Thermopylae Museum
Thermopylae Museum
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4.0
78 reviews
Excellent
24
Very good
29
Average
17
Poor
3
Terrible
5
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amymapes
United States29 contributions
May 2022
We were pleasantly surprised (after reading several negative reviews) at the nice museum next to the Leonidas Monument. That being said, I wouldn't travel far out of my way to see the museum but it was conveniently located on our drive from Athens to Mount Olympus at the end of our 2 week driving tour of Greece. My son is a history student and the the Battle of Thermoplyae was his favorite from an Ancient Greek Civilization class. The rest of the family didn't know anything about it or Leonidas so the museum and movie was a great way for us to learn about it. The museum doesn't have any artifacts but after 2 weeks of seeing artifacts my tech-loving son was thrilled to be able to learn with the interactive computer displays. The people working at the museum were very friendly and helpful. We had packed a lunch and enjoyed it while sitting outside at the benches. It was a great 45 minute stop.
Written 5 June 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.
phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA16,976 contributions
Sept 2021
This is a small museum with a well produced 12 minute 3D video which explains the battle. Next to the theater is a small room with some interesting interactive displays.
It is a 20 minute stop. You decide if it is worth the 3 €.
It is a 20 minute stop. You decide if it is worth the 3 €.
Written 27 October 2021
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.
Manel LG
Barcelona, Spain113 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
First of all, specify one thing. This Museum is NOT essential, I would even say that it is also not recommended during a trip en route through Greece. In our case, we visited him because he caught us passing between Delphi and Meteora. As much interest as there is in the battle of Sparta off Persia, it does not yield much more information than is already available.
The screening at the beginning is interesting as it consists of a brief digital recreation of the conflict, but the rest of the museum does not contribute much more. Information about precedents, conflict, protagonists, sides, consequences, and already. All in English.
For those who expect to see spears, shields, weapons, archaeological remains, and other paraphernalia, this is not your place. There's absolutely nothing. The grace of the place is not so much the Museum, but to visit the place where the battle was experienced.
The screening at the beginning is interesting as it consists of a brief digital recreation of the conflict, but the rest of the museum does not contribute much more. Information about precedents, conflict, protagonists, sides, consequences, and already. All in English.
For those who expect to see spears, shields, weapons, archaeological remains, and other paraphernalia, this is not your place. There's absolutely nothing. The grace of the place is not so much the Museum, but to visit the place where the battle was experienced.
Automatically translated
Written 12 August 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.
Sofia
17 contributions
May 2023
What an utter waste of time and money, though given the rest of the Thermopyles/Thermopylae sites I shouldn't have been surprised. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING worth paying the price of admission for. Do not waste your money.
You would be better of doing some prior reading before coming to the site as you won't find anything to present this hugely important battle site to the visitor.
Like everything else here, badly presented / managed / implemented.
The cafe is souless, though taking time on a hot day for a freddo espresso we did see a hoopoe out of the back window over the marshy ground/electricity pylons, and that was the highlight of my visit.
The toilets weren't really clean, and could certainly do with more regular inspection. Clearly some visitors hadn't really got the hang of the toilet paper in the bins thing, and just dropped it on the floor (ewwwww).
However, there was plenty of hot water and soap, and the air hand dryers worked well.
There was nothing to take away from this place except bad memories of what should have been an well presented, informative, and interesting visit. I didn't bother to take any photos of the museum/cafe. Why would I?
Thermopyles battle site and museum is very much a missed opportunity on the part of the Greek authorities I feel.
You would be better of doing some prior reading before coming to the site as you won't find anything to present this hugely important battle site to the visitor.
Like everything else here, badly presented / managed / implemented.
The cafe is souless, though taking time on a hot day for a freddo espresso we did see a hoopoe out of the back window over the marshy ground/electricity pylons, and that was the highlight of my visit.
The toilets weren't really clean, and could certainly do with more regular inspection. Clearly some visitors hadn't really got the hang of the toilet paper in the bins thing, and just dropped it on the floor (ewwwww).
However, there was plenty of hot water and soap, and the air hand dryers worked well.
There was nothing to take away from this place except bad memories of what should have been an well presented, informative, and interesting visit. I didn't bother to take any photos of the museum/cafe. Why would I?
Thermopyles battle site and museum is very much a missed opportunity on the part of the Greek authorities I feel.
Written 2 July 2023
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.
WB M
Birmingham, UK3 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
Nothing to it. 3 euro entrance to a modern looking building with cafe and toilets and big car park. But nothing inside except a 3D short video. The interactive displays no longer exist and instead there is random contemporary art. What a waste of an opportunity to have an excellent museum at a fascinating area of an iconic battle…
Written 8 September 2023
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.
Martina R
1 contribution
July 2024 • Couples
The museum is very modern and informative, even in German.
But what was most repulsive was the toilets, I've been to a lot of small museums around the world, but I've never seen anything like it. Completely dirty and certainly not cleaned for years.
So if you visit the museum you should go to a gas station beforehand. It's always cleaner there.
