Road closures and public transport restrictions during the 2026 Athens Polytechnic uprising
Hellenic Police and Athens urban transport authorities will implement extensive traffic bans, road closures, and transit modifications across downtown Athens from Sunday, November 15, through Wednesday, November 18, 2026, for the Athens Polytechnic uprising anniversary commemorations. The measures aim to secure the perimeter around the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) on Patision Street and facilitate the main November 17 demonstration toward the Embassy of the United States.
Phased road closures and parking bans for the Athens Polytechnic Uprising
Traffic authorities enforce restrictions in two phases, beginning with localized perimeters around the university campus before expanding to major central avenues on Tuesday afternoon. Stopping and parking remain strictly prohibited along all affected streets throughout the four-day period.
- Phase 1 (November 15 - November 16): Police restrict vehicle access on streets immediately bordering the Patision campus, including Stournari, Bouboulinas, Tositsa, and Solomou streets. Traffic on Patision Avenue faces intermittent diversions depending on crowd density outside the university gates.
- Phase 2 (Tuesday, November 17, from 12:00 until Wednesday morning): Authorities close the primary central arteries ahead of the 15:00 march. Complete vehicle bans apply to Patision Avenue, Omonia Square, Stadiou Street, Panepistimiou Street, Syntagma Square, Filellinon Street, Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, and Alexandras Avenue.
| Date and time | Affected streets and squares | Restriction type |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 15 – Nov 16 (All day) | Stournari, Bouboulinas, Tositsa, Solomou | Perimeter road closures and parking bans around NTUA |
| Nov 17 (From 12:00) | Patision Ave, Omonia Sq, Stadiou, Panepistimiou | Full vehicle traffic ban and police cordons |
| Nov 17 (From 14:00) | Syntagma Sq, Filellinon, Vasilissis Sofias Ave, Alexandras Ave | Complete road closures along the march route to the U.S. Embassy |
| Nov 18 (Until 06:00) | Exarchia perimeter and Patision St | Gradual reopening following street cleaning and security clearance |
Athens Metro Station closures during the Athens Polytechnic Uprising
On Tuesday, November 17, Urban Rail Transport (STASY) will close several central metro stations under police orders starting at 14:00. Trains on Lines 1, 2, and 3 will continue running on regular schedules but will pass through the closed stations without stopping.
- Closed Stations: Syntagma (Lines 2 and 3), Evangelismos (Line 3), Megaro Mousikis (Line 3), Panepistimio (Line 2), and Omonia (Lines 1 and 2).
- Open Perimeter Stations: Commuters can board and exit at Victoria (Line 1), Monastiraki (Lines 1 and 3), Akropoli (Line 2), and Ampelokipoi (Line 3), which remain open unless security conditions require temporary adjustments.
Bus, trolleybus, and tram rerouting for the Athens Polytechnic Uprising
The Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) will modify surface transit routes from Sunday morning through Tuesday night to bypass closed central corridors.
- Buses and Trolleybuses: Lines serving Patision Street (including buses 035, 054, 224, 608, A7, A8 and trolleybuses 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 15) will terminate at perimeter hubs outside Omonia and Exarchia. On November 17, routes crossing Syntagma and Vasilissis Sofias Avenue will split into shortened loops.
- Athens Tram: Line T6 (Pikrodafni – Syntagma) will terminate early at Fix or Leoforos Vouliagmenis stations on Tuesday afternoon, suspending service to the Syntagma terminus until police reopen the square.
Pedestrian access to the National Archaeological Museum and alternative routes
Pedestrian access to the National Archaeological Museum and alternative routes
The National Archaeological Museum at 44 Patision Street sits directly next to the Athens Polytechnic campus and operates on its regular schedule throughout the observance. Because taxis, private vehicles, and buses cannot stop outside the museum during the road closures, visitors must walk from Metro Line 1 at Victoria Station, approaching from the north along Patision Street to bypass police cordons, and should schedule visits before 12:00 on November 17 to avoid afternoon march crowds.
Drivers crossing Athens on November 17 should avoid the historic center entirely and use outer ring roads such as Kifisou Avenue, Syngrou Avenue (south of Hadrian's Arch), or Attiki Odos. Travelers heading to Athens International Airport should use Metro Line 3 from Monastiraki or stations east of Megaro Mousikis, or take the Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) from Larissa Station, as the X95 express bus from Syntagma Square faces route curtailments during the afternoon demonstration.