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Table of Contents
- Opening Hours in Greece at a Glance
- Shops and Retail Stores
- Sales Seasons in Greece – Εκπτώσεις
- Shopping Centres and Malls
- Supermarkets and Mini Markets
- Cafés, Restaurants and Food Service
- Banks in Greece
- Public Services and Citizen Service Centres
- What Is Open on Sundays in Greece?
- Useful Greek Questions About Opening Hours
- A Practical Rule for Everyday Life in Greece
Opening hours in Greece vary depending on the type of business, the city, the season and the day of the week. Large shops and supermarkets often operate continuously throughout the day, while smaller independent stores may follow a traditional split schedule, closing in the afternoon and reopening in the evening. Sundays are different: most ordinary retail shops are closed, while cafés, restaurants, kiosks and several other services often remain open.
Useful rule: There is no single timetable followed by every business in Greece. Treat the hours below as a practical guide and always check the exact opening hours of the place you intend to visit, especially on Sundays, public holidays and during the summer.
Opening Hours in Greece at a Glance
For everyday life in Greece, the most important distinction is between large businesses with continuous opening hours and smaller independent shops that may use shorter or split opening hours.
| Place | Typical Pattern | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large retail shops | Usually open continuously until around 20:00–21:00 | Usually open, sometimes with earlier closing | Usually closed, except authorised Sundays |
| Small independent shops | Continuous or split opening hours depending on the business | Often daytime only | Usually closed |
| Shopping centres | Usually continuous opening hours | Usually open | Retail areas normally closed unless Sunday opening is permitted |
| Supermarkets | Usually open from morning until around 20:00–21:00 | Usually open, often closing earlier | Most are closed, with exceptions |
| Cafés & restaurants | Often open from morning until late evening | Open | Commonly open |
| Banks | Most standard branches operate Monday–Friday, mainly during the morning and early afternoon | Usually closed | Closed |
| Public services | Mainly weekday daytime hours; public-service hours vary by authority | Usually closed | Closed |
Essential Greek: Opening Hours
το κατάστημα shop / store
τα καταστήματα shops / stores
το ωράριο opening hours / schedule
το ωράριο καταστημάτων shop opening hours
το ωράριο λειτουργίας operating / opening hours
ανοιχτό open
κλειστό closed
ανοιχτά open
κλειστά closed
ανοίγω to open
κλείνω to close
εργάσιμη ημέρα working day
αργία public holiday / day off
Shops and Retail Stores
Shops in Greece do not all follow exactly the same timetable. Large chain stores and department stores in major cities generally stay open continuously during the day, while smaller independent shops may follow shorter or split opening hours.
Under the general legal framework, retail shops may operate from 06:00 to 21:00 from Monday to Saturday. This is the permitted operating window, not a compulsory timetable. Each business can choose its actual opening hours within the applicable rules.
Continuous and Split Opening Hours
One feature that can surprise newcomers to Greece is the σπαστό ωράριο, or split opening schedule. Some smaller independent shops open in the morning, close for several hours in the afternoon, and reopen in the early evening.
This pattern is more likely to be encountered on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday are traditionally more likely to have shorter daytime opening. However, this is not a compulsory national timetable, and many shops now remain open continuously, especially in city centres and busy commercial districts.
| Day | Traditional Pattern You May Encounter | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Morning / daytime opening, often until around 14:00–15:00 | Some smaller shops do not reopen in the evening |
| Tuesday | Approx. 10:00–14:00 and 17:30–21:00 | Morning opening, afternoon break, evening reopening |
| Wednesday | Morning / daytime opening, often until around 14:00–15:00 | Some smaller shops do not reopen in the evening |
| Thursday | Approx. 10:00–14:00 and 17:30–21:00 | Morning opening, afternoon break, evening reopening |
| Friday | Approx. 10:00–14:00 and 17:30–21:00 | Morning opening, afternoon break, evening reopening |
| Saturday | Morning / daytime opening, often until around 15:00–17:00 | Evening reopening is less common |
| Sunday | Usually closed | Exceptions apply on authorised shopping Sundays |
Important: These are traditional patterns that you may encounter, particularly at smaller independent businesses. They are not compulsory opening hours. Large chain stores and many shops in central commercial areas often use συνεχές ωράριο — continuous opening hours without an afternoon closure.
