Changing of the Guard at Syntagma: times, Sunday ceremony, tips

The Changing of the Guard at a glance

What the Changing of the Guard is

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the relief of a fallen warrior on the wall below the Parliament. It honours the Greeks killed in wars, and the names of battles are carved to its left and right.

The Tomb is guarded around the clock by the Evzones, the «tsolias». The unit was founded on 12 December 1868 and has been called the Presidential Guard since 1974. Its role is purely ceremonial and it belongs to the Military Office of the President of the Republic. The Evzones are volunteer conscripts chosen through a strict selection. They also guard the Presidential Mansion, and on Sundays they raise the flag on the Acropolis.

What you will see every hour

Just before every full hour, two new Evzones approach with a slow, ceremonial step and replace the two who were on duty. An Evzone in camouflage uniform supervises the change. Between changes, the guards stand completely still.

The hourly change happens at every hour of the day and night. If Sunday does not suit you, it is the easy option: arrive 10 minutes early and you will find a good spot. At night there are far fewer people.

The big Sunday change at 11:00

Every Sunday at 11:00 the official ceremony takes place. The whole detachment of Evzones, with a military band, comes down from the Presidential Guard barracks on Herodou Attikou Street to the Tomb. The police close the road for the march.

Sunday is the busiest time of the week. Arrive before 10:40 to find a place in front of the Tomb.

The Evzone uniform

The uniform is handmade and every piece has a meaning:

• Foustanella: about 30 metres of white cloth with 400 pleats, one for each year of Ottoman rule.
• Fario: the red cap with the black tassel, which stand for sacrifice and mourning.
• Fermeli: the embroidered vest.
• Tsarouchia: red, with a black pom-pom and nails in the sole. The pair weighs around 3 kilos, which is why you can hear every step on the marble.

The uniform changes with the season: blue in winter, khaki in summer. On Sunday at the ceremony you will see the full dress uniform with the white foustanella.

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Evzones at the Changing of the Guard

The hourly change · the Sunday dress uniform · the tsarouchi

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Photos from Wikimedia Commons:
1. Luc.T from Buggenhout, file, CC BY 2.0.
2. Marshallhenrie, file, CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. Thermos, file, CC BY 3.0.

Where to stand and what is allowed

• Photos: allowed, and many people pose with the guards in the background.
• Distance: do not touch the guards and do not approach the sentry boxes. If you are asked to, step back.
• Quiet: the guards do not speak and do not react. Do not tease them to make them laugh.
• Best spot: opposite the Tomb, in the middle of the plateau. From there you see both sentry boxes.

📍 The Tomb and the surroundings on the map

🚇 How to get there from Ioulianou 50

The quickest route is Line 1 from Victoria to Omonia, then Line 2 to Syntagma. That is 3 stops and about 12 minutes from our door to the Parliament.

Step 1 — From Ioulianou 50 to Victoria metro (3 minutes)

Victoria station on Line 1 (green) is a 3-minute walk, on Victoria Square.

Step 2 — Victoria → Omonia → Syntagma (3 stops)

Take Line 1 towards Piraeus and get off at Omonia, the first stop. Change to Line 2 (red) towards Elliniko. Syntagma is two stops later. Exit towards the Parliament and the Tomb is in front of you. For tickets, see our metro tickets guide.

On foot, about 40 minutes

Walk down Patision Street to Omonia and continue along Panepistimiou. You will pass the Trilogy (Academy, University, National Library) and arrive at Syntagma Square. It is a straight, flat route with no uphill.

What to combine

• National Garden: the entrance is next to the Parliament, on Vasilissis Amalias. Shade and quiet after the ceremony.
• Ermou and the Cathedral: walk down the pedestrian street of Ermou to Kapnikarea and the Metropolis Cathedral.
• Plaka: 10 minutes on foot. See our Plaka walking guide.

The names on the plateau

On the plateau in front of the Tomb you will see written in red the names of the 57 people who lost their lives in the Tempi railway accident on 28 February 2023. Candles and flowers lie beside them. For many Greeks the spot is a place of remembrance and grief.

If you pass by, do not step on the names and do not move the candles and flowers. Take photos discreetly, and do not pose on or next to them.

Go a little early, stand opposite the Tomb and look at the sentry boxes first. The change lasts a few minutes, but the Evzones' step is worth seeing up close. 😉💙
— Kathy