They come every Sunday from 6am, searching through piles of things for hours. The Acropolis hours on Sundays are the same with all other days. Ive included several restaurant suggestions in my article on how to spend two days in Athens. And if you are unsure about what to eat in Greece, my article with 50 (!) 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. There are literally hundreds of restaurants, tavernas, bakeries and snack bars where you can eat in central Athens. However, you will come across various stores (mini-market, wholesale "mainEntity": [{ While walking around Athens is very rewarding, it might not be suitable for everyone. The enactment of Law 4177/13, which established the free opening for seven Sundays in a year, together with the pilot free opening in 10 areas for 52 Sundays, abolished the pre-existing legal framework, where the shops could operate freely only on the Sunday before Christmas except the tourist areas (for these shops there were local agreements). Try to visit first thing in the morning, or after 5 pm. Their main arguments were: They put forward evidence from specific studies and surveys disputing a study from the OECD cited by the government. 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. The usual opening hours for stores in the centers of the large cities are continuous (9:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.), for suburban stores the working hours are split shifts three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) and morning shifts for the other three days (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.). These are located towards the back side of the National Gardens. Supermarkets operate a continuous shift up to 9:00 p.m., while all the stores are closed on Sundays. Open at 8.00 am and close at 8.00 pm in winter and 9.00 pm from April to end This is where the Marathon race terminates! Clean Monday (Ash Monday) variable dates; 40 days before Easter, marking the start of Lent. Everything else, including museums, ancient sites, cafes, restaurants and bars, are always open. } In many countries, Sundays are special days. 16.04.2022 13:24. "acceptedAnswer": { While many shops and other businesses are closed on Sundays, visitors will find plenty to do. They also emphasise that this decision is a violation of equal competition to the detriment of small enterprises and at the same time essentially destroys local markets, transferring turnover and consumption to selected regions and selected shops. 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. There, the Sunday openings always have mottos or themes and are accompanied by special events throughout the city. The prices will vary so as to satisfy everyones wallet. Usually, the smaller and more traditional shops in Athens close at lunch time, from approximately 2:30pm to 5:30pm. The list is in Greek however. This massive stadium, dating from the 4thcentury BC, was completely restored in the 19thcentury. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday they are also open from around 6.00 Make sure you have good walking shoes on, as our cobbled streets can hurt your feet. Plaka is one of the best places to go souvenir shopping, though prices are slightly higher than around Monastiraki. This article should help you decide what clothes to bring to Greece. As an example, you can watch the ceremonial Changing of the Guards on Syntagma Square, or visit the extended Sunday markets around Monastiraki area. Whether any of the items in these markets will be worth buying, is another matter. Ive been on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? WebIn addition, there are six obligatory, official public holidays: New Year's Day, 25 March, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, 15 August and 25 December. Finally, if you are prepared for absolute surrealism, take a taxi and go to Shisto market. Or you can always arrange a taxi through your hotel. In terms of actual purchases though, dont hold your expectations high. Antique (1) Gallery (1) Gifts (1) Jewelry (1) Local Products (3) Wine (1) It is named after Hermes, the ancient Greek god of commerce, and is lined with clothes, shoe and cosmetics stores. All shops Did you think it was much different to a weekday? of October. The law also The majority of the items can probably be classified as junk. 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. In addition, you will come across the spectacular Byzantine church of Agioi Apostoloi, which dates from the 10th century AD. There will be a lot of food, such as lamb on the spit and Easter eggs. The opening hours of the stores are not the same everywhere in the country. You can wander around the impressive monument and visit the small, informative museum. One or two are, and have been all summer, but the vast majority are up and running and very busy. This small village up on Parnassos mountain celebrates Easter inthe traditional Greek way. Sound familiar? Are there any special opening hours, like Sunday openings, in Thessaloniki today? You may be familiar with the Evzones, the Greek Presidential Guards dressed in traditional Greek costumes. According to the government, the aim of these measures is to improve competitiveness, modernise markets, serve consumers, boost tourism and increase employment. 307) issued on 15 September 2014, it placed a temporary ban on the pilot operation of shops on 52 Sundays of the year in the 10 chosen regions of the country until the final hearing of the case by the plenary session of the Court on 7 November 2014. The areas of Monastiraki and Plaka are great for shopping on a Sunday. are closed so you may have to drive a bit before you find an open one. Saturday they close at 6.00 pm and are closed on Sundays and holidays. It is one of the most important shopping streets in central Athens. Most people would start with the Acropolis Museum, which is located very close to the Acropolis. connect with us Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages(gtp) In Bavaria, Sunday openings are somewhat of a hot topic - the state with a largely Catholic population takes "holy Sunday" quite serious and so per year, it only allows for up to four Sunday openings maximum that all have to be in connection to specific events (christmas markets, fun fairs, city festivals). 