When planning your shopping excursions, it's essential to know about the diverse opening hours observed across different regions and types of stores.

 

Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the bustling shopping scene in Athens.

Opening Hours in Large Cities & Shopping Malls

In the vibrant centers of large cities, as well as large municipalities, stores typically follow continuous opening hours from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. This trend extends to renowned brands, department stores, and shopping malls, which typically operate from 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Small Neighborhood Shop Hours

For most smaller and suburban stores, the working hours follow a unique schedule. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, you can shop during split shifts from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and then again from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. On Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, these shops are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Supermarkets

Supermarkets operate on continuous shifts, typically from 8:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and until 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Banking Hours

Banks in Greece operate from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Sunday Shopping in Greece

On Sundays, shops selling food, drinks, and fuel are typically open from 07:00 to 22:00. Moreover, since 2018, specific regions have allowed commercial stores to open every Sunday from May to October.

 

In 2024, mark your calendar for special Sundays, including those during sales periods, Black Friday, and the festive season. Shops will remain open the following Sundays: 

• The first Sunday of the winter sales: January 14th
• The second Sunday of the winter sales: January 21st
• Palm Sunday: April 28
• The first Sunday of the summer sales: July 14
• The first Sunday after Black Friday: November 29
• The penultimate Sunday before Christmas: December 15
• The last Sunday before Christmas: December 22
• The last Sunday of the year: December 29

Supermarkets' Sunday Policies

Supermarkets may formulate individual policies regarding Sunday operations. During sale periods, most supermarkets are closed on Sundays, while they remain open during festive periods like Christmas and Easter.

During public holidays, shops remain closed. In 2024, public holidays in Greece include:

• New Year’s Day: January 1
• Epiphany: January 6
• Clean Monday (Ash Monday): March 18
• Greek Independence Day: March 25
• Orthodox Good Friday: May 1 (shops are open but close early)
• Orthodox Easter: May 3
• Orthodox Easter Monday: May 5
• Pentecost Monday: May 6
• Day of the Holy Spirit: June 23 - June 24
• Assumption of the Virgin Mary: August 15
• "Oxi" Day (National Holiday): October 28
• Christmas & Boxing Day: December 25 & 26

Festive Hours

For around 3 weeks leading up to the end of the year, stores in Greece embrace the festive season by opening daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This provides customers with ample time to find the perfect gifts and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. A similar schedule is observed for the 10 days leading up to Easter. However, it's essential to note exceptions during Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday when stores follow a different schedule.

Please be aware that opening hours, especially during holidays and special occasions, are subject to change. We highly recommend double-checking the current schedules before embarking on your next shopping spree. This ensures you make the most of your time and enjoy a stress-free and delightful shopping experience.

Happy shopping!

We’ve all been there—knowing we need to work out but struggling to find the motivation to start. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or just beginning your journey, getting into the right mindset can be one of the biggest challenges. The good news is, with a few simple strategies, you can boost your motivation and make getting active a regular part of your day. Here’s how:




1. Set Clear, Realistic Goals

Having a goal in mind makes it easier to stay motivated. Rather than aiming for something vague like “get fit,” set specific, measurable goals like “run 5k in 6 weeks” or “do 10 push-ups in a row.” Break them down into smaller milestones to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Each time you achieve one, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment, making it easier to keep going.

2. Create a Routine

Consistency is key when it comes to building a workout habit. Schedule your workouts at the same time each day, just like any other important appointment. Morning workouts are great for some people because they get it done before the day starts, while others prefer to wind down with exercise after work. Find what works for you and stick to it.

3. Get Your Gear Ready in Advance

Eliminate excuses by preparing your workout clothes and equipment ahead of time. If you plan to exercise in the morning, lay out your workout clothes the night before. If you're hitting the gym after work, pack your gym bag and have it ready to go. This simple act can make it easier to follow through with your plan.

4. Start Small & Build Up

If the thought of a full workout feels daunting, start small. Commit to just 10 minutes of exercise—once you're moving, you might find it easier to keep going. Often, the hardest part is getting started, and once you overcome that initial resistance, you'll be glad you did.

