What's on in Athens (Athina), Greece through the year

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Christmas holidays in Greece

• Rule

  Acropolis timed entry

  1 Jan – 31 DecBook early

  Tickets carry an hourly slot and the site is capped at twenty thousand people a day. The eight-to-noon slots go first, and the gate queue is what you are paying to skip. Source ↗

Still on: Winter hours at the ancient sites (1 Nov – 31 Mar)

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Carnival and Clean Monday

  23 Feb

  Three weeks of neighbourhood carnival end on Clean Monday, when families take kites up onto Filopappou and the hills above the city and the whole country eats lenten food outdoors. Source ↗

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Winter hours at the ancient sites (1 Nov – 31 Mar)

Busy — between the peaks, Independence Day parade

• Festival

  Independence Day parade

  25 MarNational holidayCrowdedClosures

  A military parade closes Vasilissis Sofias and the streets around Syntagma for the morning of 25 March. Museums and most shops are shut for the holiday. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Orthodox Easter

  10–13 AprEaster & Holy WeekClosures

  Athens empties for a week as the city goes back to the villages. Shops and many tavernas close, the centre is oddly calm, and every road and ferry out of town is full on the Thursday and Friday. Source ↗

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Carnival and Clean Monday (23 Feb), Winter hours at the ancient sites (1 Nov – 31 Mar)

Busy — between the peaks, Orthodox Easter

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Orthodox Easter (10–13 Apr)

Shoulder season — between the peaks, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Orthodox Easter (10–13 Apr)

Busy — Summer holidays in Greece, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Sea warm enough to swim

  1 Jun – 31 Oct · usually

  The coastal suburbs down the tram line from the centre are swimmable from June, and the water is at its warmest in September, well after the air has stopped being punishing.

• Festival

  Athens Epidaurus Festival

  1 Jun – 29 AugMajor festivalBook early

  Three months of theatre, dance and concerts, with the headline nights under the Acropolis at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and Greek tragedy staged in the ancient theatre at Epidaurus. Source ↗

• Hazard

  Midday closures in the heat

  15 Jun – 31 Aug · usuallyExtreme heatClosures

  On the worst days the culture ministry shuts the open archaeological sites through the middle of the afternoon and the Red Cross hands out water at the gate. Do the ruins before ten or after six. Source ↗

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Summer holidays in Greece

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sea warm enough to swim (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)), Athens Epidaurus Festival (1 Jun – 29 Aug), Midday closures in the heat (15 Jun – 31 Aug (usually))

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, The 15 August exodus

• Holiday

  The 15 August exodus

  8–25 Aug · usuallySchool holidaysClosures

  Athenians leave for the islands and the villages around the Dormition holiday on the 15th. Neighbourhood shops and tavernas shut for a fortnight, and what is left in the centre is heat and visitors. Source ↗

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sea warm enough to swim (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)), Athens Epidaurus Festival (1 Jun – 29 Aug), Midday closures in the heat (15 Jun – 31 Aug (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Summer holidays in Greece

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sea warm enough to swim (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Ohi Day

• Holiday

  Ohi Day

  28 OctNational holidayClosuresCrowded

  A military parade closes Vasilissis Sofias and Syntagma on the 28th and the country takes the day off; museums and most shops shut, and it usually pulls a long weekend with it. Source ↗

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sea warm enough to swim (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Athens Marathon

• Rule

  Winter hours at the ancient sites

  1 Nov – 31 MarClosures

  From the first of November the archaeological sites move to the short winter timetable and close in the middle of the afternoon. The trade is a cheaper ticket and an Acropolis you can walk without booking. Source ↗

• Festival

  Athens Marathon

  8 NovMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  The race runs from Marathon into the Panathenaic Stadium and closes the eastern approaches to the city for most of a Sunday. Do not book a morning flight out of that day. Source ↗

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Christmas holidays in Greece

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Acropolis timed entry (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Winter hours at the ancient sites (1 Nov – 31 Mar)