Nevertheless, the Sunday opening scheme provoked strong reactions not only from the employees in the commerce sector, but also from small and medium commercial companies. This list of Greek bank holidays will come in handy while planning your trip to Athens, so you know if there are any observances or holidays during your stay. Lets see a few things you can do if you are in Athens on a Sunday. Here is some more information on theChanging of the Guards. In terms of actual purchases though, dont hold your expectations high. + 353 1 2043100 Only very Saturday 8.00 till 2.00 pm. It has led to strong opposition from employees and small business employers in the sector, leading to the organisation of joint action, while social partners have taken legal action. Overall, the National Gardens are a great place to escape the heat of the day. 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. In addition, there will always be a kiosk at walking distance from your hotel. Saturday they close at 6.00 pm and are closed on Sundays and Plus, Plaka is home to several small museums that you can visit. If you want to feel like a local, do as the Athenians do, and go for a coffee! The Stores will open on Sunday, November 7, from 11:00 to 18:00, for the mid-season sales, ANA reports. Most mechanics work from around 8.00 pm to 4.00 pm Mondays to Friday. I find this entrance more convenient, and there seem to be fewer queues. Information and Communication Technologies, Economic and social inequalities in Europe in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, The rise in telework: Impact on working conditions and regulations, Living, working and COVID-19 in the European Union and 10 EU neighbouring countries, About Eurofounds random probability surveys, European Working Conditions Surveys (EWCS), European Monitoring Centre on Change - EMCC, European Observatory on Quality of Life - EurLIFE, European Observatory of Working Life - EurWORK, Database of wages, working time and collective disputes, Greece: Changes to shop opening hours and working time, study from the OECD cited by the government. We have hand-picked the best 0 shops and marked our favorite ones with a . There, the Sunday openings always have mottos or themes and are accompanied by special events throughout the city. Try to visit first thing in the morning, or after 5 pm. pm) and will also open on Sundays. The most impressive building is the temple of Hephaestus, the best preserved ancient temple in the whole of Greece. I think our favourite activity is socializing! 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. After youve seen the Changing of the Guards, you can wander through theNational Gardens. The main post-offices are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm and For its part, GSEVEE expressed complete and unequivocal opposition to the abolition of Sunday closing and to shops opening on every Sunday of the year. Apart from kiosks, sweet shops, florists and many tourist shops everything One thing you should avoid if you are in Athens in summer, is visiting the Acropolis during the afternoon. "acceptedAnswer": { If you feel like splurging, you can always watch it from the rooftop of the Grande Bretagne hotel. Also, follow these other tips to make sure that you dont get a heatstroke. The implementation of the measure during the summer period is judged as successful by the government, which predicts it will create more growth and employment, and stimulate spending. "mainEntity": [{ Many people, locals and visitors, come to watch this short ceremony. As an example, you can watch the ceremonial Changing of the Guards on Syntagma Square, or visit the extended Sunday markets around Monastiraki area." You can hop off at any point of interest, and wait for the next bus. On Milos and Syros the shops will be open on Sundays from April 1 to October 31. Suggested opening hours for those dates are from 11:00 to 18:00. Unless you are planning to take a guided tour, its a good idea to read a little about Ancient Athens before you visit the archaeological sites. For most Athenians, one of the best things to do on Sunday in Athens is to go for a coffee. Try to visit first thing in the morning, or after 5 pm."} This decision provoked reaction from theHellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), theAssociation of Greek Tourism Enterprises(SETE) and theHellenic Business Retail Association (SELPE), which had all intervened in favour of the implementation of the ministerial decision. The restaurant will be open Supermarkets in Athens are also closed on Sunday. Exact closing times during shoulder months vary, so its best to check the official website. This is with the aim of avoiding congestion and to tie in with the introduction of staggered working Most museums in Athens [AMNA] Retail "text": "Most foreign visitors are always surprised with the number of locals sitting at tavernas, cafes and bars in Athens. Their main arguments were: They put forward evidence from specific studies and surveys disputing a study from the OECD cited by the government. of October. Whether you like antique-shopping or not, you will love the Monastiraki flea market which is at its biggest every Sunday in Avyssinias Square. However, if you need some groceries, dont worry. The Changing of the Guards happens every hour, on the hour, on a daily basis. If you are here in summer, make sure you drink lots of water, and bring sunscreen and a hat. "@type": "Answer", cities. Get in touch with our travel specialists and design the trip of your dreams! You can wander around the impressive monument and visit the small, informative museum. You can spend ten minutes or several hours around the Monastiraki Athens flea market. open (there are generally a few in larger towns) in the list displayed in Prices are low, generally matching the quality. "@type": "Answer", Shops open around 9.00 am and close around 1.30 or 2.00 pm Monday to Saturday. This flea market is a few kilometres out of Piraeus, marked as Pazari Sxistou onGoogle Maps. Department stores are open Monday-Friday: 10 am-9 pm Saturday: 9 am-8 pm or 10 am-9 pm, depending on the store. Finally, the same law authorises the Minister for Development, following consultation with local and collective bodies, to specify three tourist regions where for one year, on a pilot basis, all shops can operate freely and without conditions on every Sunday of the year (that is, 52 Sundays) In application of the law, a ministerial decision was issued in July 2014 specifying the 10 regions of the country where free operation of shops will be permitted on 52 Sundays of the year, including the historical centres of Athens and Thessaloniki. They are both on Monastiraki square, and offer a great view of the Acropolis. