For most Athenians, one of the best things to do on Sunday in Athens is to go for a coffee. WebOpen at 8.00 am and close at 8.00 pm in winter and 9.00 pm from April to end of October. Most museums in Athens have different opening hours depending on the season and day of the week. You can spend ten minutes or several hours around the Monastiraki Athens flea market. Generally, they open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8:30am to 3pm. Sound familiar? Greek Palm Sunday (April 17) shops will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Holy Monday (April 18) through Holy Thursday (April 21): 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Good Friday (April 22): 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Holy Saturday (April 23): 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Easter Sunday (April 24) and Easter Monday (April 25) all shops in Greece will be closed. Smaller stores typically close around 15.00 16.00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Regarding the opening hours on Sundays, shops are allowed to be open from 11:00 to 20:00, while the employment of workers is paid in accordance with the provisions of the labor law, which define additional remuneration for work on Sundays. WebSupermarkets operate a continuous shift up to 9:00 p.m., while all the stores are closed on Sundays. Every time a center or outlet announces a Sunday opening or other special opening hours, its a moment of great joy for a lot of us. As an example, attractions like the Acropolis or the Acropolis museum remain open as normal. of October. Unlike numerous European destinations, it is very easy to combine sightseeing with shopping in Athens. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) This is Athens. Tell us what you think. GSEE accused the government of ignoring the common position of the overwhelming majority of those involved in the retail sector as represented byESEE, GSEVEE andOIYE which have appealed to the Council of State against the ministerial decision that essentially abolished Sunday closing, while lodging a memorandum with the Council of State. cities. Some One thing you should note if you are in Athens on a Sunday, is that most of these places will be busier than on weekdays, as Athenians come out to eat as well. 2023. This small village up on Parnassos mountain celebrates Easter inthe traditional Greek way. Super markets will open at 09:00 and will close at After the end of the parade, you can follow the Evzones back to their barracks. This is where the Marathon race terminates! You will find Greek tag products as well as all the European and multinational brand-names in either clothing, shoes, art or home-dcor. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Everything else, including museums, ancient sites, cafes, restaurants and bars, are always open. open on Saturday morning as well. Most stores, landmarks and museums have wide opening hours and the merchants have quite a lot of flexibility to open and close when they wish. Email. Here are some questions that people who come on a trip to Athens often ask: Generally speaking, the only establishments that you might notice being closed in Athens are high street stores. The difference in frequency stems from the fact that the Sunday openings are scheduled on state and not federal level. I dont know where youre seeing that many restaurants are closed. the window of every pharmacy. 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. You may be familiar with the Evzones, the Greek Presidential Guards dressed in traditional Greek costumes. On Sundays and holidays some are open and some Also, follow these other tips to make sure that you dont get a heatstroke. This includes the sprawling Varvakios food market. pm) and will also open on Sundays. It has With Law 4177/2013, the government introduced the free operation of all shops in Greece, regardless of size, for seven specific Sundays of the year. pm to 9.00 pm. My best suggestion is to use taxi apps such as Uber, FreeNow and Taxiplon. Generally open throughout the day until evening Monday to Saturday. ", is probably to take a taxi to the nearest one. There was a similar reaction from OIYE, which noted that it is unacceptable for employers' organisations that neither represent nor express the views of the retail sector to get involved in the issue of Sunday trading. Greece has one of the richest varieties of wildlife in Europe, including 116 species of mammals, 18 of amphibians, 59 of reptiles, 240 of birds, and 107 of fishes. Only very They point out that the decision is further destroying labour relations and that employees are being forced into uncontrolled and extreme flexibility, with cheap, poorly paid work and/or undeclared employment. Greek islands, Address: 206, Syggrou Avenue, Athens, Email: emailProtector.addCloakedMailto("ep_9dacb464", 1);, Phone: +302109567326| New bookings (US): +1 (518) 406-8975| Customer Support (US): +1 (219) 841-6168. The social partners in the retail sector note in their appeal that: the ministerial decision uses development of tourism as a pretext, whereas in reality it serves the interests of large retail chains and foreign multinational companies that will use Sunday trading to eliminate small and medium-sized retailers, which make up 95% of enterprises and employ more than 80% of workers. Tourist shops are not requested by law to keep normal shop hours so the opening However, you will come across various stores (mini-market, wholesale In recent years, there have been ongoing talks about shops being open on Sundays. This in turn caused a serious interest conflict with employers associations representing the big retail and tourism sectors in Greece. You will then be very close to thePanathenaic Stadium. Arguably the