5. Find a Workout You Enjoy

You’re more likely to stay motivated if you actually enjoy the activity you're doing. If traditional gym workouts feel like a chore, experiment with different forms of exercise. Try dancing, swimming, hiking, yoga, or even group fitness classes. The key is to find something that feels less like a “workout” and more like fun.

6. Use Music or Podcasts as Motivation

Music can be a powerful motivator. Create a playlist of your favorite upbeat songs to get you energized. Alternatively, use your workout time to listen to an interesting podcast or audiobook. Focusing on something you enjoy can help distract you from the effort and make the time pass more quickly.

7. Reward Yourself

Incentives work wonders for motivation. Set up a reward system for reaching your workout goals. It could be something simple like treating yourself to a new fitness outfit, enjoying a movie night, or indulging in a relaxing bath after a tough session. The key is to associate working out with something positive.

Take advantage of a rainy day and explore the city’s museums; grab an umbrella and take a stroll through the National Gardens, wander the streets of the city, and enjoy a coffee at one of the MANY cafes!

Near the Acropolis

1. Visit the Acropolis Museum, plant yourself on the second level in the café to enjoy a budget friendly lunch and the views.

2. From the Acropolis Museum you are just round the corner from the Atelier Spyros Vassiliou Museum. Vassiliou was one of the most acclaimed artists in Greece, and you may just recognize some of the work on display. To learn more visit: http://www.spyrosvassiliou.org/

3. Also near the Acropolis is the Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum. This private collection is housed in a beautiful building at Karyatidon and Kallisperi Streets, just off the esplanade of Dionysiou Areopagitou St. on the south side of the Acropolis, below the Theatre of Dionysos. The glitter of all those jewels will certainly bring the sunshine inside! To learn more visit: http://www.lalaounis-jewelrymuseum.gr/en/

Near Syntagma Square

4. Another trio of activities includes a walk, with an umbrella, through the National Gardens. It’s peaceful, especially so in the rainy, when there’s few people out, the gardens hold many secret areas where you can escape the rain. There is a cafe at one end, but continue out of the gardens to the Zappeio, where you may wander inside the magnificent Zappeion Hall and admire the architecture inside.

5. Be an Athenian at the Aegli Cafe. Grab a seat on the covered veranda, order a coffee or light lunch and settle in for awhile, reading, people watching and enjoying the car free quietness of the gardens.

6. From the Zappeion gardens cross over Amalias to visit the Jewish Museum of Athens. This museum is an amazing collection of Judaica from all over Greece. The museum also does a fine job of telling the story of the history of the Jews of Greece, which dates back more than 23 centuries in Greece! To learn more visit: http://www.jewishmuseum.gr/en/index.html

7. Continue on to the Frissiras Museum, a private collection of European artists, housed in a most beautiful building at the corner of Monis Asteriou and Kydathineon. To learn more visit: http://www.frissirasmuseum.com/english/index.aspx

Around Thissio

8. Start your walk down to the cafes on Heraklidon street. Here you’ll find lovely old Neo-Classical buildings, renovated, cozy and friendly. Take a seat on the covered roof of Cafe Chocolat and contemplate the Parthenon from this prized Athenian vantage point.

9. The Herakleidon Museum, the Escher exhibits. This small private collection is an experience in visual arts. To learn more visit: http://herakleidon-art.gr/index.cfm?get=home

10. Continue walking down Herakleidon away from the historical center and you’ll find the Melina Mercouri Cultural Center. Located at Iraklidon 66a, Athens, 11851, the center is home to two permanent exhibitions, A Journey Through Athens, on the first floor, where one can view 19th-century Athens and elements of the 20th century via reproductions of buildings, houses, stores and people. The center is open Tues–Sat 9–1 and 5–9, Sun 9–1.

The second exhibition is the Haridimos Shadow Puppet Museum – Theatre which hosts a vast collection of items that belonged to the Haridimos family, renowned shadow puppet masters. Over 1,000 exhibits are on display including figures made with leather, cardboard, gelatine and sets drawn on fabric, cloth-bound manuscripts, folk art paintings and photographs dating from the early 20th century until today. Performances are staged for schools free of charge, while puppet figure-making lessons are held for children and adults on a weekly basis, however if you are lucky enough to find Sotiris Haridimos on site when you arrive, you could be treated to your own private shadow puppet show!