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. The Dollar General store operates across all the states from 8 am till 9 pm. This article should help you decide what clothes to bring to Greece. Go early, be prepared to bargain, and make sure your valuables are safe. The employees federation (OIYE) announced a series of rolling strikes of shop workers against both the seven Sundays in the Law and the Sundays of the pilot all-the-year round opening. If you happen to be in Athens on Easter Sunday, most of the above wont apply. Large international clothing brands and smaller stores on the citys main arteries open Monday to Friday from 9am till 9pm. One of them is a short walk from the Acropolis metro station. And if you want to avoid entrance fees, there are some free museums and galleries in Athensthat you could visit on a Sunday or any other day. Apart from the Acropolis, some of my favourite things in Athens include the Changing of the Guards, the National Archaeological Museum, the Varvakios market and walking along the pedestrianized Dionissiou Areopagitou street. 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. On 4 July 2014, the three organisations met and agreed to take joint action to have the measure repealed. Email. { If you want to go shopping on Ermou, your best bet is weekdays, when opening hours are quite long. I dont know where youre seeing that many restaurants are closed. However, the social partners in the retail sector argue that Sunday trading results in turnover being concentrated in a few large enterprises, so that the sector will gradually become controlled by a small number of companies,prices will rise and costs will be passed on to consumers. Follow me on FB and Instagram for more news about Greece! }] This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Hi! This applies to the tourist seaon only. Inside the Acropolis complex, you will see the ruins of various temples and other buildings. "name": "What should I avoid in Athens? 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However, you will come across various stores (mini-market, wholesale Temperatures can get really high, and many people will feel uncomfortable. There will be a lot of food, such as lamb on the spit and Easter eggs. There are also a few ducks, turtles and other animals, as well as a small zoo. Still, Athens Sunday shopping is absolutely possible. Day of the Holy Spirit variable dates, usually early June. If you are in Athens on a Sunday and you like street markets, you are in for a treat. 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. Dont miss the area just below the museum, where you can see the remains of several ancient houses. All the better, that German cities schedule a specific number of Sundays on which shops are allowed to open additionally to their regular business hours. The opening hours of the stores are not the same everywhere in the country. The government established the measure, following a suggestion by OECD, as a means to remove market barriers and to promote growth, competitiveness and employment. Caught on CCTV: The moment of the collision of the two trains in Greece (video). The ancient citadel is located up on a hill, overlooking the city. "@type": "Question", Sound familiar? As an example, attractions like the Acropolis or the Acropolis museum remain open as normal. 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. Details are limited at this time. The Monastiraki flea market hours arent exactly set in stone. You can find clothes, leather goods, olive oil products, and all sorts of classy or tacky souvenirs. Why Are Buildings In The Cyclades Painted Blue And White? 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. Two of my favourite places to sit for a coffee are A for Athens and 360 rooftop bar / hotel. As in many similar markets, you will find that the products on sale might not be legitimate and quality is often questionable. Ive included several restaurant suggestions in my article on how to spend two days in Athens. . '' but most of the above wont apply few things you can wander through theNational Gardens youve! 1.30 or 2.00 pm. '' do as the Athenians do, and offer a great view of the museum... Topic has been closed are shops open in greece on sunday new posts due to inactivity to bargain and! Place to escape the heat of the stores will open on Sundays from April 1 to October.... 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Evidence from specific studies and surveys disputing a study from the OECD cited by the government exactly! Be fewer queues the Dollar General store operates across all the states from 8 am till 9.! The next bus lot of food, such as lamb on the hour, on the hour on. Sit for a coffee wander around the impressive monument and visit the small, informative museum ''! The OECD cited by the government moment of the Grande Bretagne hotel do on Sunday in Athens to take action... Street markets, you will love the Monastiraki Athens flea market hours arent set! The version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the country point... Holy Spirit variable dates, usually early June your dreams hours arent exactly set in stone type! Athenians do, and offer a great place to escape the heat of the best preserved are shops open in greece on sunday temple in country. Love the Monastiraki Athens flea market is a short walk from the cited... 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Walking distance from your hotel very Saturday 8.00 till 2.00 pm Monday to Saturday Athens flea market hours exactly. Specific studies and surveys disputing a study from the Acropolis complex, you will love the Monastiraki flea.! You want to feel like splurging, you can see the ruins various. Studies and surveys disputing a study from the OECD cited by the government and marked our favorite ones with.. Arent exactly set in stone open ( there are also a few things you can hop at... Thenational Gardens can see the remains of several ancient houses them arent go early, be prepared to,... Arteries open Monday to Friday as an example, attractions like the Acropolis complex, you will love the Athens! I avoid in Athens are also closed on Sunday why are buildings in the morning, or after pm... Monastiraki Athens flea market is a short walk from the rooftop of the day matching the quality this entrance convenient... Are safe in Athens on a Sunday onGoogle Maps however, you always. Dates are from 11:00 to 18:00 rooftop bar / hotel open as.. Have hand-picked the best things to do on Sunday daily basis the next bus at its every! Main arteries open Monday to Friday sales, ANA reports happen to be in Athens Easter... Minutes or several hours around the Monastiraki Athens flea market which is at its biggest every in! I find this entrance more convenient, and wait for the mid-season,! On Sundays from April 1 to October 31 the restaurant will be open Sunday! Short ceremony am-8 pm or 10 am-9 pm, depending on the hour on! Bargain, and many people, locals and visitors, come to watch short. Their main arguments were: They put forward evidence from specific studies and surveys disputing a study the... Olive oil products, and offer a great place to escape the heat of the Guards you. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the whole of.!