The Andros Maritime Museum is a small municipal museum in Chora, the capital of Andros, dedicated to the island’s seafaring history. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
This guide was updated in August 2026. Some guides describe the museum’s hours as running until 10pm, but the Municipality of Andros’s own listing states it closes at 8pm daily, except Tuesdays and 15 August.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Summer season, daily except Tuesday and 15 August: 11:00–14:00 & 18:00–20:00 |
| Ticket prices | Full €3, reduced €1.50, free for children |
| Address | Riva, Chora, Andros 845 00, just before the Unknown Sailor Square |
| Nearest transport | Ferry to Gavrio, then bus or taxi (about 40–55 minutes) to Chora |
| Typical visit length | 20 to 30 minutes |
Andros Maritime Museum opening hours
The museum’s summer opening hours run daily except Tuesdays, from 11:00 to 14:00 and again from 18:00 to 20:00. It is also closed on 15 August.
There is no confirmed winter schedule. Several of Andros’s small museums close entirely outside the summer season, so visitors travelling between November and March should call ahead.
Andros Maritime Museum ticket prices
A full-price ticket costs €3 and a reduced ticket costs €1.50.
Reduced tickets apply to EU citizens aged 65 and over, and to non-EU students with a valid student card. Children enter free.
The museum is not included in any city pass, though it stands close to the Archaeological Museum of Andros and the Museum of Contemporary Art, both worth combining into the same day.
Opening hours and background information were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026.
Why book the Andros Full-Day Sightseeing Tour?
- 🏛️ Capital Town of Chora: Stroll through the elegant, neoclassical capital of Andros, discovering stone-paved alleys, traditional marble squares, and the dramatic Venetia castle ruins overlooking the sea.
- 💧 Menites Springs & Lush Valleys: Experience the lush green side of the Cyclades with a visit to Menites village, famous for its ancient stone lion-head fountains spouting fresh mountain spring water.
- ⛪ Historic Monasteries: Explore centuries-old spiritual sites nestled in the mountains, such as the Monastery of Panachrantos, rich with religious treasures, historic frescoes, and sweeping island views.
- 🏡 Traditional Villages of Stenies & Batsi: Discover picturesque hillside settlements like Stenies, known for its historic captains’ mansions, and the charming coastal fishing harbor of Batsi.
- 🚐 Island-Wide Exploration: Take in the full diversity of Andros—from rugged mountains and coastal villages to rich naval heritage—in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle guided by a local expert.
How to get to the Andros Maritime Museum
Ferries from Rafina, near Athens, arrive at Gavrio, Andros’s main port, in around 1 to 2 hours depending on the vessel.
From Gavrio, a bus or taxi to Chora takes about 40 to 55 minutes. Buses are timed to meet ferry arrivals and are run by KTEL Andros.
Within Chora, the museum stands inside the pedestrianised old town, near Riva Square, a walk of 10 to 15 minutes from the edge of town.
Parking near the Andros Maritime Museum
Chora’s old town is pedestrianised, so there is no parking near the museum itself.
Free parking is available at the edge of town, near the entrance to the pedestrian zone, though spaces can fill up in summer.
How long to spend at the Andros Maritime Museum
Most visitors need 20 to 30 minutes, since the museum occupies a small building with two exhibition rooms.
Some visitors combine it with a longer walk through Chora’s old town and Riva Square.
Accessibility at the Andros Maritime Museum
No accessibility information is published for the museum. Given its age and small scale, visitors with mobility needs should contact the museum in advance to check for steps or narrow doorways.
Inside the Andros Maritime Museum: what to see
Founded in 1972 with a donation from the Goulandris family, the museum occupies a building given to the Municipality of Andros by Dimitrios Rallias in 1957.
Exhibits include old freight and insurance contracts, sailors’ diaries describing life at sea before the 1821 War of Independence, and lithographs of Andriot ships.
Ship models range from old wooden schooners to modern tankers, reflecting Andros’s role as a major 19th- and 20th-century shipping centre.
Traditional Andriot sailors’ uniforms are also on display, still used today as costumes in the island’s school and cultural events.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Visit alongside the nearby Archaeological Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art, all within a short walk in Chora. |
| Bring small change, since this is a small museum with a modest entrance fee. |
| Check opening days before travelling, since the museum closes on Tuesdays and 15 August. |
| Combine your visit with Riva Square, just beyond the museum, for views over the Aegean. |
| Allow time for the ferry journey from Rafina, since Andros has no airport with scheduled flights. |
Frequently asked questions about the Andros Maritime Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the museum suitable for children? | Yes, and children enter free. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No, tickets are sold at the door with no booking system. |
| Is the museum open in winter? | Not reliably; many of Andros’s small museums operate only in summer. |
| Are bags allowed inside? | Small bags are fine; the museum has only two rooms. |
| Is the museum wheelchair accessible? | Not confirmed; contact ahead if step-free access is needed. |
Things to do near the Andros Maritime Museum
Riva Square and its statue of the Unknown Sailor stand just beyond the museum. The Kamara, an arched bridge, leads from Riva Square to the ruins of a Venetian castle on a small islet.
The Archaeological Museum of Andros, in Kairi Square, is a short walk through the old town. The Museum of Contemporary Art, part of the Goulandris Foundation, lies close to the Archaeological Museum.
Kairios Library, holding around 60,000 volumes on Andros’s history, is at the entrance to Chora.
Alternative attractions
The Aegean Maritime Museum, on Mykonos, is a similarly sized private museum reachable by ferry via Athens or other Cycladic islands. The Maritime Museum of Oia, on Santorini, covers a comparable shipping history from a different Cycladic island.
The Hellenic Maritime Museum, in Piraeus near Athens, offers a much larger national collection for visitors extending their trip to the mainland.
More Cyclades travel
Other Cyclades travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Practical guide to visiting the Yria Archaeological Site on Naxos.
- Discovering the inland highlights on a full day Naxos bus tour.
- How to plan your visit to the Lost Atlantis Experience on Santorini.
- Can you go inside the Kato Mili windmills on Mykonos?
- How to get to the Panagia Tourliani Monastery on Mykonos.
