Greek retail: Possibility of operation until 6 in the morning…

The possibility of operating commercial retail stores beyond 9 p.m. until the next day at 6 a.m. (the so-called “white nights”) provides for an amendment of the Ministry of Development and Investments that was voted in Parliament. Trade associations in tourist areas, such as Mykonos, Satorini, Arachova, as well as smaller towns in the Region are expected to take advantage of this arrangement during periods of high concentration of visitors (festivals, religious holidays, etc.).

However, “white nights” will be able to be organized by all Greek municipalities, such as Athens and Thessaloniki.

In the explanatory statement, it is stated that this possibility is given for the implementation of commercial actions such as “White Nights” and bazaars.

Thus, the opening hours of commercial stores and stores providing services to consumers that are allowed to operate are provided, from 06:00 to 21:00 from Monday to Saturday and Sundays, may be extended by decision of the local competent Mayor after the proposal of the local trade association until 6:00 of the following day. The same decision defines the period of time for which the extension of the working hours is allowed.

Sundays and holidays

Also, the optional operation of the commercial stores on the last Sunday of November instead of the first Sunday of November and the second Sunday of the winter sales instead of the first Sunday of May is foreseen, in order for the market and the consumer public to make use of the optional operation of the commercial stores stores on Sunday in periods where consumer interest is higher, the explanatory statement states.

It also clarifies the possibility of the operation of food shops on Clean Monday and the ban on the operation of shops on the Sunday when national elections are held in order to enable the unhindered exercise of the electoral rights of those who carry out commercial activity or work in the trade sector and in particular of non-residents.

Prohibition of operation

In particular, commercial shops and shops providing services to consumers are not allowed to operate on the following days:

-The first day of the year (New Year’s)

-On the day of the Epiphany (January 6),

-On Clean Monday (movable holiday), except for food stores,

-On the day of the celebration of the Greek Revolution of 1821 (March 25)

– On Easter Sunday and Monday (movable holiday),

-On the day of the Labor Day celebration (May 1st),

-On the day of the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 15th),

-On the day of the celebration of the Greco-Italian War of 1945 (October 28)

– On Christmas Day and the day after (December 25th and 26th) and

-The Sunday on which the national elections are held.