Things to do in Athens on March 25th and other National Holidays

If you’re visiting Athens or Greece during March, you should be aware that March 25th is Greek Independence Day. This is a national holiday, which means that the Acropolis and some museums will be closed. Don’t worry though, we’ve got some great ideas for things to do!

March 25th Greek Independence Day

There are a number of National Holidays during the year in Greece, with one of the most important being March 25th, Greek Independence Day. As Greeks celebrate the day on which the War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire began, archaeological sites and museums will be closed across the country. If you happen to be visiting Athens during that time, we’ve come up with a few suggestions on alternative things to see and do on March 25th and other National Holidays.

Check out the parades in Athens on March 25th

March 25th is normally celebrated by military and school parades up and down the country, with Athens having some of the biggest events. Head to Syntagma Square or ask the Kids Love Greece team what there is to see on that day. It will be an unusual and unique experience for sure!

Other National Holiday Dates

In addition to March 25th, these other dates are also considered as National Holidays in Greece where archaeological sites and museums will be closed. NOTE – The Acropolis Museum has free entry on March 25th!

• January 1st
• Greek Orthodox Sunday
• May 1st
• December 25th and 26th

Tour suggestions for National Holidays

We would suggest that if your vacation coincides with a National Holiday in Greece where archaeological sites are closed, it would be a great opportunity to use the time on a family friendly tour or activity. We’ve got a number of fun ones to choose from!

See Athens by Bike

Take to two wheels with your family, and explore Athens by bike in the company of an expert local guide. They will take you along safe cycling routes through the historic center of Athens, pointing out the main attractions and some hidden highlights along the way. This is a great tour for general sightseeing, photo taking, and even orientation for later exploring the city yourselves with more time. You can find out more about it here – Family bike tour of Athens.

Private Family Food Tour

National holidays can quite often be the best time of year to take a family food tour of Athens. Many dates have special foods associated with them, and on March 25th you can expect to find “bakaliaros skordalia”, a delicious fried salted cod with a garlic sauce made of potato and olive oil. Throughout the Christmas period, we also offer different Christmas food tours in Athens. We’re sure you will love them!

Street Art Tour in Athens

Our final suggestion, is to take a street art tour in Athens. It doesn’t matter what else is going on in the city, the street art is always there to see! Athens is earning a reputation as being something of an urban Mecca when it comes to street art, and the constantly changing canvases of walls and shop shutters reveal a different side to the modern city. Our hip local guides know where all the latest and greatest art is. If you are visiting Athens with teens, then you should definitely take the Street Art Tour!