When planning a trip to Greece, you surely wish to visit at least one museum or archaeological site, which this country is abundantly rich in. Shopping is also an integral part of every visit to Greece.

Before every trip to Greece, in order to create the best plan that includes not only relaxation but also sightseeing and shopping, examine which days are non-working in Greece and what are the working hours of shops and shopping centers during the week and the year.

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All shops, schools, banks, shopping centers, museums, and archaeological sites are closed during state holidays in Greece.

Greek national and state holidays 2026.

DATE DAY IN WEEK HOLIDAY
January 1 Thursday New Year’s Day
January 6 Tuesday Epiphany
February 23 Monday Clean Monday
March 25 Wednesday Independence Day
April 10 Friday Good Friday
April 11 Saturday Holy Saturday
April 12 Sunday Easter
April 13 Monday Easter Monday
May 1 Friday Labor Day
May 31 Sunday Pentecost
June 1 Monday Whit Monday
August 15 Saturday Assumption of the Virgin Mary
October 28 Wednesday OXI Day
December 25 Friday Christmas
December 26 Saturday Second Day of Christmas

Note:
Clean Monday (the first day of Lent) is not necessarily a non-working day, but schools and banks are closed, while owners of private shops and businesses decide whether to work.

Important note for travelers to the islands: During holidays, and especially on Christmas Day, Easter Day or other holidays in Greece, ferry schedules are changed and reduced.
We recommend that you book your tickets in advance and check departures in detail. All information on purchasing tickets and tips for traveling to the islands can be found in our guide: Ferries to the Islands in Greece - links to approximate prices and schedules.

Working hours during major holidays in Greece

Christmas
In December, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, shops are open on Sundays (for up to three consecutive Sundays). You can find the exact schedule and opening hours here:
Working hours of shops before Christmas and New Year
Easter
Shop and bank opening hours change significantly during the Easter holidays. A detailed day-by-day calendar for this year is available in our guide:
Easter in Greece – public holidays and opening hours during the festive period
Shopping
Planning to go shopping during the holidays? Read the general rules here:
Opening hours of shops and shopping malls in Thessaloniki and Greece.

Special holidays - city saints

There are some holidays celebrated only by schools and universities (January 30 and November 17).

Many cities have their city saints’ celebrations when banks, schools, and shops are closed.

For example, in Thessaloniki, October 26 is a non-working day. On that day, the city celebrates its patron saint, Saint Demetrius.

There are also exceptions in working hours. For example, on January 2, many shops often remain closed. This is the case with Jumbo and some stores in shopping centers. There is no universal rule for January 2.

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Working week and hours:

A typical workweek in Greece lasts from Monday to Friday, for 8 hours a day, starting at 8 or 9 o’clock. Greeks work an average of 42 hours per week, slightly above the EU average (40 hours).
Banking hours:

  • Monday–Thursday: 8:00–14:30
  • Friday: 8:00–14:00
  • Sunday: closed

Shop hours:

  • Most shops: 9:00–14:30 from Monday to Saturday
  • Afternoon: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 17:00–19:00
  • Many stores of large chains (Zara, H&M, Stradivarius) and stores in shopping centers work without an afternoon break.
  • Example from Thessaloniki: on Tsimiski street, stores do not take a break, while on Egnatia street, the break is from 14–15h to 17–18h.

Working on Sundays and holidays:

  • By law, shops can only work on Sundays in tourist areas.
  • Large shopping centers usually operate from 9 or 10 am to 9 pm on weekdays, and until 8 pm on Saturdays.
  • State holidays and major religious holidays (Easter, Christmas, New Year) are not suitable for shopping because most stores are closed.

Shopping tips:
Plan store visits to avoid Sundays and holidays. Also, keep in mind that working hours are shortened on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, especially in smaller shops.

General information:

Most museums and archaeological sites in Greece are closed on Mondays and during some state holidays.
Usually open on Sundays.

Working days during holidays:

  • Holidays when museums and sites are still open:
    • October 28
    • August 15
    • Easter Monday

Special cases:

  • Most museums are closed on Mondays, but the Acropolis in Athens is open on Mondays, but with shortened hours, from 13:30 until sunset.

Working hours by law:

  • According to the new law on working hours of museums and archaeological sites:
    • Opening: between 8:00 and latest 9:00
    • Closing: at sunset
  • This practically means:
    • Winter: closing around 15–16h
    • Summer: closing around 19–20h

Shopping center working hours

Special days and holidays:

  • Before major holidays (Easter, Christmas, New Year), stores work during the last weeks before the holiday.
  • Before New Year, stores usually work for 3 consecutive weeks.
  • In December, stores work with shortened hours, until 18:00.

Cafes and restaurants within shopping centers:

  • Open every day
  • Sundays and on state holidays: shortened working hours until 14:00

Jumbo chain:

  • Monday–Friday: 9:00–21:00
  • Saturday: 9:00–20:00
  • Sunday and state holidays: closed

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