Syntagma area guide
Things to do in Syntagma
Syntagma's sights are free and fit one 90-minute loop. The guard changes every hour on the hour at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with the full ceremony on Sunday at 11:00. The National Garden is open from sunrise to sunset, and the Zappeion gardens lead on to the marble Panathenaic Stadium, open daily 08:00–19:00 with a ticket.
Reviewed October 22, 2026next check by January 20, 2027
What to see and do
Ceremony
Changing of the guard
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier below Parliament, every hour on the hour. The full ceremony with the band is on Sunday at 11:00; arrive early, because the pavement fills.
- Hours
- Every hour; full ceremony Sunday 11:00
- Price
- Free
Park
National Garden
Free and open every day from sunrise to sunset, with ponds, a small zoo and a children's library. The main entrance is on Amalias Avenue; it may close in strong wind.
- Address
- Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias 1, 105 57
- Hours
- Daily, sunrise to sunset
- Price
- Free
- Phone
- +30 210 721 5019
Source: City of Athens — National Garden (hours, contact, facilities)
Park
Zappeion gardens
The gardens around the neoclassical Zappeion hall, at the southern edge of the National Garden. The hall is a conference and exhibition venue; the gardens are the walk through to the stadium.
- Price
- Free
Source: Zappeion Megaron (official)
Monument
Panathenaic Stadium
The all-marble stadium of the 1896 Olympic Games, open daily 08:00–19:00, with tickets on the official ticket site. The running track closes for events and works; check the notices first.
- Hours
- Daily 08:00–19:00
Source: Panathenaic Stadium (official)
Museum
Syntagma metro station finds
Inside the station, a cut through the excavation shows the city's layers from the 5th century BC. Free, on the way to the platforms.
- Price
- Free
Things to do in Syntagma: map
Loading the map…Every place on the map is also listed with its address on this page.
Questions before you go
When is the Sunday ceremony?
At 11:00 on Sunday, when the whole guard marches to the Tomb with the band. At every other hour the change is shorter, every hour on the hour.
Is the National Garden free?
Yes. It opens at sunrise and closes at sunset every day. The City of Athens may close it in strong wind or for safety; notices go up at the entrances.
Can I walk to the Acropolis from Syntagma?
Yes. The Acropolis Museum is about 16 minutes on foot along Amalias Avenue and Dionysiou Areopagitou, and the Panathenaic Stadium about 15 minutes through the gardens.
Nearby
Sources
- This is Athens — historic centre guide - checked 2026-10-22
- City of Athens — National Garden - checked 2026-10-22
- Zappeion Megaron — official site - checked 2026-10-22
- Panathenaic Stadium — official site - checked 2026-10-22
- Visit Greece — the Athens metro finds - checked 2026-10-22
Reviewed October 22, 2026 · next check by January 20, 2027