Greece, Europe

Athens in March

A sleeper month: clear days, green hills, and thin crowds. March 25 brings the Independence Day parade to the center.

GoodWarming, highs near 62F (17C), spring arriving

Acropolis of Athens, Greece — AthensPhoto: A.Savin, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

March is a good month to visit Athens. A sleeper month: clear days, green hills, and thin crowds. March 25 brings the Independence Day parade to the center.

Weather: Warming, highs near 62F (17C), spring arriving
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What March is like in Athens

March is a sleeper month in Athens. Highs reach about 62F (17C), the hills turn green, and clear days become common as spring arrives. Crowds are still thin and prices low. Sites keep winter hours for most of the month, closing in the late afternoon. On March 25, the Independence Day parade fills the center near Syntagma, and some sites close for the holiday.

It suits history lovers, walkers and families on spring break who want comfortable sightseeing before the crowds. It is still too cold for most people to swim. If warm evenings and sea days matter, April and May are better, but for sightseeing value March is hard to beat.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Athens this month.

Independence Day parade

On March 25, a military parade runs through the center near Syntagma. Some streets close for the morning, so plan around it or watch it.

Green hills and clear views

Filopappou and Lycabettus are green and the air is often clear, great for Acropolis views without the heat.

Delphi in spring

The mountain site is quiet on weekdays, and the green valley below makes the setting even more striking.

What to pack for March

A light jacket and a sweater
Comfortable, grippy walking shoes
A compact umbrella for the odd shower
Sunglasses for bright spring days

Our timing tip

Avoid planning a site visit for March 25, when many close for the national holiday, and use the morning to watch the parade instead.

Book Athens for March.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Athens
Opens a hotel search for Athens in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for March
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Athens
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Athens
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Athens for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in March

Independence Day parade

March 25 every year

A military parade through the center near Syntagma. Some streets close for the morning.

Things to do in Athens

Full guide

The Acropolis

Enter at the 8am opening or in the last two hours before closing. Tickets are sold in timed slots; buy online in advance for spring through fall.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Acropolis Museum

Do it after the rock, not before, so the sculptures make sense. The top-floor Parthenon Gallery is the reason to come.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

National Archaeological Museum

The Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera mechanism, and the bronze Artemision god. Budget at least three hours.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Ancient Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus

The best-preserved Doric temple in Greece and far fewer people than the Acropolis. Shade trees make it a good late-morning stop.

Tickets and tours →

Plaka and Anafiotika

The old town under the north slope. Anafiotika's whitewashed lanes feel like an island village dropped into the capital; go early before the tour groups.

Tickets and tours →

Lycabettus Hill at sunset

The highest point in central Athens. Walk up in about 30 to 40 minutes or take the funicular; the view over the lit Acropolis is the payoff.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Be at the Acropolis gate for the 8am opening. Cruise groups typically arrive from about 9:30am, and by late morning the Propylaia entrance is a slow shuffle.
Check the cruise schedule for Piraeus. Big ship days put thousands of extra visitors on the rock; on those days do the Acropolis at opening or in the final two hours.
Buy a timed Acropolis ticket online in advance from April through October. Same-day tickets exist but the preferred slots go first.
Use the combined ticket for the lesser sites (Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos, Olympian Zeus). They are rarely crowded and cover the city's history better than the Acropolis alone.

Know before you go

Athens does not have an off season in the island sense. Museums, sites, restaurants, and hotels run year-round.
Archaeological sites run shorter winter hours, typically closing in the late afternoon from about November through March. Check the day's hours before planning a sunset visit.
During extreme heat waves the Acropolis has been closed during the hottest afternoon hours. It usually reopens in the early evening, but confirm on the day.
Sites close or shorten hours on major holidays, including January 1, March 25, Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday, May 1, and December 25 and 26.

Athens in March, quick answers

Is March a good time to visit Athens?

March is a good month to visit Athens. A sleeper month: clear days, green hills, and thin crowds. March 25 brings the Independence Day parade to the center.

What is the weather like in Athens in March?

Warming, highs near 62F (17C), spring arriving.

Is Athens crowded in March?

March is one of the quieter months in Athens; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in Athens in March?

Independence Day parade (march 25 every year).