Understanding Shop Opening Hours
πρωινό ωράριο morning opening hours
απογευματινό ωράριο afternoon / evening opening hours
συνεχές ωράριο continuous opening hours
σπαστό ωράριο split opening hours
κλείνει το μεσημέρι it closes in the afternoon
ανοίγει ξανά το απόγευμα it reopens in the afternoon / evening
από τις δέκα έως τις δύο from ten until two
από τις πέντε και μισή έως τις εννέα from 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Shopping Vocabulary
εμπορικό κατάστημα retail shop
πολυκατάστημα department store
ταμείο cash desk / checkout
απόδειξη receipt
μετρητά cash
κάρτα card
Sales Seasons in Greece – Εκπτώσεις
Greece has two official regular sales periods each year: winter sales and summer sales. The Greek word you will see in shop windows is ΕΚΠΤΩΣΕΙΣ — sales or discounts.
| Sales Period | Greek | Official Annual Period |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Sales | Χειμερινές εκπτώσεις | From the second Monday of January until the end of February |
| Summer Sales | Θερινές εκπτώσεις | From the second Monday of July until the end of August |
During these periods, clothing, footwear, accessories, household goods and many other retail products may be offered at reduced prices. Individual retailers decide which products are discounted and the level of each reduction.
Greece also distinguishes between εκπτώσεις and προσφορές. Εκπτώσεις refers to the official seasonal sales periods, while προσφορές means special offers or promotions. Special offers on selected products or categories may take place throughout the year.
Price tip: When a shop announces a price reduction, the previous or reference price must also be indicated according to the applicable consumer-protection rules. This helps shoppers compare the reduced price with the price that applied before the discount.
Sunday Shopping During the Sales
The beginning of a sales period can also affect Sunday opening. Shops may open voluntarily on authorised Sundays connected with the official sales calendar.
When Sunday retail opening is authorised, individual shops may choose whether to open and may follow opening hours recommended by the local trade association. It is therefore advisable to check the specific Sunday timetable before planning a shopping trip.
Sales and Discounts Vocabulary
οι εκπτώσεις sales / discounts
η έκπτωση discount
χειμερινές εκπτώσεις winter sales
θερινές εκπτώσεις summer sales
η περίοδος των εκπτώσεων sales period / sales season
η προσφορά special offer / promotion
σε προσφορά on special offer
σε έκπτωση discounted / on sale
αρχική τιμή original price
προγενέστερη τιμή previous / reference price
μειωμένη τιμή reduced price
έως -50% up to 50% off
τελευταίες ημέρες εκπτώσεων final days of the sales
Shopping Centres and Malls
Shopping centres usually have more predictable continuous opening hours than small independent shops. Retail areas commonly stay open throughout the day from late morning until the evening.
Restaurants, cafés, cinemas and entertainment venues inside a shopping centre may have completely different opening hours from the retail stores. They often stay open later and may operate on Sundays even when the shops themselves are closed.
Shopping Centre Vocabulary
εμπορικό κέντρο shopping centre / mall
είσοδος entrance
έξοδος exit
όροφος floor / storey
Supermarkets and Mini Markets
Supermarkets usually have some of the longest and most convenient retail opening hours in Greece. In cities, many branches open early in the morning and continue until approximately 20:00 or 21:00, with Saturday closing times sometimes slightly earlier.
Most large supermarkets are normally closed on Sundays, although exceptions can apply on specific legally permitted Sundays and in certain areas.
Mini markets are different. Some convenience stores may operate for very long hours or throughout the day, making them useful when ordinary shops and supermarkets are closed.
Supermarket Vocabulary
σούπερ μάρκετ supermarket
μίνι μάρκετ mini market / convenience store
καλάθι shopping basket
καρότσι shopping trolley / cart
ράφι shelf
τιμή price
Cafés, Restaurants and Food Service
Cafés and restaurants follow a much more flexible rhythm than ordinary retail shops. It is common for cafés to open early in the morning and remain open into the evening, while restaurants, bars and entertainment venues may continue much later.
Sunday is not normally a problem for eating or drinking out. Restaurants, cafés and similar food-service businesses can operate on Sundays, although every business sets its own opening hours.
Café and Restaurant Vocabulary
καφετέρια café
εστιατόριο restaurant
τραπέζι table
κράτηση reservation
λογαριασμός bill / check
μενού menu
Banks in Greece
Standard bank branches in Greece generally operate only on weekdays, mainly during morning and early-afternoon hours. A common timetable for standard branches is approximately 08:00–14:00, although individual branches and specialised banking centres may follow different schedules.
