Shopping hours

Supermarkets will be open for six hours on Friday while on Saturday they will remain open until the evening. according to the General Secretariat for Commerce and Consumer Protection.

The schedule is as follows:

- Friday: Supermarkets 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; the remaining stores whose operation has not been suspended by state decision until 9 p.m.

As of Thursday, supermarket opening hours will only be 60 minutes longer per day compared to the period before the onset of the coronavirus epidemic in Greece, while this Sunday, and possibly the next, they will remain closed.

The govenrment on Tuesday announced changes to supermarket opening hours, which had been extended to respond to additional demand amid restrictions on movement imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. 

As of Thursday, supermarkets will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and will be closed on Sundays. 

Supermarkets have opened at 9 a.m. Sunday, in an attempt to control the flow of shoppers.

The decision, signed by Development and Investment Minister Adonis Georgiadis, also obliges the supermarkets to sell newspapers. This is aimed at limiting the itineraries of shoppers.

It appears uncertain whether the extension of supermarket opening hours would go ahead on Friday after postponements due to reactions by the chains.

Although the longer hours - from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. - were originally supposed to start on Wednesday, their introduction has now been put off until Friday, and Sunday openings for the next month remain to be seen.

Greece's efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus will as of Wednesday extend to the shutdown of the majority of retail stores for at least two weeks. At the same time the government is expanding by two hours daily the opening hours of supermarkets, which will also operate on Sunday, so as to reduce congestion.

Consumers have Monday and Tuesday to shop for their holiday meals and gifts, but also to stock up for the week as retail businesses in Greece will be closed on Thursday as well as on New Year's.

The opening hours of Athens' main state-run museums will alter this Sunday (November 17) to accomodate the events held in commemoration of the 1973 Polytechnic students uprising, the Culture Ministry said.
According to the announcement, the working hours will be the following:

The fall sales started on Friday across Greece and are scheduled to run through November 15.

This could be the last autumn store discount period following complaints by retailers who argue that the spring and fall sales add next to nothing to their annual turnover. In response, the government is considering liberalizing sales and offers regulations.

The Cultural Foundation of Tinos presents "Passages," a solo show by Canadian artist Allyson Glenn comprising 11 paintings that are inspired by the ancient Greek gods and their legendary powers.