Evzones Changing of the Guard

The Evzones stand at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier below the old parliament building on Syntagma, and the guard changes every hour on the hour, done in an extremely slow high-stepping march that takes several minutes to cover a few metres. The uniform is based on nineteenth century highland dress: the pleated fustanella, the woollen cap, and the shoes with pompoms on them.

What you actually see

• The slow march - the deliberate high-stepping change of position.
• The fustanella - the pleated skirt of the ceremonial uniform.
• The tsarouchia - the heavy nail-soled shoes with their pompoms.
• The Sunday parade - the fuller ceremony with the band at eleven.

When to go

April to June and September to October are the pleasant months. The change happens hourly through the day. Sunday at eleven brings the full ceremony and the biggest crowd.

Honest expectations

The hourly change is brief and the crowd around it is thick in season. Summer heat on the open square is severe. The Sunday ceremony requires arriving well in advance for any view.

Nearby

Syntagma Square is around it, and the National Garden is behind.