Special retail shopping hours for Christmas and New Year’s in Greece took effect the week of December 14. Winter sales do not officially start until January 15, but many retailers offered significant discounts on electronics, clothes and gift items in hopes of boosting their bottom line before the end of 2009.

Hours of Operation

Athens

Tu December 15: 9:00-21:00
Wed December 16: 9:00-21:00
Th December 17: 9:00-21:00
Fri December 18: 9:00-21:00
Sa December 19: 9:00-18:00
Su December 20: 10:00-18:00

Mon December 21: 9:00-21:00
Tu December 22: 9:00-21:00
Wed December 23: 9:00-21:00
Christmas Eve: 9:00-18:00
Christmas Day: Closed
Sa December 26: Closed
Su December 27: Closed

Mon December 28: 9:00-21:00
Tu December 29: 9:00-21:00
Wed December 30: 9:00-21:00
New Year’s Eve: 9:00-18:00
New Year’s Day: Closed
Sa January 2: Closed
Su January 3: Closed

Thessaloniki

Mon December 14: 10:00-21:00
Tu December 15: 10:00-21:00
Wed December 16: 10:00-21:00
Th December 17: 10:00-21:00
Fri December 18: 10:00-21:00
Sa December 19: 10:00-20:00
Su December 20: 10:00-20:00

Mon December 21: 10:00-21:00
Tu December 22: 10:00-21:00
Wed December 23: 10:00-21:00
Christmas Eve: 10:00-18:00
Christmas Day: Closed
Sa December 26: Closed
Su December 27: Closed

Mon December 28: 10:00-21:00
Tu December 29: 10:00-21:00
Wed December 30: 10:00-21:00
New Year’s Eve: 10:00-16:00
New Year’s Day: Closed
Sa January 2: Closed
Su January 3: Closed

On Monday January 4, all shops return to normal winter hours.

Bakeries

Bakeries typically open on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day to accommodate the holiday meal, until at least 13:00. Sweet shops (zacharoplasteio), wine/liquor shops and florists are also open all hours, as it’s customary to bring a gift when going to someone’s home.

Note from Author

Keep in mind this is Greece, meaning the hours listed above are not written in stone, plus different municipalities keep different hours. Shop owners can also decide to open or close earlier or later on a whim and without warning; stores in smaller cities and rural areas may not extend their hours, due to lack of foot traffic or staff; and some open every Sunday, even though it is illegal and consumers should not encourage them to keep breaking the law by shopping there.

Merchants demanded they be allowed to open at least eight Sundays a year, including December 13 and December 27, to help compensate for the sharp drop in sales, but some trade associations and unions objected. The ministry opened debate to the public on Friday, and any changes to the schedule will be amended as they are announced.

Sources

“Από 15 Δεκεμβρίου το εορταστικό ωράριο των καταστημάτων” – Eleftherotypia
“Οκτώ Κυριακές – σωσίβιο ζητούν τα πολυκαταστήματα” – Ta Nea
“«’Οχι» στις Κυριακές από ΓΣΕΕ – Εμπορικό Σύλλογο Αθηνών” – Ta Nea
“Ανοίγει θέμα Κυριακής για τους εμπόρους” – Ta Nea
“Εορταστικό ωράριο για τα καταστήματα της Θεσσαλονίκης” – Eleftherotypia

Related posts

“New Year’s in Greece”
“Winter and summer sales in Greece”
“Golden Hall in Athens“