Why Watching the Changing of the Guard (Evzones) in Athens is a must

The Presidential Guards, Evzones, guard the Unknown Soldier’s Tomb in front of the Hellenic Parliament 24/7. They stand proudly in perfect stillness, motionless and expressionless, regardless of weather conditions; you are guaranteed to catch them in action whether it’s a rainy winter’s night or the hottest summer day.

Evzones are an elite unit of the Greek army, and it is the highest honour for a Greek Guard to be selected as an Evzone. The guards are handpicked according to their height (they must be a minimum of 1.9 meters), in excellent physical condition, have stamina and are disciplined and proud to serve their beloved country.

The Presidential Guard is the epitome of bravery and freedom, honouring the heroes who fought and sacrificed for the land they stood on for thousands of years.

Two Evzones every hour on the hour guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in one-hour shifts around the clock, three times every two days. They work in pairs to perfectly coordinate their movements in slow motion to preserve the guard’s circulation after standing completely still for one hour.

From Monday to Saturday, the Evzones dress in their khaki summer service uniform or their black winter uniform, depending on the season.

Every Sunday at 11.00 am there is a Grand Change. All the guards ceremoniously march from the barracks to the Unknown Soldier’s Tomb with a marching band. The police block the street off for the procession because this is the most popular time to see the Evzones. Crowds gather in front of the Parliament building at Syntagma Square to see the official change, so it is advised that if you want to see them at this time, you should stake out your position early.