Banks are normally closed on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. ATMs and online banking services remain the most practical option outside branch opening hours.
Banking Vocabulary
τράπεζα bank
τραπεζικό κατάστημα bank branch
ΑΤΜ ATM / cash machine
ανάληψη cash withdrawal
κατάθεση deposit
λογαριασμός bank account / account
ραντεβού appointment
συναλλαγή transaction
Public Services and Citizen Service Centres
Greek public services mainly operate from Monday to Friday during daytime hours, but the hours during which the public is actually received can differ from one authority to another.
Ministries, municipalities, social-security offices and other authorities may have their own public-service timetable, and some procedures require an appointment. It is therefore safer to check the official website of the relevant authority before travelling to an office.
Many administrative procedures can also be completed digitally through Greek government services. KEP citizen service centres can assist with many administrative procedures, but their local opening hours can vary.
Public Services Vocabulary
δημόσια υπηρεσία public / government service
ΚΕΠ Citizen Service Centre
εξυπηρέτηση κοινού public / customer service
ώρες εξυπηρέτησης κοινού public-service hours
ραντεβού appointment
έγγραφο document
αίτηση application / request
πιστοποιητικό certificate
What Is Open on Sundays in Greece?
Sunday is traditionally a day of rest for ordinary retail trade in Greece, so many conventional shops, banks and public services are closed. However, Sunday does not mean that cities shut down.
Usually Open
Cafés, restaurants, bars, hotels, kiosks, petrol stations and many convenience businesses may operate on Sundays. Special rules can also apply in tourist or culturally important areas.
Usually Closed
Ordinary retail shops, standard bank branches, government offices and many large supermarkets are generally closed unless a specific legal exception or authorised Sunday opening applies.
Retail shops may open voluntarily on certain Sundays during the year, including Sundays connected with official sales periods, the Christmas shopping season and other legally authorised dates.
Individual businesses are not necessarily required to open on an authorised Sunday or remain open for the entire permitted period. Local trade associations may also recommend particular opening hours.
Sunday and Holiday Vocabulary
Κυριακή Sunday
Σαββατοκύριακο weekend
αργία public holiday / holiday
εργάσιμη ημέρα working day
καθημερινές weekdays
Δευτέρα έως Παρασκευή Monday to Friday
Δευτέρα έως Σάββατο Monday to Saturday
όλη την ημέρα all day
Useful Greek Questions About Opening Hours
A few simple questions are enough to check opening times in almost any everyday situation in Greece.
Τι ώρα ανοίγετε; What time do you open?
Τι ώρα κλείνετε; What time do you close?
Είστε ανοιχτά σήμερα; Are you open today?
Είστε ανοιχτά την Κυριακή; Are you open on Sunday?
Ποιο είναι το ωράριό σας; What are your opening hours?
Είναι ανοιχτό τώρα; Is it open now?
Κλείνετε το μεσημέρι; Do you close in the afternoon?
Ανοίγετε ξανά το απόγευμα; Do you reopen in the afternoon / evening?
Τι ώρα ανοίγετε το απόγευμα; What time do you reopen in the afternoon?
Μέχρι τι ώρα είστε ανοιχτά; Until what time are you open?
Χρειάζεται ραντεβού; Do I need an appointment?
Έχετε εκπτώσεις; Do you have any discounts / sales?
Αυτό είναι σε προσφορά; Is this on special offer?
Πόση είναι η έκπτωση; How much is the discount?
A Practical Rule for Everyday Life in Greece
If you need to visit a bank, government office or small independent shop, the morning is usually the safest time. Large shops and supermarkets generally give you more flexibility, while cafés and restaurants usually follow much longer schedules.
On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, do not be surprised if a smaller shop closes after the morning period and reopens later in the afternoon. Look for the shop's ωράριο λειτουργίας before planning your visit.
On Sundays and public holidays, always check before travelling somewhere. A café may be full of people while the shop next door is closed, and a supermarket, bank and public office may all follow completely different rules.
Language tip: When you see ΑΝΟΙΧΤΑ, it means OPEN. When you see ΚΛΕΙΣΤΑ, it means CLOSED. A sign saying ΩΡΑΡΙΟ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑΣ gives the opening or operating hours, while ΕΚΠΤΩΣΕΙΣ means that the official sales are in progress.
