Athens Christmas tree in Syntagma (2008). — EPA

Special shopping hours in Greece for Christmas 2011 and New Year’s 2012 will begin December 12 in Thessaloniki; December 15 in Athens, Piraeus and Patra; and December 18 in Crete.

Winter sales officially start January 14, 2012, but many retailers offer significant discounts of up to 60 percent on electronics, clothes and gift items in hopes of improving their bottom line before the end of the year.

*Article last updated January 5, 2012. If you have hours to add for a city not yet listed, please leave a comment and I’ll be happy to link.

Hours of Operation

Athens and Piraeus

Th December 15: 9:00-21:00
Fri December 16: 9:00-21:00
Sa December 17: 9:00-18:00
Su December 18: 10:00-18:00. Supermarkets closed.

Mon December19: 9:00-21:00
Tu December 20: 9:00-21:00
Wed December 21: 9:00-21:00
Th December 22: 9:00-21:00
Fri December 23: 9:00-21:00
Sa December 24/Christmas Eve: 9:00-18:00. Supermarkets typically close at 20:00.
Su December 25/Christmas Day: Closed

Mon December 26/Boxing Day: Closed
Tu December 27: 9:00-21:00
Wed December 28: 9:00-21:00
Th December 29: 9:00-21:00
Fri December 30: 9:00-21:00
Sa December 31/New Year’s Eve: 9:00-18:00. Supermarkets typically close at 20:00.

2012
Su January 1/New Year’s Day: Closed
Mon January 2: Closed

Shops are closed January 2 to make up for the fact they are open Sunday, December 18. On Tuesday, January 3, all shops return to normal winter hours.

Crete

Hours for Crete run from December 18 to January 8, after Epiphany. See “Christmas shopping hours in Crete.”

Patra

Th December 15: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Fri December 16: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Sa December 17: 9:00-16:00.
Su December 18: 10:30-18:30 (an employee break of 1 hour is mandatory). Supermarkets closed.

Mon December19: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Tu December 20: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Wed December 21: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Th December 22: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Fri December 23: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Sa December 24/Christmas Eve: 9:00-18:00. Supermarkets typically close at 20:00.
Su December 25/Christmas Day: Closed

Mon December 26/Boxing Day: Closed
Tu December 27: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Wed December 28: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Th December 29: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Fri December 30: 9:00-14:00 and 17:30-21:00
Sa December 31/New Year’s Eve: 9:00-18:00 (an employee break of 1 hour is mandatory). Supermarkets typically close at 20:00.

2012
Su January 1/New Year’s Day: Closed
Mon January 2: Closed

Shops are closed January 2 to make up for the fact they are open Sunday, December 18. On Tuesday, January 3, all shops return to normal winter hours.

Thessaloniki

Mon December 12: 10:00-21:00
Tu December 13: 10:00-21:00
Wed December 14: 10:00-21:00
Th December 15: 10:00-21:00
Fri December 16: 10:00-21:00
Sa December 17: 10:00-18:00.
Su December 18: 10:00-18:00. Supermarkets closed.

Mon December 19: 10:00-21:00
Tu December 20: 10:00-21:00
Wed December 21: 10:00-21:00
Th December 22: 10:00-21:00
Fri December 23: 10:00-21:00.
Sa December 24/Christmas Eve: 10:00-18:00. Supermarkets typically close at 20:00.
Su December 25/Christmas Day: Closed

Mon December 26/Boxing Day: Closed
Tu December 27: 10:00-21:00
Wed December 28: 10:00-21:00
Th December 29: 10:00-21:00
Fri December 30: 10:00-21:00
Sa December 31/New Year’s Eve: 10:00-18:00. Supermarkets typically close at 20:00.

2012
Su January 1/New Year’s Day: Closed
Mon January 2: Closed

Shops are closed January 2 to make up for the fact they are open Sunday, December 18. On Tuesday, January 3, all shops return to normal winter hours.

Bakeries

Bakeries in Greece typically open on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day until 13:00 to accommodate the holiday meal. Sweet shops (zacharoplasteio), wine/liquor shops and florists are 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 and 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.

Sources

“Εορταστικό ωράριο από 15 Δεκεμβρίου στα καταστήματα” — To Vima
“Θεσσαλονίκη: Aπό τις 12 Δεκεμβρίου το εορταστικό ωράριο” — Zougla
“Εορταστικό ωράριο στα καταστήματα Πειραιά” — Naftemporiki
“Εορταστικό ωράριο καταστημάτων στην Πάτρα” — Patra24

Related posts

“New Year’s in Greece”
“Winter and summer sales in Greece”
“Athens Metro Mall”

http://bit.ly/GRXmas