Museums & Galleries

Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation

Athens, Greece
Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation

Athens, Greece

View on Google Maps

A hidden modern-art treasure in central Athens. Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation is where Van Gogh, Cézanne, Picasso, Monet, Degas, Pollock, Bacon and Greek modern masters meet in one of the city’s most refined museum experiences.

The Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation is a prominent cultural institution located in Athens, Greece.

Established in 1979 by the visionary collectors Basil and Elise Goulandris, the foundation is dedicated to promoting the visual arts. Its museum in Athens, opened in 2019, houses an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art, featuring works by renowned artists such as Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, and Cézanne, alongside notable Greek artists.

The foundation also hosts temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events, fostering an appreciation for art across diverse audiences. The museum’s elegant architecture and state-of-the-art facilities provide a vibrant space for experiencing and engaging with art.

The Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation remains a testament to the couple’s passion for art and their commitment to cultural enrichment.

Image credit

© Google Fundación Basil & Elise Goulandris

What you’ll see here

This is a museum for slow looking. You move from Impressionism and Post-Impressionism into modern and contemporary art, with a sense of intimacy that makes major names feel surprisingly close.

You may encounter:

  • Van Gogh, including Still Life with Coffee Pot and The Alyscamps
  • Cézanne, Monet, Gauguin, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and Rodin
  • Picasso, Braque, Miró, Kandinsky, Klee and Giacometti
  • Pollock, Bacon, Lichtenstein, Botero, Kiefer and Christo
  • Greek artists such as Constantinos Parthenis, Yannis Tsarouchis and Panayiotis Tetsis
  • Temporary exhibitions, guided tours, family programs and educational activities

Worth the trip

Yes — especially if you want Athens beyond antiquity.

What makes Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation special is the contrast: in a city dominated by ancient ruins and classical memory, this museum gives you a deeply modern experience. It shows Athens not only as the city of the Acropolis, but as a place where modern and contemporary art can feel intimate, international and alive.

ArtLovers Tip

Don’t treat it as a “small museum.” Treat it as a private collection made public. Look for taste, obsession and emotional choices — the way one collector’s vision creates a whole journey through modern art.

For Artlovers, it is worth the trip because it changes the Athens itinerary. After temples, marble and mythology, this is where you meet another kind of beauty: restless, modern, personal and human.

On show now

Exhibitions at Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation

Travelling to Athens?

Join our community of art enthusiasts and discover the best exhibitions and museums in Athens. Get personalized recommendations and never miss a must-see show again.

Join us