In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The Evzones change every hour on the hour at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Syntagma Square. Every Sunday at 11:00 a large detachment with a military band marches from the barracks on Herodou Attikou Street to the Tomb for the official ceremony. It is free. The Presidency of the Republic says the Evzones guard the Tomb around the clock in any weather. In October 2026 the Central Council of Modern Monuments approved replacing the asphalt around the Tomb with marble; no start date has been published. Or book a tour: the small-group e-bike tourad passes the Parliament and the Evzones and is from €45 (GetYourGuide).
When to go
| Ceremony | When | What |
|---|---|---|
| The hourly change | Every hour on the hour | The Evzone pairs on duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier change |
| The Sunday ceremony | Every Sunday at 11:00 | A large contingent of Evzones with a military band marches from the Presidential Guard camp to the Tomb, where the official changing of the guard takes place |
- Where: the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, below the Parliament building on Syntagma Square. Metro Syntagma (lines 2 and 3).
- Cost: nothing.
- The Sunday ceremony and the free Sundays: on the first and third Sunday from 1 November to 31 March the state sites are free as well: see free things to do in Athens.
- Works: the Central Council of Modern Monuments approved replacing the asphalt around the Tomb with grey Aliveri marble, reported in October 2026. No start date has been published.
Evzones changing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of Parliament. Photo: George E. Koronaios, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Who the Evzones are
The Presidential Guard began in 1868 as an elite ceremonial unit of the Hellenic Army, and has been named the Presidential Guard since democracy returned in 1974. In 1929, when work began on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a company of Evzones took over guarding it. The Evzones are volunteers from the Infantry Corps. Besides the Tomb they stand guard at the entrance of the Presidential Mansion on Herodou Attikou Street and at the gate of their barracks, escort the President and foreign heads of state, and raise and lower the flag on the Acropolis on Sundays and official holidays. The barracks, at 2 Herodou Attikou Street, are not open to the public; organised visits by schools and cultural groups are by request.
The uniform
The Presidency describes a uniform that is entirely handmade.
Evzones in the white fustanella marching at Syntagma Square. Photo: Marshallhenrie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- The fustanella, the kilt, is made of 30 metres of white fabric in 400 pleats, which represent the number of years of Ottoman rule.
- The fermeli, the vest, is hand-embroidered in white or gilt thread and is the hardest part to make.
- The pharion, the red cap, carries the national emblem; its black silk tassel is a symbol of tears and mourning.
- The tsarouhi, the shoe, is hard red leather with a large black tassel, weighs about 3 kg a pair and has 120 nails in the sole.
- The overcoats: a navy-blue doulamas in winter and a khaki one in summer, worn daily.
Tours worth paying for
Prices are GetYourGuide’s lowest “from” prices, per person.
We Bike Athens small-group e-bike tour
From €45 · 2.5 hours · 1,437 reviews
Athens: Small-Group E-Bike Tour of Ancient & Modern Sightsad is run by We Bike Athens in English, Spanish, Dutch or French. It rides past the Parliament building, where the listing says you can watch the Evzones in their uniforms, then the National Garden and the Panathenaic Stadium. The stops are for photos, with no entry to sites that need a licensed guide. Cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
Practical information
- Where: Syntagma Square. Metro Syntagma (lines 2 and 3). The Panathenaic Stadium is about 1,000 metres away.
- Theft: Smartraveller names Syntagma Square among the tourist areas in central Athens where petty crime is a serious issue.
- The one thing that decides a visit: the time. The pair changes on the hour; the band and the larger detachment come on Sundays at 11:00.
The Panathenaic Stadium is beyond the National Garden, and Plaka and Anafiotika start a short walk from the square. What to book before you go to Athens has the closed days for every sight. The hotels round the square are in where to stay in Athens and hotels near the Acropolis, the tree and the New Year’s Eve countdown in Christmas in Athens, and the Kostas souvlaki shop at 5 Pentelis in best souvlaki in Athens. Athens in one or two days puts the Guard in the morning of day two.
Common questions
When is the Changing of the Guard in Athens?
Every hour on the hour, when the Evzone pairs change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Every Sunday at 11:00 a large contingent with a military band marches from the Presidential Guard camp to the Tomb for the official ceremony.
Is the Changing of the Guard free?
Yes. It takes place in the open, in front of the Parliament on Syntagma Square.
Where is the Changing of the Guard?
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, below the Parliament building on Syntagma Square. Metro Syntagma, lines 2 and 3.
What are the Evzones?
The Presidential Guard, a ceremonial unit of the Hellenic Army, volunteers from the Infantry Corps. They guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier around the clock in all weather, and the Presidential Mansion.
How many pleats does an Evzone's kilt have?
400 pleats in about 30 metres of white fabric, according to the Presidency of the Republic. The red leather shoes, the tsarouhia, weigh about 3 kg a pair and have 120 nails each.
Do the Evzones raise the flag on the Acropolis?
Yes, on Sundays and official holidays, according to the Presidency of the Republic.
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