Easter in Athens

Elmhurst, Illinois
2 posts
Easter in Athens
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So I have already read many of your posts and have found them extremely helpful. My friend and I will be traveling to greece late next Thursday (April 1) and leaving late afternoon Monday. My first question is if the Temple of Poseidon is open at all Easter weekend? I would love to make the trip by car, but was wondering if it will even be open. Also, we would like to go to Hydra for the day on Friday. Will anything be open at all? I tried to find lodging on Hydra for Friday night to stay for their epitapharios service, but nothing seems to be available. Is it still worth it to go for the day and then return to athens for the service? Thanks in advance for your help. I recognize this is last minute :)

Athens, Greece
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1. Re: Easter in Athens
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Hydra is a top destination these days for Athenians too. It's near and is a good get-away for some days. Yes, it may be possible that many places are fully booked.

It is always a great place to visit, but there is a possibility that last ferry is leaving before the Epitaphios service.

So, i would most probably adjust my itinerary and visit Hydra on perhaps Easter Sunday.

Why?

What to consider laying out your itinerary is opening hours of the sites. In general sites are working like this:

- Good Thursday : 8.30- 15.00

- Good Friday: 12.00 - 15.00

- Good Saturday: 8.30 - 15.00

- Easter Sunday: closed

- Easter Monday: 8.30 - 15.00

- Tuesday after Easter: 8.30 - 15.00

Applies for Acropolis site and all surrounding sites like Agora. Temple of Zeus, Kerameikos. Enclosed spaces museums in the sites Kerameikos and Agora open after 11.00 on Mondays.

So, i would most probably make an island day tip on a day when Athens sites are closed. In your case, i 'd say Easter Sunday is the option.

You probably need any available bit of opening hours during these days, so it would be a pity not to be in Athens. You have 3 full days, two of which are only offering open sites. Exploit Friday and Saturday IN Athens ( or Sounion ) and Monday to do some sightseeing in Athens you may have skipped.

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Sounion is open as following:

- Good Thursday : 9.30- 30' before sunset

- Good Friday: 12.00 - 18.00

- Good Saturday: 8.30 - 15.00

- Easter Sunday: closed

- Easter Monday: 8.30 - 15.00

- Tuesday after Easter: 9.30- 30' before sunset

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New Acropolis Museum is opening as following:

- Good Thursday : 8.00 - 20.00

- Good Friday: 12.00 - 18.00

- Good Saturday: 8.00 - 15.00

- Easter Sunday: closed

- Easter Monday: closed

- Tuesday after Easter: 8.00 - 20.00

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Wondering where to see the Epitaphios? Well, Plaka is one of the best places. It's the Old Town and includes small churches and chapels that give a unique feeling also. Exit Monastiraki subway station on the Square exit, turn left and walk all the way up to Plaka, towards the Acropolis Hill feet.

Along with Hydra, consider Aegina also if you feel your itinerary falls tight. Aegina is a shorter ferry trip. Great town also.

Edited: 10 years ago
Elmhurst, Illinois
2 posts
2. Re: Easter in Athens
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Thank you so much for your quick response and suggestions. Two questions: What is there to do in Hydra on Sunday? What time are the Easter services at on Friday and Saturday in Athens?

Athens, Greece
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3. Re: Easter in Athens
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What is there to do on Hydra on a Sunday: wander the town, take photos, relax, dine, see the views :) Internet is full of pictures and resources on this island, so you can just put "Hydra island" in your Google box and a zillion of more info will appear :)

Re: Easter services. They take place more or less the same time in all of Greece. Even if some places may have some different times, in general:

- Friday service ( Epitaphios ) is at Friday late afternoon - early evening. Mass starts earlier but succession is around sunset.

- Saturday night service: Mass starts at around 10.30pm, while most people arrive at church around 11.15 - 11.25. Resurrection is exactly at midnight. Mass continues till 1.00am - 2.00am.

4. Re: Easter in Athens

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Removed on: 9:12 pm, January 14, 2020
Athens, Greece
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5. Re: Easter in Athens
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Yes, lunch will be better, except if you want a late dinner.

Sunset today is 18.43 with daytime saving starting tommorow.

I guess next Friday, sunset will be around 19.50 - 19.55.

We go to a church at around 19.30.

Sucession will start ( i guess ) around 20.00 - 20.30 while if you walk around Plaka after, you 'll reach the end of it at around 21.30.

You won't be in Tzitzikas before 22.30 if you have a leisurely pace.

If you visit Plaka, i strongly suggets all three of them, meaning:

- follow the succesion

- walk in Plaka after

- have a leisurely pace.

You usually have some light dinner after, but i guess i would probably have a late lunch in Tzitzikas, then get some rest maybe, then go to the sucession.

6. Re: Easter in Athens

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Removed on: 9:12 pm, January 14, 2020
Chicago, Illinois
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107 posts
43 reviews
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7. Re: Easter in Athens
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question about opening and closing times on the holy days...

From the Hellenic ministry web page, it is my understanding that sites stay open for later hours starting the 1st of April. So are the shorter hours on the holy days because it's a holiday? We were banking on the Acropolis being open until 18:00 on Good Friday (April 2). just looking for some clarification!

Thanks :)

Athens, Greece
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8. Re: Easter in Athens
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Opening hours should change indeed after April 1st.

Nevertheless with Easter vacation falling exactly on these dates, i doubt any change will happen on opening hours.

If you add on this the economic measures, i have some doubts that summer opening hours will start before start of May or even later. This has also been the case back in 2009.

Extended summer opening hours are possible through hiring seasonal personell. For the time being, this is not an option in any part of the public sector, due to budget cuts.

You 'll have to use morning hours for state - operated sites ( Acropolis and all ancient sites are so, National Arch. Museum so ) and "use" afternoon for museums remaining open till later hours in the day ( new Acropolis Museum is 8 to 8 except Mondays, Benaki Museum is also running on extendes hours, here http://www.benaki.gr/index.asp?id=2010101&sid=0&cat=0〈=en , Museum of Cycladic Art also, here: http://www.cycladic.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=NODE&cnode=170 ).

Edited: 10 years ago
Australia
2 posts
2 reviews
9. Re: Easter in Athens
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Hi Nick I just wanted to say thanks. I have been researching our trip for a while and have noticed many of your really helpful posts.

We arrive in Athens on easter Monday [shame we miss the Easter Celebrations] and will travel around the Pelopennese and over to Kefallonia up through the north west and then to Croatia for our Daughter's wedding in late May. I have taken note of lots of your suggestions and tips.

Cheers Libby in Australia.

Chicago, Illinois
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10. Re: Easter in Athens
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i second the poster above Nick.

I don't post much, but I have learned so much just by doing searches and following various threads.

Thanks again to you and everyone on here for all of your in depth answers and help!

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