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.+

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