Greek holidays and shop opening hours
When are shops in Greece closed? All public holidays, the Sundays when shops open, sales seasons and normal opening hours – before you fly to Athens for shopping.
Holidays and shopping days
- Agios Dimitrios – Thessaloniki city holidayLocal holiday
Thessaloniki only: public services closed and some shops shut. A normal day in Athens.
- Ohi Day – national holidayClosed
Most shops, banks and services closed. Parades in every city.
- Shops open on Sunday (after Black Friday)Open Sunday
Shops may open; it is optional.
- Shops open on Sunday (before Christmas)Open Sunday
Shops may open; it is optional.
- Shops open on Sunday (before Christmas)Open Sunday
Shops may open; it is optional.
- Christmas EveShorter hours
Shops open, usually closing earlier than normal.
- Christmas DayClosed
Almost everything closed.
- Second day of ChristmasClosed
Almost everything closed.
- Shops open on Sunday (end of year)Open Sunday
Shops may open; it is optional.
- New Year's EveShorter hours
Shops open, usually closing earlier than normal.
- New Year's DayClosed
Almost everything closed.
- EpiphanyClosed
Most shops closed.
- Winter salesSales
From the second Monday of January to the end of February, by law.
- Clean Monday (start of Lent)Closed
Most shops closed. Greeks picnic and fly kites.
- Greek Independence DayClosed
Most shops closed. Big parade in Athens.
- Good Friday (Orthodox)Shorter hours
Shops usually open only from midday. Public services closed.
- Holy Saturday + May DayShorter hours
This year May Day falls on Holy Saturday. The government sometimes moves the holiday – we will update when announced.
- Orthodox Easter SundayClosed
Greece's biggest holiday. Almost everything closed.
- Easter MondayClosed
Most shops closed.
- Whit Monday (Agiou Pnevmatos)Open
Banks and public services closed. Most shops are usually open.
- Summer salesSales
From the second Monday of July to the end of August, by law.
- Dormition of the Virgin MaryClosed
Most shops closed and Athens empties. On the islands much stays open.
- Ohi Day – national holidayClosed
Most shops, banks and services closed.
- Christmas DayClosed
Almost everything closed.
- Second day of ChristmasClosed
Almost everything closed.
The 2027 Sundays with open shops will be added as soon as they are officially published. On holidays, in tourist areas and on the islands some shops and restaurants stay open even when most of the city is closed.
Common questions
Are shops in Greece open on Sunday?
Usually not. Most shops are closed on Sundays, except a few Sundays a year set by law (mainly in December and at the start of the sales seasons) and tourist areas such as Plaka and Monastiraki, and the islands in summer.
What are normal opening hours?
Chains, malls, Ermou Street and supermarkets: roughly 9:00–21:00 Monday to Friday and until 20:00 on Saturday. Small shops: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings only (until about 15:00), and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday also in the afternoon (about 17:30–20:30).
When are the sales in Greece?
By law: winter sales from the second Monday of January to the end of February, and summer sales from the second Monday of July to the end of August.
Sources: Greece's official public holiday list, the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce (ΕΣΕΕ) for Sundays, and the sales law. General information – exact hours vary by shop.