All I can say is: Bravo municipality Lamia! So you can scare visitors away!
But what was most repulsive was the toilets, I've been to a lot of small museums around the world, but I've never seen anything like it. Completely dirty and certainly not cleaned for years.
So if you visit the museum you should go to a gas station beforehand. It's always cleaner there.
All I can say is: Bravo municipality Lamia! So you can scare visitors away!
Automatically translated
Written 28 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.
Milenko
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
Some people expected Gerald Buttler to yell "this is Sparta". It is historic sight where battle was occurred thousands years ago. What are you expecting live Leonidas and 300 of his bodyguards? It is worth to visit if you respect tradition, culture and history of Greece. I am not surprised by bad comments of British and American people.
Written 8 August 2023
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.
libtek
England117 contributions
Sept 2013
We were shown this museum by our guide on a trip to Delphi. I had requested we stop off at Thermopylae as we'd seen the film 300. I was only expecting a short stop to photograph the memorial, but discovered the museum. It was actually opened a couple of years but until recently there has been no money to keep it open.
It's only 3€ to get in and included in the price are a short film about the battle and a rather good 3D short video explaining the tactics and weapons used. There are also 4 (soon to be 8) big touch screen displays giving you further information. There are plans to expand Into VR and develop interactive displays for visitors to use. We spent an hour and a half there and had a great time. There is a large car park and the staff are very friendly. If you're out that way it's recommended.
It's only 3€ to get in and included in the price are a short film about the battle and a rather good 3D short video explaining the tactics and weapons used. There are also 4 (soon to be 8) big touch screen displays giving you further information. There are plans to expand Into VR and develop interactive displays for visitors to use. We spent an hour and a half there and had a great time. There is a large car park and the staff are very friendly. If you're out that way it's recommended.
Written 21 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.
Michael O
13 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
I Enjoyed this visit very much.
The 3D film they show you is helpful and also palatable for the whole family to get the gist of the battle and strategy involved.
Visiting the site itself is also very interesting, in spite of the fact that the landscape has changed significantly over the last 2500 years. But it was not very difficult to imagine the water being next to the mountain, where it used to be.
It was great to at least stand in the same area where the battle took place and also climb the adjacent hill where the Spartans made their last stand and died valiantly.
It’s analogous to the battlefield of Gettysburg, where there also isn’t too much to see on the field itself, yet the history of the site is enough to appreciate the area.
For me Thermopylae was definitely worth the out of the way trip from Athens. And yes, I also hit the visitor center gift shop to get my Leonidas action figure and the T Shirt with his famous quotation of “Molon Lave”! (Greek for “Come and get them” which he said when the Persians asked for the Spartans weapons/surrender)
I especially recommend this site for any history fan or for those with a military background. Otherwise, it may or may not be an interesting addition. The whole site and visitor center took about 90 minutes or so. Probably less if you’re not especially interested in it.
The 3D film they show you is helpful and also palatable for the whole family to get the gist of the battle and strategy involved.
Visiting the site itself is also very interesting, in spite of the fact that the landscape has changed significantly over the last 2500 years. But it was not very difficult to imagine the water being next to the mountain, where it used to be.
It was great to at least stand in the same area where the battle took place and also climb the adjacent hill where the Spartans made their last stand and died valiantly.
It’s analogous to the battlefield of Gettysburg, where there also isn’t too much to see on the field itself, yet the history of the site is enough to appreciate the area.
For me Thermopylae was definitely worth the out of the way trip from Athens. And yes, I also hit the visitor center gift shop to get my Leonidas action figure and the T Shirt with his famous quotation of “Molon Lave”! (Greek for “Come and get them” which he said when the Persians asked for the Spartans weapons/surrender)
I especially recommend this site for any history fan or for those with a military background. Otherwise, it may or may not be an interesting addition. The whole site and visitor center took about 90 minutes or so. Probably less if you’re not especially interested in it.
Written 25 March 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.
DStahre
Cahokia, IL192 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
We were greeted by two very nice museum personnel who were proud to show their facility. We saw a very short introductory clip that explained what we were going to shown and the background on the facility. We next saw a 3-d movie about the battle. Next we were taken to a room with large interactive displays that dealt with what lead up to the battle, the forces, tactics, and aftermath. They also explained the parallel naval engagements that were occurring. We had minor difficulty with a couple of the touch screens. The attendants took note, thanked us and assured us that their technicians would check them out.
The facility is new, clean and has expansion plans (additional interactive kiosks)
The facility is new, clean and has expansion plans (additional interactive kiosks)
Written 20 September 2014
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.
Hello!
I am planning a trip to visit there in November and was wondering about the cost of the museum and operating hours. Please let me know, thank you in advance!
Chris
Written 2 July 2019
It cost me 5 euro to enter. They will sit you down to watch a 3D short film. Not real sure about operating hours as I went about midday
Written 4 July 2019
Hello, What are your opening times? Hours and days.
Admission fee? Thank you.
Written 27 July 2018
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