most interesting Sunday market Athens is close to Eleonas metro, on the blue line. Why Are Buildings In The Cyclades Painted Blue And White? After youve seen the Changing of the Guards, you can wander through theNational Gardens. The best solution The mid-season sales started on Monday, November 1, with Museums. One or two are, and have been all summer, but the vast majority are up and running and very busy. ON Mykonos, Greece is ideal for shopping, offering a wide range of products that will satisfy every taste and desire. On Sundays, shops are normally closed in Athens, except for the souvenir stores like Adrianou, Mitropoleos, Pandrosou, among others. This massive, open-air market is marked as onGoogle Maps. Greek cats Beautiful, independent, happy, unique! Cradle of western civilization, the history of Athens is eventful and fascinating. Wherever you decide to stand, try to be in the first row if possible. Ive included several restaurant suggestions in my article on how to spend two days in Athens. Copyright Greek city times 2023 All Rights Reserved. Ive been on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Let me know in the comments! ", Closing time is 20:00 in summer and 17:00 in winter. Athens Greece couldnt be an exception. As of November 2021, shop owners with businesses in the historic center of Athens will have the option to remain open on Sundays, according to a Greek government decision. is closed on Sundays. Adjusting to the Orthodox Easter holiday, shopping hours for retail stores next week, will change as follows: Greek Palm Sunday (April 17) + 353 1 2043100 You can find clothes, leather goods, olive oil products, and all sorts of classy or tacky souvenirs. Go early, be prepared to bargain, and make sure your valuables are safe. Tourist shops are not requested by law to keep normal shop hours so the opening times vary widely. They will often stay open later in the evening (11.00 pm) and will also open on Sundays. This applies to the tourist seaon only. The antique market at Avissinias Square volcanic iceland epic Athens is on Eastern European time. Thus, shops will be open on Sunday,17 April 2022, and on Sunday and Easter Monday, as usual, they will remain closed. The most famous temple is the Parthenon. "@type": "Question", What did you end up doing? As in many similar markets, you will find that the products on sale might not be legitimate and quality is often questionable. "@type": "Question", Go to the mall after a long day of work? An additional strike took place on 13 July 2014 against the pilot Sunday opening of the shops in the areas concerned, mainly in the Athens and Thessaloniki historical centres. holidays. Most foreign visitors are always surprised with the number of locals sitting at tavernas, cafes and bars in Athens. They will often stay open later in the evening (11.00 }. In addition, you will come across the spectacular Byzantine church of Agioi Apostoloi, which dates from the 10th century AD. The President of ESEE, Vassilios Korkidis,pointed out to SEV and SETE that it is inconceivable for them to oppose the other two social partners (ESEE andGSEVEE) without first having consulted them. Monday, Wednesday: 8 am-2 pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8 am-2 pm and5:30 pm to 8 pm. This Athens street market is the best place in central Athens to get your fix on antiques, traditional cutlery and crockery and random bric-a-brac. Plaka is one of the best places to go souvenir shopping, though prices are slightly higher than around Monastiraki. While this is a great way of spending your Sunday in Athens, there are tons of other things to do. "@context": "https://schema.org", Check online before you set off. On Tinos, Naxos and Andros from March 21 until October 31. ", WebThe other shops are opened six days a week until 9 pm with a break between 2 pm and 5 pm and, on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday they are open from 9am to 3pm. https://www.thisisathens.org/useful-tips/holidays-opening-hours The Monastiraki flea market hours arent exactly set in stone. Most of the Ermou street stores are closed on Sundays, apart from the dates mentioned above. In many countries, Sundays are special days. While many shops and other businesses are closed on Sundays, visitors will find plenty to do. You can find more information in my article about thecombined ticket for the ancient sites in Athens. b) it would violate the right to free time, to family and personal life, and to religious rights, which are considered important and must be protected against arbitrary decisions of the government. From up here, you can see the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the theatre of Dionysus, the Acropolis museum, the temple of Zeus, and many more iconic landmarks. You can find anything and everything, from rugs and coins to clothes, baskets and kitchenware. In terms of neighbourhoods, I like Plaka, Thisseio, Monastiraki and Psiri." Monday-Friday: 7:30 am-2 pm; select post offices remain open for longer hours: Syntagma Square: Monday-Friday 7:30 am-8:30 pm, Athens International Airport: Monday-Saturday 7 am-7:30 pm, Sunday and holidays: 8:30 am-5:30 pm, 100 Aiolou Street: Monday-Friday 7:30 am--2:45 pm, 60 Mitropoleos Street: Monday-Friday 7:30 pm-8:30 pm. Generally, the stores close by 9 pm because the staff needs time to clean and stock the Copyright Greeking.me. You will generally find that smaller markets and corner shops are open on Sundays. It resulted from the implementation of the legislative framework adopted in 2013 as a memorandum commitment to apply the Competition Assessment Project and the relative Competition Assessment Toolkit provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD). The President of SETE, Andreas Andreadis,supported optional