Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Mnemeíon Agnostou Stratiotou)

The Basics

Situated in front of the Royal Palace, this cenotaph built in the 1930s has a number of features associated with Ancient Greece. Look for traditional design elements (mixed with art deco styling) along with inscriptions from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, as well as a sculpture of a soldier wearing a Greek helmet. Many city tours stop here, and visiting with a guide can be particularly useful if you want help reading the Greek inscriptions.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a must-visit for those interested in military history.

• Try to plan your visit to align with Sunday’s grand Changing of the Guard ceremony.

• The square and tomb area are wheelchair-accessible.

How to Get There

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is situated in Syntagma Square, a major transport hub that’s well-connected by bus, tram, and metro. Lines 2 and 3 of the Athens Metro and lines 4 (Aristotle) and 5 (Plato) of the Athens Tram stop here.

When to Get There

The tomb is guarded by the Presidential Guards, known as Evzones, day and night.

The grand Changing of the Guard ceremony, complete with an army band and formal uniforms featuring a skirt, stockings, and shoe pom-poms, takes place every Sunday at 11am. Monday through Saturday you can see the guard change every hour, but without the music and the splendid uniforms.

Tombs of Unknown Soldiers

The tradition of commemorating an unknown soldier (and, by proxy, the service of all soldiers) became popular around the world after World War II. Early examples include La tombe du soldat inconnu at the Arc de Triomphe, the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, and the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington, Virginia.

Ways to explore

Plan on anywhere from 5–15 minutes to admire the monument and photograph the Evzones (members of the Presidential Guard) in their ceremonial attire: white tunics and hand-embroidered waistcoats, complete with tasseled red caps and shoes with giant black pom poms. For much of the day, the Evzones stand perfectly still, although many people time their visit to coincide with the Changing of the Guard ceremony, with their leg lifts and arm raises. Unsurprisingly for such a major site, many guided tours stop here, and visiting with a guide is a great way to learn more about Greek military history.

Accessibility

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is accessible to wheelchair users.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Camera, guidebook, refillable water bottle

What to wear

Hat for sun protection in summer, layers in winter

Not allowed

Trying to make an Evzone laugh or move when he’s standing guard

Amenities

There are no food or restrooms available on-site, but you’ll find plenty of options nearby in this busy central district.

Address

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located in the heart of Athens, adjacent to the Greek Parliament and near other attractions like the National Gardens of Athens and Benaki Museum. You’ll find plenty of ways to get here, whether by walking, driving, or public transportation.

Driving

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier can be reached by car, but driving in Athens isn’t recommended unless you know the city well. Consider taking a rideshare or taxi.

Public transportation

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is just a 2-minute walk from Syntagma metro station. Take either the red or blue line, or one of the many local OASI buses that stop nearby. You can also catch the Athens tram to Syntagma; take Route 6, the Syntagma-Pikrodafni line.

Best times to visit

The Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place on the hour, every hour, and lasts about 10 minutes.

Best days to visit

The most famous Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place on Sunday mornings at 11am. That’s when the Presidential Guard marches to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier alongside a military band.

Best months to visit

Aim for the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, when the weather is most temperate. Avoid July and August, when high temperatures can easily turn sightseeing into a sweaty test of endurance.

Special events

Each year on March 25th, Greece celebrates its Independence Day and the end of Ottoman rule with a grand military procession and wreath-laying ceremony in the center of Athens and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.