Athens, December 12 – Retail stores in Athens are set to adopt extended Christmas opening hours starting this weekend, according to an announcement by the Athens Traders Association. This move aims to accommodate the anticipated increase in holiday shopping, providing consumers with more flexibility.
Extended Hours for Holiday Shopping
As per the Athens Traders Association, shops across the city will operate with a revised schedule to cater to the festive season. On Saturday, stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while on Sunday, December 14, opening hours will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This marks the official commencement of the Christmas shopping period in the Greek capital.
For the remainder of the year, until December 31, the general operating hours for weekdays will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturdays, shops will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This schedule provides ample opportunity for residents and visitors to complete their holiday purchases.
Butchers to Remain Closed This Sunday
A notable exception to the extended Sunday opening hours involves butcher shops. Unlike other festive Sundays, butchers have collectively decided to remain closed this Sunday, December 14. This decision has been made in a gesture of solidarity with farmers who are currently engaged in protests at various roadblocks across the country.
The closure of butchers on a key shopping day highlights the ongoing impact of agricultural protests on various sectors of the economy and daily life in Greece. While other retailers embrace the holiday rush, the butchers’ stance underscores their support for the farming community’s demands.
Holiday Closures and Post-Christmas Schedule
As the holiday season progresses, specific closures have been announced. Stores will close earlier, at 6 p.m., on both Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year’s Eve (December 31). They will remain entirely closed on Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26). Additionally, shops will not open on New Year’s Day (January 1, 2026) and January 2, 2026, allowing for extended holiday breaks.
Normal shop hours are scheduled to resume on January 3, 2026. However, this return to regular operations will be brief, as stores will close again on January 6, 2026, in observance of the Epiphany holiday.
Optional Schedule for Retailers
The Athens Traders Association has emphasized that the announced schedule is optional. This means individual shops have the flexibility to adapt these hours to their specific needs and operational requirements. This allows smaller businesses or those with unique circumstances to adjust their opening and closing times accordingly, while still providing a general framework for the holiday period.
The introduction of these extended hours is a traditional response to the increased consumer demand during the Christmas season, aiming to boost local commerce and provide convenience to shoppers. The solidarity action by butchers, however, adds a unique dimension to this year’s holiday retail landscape.
