurgus on the museum grounds?
Written 17 February 2015
I think the museum has a statue, but I am not sure if so, or where it is. There is a life-size statue of Lycurgus on Odos Lycurgus [the road leading to Mistra] in front of the cathedral, & facing the Lida/Dioskouri hotels. My hotel window was looking at it in October.
Written 17 February 2015
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