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. The difference in frequency stems from the fact that the Sunday openings are scheduled on state and not federal level. is probably to take a taxi to the nearest one. On Sundays, shops are normally closed in Athens, except for the souvenir stores like Adrianou, Mitropoleos, Pandrosou, among others. Most mechanics work from around 8.00 pm to 4.00 pm Mondays to Friday. 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 best solution the window of every pharmacy. "name": "Are things closed on Sunday in Athens? These cozy restaurants are all located in central Athens, at walking distance from the sites and markets. "@type": "Answer", 8.00 till 2.00 only from Monday to Friday. Shopping in Athens: A Shopaholic's Guide (Updated for 2023) They will often stay open later in the evening (11.00 Plus, Plaka is home to several small museums that you can visit. may stay open, so do many kiosks, all The mid-season sales started on Monday, November 1, with Most museums in Athens 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. On Sundays, you are likely to see many Athenians strolling around or jogging. Generally the hours between 2.00pm and 5.30pm are dedicated to lunch and "@type": "Answer", "text":"One thing you should avoid if you are in Athens in summer, is visiting the Acropolis during the afternoon. list below covers the main areas but bear in mind that this is subject In recent years, there have been ongoing talks about shops being open on Sundays. The issue of shop opening on Sundays has been controversial in the commerce sector. In a decision (no. Only very This detailed article will hopefully help you appreciate this unique aspect of Greek culture. Its a good opportunity to jump into Greek culture! 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. Re: Are the shops on Santorini open on Sundays? Other popular museums in Athens include the Benaki Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art, the Byzantine and Christian Museum and the National Gallery. On your way out of the Gardens, pass by Zappeion Hall and exit on the south side. There are also a few ducks, turtles and other animals, as well as a small zoo. If you happen to be in Athens on Easter Sunday, most of the above wont apply. Sadly, even these days, I occasionally read reports by foreign visitors who were scammed by taxi drivers. 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. The government established the measure, following a suggestion by OECD, as a means to remove market barriers and to promote growth, competitiveness and employment. 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. I find this entrance more convenient, and there seem to be fewer queues. The decision was taken after consultations with theCentral Athens regional unit officials and the Athens Chamber of Commerce. 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! Greek Culture, Travel Information, Itineraries, Life in Greece. 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. As this event is very popular, I strongly suggest that you get there early to get a good viewing spot. WebThe introduction of shop opening on seven selected Sundays and every Sunday in 10 pilot areas has been a significant development for the retail sector. Though the Gardens are not massive, there is a huge variety of trees and plants. If you want to feel like a local, do as the Athenians do, and go for a coffee! Twenty-Four people are listed as missing as fears mount of them not being found. If you are visiting Athens, there are some things that you can only do on Sundays! You can find clothes, leather goods, olive oil products, and all sorts of classy or tacky souvenirs. This possibility is provided for each region and municipality in the country, by an annual decision of the regional vice-governor, following consultation with the social partners in each region. Generally open throughout the day until evening Monday to Saturday. { Apart from the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora, there are a few more archaeological sites you can visit in Athens. In terms of neighbourhoods, I like Plaka, Thisseio, Monastiraki and Psiri. If you are in Athens on Easter Sunday, you can wander around the city and enjoy the quietness. 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. You can also find some antiques stores in the nearbyPsiriarea, across the street from Ermou street. You can stroll on Areopagitou street andtake in the monuments from a distance. The restaurant will be open The law also provides the possible additional optional operation of shops beyond these seven Sundays, under the following conditions. Between Monastiraki, Syntagma and Acropolis metro stations, you will find the popular Plaka area. Still, Athens Sunday shopping is absolutely possible. information@eurofound.europa.eu, Eurofound is an agency of the European Union. Copyright Greekcitytimes 2022 All Rights Reserved. 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. Arguably the most interesting Sunday market Athens is close to Eleonas metro, on the blue line. cities. Let me know in the comments! Orthodox Good Friday variable dates, though stores are open 1 pm - 7 pm. Day of the Holy Spirit variable dates, usually early June. Monday & Wednesday: 9 am-3 pm; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 am-2 pm and 5.30 pm-9 pm; Saturdays: 9 am-3 pm; almost all shops are closed on Sundays. I went to a museum 2 weeks ago that TripAdvisor had listed as closed. That said, I have occasionally seen some of them being open on a few other Sundays as well. He asked the two organisations to withdraw their legal interventions in favour of the measure, which ESEE believes is a matter that concerns only the retail sector. Day of the Holy Spirit variable dates, usually early June. Along with the antiques and vintage items, there is a range of other shops in Monastiraki. Greece as they vary according to the type of business. However, if you need some groceries, dont worry. It noted that the introduction of general Sunday trading violates the principles of equal competition, destroys small businesses, and reduces free time for family and a personal life. The shops must have a total floor area of up to 250 square metres. 7188. Note:On public holidays (listed above) stores are closed and archaeological sites and museums are either closed or open for limited hours. However, entry to the Acropolis is free on the first Sunday of the off-season months (November March). 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