Greece marks Ochi Day on Wednesday 28 October 2026, a national holiday with student parades in central Athens. Luxura chauffeurs plan your journeys around the closures.
- Dates
- Wednesday 28 October 2026
- Starts
- 10:00 local time
- Venue
- Syntagma Square and city centre
- City
- Athens
Ochi Day, 28 October, is one of Greece's two national days. In 2026 it falls on a Wednesday, and it is a public holiday across the country.
What does Ochi Day commemorate?
Ochi means No. The day remembers 28 October 1940, when Greece rejected Italy's ultimatum to allow Axis troops into the country, bringing Greece into the Second World War. Flags fly across Athens, and schools and student groups parade through the city centre, while the main military parade is traditionally held in Thessaloniki.
How do you travel in Athens on Ochi Day?
Roads around Syntagma Square and along the parade route close in the morning, and traffic is diverted. If you are heading to the airport or the Athens Riviera, your chauffeur will choose a route that avoids the centre. Many businesses close for the holiday.
Planning your day
- Expect closures around Syntagma in the morning.
- Check opening hours for museums and shops.
- Allow extra time for airport transfers.
- Book lunch in Plaka or Kolonaki after the parade.
Explore more about chauffeur travel in Athens, or book your transfer online or on WhatsApp.
How your chauffeured day runs
- Pickup at your doorYour chauffeur arrives ahead of time and messages on arrival.
- Drop-off at the venueAs close to the entrance as the venue allows.
- Return rideYour chauffeur waits at a meeting point we share with you on the day.