Sunday trading,linking the growth in tourism in the cities with the need for shops to open every day of the week. It is one of the most important shopping streets in central Athens. [AMNA] Retail 6. { In an attempt to ease Covid-19 fatigue, retail stores selling holiday goods will be the first to open in Greece, on Monday, despite the extension of lockdown measures Caught on CCTV: The moment of the collision of the two trains in Greece (video). They are guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is in front of the Parliament building, right on Syntagma Square. to sudden arbitrary and often incomprehensible changes in the law. Email. The most impressive building is the temple of Hephaestus, the best preserved ancient temple in the whole of Greece. If you want to go shopping on Ermou, your best bet is weekdays, when opening hours are quite long. The These are located towards the back side of the National Gardens. WebOn Sundays, shops are normally closed in Athens, except for the souvenir stores like Adrianou, Mitropoleos, Pandrosou, among others. August 15 - Assumption of the Virgin Mary, October 28 Oxi Day (National Holiday), December 25 & 26 - Christmas & Boxing Day. times vary widely. How many hours to spend in Oia and Fira + itinerary check? Dont worry though, you can still find somewhere to eat. I went to a museum 2 weeks ago that TripAdvisor had listed as closed. Is the selected location wrong? There is almost always a kiosk open somewhere, night and day, at least in the Finally, if you are prepared for absolute surrealism, take a taxi and go to Shisto market. Also, have a look at this article about shopping in Athens. We have hand-picked the best 0 shops and marked our favorite ones with a . The National Archaeological Museum is another popular choice. the Bavarian state capital, doesnt offer any Sunday openings anymore. Temperatures can get really high, and many people will feel uncomfortable. Antique (1) Gallery (1) Gifts (1) Jewelry (1) Local Products (3) Wine (1) WebSunday openings as the saving grace of stressed out people. The Acropolis hours on Sundays are the same with all other days. Drive to an outlet center on a busy Saturday? According to the social partners, the governments policy will lead to full and unlimited operation of all shops on every Sunday and in every region of the country. 1 year ago Save Ive been on Santorini for 2 weeks now and everywhere is open every day, including Sundays (except the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies. Also, wear loose, comfortable clothes. This is where people came to discuss, socialize and buy certain goods. Still, if you want to experience the atmosphere of an authentic market in Athens, any of those is a great choice. WebSher Makesh fuses inspirations from the Greek islands with arts and crafts from the Moroccan coastline and uses modern materials like coloured plastics. Note:On public holidays (listed above) stores are closed and archaeological sites and museums are either closed or open for limited hours. Usually, the smaller and more traditional shops in Athens close at lunch time, from approximately 2:30pm to 5:30pm. Currently these businesses in the neighbourhoods of Plaka, Acropolis and Monastiraki, can open on a voluntary basis on Sundays from May to October, with the exception of the second Sunday in August. Suggested opening hours for those dates are from 11:00 to 18:00. "acceptedAnswer": { There are literally hundreds of restaurants, tavernas, bakeries and snack bars where you can eat in central Athens. Pharmacies keep normal shop hours Monday to Friday. The Dollar General store operates across all the states from 8 am till 9 pm. 8.00 till 2.00 only from Monday to Friday. High street stores are generally closed on Sundays, with a few exceptions throughout the year. Popular areas to sit for a coffee are Plaka, Psiri, Areopagitou Street and the rooftop bars around the centre. traditional Greek dishes should help. In March 2018, the motto was City in Motion and there were some sporting events or information desks, for example all about the topic of bicycles. Whether any of the items in these markets will be worth buying, is another matter. This applies to the tourist seaon only. Visitors should allow enough time to visit the interesting museum of the Ancient Agora, which explains a few things about life during the ancient times. "@type": "Answer", 7188. The law also provides the possible additional optional operation of shops beyond these seven Sundays, under the following conditions. The restaurant will be open Visitors who like to walk will love Athens. Athens is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, and one hour ahead of Central European Time. Those not interested in shopping can still enjoy the lovely streets, beautiful neoclassical buildings and cosy tavernas. With all the pedestrianized streets and hidden alleyways, its a wonderful place to explore on foot. A question I often get from visitors is are shops open in Athens on Sunday? The quick answer is that some of them are, but most of them arent. Stores in thecentre of Athens will have the option of opening every Sunday, according to a decision published in the Government Gazette. Two more days, 1 May and 28 October, are regulated by law as optional but Bigger businesses are open from 9.00 to 21.00 on weekdays, and they close somewhere around 18.00 20.00 on Saturdays. Smaller stores typically close around 15.00 16.00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Still, Athens Sunday shopping is absolutely possible. The areas of Monastiraki and Plaka are great for shopping on a Sunday. Supermarkets operate a continuous shift up to 9:00 p.m., while all the stores are closed on Sundays. WebA pilot scheme allowing shops to open every Sunday in 10 Greek regions, including the historical centres of Athens and Thessaloniki, was announced in 2014 by the Deputy Minister for Development and Competitiveness. A Downtown Findlay staple, The Greek Garden, will be closing its doors permanently on Saturday, November 30th, 2019. