Holidays & Opening Hours

Athens is on Eastern European time. Athens is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, and one hour ahead of Central European Time.

January 1 - New Year’s Day

January 6 - Epiphany

Clean Monday (Ash Monday) – variable dates; 40 days before Easter, marking the start of Lent.

March 25 - Greek Independence Day

Orthodox Good Friday – variable dates, though stores are open 1 pm - 7 pm.

Orthodox Easter – variable dates

Orthodox Easter Monday – variable dates

Pentecost Monday – variable dates

May 1 - Labour Day

Day of the Holy Spirit – variable dates, usually early June.

August 15 - Assumption of the Virgin Mary

October 28 – “Oxi” Day (National Holiday)

December 25 & 26 - Christmas & Boxing Day

Shops are generally open:

Monday & Wednesday: 9 am-3 pm; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 am-2 pm and 5.30 pm-9 pm; Saturdays: 9 am-3 pm; almost all shops are closed on Sundays.

Department stores are open Monday-Friday: 10 am-9 pm Saturday: 9 am-8 pm or 10 am-9 pm, depending on the store.
Note: Most shops in the centre stay open throughout the day on Monday and Wednesday, and do not close for the 2.5 hour break on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Monday, Wednesday: 8 am-2 pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8 am-2 pm and 5:30 pm to 8 pm. 

Selected pharmacies in each area stay open after hours. Find your nearest pharmacy here.

Monday-Friday: 7:30 am-2 pm; select post offices remain open for longer hours:

Syntagma Square: Monday-Friday 7:30 am-8:30 pm, Saturday: 7:30 am-2:45 pm, Sunday: 9 am-1:30 pm

Athens International Airport: Monday-Saturday 7 am-7:30 pm, Sunday and holidays: 8:30 am-6:30 pm

100 Aiolou Street: Monday-Friday 7:30 am-8:30 pm, Saturday: 7:30 am-2:45 pm

60 Mitropoleos Street: Monday-Friday 7:30 pm-8:30 pm

Note: On public holidays (listed above) stores are closed and archaeological sites and museums are either closed or open for limited hours. Check online before you set off.