Holidays & Opening Hours
Time
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.
Public Holidays
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
Opening Hours
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.