Don’t rush through Athens during Easter, when the city reveals an immersive and intriguing aspect of its traditional character through ancient rituals and modern celebrations.
On Good Friday, the night of the Epitaphios vigil, moonlit streets glow with streams of candles while bitter orange blossoms scent the air. On Holy Saturday‘s ‘Anastasi’ or Resurrection Night, the city transforms as midnight approaches, with church courtyards filling with Athenians holding candles that ignite one by one. At midnight, when “Christos Anesti” (Χριστός Ανέστη, meaning ‘Christ is Risen’) is announced, fireworks explode across the night sky and church bells ring throughout the city, marking the joyous moment of the Resurrection.
Easter Sunday brings families and visitors together to crack red-dyed eggs for luck (called “tsougrisma”) and feast on spit-roasted lamb, while Easter Monday (‘Deftera tou Pascha’) continues the celebrations with outdoor gatherings. Spring adds its magic with green spaces like the National Garden and Lycabettus hill bursting with flowers, while sunshine bathes the Acropolis in golden light.
What makes Athens most special during Easter is how naturally sacred traditions are integrated into modern everyday life, welcoming people of all ages to join. Each neighborhood and area offers its own flavor and mise en scene at this time, from Plaka to the Athens Riviera.
Visit with an open schedule and curious appetite: Light a candle and follow the crowd of worshippers at the Epitaphios procession, savor Easter (‘magiritsa’) soup after midnight at the municipal meat market, enjoy a cocktail at an award-winning bar, explore ancient sights while the city is less crowded than usual, taste traditional lamb intestines (‘kokoretsi’) paired with fine Greek wine on Easter Sunday, and wander freely on Easter Monday. And in between, enjoy scenic neighborhood strolls and buzzy people watching in the four different parts of town we guide you through in this article.
Important note: Make sure to book at least a week in advance for meals at any of the restaurants mentioned here, as seating is limited during these special days and reservations fill up quickly. For those observing Lent or wishing to fully embrace Greek traditions, all our recommended establishments offer extensive fasting-friendly (‘nistisima’) options, featuring dishes prepared without meat, dairy, eggs, or oil, in accordance with Orthodox customs.
Good Friday
In Syntagma & Plaka
Start with breakfast at The Makers, which is conveniently central, stylish, and reliable. Once fuelled, wander the National Garden and the Zappeion to enjoy the spring vibes and come across beautiful ancient ruins and architecture. Keep your pace slow. Good Friday is quiet by design. You’ll hear the mournful bells ringing at various intervals throughout the day, marking that today is the day, according to the Greek Orthodox faith, of Christ’s funeral.
Museums are limited today, but the Benaki Museum, around eight minutes’ walk from Syntagma square, will be open from 1 pm until 6 pm; visit to enjoy a wonderful collection of ancient and modern art and sculpture. Alternatively, stroll through Plaka’s alleyways or rest beneath a blooming bougainvillea. For lunch, visit Ergon House, a trendy local favorite with a modern Greek menu.
As night falls, attend the Epitaphios procession (starting at around 9pm) at Agia Irinis Square (known for its evocative choral music), Agii Anargyri in Anafiotika or the grander Metropolitan Cathedral on Mitropoleos street. The streets glow with streams of candlelight in a solemn yet warmly communal ambiance. When it’s over, head to Athinaikon for classic Greek cuisine since 1932 or Dopios for meze dishes made from Greece-wide produce. For a nightcap, go to globally awarded bars Baba Au Rum or The Clumsies, both of which pour excellent cocktails.
Holy Saturday
In Acropolis and Koukaki
Ease into the day with coffee and something seductively nourishing at This is Loco or Hippy Hippo. Then head walk along the pedestrianized Dionyssiou Aeropagitou street and visit the Odeon of Herod Atticus (which is not open but well worth peeking into and trying to fathom how many legendary artists have performed there). Next, stroll along the cobblestoned Pikionis walkway and visit Pnyx and Philopappou Hills for some of the city’s most cinematic views. These are great locations for a scenic picnic too.
When all that walking and expansive views have made your tummy gurgle, head to Tomas 1971 Tavern, which serves classic to modern Greek cuisine made from fresh produce. Don’t linger too long. Tonight is all about the Resurrection service.
At midnight, join locals at Agia Sophia just beneath the glow of the Acropolis or Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris, a church of unique design tucked into the hill. After the city sky lights up with fireworks and the streets with candlelight, make your way to Epirus Tavern inside the Varvakeios Municipal Market on Athinas street, around a 15-minutes walk away, but well worth the trek for its famous traditional dishes (not for the fainthearted). It stays open through the night, serving steaming bowls of ‘magiritsa’, the ritual Easter soup that tastes better after midnight.
Easter Sunday
In Kolonaki and Exarcheia
Stretch into this day of high gatherings, hearty traditional food and joyous customs with a leisurely coffee in Filikis Etairias square, the central spot in Kolonaki or the nearby Kapsali street. Many places are shut on this day, and the streets are quiet as everyone is either out of town for the Easter break or preparing to host or be a guest at Easter lunch with family and friends. After getting your caffeine boost, take a hearty hike up Lycabettus Hill, which is around a 15-minute trek, to enjoy spanning city views. No rush. No agenda.
For Easter lunch, stay on Lycabettus and have lunch at Prasini Tenda cafe-restaurant, where you can savor stunning panoramic views over the city and try several Easter dishes made for this special day, like mageiritsa soup, kokoretsi and stewed goat. Otherwise, book a table at St. George Lycabettus Hotel’s sixth-floor restaurant, where an Easter buffet is served from 1 to 5 pm, along with a postcard view of the city.
Spend the afternoon with a coffee or beer and meze at laid laid-back and buzzy Dexameni café at the pretty square below the St George hotel or one of the busy tables on Tsakalof Street. For a dreamy dinner with yet more outstanding city and Acropolis views, visit the GB Roof Garden at the Grande Bretagne Hotel on Syntagma Square (a mere 10-minute walk from Kolonaki). Please note that the GB Roof Garden also serves an Easter lunch, but for dinner guests can order from their normal a la carte menu.
Easter Monday
In the Athenian Riviera
Go coastal and get a good blast of sunshine and sea air – it may even be warm enough to swim. Start the day at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), a huge and beautiful open space that combines art, olive groves, gardens, an artificial lake and one of the city’s best waterfront views.
For breakfast by the sea head to Ark in Glyfada. After, visit The Ellinikon Experience Park, the biggest development in Europe, for a walk through its Zen garden and outdoor interactive fountain installations. It’s surprisingly peaceful and there are several playgrounds children especially will enjoy.
For lunch, book ahead at Krabo Beach in Vouliagmeni or the nearby Mercato at the Four Seasons Hotel. It’s elegant, unfussy, and consistently excellent. Before, book an appointment at the hotel’s fabulous spa. Later, stroll the coastline.
End your Easter long weekend with dinner at the old-school Ithaki restaurant, with its dramatic terrace, or at Moorings overlooking the marina, where you can also opt to go for a drink in front of the sea.
