Achilleion Museum
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Why go
- The hilltop gardens, 145 metres up: north over Corfu town, south over the island and the Ionian Sea.
- The curved marble bench facing the sea, where Empress Elisabeth wept for her son.
Opening hours
Today08:00 – 16:00Show all
Don't miss
- Dying AchillesErnst Herter's statue of Achilles dying as he tries to pull a spear from his ankle. It is the centrepiece of the gardens.In the gardens1884 On the map
- Victorious AchillesJohannes Götz's statue of Achilles at the moment of victory, set opposite the dying Achilles and facing north toward Corfu town.Last terrace of the gardens On the map
- Achilles fresco by Franz MatschAchilles, standing on a chariot, drags the defeated Hector before the gates of Troy.Upper staircase, visible from the terrace through a window1892 On the map
- Nine musesStatues of the nine muses, some by Domenico Morani. The columned Ionic garden takes its name from them.The columned Ionic garden On the map
- Memorial to Crown Prince RudolfEmpress Elisabeth had a memorial put up in the park for her dead son, Kronprinz Rudolf.In the park1894 On the map
Know before you go
- The interior is closed during restoration works; only the outdoor areas and the Imperial Gardens are open.
- Open every day from 08:00 to 16:00.
- Phone: +30 2661 056210.
What's inside
- The interior is closed during restoration, so the rooms below cannot be entered.
- The palace is built of white marble and has 128 rooms over a ground floor and two upper floors.
- The entrance hall ceiling bears a fresco by Vincenzo Galloppi.
- The staircase is inspired by the Opéra Garnier.
- A portrait of Empress Elisabeth hangs to the right as you enter.
- On the left as you enter stands a marble fireplace decorated with small statues.
- The roof bears a large fresco of the four seasons.
- An oil painting at the end of the stairs shows Achilles triumphing over Hector.
- The chapel has an arched ceiling painted with the trial of Christ and a painting of Christ judged by Pontius Pilate.
- The architecture was meant to recall an ancient Phaeacian palace, and a large painting shows Odysseus and Nausicaa on the Phaeacian island.
- The second floor has an Ionic peristyle.
- Personal items of Kaiser Wilhelm II are on display in one room.
- Most original furnishings were replaced with pieces from Berlin, and much of the interior was moved back to Vienna.
With kids
- Statues of Zeus and Hera stand in the gardens at the entrance, drawn from Greek mythology.
- Statues of Hermes and Apollo stand alongside the nine muse statues in the columned Ionic garden.
- The palace takes its name from Achilles, the hero of Greek mythology, and many garden statues show him.
Tips for your visit
- Both Achilles statues, the dying hero and the victorious one, stand in the garden today, so you can compare them side by side.
Interesting facts4
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The helmet and spear tip were once gold-plated and could be seen from Corfu; the gold has since weathered away.
Achilleion (Korfu) - Wikipedia -
The casino scene of the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only was filmed here.
Achilleion (Corfu) - Wikipedia -
The palace is built of white marble, designed by the architect Raffaele Caritto.
Achilleion - Wikipedia -
A life-size statue of Elisabeth stands at the entrance; she imagined the palace's design.
Achilleion - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
Empress Elisabeth, known as Sissi, had the palace built between 1889 and 1891 as a private refuge after the loss of her son at Mayerling. It was built on the estate of her friend Petros Vrailas-Armenis, a philosopher and diplomat, after his death. She named it after the hero Achilles, whom she admired for his strength. Elisabeth used the palace only as a retreat from the world and her past. She was murdered in 1898. Her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph, never visited it. Today the palace operates as a museum run by the Hellenic Tourism Development Company.
- 1889–1891Empress Elisabeth has the palace built as a refuge, designed by Raffaele Caritto.
- 1907Kaiser Wilhelm II buys the palace and uses it as a summer residence; during his visits it becomes a centre of European diplomacy.
- World War IThe palace serves as a military hospital for French and Serbian troops.
- 1919After the Treaty of Versailles the palace becomes Greek state property.
- World War IIAxis powers use the palace as their military headquarters.
Show all
- 1962A private firm leases the palace and opens the ground floor as a museum and the first floor as a casino.
- 1984The palace is nationalised and placed under EOT management.
- 1994The palace hosts an EU summit.
Sources: Achilleion (Corfu) - Wikipedia · Achilleion Palace · History • Achilleion Palace · Opening Hours – Prices • Achilleion Palace · Achilleion (Korfu) - Wikipedia · Αχίλλειο - Wikipedia · Achilleion - Wikipedia · Achilleion Museum: description (its own site) · checked 19 Oct 2026
- Website
- achillion-corfu.gr/
- Phone
- +30 2661 056210
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours of the Achilleion Museum?
Open every day, 08:00 to 16:00.
Can visitors go inside the Achilleion Museum?
The interior is closed during restoration works. Only the outdoor areas and the Imperial Gardens are open.
What is the road to the Achilleion Museum like?
The palace stands about ten kilometres south-west of Corfu town, in the village of Gastouri. The road to it runs through olive groves.
Was the Achilleion Museum used in a James Bond film?
Yes. The casino scene of the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only was filmed here, and scenes were shot on the garden terrace.
What can children see at the Achilleion Museum?
Statues of Zeus and Hera stand in the gardens at the entrance, and nine muse statues fill the columned Ionic garden. A life-size statue of Elisabeth also stands at the entrance.
How can I contact the Achilleion Museum?
Call +30 2661 056210.
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