The Art of Hydra & Athens This Summer
Your cheat sheet to Greece’s standout shows, quiet cafés and seaside escapes.
This summer, art lovers heading to Greece will find no shortage of reasons to split their time between Athens and Hydra. From major museum exhibitions and landmark retrospectives to bold digital installations and island-based artist projects, here’s what not to miss, whether you're drawn to ancient forms, contemporary questions, or both.
ATHENS
Morning: start your day at the Museum of Cycladic Art with Marlene Dumas: Cycladic Blues (until 2 November 2025). Over thirty paintings and works on paper by Dumas are placed in conversation with ancient artefacts from the museum’s permanent collection at Megaro Stathatos. Curated by Douglas Fogle in collaboration with the artist, it’s the first solo exhibition in Greece dedicated to Dumas. Across the road, the National Garden is perfect for a quiet hour. There’s a small café tucked in the northeast corner and a low-key ‘zoo’ with goats and waterfowl at the centre.
Installation shot of Marlene Dumas exhibition. Photo: Paris Tavitian. © Museum of Cycladic Art.
Midday: make your way to Gagosian Athens for Oscar Murillo: A Telegram to my dear Suki (until 30 August 2025). The exhibition brings together drawings, paintings and a video work that explore the fragility and power of mark-making as a form of communication. Murillo’s gestures become charged exchanges, highlighting connection, rupture and urgency in today’s cultural and political climate. Before you go, explore the surrounding Kolonaki neighbourhood, known for its elegant cafés, boutiques and restaurants.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo: A Telegram to my dear Suki at Gagosian Athens. Photo: courtesy of Gagosian.
Afternoon: continue to the Benaki Museum to see In a Bright Green Field (until 13 September 2025). This group show features twenty-nine emerging artists from Athens, Nicosia and beyond, exploring more connected relationships with nature and community. It reflects how younger generations are engaging local histories to consider global futures. It’s worth downloading the museum’s free audio tour to your phone (don’t forget to bring headphones!).
Eleni Odysseos, Refugium, 2023 Photo © Mirka Koutsouri. Part of the exhibition 'In a Bright Green Field’ at Benaki Museum.
Late Afternoon: round off your day at EMST with Theodoros, Sculptor, Anti-Retrospective (until 8 February 2026). This is the first major exhibition of sculptor Theodoros since his death and brings together key works and archival materials from the artist’s bequest to the museum. The show celebrates his progressive vision and enduring influence on sculpture in Greece. Afterwards, head to the rooftop for panoramic views of the city, including the Acropolis! For dinner, walk 25 minutes to Oikonomou, a beloved taverna in Ano Petralona serving classic Greek dishes since 1930. Regulars feared changes when art collector Philippos Tsangrides took over in 2023, but aside from monogrammed plates, it remains untouched. We recommend their dish of roast lamb, cabbage leaves, pork chops with roast potatoes. Sit outside under the olive trees and enjoy a slow Athenian evening.
Theodoros. Photo by Eleni Giokali.
HYDRA
Morning: start your day at the DESTE Foundation Project Space, Slaughterhouse, to see Andra Ursuța: Apocalypse Now and Then (until 31 October 2025). This is Ursuța’s first major exhibition in Greece, where new bronze sculptures reinterpret classical forms, combining archaeological display with speculative fiction to imagine a museum of future relics. Just outside, don’t miss Jeff Koons’ Apollo, now a permanent installation from his 2022 show.
Apocalypse Now and Then by Andra Ursuţa, Photography Branka Jankovic for DSCENE.
Midday: stroll back toward the harbour and head to the Hydra School Projects exhibition Lithos/Lethe (until 7 September 2025), curated by Dimitrios Antonitsis. Now in its 26th edition, the show features eight artists exhibiting work in the bright former classrooms of the old school building. Sculptor Dimitris’s marble works are installed throughout, culminating in a courtyard installation curated by Tatiana Gecmen-Waldek and Ekaterina Juskowski. Afterwards, walk six minutes to Koutsikou Hydra, a nearby concept store offering stylish apparel and accessories with a contemporary edge.
Hydra School Projects. Photo: courtesy of Hydra School Projects.
Afternoon: visit the Historical Archive Museum of Hydra, located on the east side of the harbour. The museum focuses on the island’s naval history and its role in the Greek War of Independence, with exhibits made up of artefacts donated by prominent Hydra families. End the afternoon with a late lunch or early dinner at Kryfo Limani, just five minutes from the museum. This relaxed local taverna is known for its fried zucchini balls, traditional Greek dishes, and a peaceful terrace with views over the town.
Historical Archive Museum of Hydra. Photo: courtesy of Athens Attica.