Hanukkah in Greece: where to light candles and what to do
Hanukkah 2026 begins on Friday 4 December. Chabad houses, kosher food, historic synagogues and what is open in Greece in December.
- First candle: Friday 4 December 2026. Last candle: Friday 11 December. On both, light before Shabbat candles.
- We found no published Hanukkah 2026 event schedule. Contact Chabad in Athens, Thessaloniki or Rhodes.
- The Jewish Museum in Athens is closed for renovation. Kahal Shalom in Rhodes and Etz Hayyim in Chania open on weekdays.
Hanukkah in Greece is a quiet holiday: no festive street atmosphere, but there are Chabad houses, kosher food and ancient synagogues. Plan ahead and bring a hanukkiah from home.
When is Hanukkah 2026?
| Date | |
|---|---|
| First candle | Friday 4 December 2026, evening |
| Eighth (last) candle | Friday 11 December 2026, evening |
| End of Hanukkah | Saturday night, 12 December 2026 |
Note: both the first and the eighth candle fall on a Friday, so you light the Hanukkah candles before Shabbat candles. You will find Shabbat candle-lighting times for each city on our Shabbat times page. The page shows Shabbat times only, not Hanukkah times, but on these two Fridays that is exactly what you need. On Saturday night, 5 December, light after Shabbat ends.
Where to celebrate with a community
We did not find a published Hanukkah 2026 event schedule at the Chabad houses in Greece. If you want a communal lighting or a Hanukkah party, contact the Chabad house directly in the city where you will be:
- Athens – Chabad of Greece: Aisopou 10, Psiri. Tel 210 323 3825, chabad.gr. Holiday and Shabbat meals by advance registration.
- Thessaloniki – Chabad of Thessaloniki: Salaminou 9. Shabbat and holiday meals by registration at jewishthessaloniki.com.
- Rhodes – Chabad of Rhodes: Leof. Iraklidon 84, Ialysos (not in the Old Town). chabadrhodes.com.
- Crete – Chabad of Crete: El. Venizelou 44, Hersonissos. Mainly active in the tourist season, so check ahead in December. chabadcrete.com.
- Mykonos: the Chabad house operates in summer only.
Addresses, phones and services of every Chabad house: Chabad in Greece. Kosher restaurants: kosher food in Greece.
The Jewish communities of Athens and Thessaloniki are active too. At Beth Shalom Synagogue in Athens ID is required at the entrance.
Kosher food in December
- Athens: Gostijo (meat, in the Chabad building at Aisopou 10), the dairy café Parakalo at Mikonos 18 in Psiri, and a kosher grocery in the Chabad building.
- Delivery across Greece: e-kosher.gr, Chabad's grocery and delivery service, including to the islands.
- Thessaloniki: a meat restaurant and kosher grocery at the Chabad house, Salaminou 9.
- Rhodes: Jerusalem meat restaurant at the Chabad house. In winter, confirm it is open.
- Crete: kosher taverna and grocery at the Chabad house in Hersonissos, seasonal.
The full list, with addresses and maps: Shabbat times & kosher in Greece.
Sufganiyot? Ask the Chabad house whether they are making anything for the holiday. Greek loukoumades, fried dough balls with honey, are a close cousin, but they usually have no kosher supervision.
What is open in Greece in December?
Hanukkah 2026 ends on 12 December, before the Greek Christmas holidays, so most of your trip will not be affected:
- 25–26 December (Christmas): almost everything is closed, including banks, offices and most shops.
- 1 January 2027: almost everything is closed.
- Sundays: most shops are closed, except in tourist areas.
- On the islands: in winter many hotels, restaurants and businesses are closed until spring.
Greek public holidays calendar
Jewish sites to visit over Hanukkah
- Jewish Museum of Greece, Athens: closed for renovation. Reopening is planned for early 2027. Details.
- Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki: Agiou Mina 11. Closed on Saturday. Jewish Thessaloniki: a guide.
- Kahal Shalom Synagogue, Rhodes: dating from 1577. From November to March open Monday to Friday, 10:00–15:00. Closed on Jewish and Greek holidays, so check ahead whether it is open during Hanukkah. The guide.
- Etz Hayyim Synagogue, Chania: Monday to Thursday 10:00–16:00, Friday 10:00–15:00. Closed at weekends and on Greek holidays. The guide.
- Romaniote Jews: Greece's ancient Jewish community. Their story.
Tips
- The simplest option is to bring a hanukkiah and candles from home. If you forgot, ask at Chabad.
- At the hotel: ask in advance whether you may light candles in the room or on the balcony. If not, use an electric hanukkiah.
- Chabad holiday meals always need advance registration.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first candle of Hanukkah 2026? Friday 4 December 2026, in the evening, before Shabbat candles. The last candle is on Friday 11 December.
Is there a public menorah lighting in Athens? We did not find a published Hanukkah 2026 schedule. Contact Chabad of Greece (chabad.gr, 210 323 3825) and ask what is planned.
Where can I eat kosher in Athens over Hanukkah? At Gostijo and the Parakalo café in Psiri, at the Chabad grocery, and via e-kosher.gr delivery. Check opening hours before you go.
Are the historic synagogues open during Hanukkah? Kahal Shalom in Rhodes and Etz Hayyim in Chania open on weekdays but close on holidays. Check with them in advance.
Details checked on the official sites of Chabad and the Jewish communities in Greece, October 2026. Hours and events change, so contact them before you go.
