Shop Opening Hours in Athens: Weekdays, Sundays and Holidays
Many Athens shops still close for the afternoon on some weekdays, and Sunday shopping is limited to a few dates. Here is how the week works and where to go when everything is shut.
Shops in Athens may open from 06:00 to 21:00 Monday to Saturday, and on designated Sundays from 11:00 to 20:00, under Greek trading law as of November 2026. Many small shops still work split hours: mornings only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, and morning plus evening on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Within the legal limits, each shop sets its own hours, so chains and central shopping streets are usually open all day while neighborhood shops keep the older pattern.
What are the usual shop hours in Athens?
| Type of shop | Typical hours (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Chains and shops on Ermou, in malls and big avenues | Monday to Friday about 09:00 to 21:00, Saturday to about 20:00 |
| Neighborhood shops, split days | Monday, Wednesday: about 09:00 to 15:00; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: about 09:00 to 14:00 and 17:30 to 20:30; Saturday: about 09:00 to 15:00 |
| Supermarkets | Monday to Friday about 08:00 to 21:00, Saturday about 08:00 to 20:00 |
| Bakeries | Early morning to afternoon or evening, often open Sunday morning |
| Periptera (kiosks) | Long hours; some in central Athens open around the clock |
These are typical patterns, not rules. Check a shop’s own hours on its door or map listing before you make a special trip.
Which Sundays are shops open?
Most shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays. The law, amended in 2024, allows Sunday trading on a set list of Sundays across the year, mainly:
- the first Sunday of the winter sales (January) and of the summer sales (July);
- the Sunday before Easter (Palm Sunday);
- the first Sunday after Black Friday;
- the Sundays before Christmas and the last Sunday of the year.
In 2026, the Sundays reported for retail opening in late 2026 are 29 November and 13, 20 and 27 December. Each year’s dates are confirmed by the traders’ associations and the Ministry of Development, so check the announcement close to the date. Our guide to Christmas in Athens covers the festive season.
Are shops open on Sundays in tourist areas?
Yes, in designated tourist zones. In central Athens, many shops in Plaka, Monastiraki and around the Acropolis open on Sundays, mostly souvenir, clothing and food shops. The exact streets and seasons are set by official decisions and can change, so do not rely on a mainstream chain being open on a Sunday outside the listed dates.
What about supermarkets on Sundays and holidays?
Large supermarket chains are usually closed on ordinary Sundays. They open on some of the listed Sundays, especially before Christmas, and keep shorter hours around holidays. Some smaller mini-markets and stores in tourist areas open on Sundays. On the main public holidays (Christmas Day, 26 December, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday and Monday, 15 August) supermarkets are closed. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve they normally close early in the afternoon. Our list of Greek public holidays in 2027 shows the dates to plan around.
Where can you buy things late at night or on a Sunday?
- Periptera: the kiosks on street corners sell drinks, snacks, cigarettes, phone top-ups, transport tickets in some areas, and basic toiletries. Several in central squares are open 24 hours.
- Mini-markets: independent shops in central neighborhoods often open late and on Sundays.
- Bakeries: many open Sunday mornings for bread and pastries.
- Petrol stations: some on main avenues have shops open late.
- Laiki markets: street markets run on weekdays and Saturday by neighborhood. Our guide to Varvakios market and the laiki street markets lists days.
For medicines on a Sunday, see our guide to pharmacies on duty in Athens; ordinary pharmacies follow shop hours.
What about banks, post offices and public services?
Banks and public offices keep shorter hours than shops and do not open on Sundays. Greek bank branches typically serve customers from about 08:00 to 14:30 Monday to Thursday and close a little earlier on Friday, and many services now need an appointment booked online or by phone. ELTA post offices in central Athens usually open on weekday mornings and early afternoons, with a few larger branches open longer. KEP citizen service centres and tax offices work weekday mornings, mostly by appointment, as of November 2026.
Plan any errand that needs a bank, a KEP or a tax office for a weekday morning. If you need a document for a rental or a residence application, book the appointment first and check the branch’s own hours on its website before you go.
How do hours change at Christmas and Easter?
Before Christmas, Athens shops switch to festive hours, usually from mid-December, with longer weekday hours and the extra Sundays. Before Easter, shops open longer during Holy Week, have reduced hours on Good Friday and close in the afternoon of Holy Saturday. The Athens Traders Association publishes each festive schedule; hours are indicative, and each shop decides within the legal limits.
Bottom line
Do your weekly shop on Saturday morning, and keep Tuesday, Thursday or Friday evening for errands at small shops. If you need something on a Sunday, a central kiosk or mini-market is a better bet than a chain store.
FAQ
Are supermarkets open on Sundays in Athens?
Not usually. Big chains open only on a few Sundays a year, mainly before Christmas. Some mini-markets and stores in tourist areas open on Sundays.
Why are shops closed on Monday and Wednesday afternoons?
Many small shops still follow the traditional split schedule: mornings only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Chains and central shops stay open all day.
What time do shops close on Saturday?
Chains often stay open until about 20:00. Neighborhood shops often close around 15:00.
Are periptera open all night?
Some in central squares and on main avenues are open 24 hours. Most close late in the evening.