Provided by and originally posted on: True-Athens.com

Two newly built summer duplex houses (maisonettes), in traditional Cycladic style, all with breathtaking panoramic views of the sea with 12,000 sq. meters (3 acres) of garden provide our guests with privacy and tranquility. Only 4 minutes walking distance to a beautiful beach and 2 km drive to the port of Tinos. They can be rented together or separately, very convenient for 2 families or a group of friends.

The houses offer magnificent views of the sunset. They each have 2 bedrooms (one with a double bed and one with 2 single beds), a living room with fireplace, dining area and kitchen, one bathroom and a WC. The kitchen is fully equipped with stove, fridge and, coffee maker, toaster and a TV and DVD can be provided upon request. There are pull-out couches so extra sleeping arrangements can be made when needed. The seaside views are wonderful as are the evening sunsets. Twice a week cleaning and changing towels, bed linen once a week included.

Tinos is truly ”Greek ” island ideal for your holiday because you can combine swimming, walking, sightseeing and many other activities. Tinos is a particularly interesting island because, except for the main port and its town there are 40 villages that are worth visiting. There are museums and cultural events and there are wonderful paths for hiking. Of course there are many beaches but it is also a beautiful island to visit at times other than the summer. If you enjoy eating there are many restaurants with delicious traditional Greek food. Tinos is very easy to get to from the ports of Rafina and Pireas and is also close to many other Greek islands so the location enables you to do some island hopping. Some of the near by islands are Myconos, Andros, Paros, Milos, Naxos and a little further away Santorini.

The Thessaloniki-based group Argo will represent Greece at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, Sweden from 10 to 14 May.

The song ‘Utopian Land’ includes Greek and English lyrics, incorporates the traditional Pontian lyra with contemporary rhythms and refers to the refugee crisis combining hip hop and folk music. ERT president Dionysis Tsaknis said that they wanted Greece to be represented by a song that will send a message to Europe about what the Greek people are facing now.

Source: Protothema

For the sixth year in a row, Aegean Airlines has taken home the ‘Best Regional Airline in Europe’ award from the 2016 Skytrax World Airline Awards. The Skytrax World Airline Awards are highly regarded as the passengers choice, as they collect passenger satisfaction surveys from over 280 airlines and 104 different nationalities.

This year’s awards took into account the customer surveys that were conducted over a period of August 2015 until May 2016, which measured the quality standards across 41 performance indicators of quality product and service.

The CEO of Skytrax, Edward Plaisted, said that “Aegean remains a favorite amongst passengers in Southern Europe and continues to perform well in the awards surveys on both regional and a global basis.”

“All of us at AEGEAN are delighted to receive this important award for the 6th year in a row. This award motivates us to do more for our customers’ needs. We remain focused on the enhancement of our services and we are proud that our effort has been recognized by the passengers”, Dimitris Gerogiannis, CEO of AEGEAN, said.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Extreme weather conditions have forced Greek emergency services on high alert as a severe cold front sweeps through the country bringing snow and ice and making travel very dangerous. State services have been advising citizens to stay home and only travel when necessary due to the dangers posed by icy roads.

The Greek islands are the hardest hit from the extreme weather with a state of emergency declared on Skopelos due to heavy snowfall on the island with others expected to follow.

Authorities in other areas of Greece are struggling to keep major roadways open but snow chains are necessary in several areas and some roads have been closed due to icy conditions, especially on higher ground.

Many other areas, including Thessaloniki, were left without water for a second consecutive day as water pipes froze and burst and meters seized due to the low temperatures.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek City Times

Living Postcards from Greece is a series of short videos that give life to traditional postcards, depicting the country’s mountains, urban landscapes, ancient monuments and sea. Led by photographer Emmanouil Papadopoulos, the project reveals and shares the beauty of Greece, signaling the transition of traditional tourism campaigns to a digital age.

Below are Living Postcards from Karydi Beach in Halkidiki and the White Tower in Thessaloniki!






To view more Living Postcards, please visit: The Greek Foundation

Photo Credit: The Greek Foundation