Hellenic Parliament
Hellenic Parliament
4
About
A beautiful columned building built in the classical Greek style.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Syntagma
Perhaps the best place to get your bearings is Syntagma Square, crowned by the imposing Parliament building on its upper side and surrounded by other large structures, such as the exclusive Hotel Grande Bretagne. The grand avenues that lead towards Omonia are also full of massive Neoclassical edifices like the Numismatic Museum and those around smaller Platia Kolokotroni. Here you will find lots of travel agents, bookshops and fashion shops, especially on Ermou Street. Just south of Syntagma Square, you can take a breather in the lush National Gardens, which extend into the grounds of the Zappeio palace and beyond to the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus.
How to get there
- Syntagma • 3 min walk
- Nomismatokopio • 3 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,166 reviews
Excellent
331
Very good
491
Average
296
Poor
38
Terrible
10
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Micaela1711
Bologna, Italy982 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Without taking anything away from the majestic Palace of Parliament, the passage is a must to see the changing of the guard 💂♀️
The traditional costumes are beautiful and the guards are very good. It lasts several minutes but it's worth it. We saw it at 5pm on a sunny day even though it was February.
The traditional costumes are beautiful and the guards are very good. It lasts several minutes but it's worth it. We saw it at 5pm on a sunny day even though it was February.
Written February 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gray's Reviews
Timaru, New Zealand1,425 contributions
Jan 2020
We were in time to see the hourly changing of the guard and, wow, what an experience. I'm not sure whether I was more in awe of the setting of this in front of the Parliament Building, or of the dedication and discipline of these volunteers.
Either way, it was a long drawn-out process, as one set of guards is replaced by another, slowly, routinely and without any facial expressions.
Fascinating experience.
Either way, it was a long drawn-out process, as one set of guards is replaced by another, slowly, routinely and without any facial expressions.
Fascinating experience.
Written May 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PablerasLogro_o
Logrono, Spain2,485 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Parliament is not a very nice building, but you will see for sure because you will pass several times. It's in Syntagma Square which I didn't think was very pretty either but it's very central.
The most celebrated thing is the changing of the guard. We couldn't see him on Sunday.
One night we went out of time and they were making the moves and we saw them with nobody. The next day we came back and it turns out that it is not done when it has rained because they slip (they were brought in a car without more) The third we saw it but there were so many people..... I leave a picture. Make sure you arrive on time and enjoy the moment and don’t get overwhelmed with taking photos.
The most celebrated thing is the changing of the guard. We couldn't see him on Sunday.
One night we went out of time and they were making the moves and we saw them with nobody. The next day we came back and it turns out that it is not done when it has rained because they slip (they were brought in a car without more) The third we saw it but there were so many people..... I leave a picture. Make sure you arrive on time and enjoy the moment and don’t get overwhelmed with taking photos.
Automatically translated
Written October 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sofi NS
Athens, Greece23,056 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
The building that was once a royal palace is about 2 centuries old. It is the best place to start your walk in Athens. Reference point for concentrations has been damaged several times externally. Inside, the premises are in poor condition and do not resemble their former glory. Pity!
Written September 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheLush101
Cardiff, UK2,472 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
We arrived so that we could get a good spot to watch the changing of the guard. Definitely an experience to see how they do this (very different to Buckingham Palace!). Also great to see this building during the golden hour before sunset as it looks amazing in the setting sun.
Written September 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,432 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
I wasn’t surprised to learn that this palatial looking Parliament was in fact built as a royal palace and was built in 1843, for the first king of Greece, Otto I and his wife, Queen Amalia.
Within a year of the palace being completed, a widespread popular revolt took place right outside its doors in Syntagma Square. The public demanded that Otto give up his position as absolute monarch and in the end, he was forced to concede this power and adopt a constitutional democracy instead.
We timed our visit with the Changing of the Guards (see separate review). It’s easy to do because it takes place every hour of every day.
A much more elaborate ceremony takes place at 11am on Sundays but we weren’t in Athens that day so we just saw the regular ceremony. It was still a real spectacle, involving very high leg kicks, extravagant swinging of limbs, slow-motion rhythmic marching, and a showy uniform, with a red felt cap, a pleated kilt, long white stockings with black garters and black shoes with absolutely enormous black pom poms.
The soldiers, known as the Evzones, guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 24/7.
Within a year of the palace being completed, a widespread popular revolt took place right outside its doors in Syntagma Square. The public demanded that Otto give up his position as absolute monarch and in the end, he was forced to concede this power and adopt a constitutional democracy instead.