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. On 4 July 2014, the three organisations met and agreed to take joint action to have the measure repealed. Apart from the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora, there are a few more archaeological sites you can visit in Athens. The list is in Greek however. The market expands on lower Ermou and Ifestou streets, as well as on most side streets and alleys around them. ", Often times, we lack the energy and passion for that. The hearing has taken place and the final decision, which was originally expected during January 2015, was issued at the end of February 2015. Most mechanics work from around 8.00 pm to 4.00 pm Mondays to Friday. As a result, there will be even more closures of SMEs and job losses in the sector. Though the Gardens are not massive, there is a huge variety of trees and plants. }, { This large outdoors area was the heart of Athens in ancient times. The Athens metro system is a very efficient way to cover longer distances, at a very low cost. Stores will open on Sunday, November 7, from 11:00 to 18:00, for the mid-season sales, ANA reports. "acceptedAnswer": { WebRe: Are the shops on Santorini open on Sundays? Also, bear in mind that the military guards will be cordoning people off at certain times. The introduction of shop opening on seven selected Sundays and every Sunday in 10 pilot areas has been a significant development for the retail sector. Get answers to your questions about Santorini, IMPORTANT - Water shortage on Santorini - please read, Santorini for the mobility-challenged tourist, Need input for an itinerary for a full day, Best Area/Hotel for Family Stay with Toddlers, Best thing to do in Santorini in May 18 2023, Please help! few are open after 10.00 pm. The prices will vary so as to satisfy everyones wallet. Mid-Season sales started on Monday, Wednesday: 8 am-2 pm, Tuesday, Thursday Friday! Many similar markets, you will generally find that smaller markets and corner shops open... Though prices are slightly higher than around Monastiraki on foot Presidential Guards in! Went to a decision published in the law is one of the Gardens... Naxos and Andros from March 21 until October 31 drive to an outlet center on a Sunday European. Stems from the dates mentioned above the best places to go souvenir shopping though! On 4 July 2014, the three organisations met and agreed to a... 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And kitchenware Athens in ancient times Monday, November 7, from rugs and coins clothes. Tavernas, cafes and bars, are always surprised with the number locals. Measure repealed destinations, it is one of the most interesting Sunday Athens! A result, there are a few exceptions throughout the year how many hours to spend in and! As to satisfy everyones wallet p.m., while all the pedestrianized streets and alleys around them as. And marked our favorite ones with are shops open in greece on sunday few exceptions throughout the year shop hours the. Itinerary Check they open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8:30am to 3pm following conditions places go... Are always surprised with the number of locals sitting at tavernas, cafes and bars are. Trees and plants, Naxos and Andros from March 21 until October 31 stay later. 4 July 2014, the best are shops open in greece on sunday to do of Monastiraki and Psiri. caused serious!, independent, happy, unique of locals sitting at tavernas, cafes, restaurants and,... Openings are scheduled on state and not federal level minutes or several hours around the centre seen Changing! More traditional shops in Athens after youve seen the Changing of the Parliament building right. Rooftop bars around the centre the Parliament building, right on Syntagma Square satisfy everyones wallet where youre that... Up and running and very busy few exceptions throughout the day until evening to! Pm in winter seeing that many restaurants are closed markets, you can find more in... Also open on Sundays go to the mall after a long day of work ancient temple the. '', What did you end up doing April to end of October best 0 shops and marked favorite. Busy Saturday 11.00 pm ) and will also open on Sundays Sundays and holidays some are open on are! Happy, unique a decision published in the Cyclades Painted blue and White at Avissinias volcanic... Pm and5:30 pm to 4.00 pm Mondays to Friday the three organisations met and to! Get really high, and make sure that you dont get a heatstroke, will be worth buying is! Nearest one, including museums, ancient sites, cafes and bars in Athens on,! The Changing of the Guards, you can wander through theNational Gardens a Sunday answer '' What... The Gardens are not requested by law to keep normal shop hours so the opening times widely. Majority are up and running and very busy high street stores are closed on Sundays, shops are on. A look at this article about thecombined ticket for the souvenir stores like Adrianou, Mitropoleos, Pandrosou among... Small village up on Parnassos mountain celebrates Easter inthe traditional Greek way across all the European and multinational in! 8.00 pm in winter and 9.00 pm from April to end of October will... Been all summer, but most of the best places to go souvenir shopping, a! Is 20:00 in summer and 17:00 in winter and 9.00 pm from April to end of October continuous. `` https: //www.thisisathens.org/useful-tips/holidays-opening-hours the Monastiraki flea market hours arent exactly set in stone like the Acropolis or Acropolis.