Athens during Easter

London, United...
Level Contributor
39 posts
56 reviews
67 helpful votes
Athens during Easter
Save

Hi all,

Due to lack of foresight re Easter, we will be arriving into Athens at 21:15 on Easter Saturday evening, and departing on Monday night for Crete. We looked into changing our flights to arrive on Friday, but it will be £200+.

If we do not change our flights, and are in Athens only Easter Sunday and Monday, what will we realistically be able to see?

Thanks!

London, United...
Level Contributor
8,326 posts
1. Re: Athens during Easter
Save

Nothing on Easter Sunday, that's the biggest religious celebration of the year and therefore all archaeological sites and museums will be closed. You'll be able to walk around and sightsee (Acropolis, Agora etc.) from a distance, but you won't be able to enter any of the sites.

The Acropolis, Benaki and National Archaeological Museums will also be closed on Easter Sunday.

Most places should be open on Easter Monday, possibly with reduced hours.

Mount Lycabettus should be accessible on both days and is definitely worth a visit.

Best to check each site/museum of interest individually to be on the safe side. This is the best source for opening times re: archaeological sites: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh30.jsp

London, United...
Level Contributor
39 posts
56 reviews
67 helpful votes
2. Re: Athens during Easter
Save

Thank you so much Tinsey!

Happy we will be able to see a few things on Monday. :)

As for Easter Sunday, any suggestions on how to find out if there is anything going on, ie celebrations or outdoor gatherings. We are happy to chill out and have a walk around if that's all that is going on.

Am I correct in assuming that all restaurants will be closed or will some be open?

Athens, Greece
Destination Expert
for Peloponnese, Athens
Level Contributor
16,035 posts
79 reviews
155 helpful votes
3. Re: Athens during Easter
Save

Sunday is the family day, many will be at home celebrating, but plenty of places to eat will be open in tourist areas, Plaka & Monastiraki. Just walking around you can see plenty of things, the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Syntagma) will still take place every hour, on the hour (full ceremony at 11am, be there by 10.30-45), Hadrians Arch, Philapappou Hill & the Pnyx, Lycavettos Hill for the views, the National Gardens. Also many of the sites can be seen from the outside.

As you will arrive on the Saturday evening you will be in time to see the service at one of the churches, ending at midnight with celebration & candles being lit. You will hear 'Christos anesti' (Christ has arisen) being said, the reply is 'Alithos anesti' (he has truly arisen). Then they all go to eat after the fasting of Lent.

Some photos taken last Easter in Athens, the earlier ones are on the Friday, but there are some of the Saturday night too at Kapnikarea on Ermou Street.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yiassas/sets/72157623652900967/

Edited: 10 years ago
Athens, Greece
Level Contributor
13,950 posts
10 reviews
34 helpful votes
4. Re: Athens during Easter
Save

Most restaurants in the tourst areas will be open.

I would not say you will see nothing. Athens has a lot of places to see and do beyond the ancient sites and the museums.

There is no doubt that the sites and the excellent musuems are a top at the list, still you can see many things more. Not sites or museums on Easter Sunday but neighbourhoods, some open air ancient monuments, pedestrian alley around the Acropolis, Panathinaic Stadium, Monastiraki market.

On a careful plan on Sunday and seeing some key points on Monday, this can turn out a very satisfactory visit. Kepe in mind that, roughly speaking most visitors split their time open air free sites walking the city and museums / sites. So, just arrange one day from one and other day for the other, keeping in mind that Monday reduced open hours are expected at sites / museums.

Take a look here:

http://tinyurl.com/AthensFreebiesAnd24

Edited: 10 years ago
Athens, Greece
Level Contributor
13,950 posts
10 reviews
34 helpful votes
5. Re: Athens during Easter
Save

Definitely go to a church at Sunday late evening to take a look at the ceremonies.

Best place will be in Plaka area, half a dozen of churches in 5 minutes walk from Monastiraki Sq.

My top choice though would be Kapnikarea church, an 11th century chapel on Ermou str., the main commercial rd of Athens connecting Syndagma Sq. and Monastiraki. Despite its very central location, it's not crowded and is one of the most moving ceremonies held.

As Yiassas wisely says, arriving at 2115, you 'll be in the center before midnight, so check in, leave luggages, freshen up and go out.

People start arriving at churches at around 2300 - 2320, plan on being there around 2330 if you don't have time. Most people stay out of the churches since the midnight ceremony takes place outdoors. You are arriving in one of the best and most sentimental moments Greece can offer :-)

After midnight many people go for an after midnight dinner.

Athens, Greece
Destination Expert
for Peloponnese, Athens
Level Contributor
16,035 posts
79 reviews
155 helpful votes
6. Re: Athens during Easter
Save

>>>>Definitely go to a church at Sunday late evening<<<<

Whoops, Nick, wakey, wakey! I think you mean Saturday evening!

Athens, Greece
Level Contributor
13,950 posts
10 reviews
34 helpful votes
7. Re: Athens during Easter
Save

Saturday, Saturday, yes, lol :)

Sorry :)

CA_expat is arriving Sat, that's when the thing is too :)

Sutton, United...
Level Contributor
22,972 posts
10 reviews
16 helpful votes
8. Re: Athens during Easter
Save

Nick, in Crete every village has a huge bonfire on the Saturday for the burning of Judas: the children spend days collecting the wood for it and making the Judas doll Does this happen in Athens? If it does, it would be quite a sight for a visitor.

Athens, Greece
Level Contributor
13,950 posts
10 reviews
34 helpful votes
9. Re: Athens during Easter
Save

No, this does not take place at all in Athens.

Specific Easter bonfire tradition exists in many places around the world, both Catholic and Orthodox churches, from Greece to Brazil and Mexico.

Nevertheles, most of the times, in Greece, it is a bonfire and not the burning of anyone, even Judas. Rarely you can find it as the "burn of the bandit" or just a bonfire with nothing to burn except the wood itself and logs.

For me, the so called "burn of Judas" is a somewhat violent tradition which has nothing to do with Easter which is a celebration for love as Christian traditions talk about. I am really thankful for many reasonas that usually it is just a bonfire and nothing else. I am ok with a bonfire, pyrotechnics and all, still i totally dislike the idea of burning anything to destruct it, even if this is an effigy.

Fire, cracking noise and light are closely tied to Easter celebrations all over the world. Fire, light and noise are connected with life itself, opposite to soil, darkness and quietness which are connected to lack of life. They also have to do with pre-Christian traditions tied to Easter for many centuries.

So, all around the world you 'll find many expressions of this symbolism, either as a bonfire, or as pyrotechnics or wishes expressed, or even the candlesticks in churches. Fire is always present in many traditions around the world, from the very ancient times Prometheus "stole" it from the Gods, till the torch lighting at the Olympics.

Nevertheless, for me, a simple bonfire is fine while a bonfire to burn something in has to do with destruction and i am happy it is NOT a common tradition in Athens, nor at many places in Greece :)

Moreover, urban grid would not allow something like this. It would be equally unexpected to see a bonfire in London or LA except perhaps a beach party at Malibu :)

A wikipedia link on this tradition and allegations about it can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_Judas

Edited: 10 years ago
Sutton, United...
Level Contributor
22,972 posts
10 reviews
16 helpful votes
10. Re: Athens during Easter
Save

Many thanks, Nick: I completely agree with you!

Get answers to your questions about Athens
CA$CAD
United States
© 2021 TripAdvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.