We timed our visit with the Changing of the Guards (see separate review). It’s easy to do because it takes place every hour of every day.
A much more elaborate ceremony takes place at 11am on Sundays but we weren’t in Athens that day so we just saw the regular ceremony. It was still a real spectacle, involving very high leg kicks, extravagant swinging of limbs, slow-motion rhythmic marching, and a showy uniform, with a red felt cap, a pleated kilt, long white stockings with black garters and black shoes with absolutely enormous black pom poms.
The soldiers, known as the Evzones, guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 24/7.
Written December 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
REDMAN
Egaleo, Greece5,097 contributions
May 2018 • Business
A beautiful building and a huge square, full of people.
It's impressive the change of guards happening some times during the day.
It's impressive the change of guards happening some times during the day.
Written January 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ArchaeologousTours
Greece104 contributions
Oct 2011 • Solo
First time I ever saw the Changing of the guards in Athens at the parliament building was when, by chance, I happened to be walking near the center of Athens in a square called Syntagma. I noticed that a small crowd was forming in order to watch something. Curious, I moved in that direction and found, in front of a large structure (which I later learned to be the Parliament Building), a couple of guards in traditional Greek clothing completing the end of one shift and the beginning of another. (The "changing of the guards or Evzones as they are called".
The precision and synchronization of the ceremony was fascinating and I found myself getting lost in the moment. Children seemed to particularly like it and there was much photo "kodak moments" being caught. The ceremony is evidently repeated every hour and a more complex one is undertaken at 11 am daily that is comprised with more guards.
Though I was not there on a Sunday, (I learned that is when the ‘real deal’ is performed). Many guards are involved and they must be at least 6’3” in order to participate. They wear kilts and shoes with pom-poms on them representing ancient Minoan times. When they are not relieving each other of their duties in this ritual, they stand guard stoically.(Like the guards in England)
Further inquiry revealed that there are only 120 of these soldier/guards and that they serve as sentries one hour at a time, three times every 48 hours(not a bad work schedule in my mind). They work in pairs in order to continually improve the preciseness of their movements. There is no cost to watching the ceremony and I strongly urge one and all to see this activity if and when in Athens.
The precision and synchronization of the ceremony was fascinating and I found myself getting lost in the moment. Children seemed to particularly like it and there was much photo "kodak moments" being caught. The ceremony is evidently repeated every hour and a more complex one is undertaken at 11 am daily that is comprised with more guards.
Though I was not there on a Sunday, (I learned that is when the ‘real deal’ is performed). Many guards are involved and they must be at least 6’3” in order to participate. They wear kilts and shoes with pom-poms on them representing ancient Minoan times. When they are not relieving each other of their duties in this ritual, they stand guard stoically.(Like the guards in England)
Further inquiry revealed that there are only 120 of these soldier/guards and that they serve as sentries one hour at a time, three times every 48 hours(not a bad work schedule in my mind). They work in pairs in order to continually improve the preciseness of their movements. There is no cost to watching the ceremony and I strongly urge one and all to see this activity if and when in Athens.
Written August 7, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LarryJ917
Issaquah, WA721 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
This is a vibrant place -- it took us 2 tries to get here, because traffic was blocked the first time by a pre-election political rally. When we made it the second day, it was impressive.
Written May 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kirkos P
Nicosia District, Cyprus102 contributions
Sept 2014
Located at the upper part of the Constitution ("Syntaghma") Square, it is an impressive building, where everyone can see & admire the "Change of Shift" of the characteristically dressed Guards (dressed as proud Tsoliadhes) !!! One can politely choose to feed some of the pidgeons there (they are quite friendly!) and take some amazing pictures with his/her Camera! In the close vicinity, you can find some Kiosks (small shops), selling basic stuff, like soft-drinks, water, food, newspapers, cigarettes & matches, post-cards and even batteries for your electronics!
Written July 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Has the Hellenic Parliament been re-built? The photos in here looks different from Google's satellite photo. Besides the location indicator here is pointing at a commercial building south of the Syntagma Square. Please clear this for me as I will be visiting with little time in there. I certainly would not want to wast time finding things are wrong.
Written May 23, 2018
Not sure what you are looking at on Google. If you check TA the photos posted mostly all show the front of the Parliament building. We were there last November and the Parliament was right where our guide said it would be. Hope you enjoy Athens as much as we did.
Written May 24, 2018
bonjour,
combien de temps dure la relève du dimanche à 11h. ?
Written June 4, 2017
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