Standing in front of the Hellenic Parliament building at Syntagma Square to watch the Presidential Guard, known as the Evzones, perform their highly synchronized changing ceremony is a proud and patriotic Athenian tradition. Dressed in their historic traditional uniforms, featuring pleated kilts, red caps, and wooden clogs decorated with large black pom-poms, the soldiers execute a slow, precise, and complex marching routine to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The absolute precision of their movements, combined with their striking uniforms, makes this a highly fascinating and respectful display of modern Greek heritage.
One fun fact people love:
The Evzones' traditional uniform features a white kilt called a foustanella, which has exactly 400 pleats to symbolize the 400 years of Ottoman occupation over Greece.
Where in Athens is it?
Located directly in front of the Parliament building on Syntagma Square in the heart of central Athens.
How to reach:
Easily reached by taking the metro directly to the Syntagma station, which exits right onto the main plaza.
Best time to visit:
Year-round, with the grand ceremonial change featuring a full military band occurring every Sunday morning.
Best time of day:
The standard guard change happens every hour on the hour, but the grand Sunday ceremony occurs precisely at 11:00 AM.
Entry fee:
Completely free to watch from the public plaza.
Commute difficulty:
Very easy; a flat, paved public square that is fully accessible to all visitors.
Things nobody tells you about this place:
- The soldiers are forbidden from making any eye contact, moving, or speaking under any circumstances, and a companion soldier stands nearby to protect them.
- During the grand Sunday ceremony, the plaza gets incredibly packed, so arrive at least 30 minutes early to secure a front-row view near the barrier.
- You are allowed to take photos next to the guards once the ceremony finishes, but you must stand completely still and respect their space.
