How to Celebrate Easter in Athens on an Erasmus Student Budget
/… without missing out on the magic
Greek Easter, student-style: Midnight candles, rooftop feasts, and spring sunshine - Athens is calling, and your budget won’t stop you
So you’re in Athens during Easter. You're an Erasmus student.
You’ve got dreams of experiencing local culture, tasting everything... and maybe - just maybe - making a memory or two that isn’t tied to a Google Doc or a group project.
But here’s the catch: Your wallet’s saying “maybe next year.”
Relax. We’ve got you.
This guide will show you how to enjoy Greek Easter the smart way - like a local and... like a broke-but-resourceful Erasmus student who knows how to stretch a Euro without stretching their sanity.
1. Understand What Easter in Greece Really Is
Before you start filling your planner, know this: Greek Orthodox Easter is big. Bigger than Christmas. It’s not just a day off - it’s a week-long experience filled with emotion, tradition, firecrackers, candles, music, midnight feasts, and your neighbors saying “Kalo Pascha” to literally everyone they meet.
Pro Tip: Start paying attention on Holy Thursday (that’s when the eggs get dyed red), and plan to be fully immersed by Holy Saturday night. That’s when the real show happens.
2. Skip the Tourist Traps, Join a Neighborhood Church Service
Don’t go to the most popular cathedral downtown unless you love being shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists and Instagrammers.
Instead, head to a small local church in your neighborhood. It’ll be more authentic, more welcoming, and chances are - your landlady, your neighbors, and their cats will be there.
Example: If you’re staying in Sepolia, try Agios Meletios. Quiet, intense, and you’ll hear the chanting echoing through the whole block.
Bring a candle. You’ll light it at midnight, say “Christos Anesti” (Christ is risen), and the whole street will light up - literally.
Cost: Free. Value: Maximum.
3. Eat Like a Local (Without Paying Tourist Prices)
Easter in Greece = FOOD. But not all food is budget-friendly.
Here’s how to taste the good stuff without blowing your rent money:
Magiritsa Soup: The traditional post-midnight meal on Holy Saturday. If your Greek friend invites you to their home to try it, go. Yes, it’s made from lamb intestines. Yes, it’s an acquired taste. But yes, you’re here to try new things. Cost: Free if invited. Around €6–€8 in small local tavernas.
Tsoureki (Sweet Easter Bread): Buy it from your neighborhood bakery, not a big-name supermarket. Cost: €2.50–€4. Pro Tip: Toast it the next morning with butter. Life-changing.
Red Eggs: Symbolic, fun to crack, and cheap. Pick up a few from a street vendor or make your own. Cost: Around €1.50 for half a dozen.
4. Crash a Neighborhood BBQ on Easter Sunday (Or Organize One with Your Flatmates)
Easter Sunday is THE day for lamb on the spit, ouzo, and dancing in the streets. And here’s the thing - most Greeks will literally feed you if you’re nearby and look curious enough.
Here’s your game plan:
Walk around your area around noon. If you smell smoke and music, follow it
Smile. Say “Kalo Pascha”
Wait for someone’s uncle to hand you a plate
Too shy for that? Grab €5 worth of souvlaki and picnic with your roommates in a nearby square like Filopappou Hill or Pedion tou Areos.
5. Use This Time to Travel Smart
Almost everything shuts down on Easter Sunday and Monday. Which means:
No paperwork.
No errands.
Just you and a very chill, very beautiful Athens.
Hop on a €1.20 metro ride and head to:
Anafiotika (under the Acropolis) – empty, quiet, and stunning.
Varkiza Beach – locals BBQ, and the sea’s still free.
Lycabettus Hill – bring your Tsoureki and a view.
Bonus tip: Don’t Uber. Don’t taxi. Stick to buses and metro - half the price, twice the experience.
6. DIY Greek Easter Vibes at Home
Want the feel without leaving the flat? Here’s what you do:
Light candles at home Saturday night while watching the midnight church service on TV (ERT usually broadcasts it live).
Play traditional Greek music. YouTube is your best friend.
Cook spaghetti with tomato sauce and feta. Boom. Budget-friendly Magiritsa alternative.
Decor Tip: Red eggs + a small candle + an old bedsheet = instant Greek Easter corner.
7. Take Advantage of Student Discounts (Yes, They Still Work on Holidays)
Your Erasmus status can unlock cheap or free access to:
Museums and archaeological sites (closed Easter Sunday but open before/after)
Train rides to small towns like Nafplio or Kalavryta
Some neighborhood events (check local municipality websites or Facebook groups)
8. Start a New Tradition with Your Housemates
You’re not just here to observe Greek culture - you’re here to build something of your own.
Throw a mini-Easter party. Dye eggs. Share your country’s Easter traditions. Turn your Athens apartment into an Erasmus memory machine.
All it takes: Some candles. Some bread. A bottle of cheap wine. And one friend from another country.
Final Thoughts (and One Smart Move You Can Make Today)
Greek Easter isn’t about spending money.
It’s about belonging... About food. About firecrackers. About staying up late and watching the night sky light up with homemade fireworks while someone hands you a plate of grilled lamb.
You don’t need a big budget to live this.
You just need to know where to look.
And if you’re still trying to figure out where to stay next semester - or if you’re tired of Airbnb roulette and overcrowded dorms - Rooms Athens is here for you.
We’ve helped thousands of Erasmus students like you find move-in-ready, furnished apartments with zero booking fees, transparent leases, and actual support when stuff goes sideways.
Check out our listings and see why Easter in Athens feels a whole lot better when your housing situation doesn’t suck.
