With the New Year approaching, shoppers across Greece are making last-minute purchases as stores prepare to close for the holiday. On the evening of December 31, 2024, supermarkets and commercial establishments will finalize their operations, creating what many locals call the last chance for holiday shopping.
According to local reports, supermarkets are expected to remain open until 8 PM on New Year's Eve, giving consumers ample opportunity to stock up for their celebrations. Retail stores, on the other hand, will close earlier, shutting their doors at 6 PM, as indicated by the Commercial Association of Patras.
The New Year’s Day, January 1, 2025, will see all commercial establishments and supermarkets closed for the holiday, which has become customary throughout the country. Following this, on January 2, some stores will remain closed, allowing for only limited shopping opportunities.
Specific store hours for the New Year period are highlighted throughout several cities. For example, the operational hours before New Year’s Day for Patras are set for December 31, 2024, from 09:00 AM to 07:00 PM, and on January 1, all shops will be closed as it is recognized as a public holiday.
On January 2, 2025, various stores will open their doors again, though it's noted as optional for many businesses. Some will choose to operate to accommodate early January sales. Lists shared on local news outlets detail which retail giants will welcome consumers back:
- Supermarkets AB Vassilopoulos: 08:00 AM - 09:00 PM
- Supermarkets LIDL: 07:45 AM - 09:00 PM
- Supermarkets MyMarket: 08:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Further details reveal several commercial centers will be open on January 2, including:
- Designer Outlet: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
- Smart Park: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM
- The Mall Athens: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM, with some dining establishments operational.
- Golden Hall: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM, with dining operations as well.
Interestingly, JUMBO stores announced their operational hours for the day after New Year will be 09:00 AM to 09:00 PM, catering to consumers early in the New Year.
Transport schedules are also being adjusted for the festive period. Public transportation services will conclude early on New Year's Eve, similar to past traditions, with the last metro lines running before midnight. This interruption adds to the challenges faced by party-goers finalizing their transportation plans after celebrations.
According to the Athens urban transport authority, the last scheduled metro trips for December 31 will be:
- Line 1 Metro: Piraeus to Kifisia departing at 22:20, arriving at 23:11
- Line 2 & 3 Metro: Various departures with similar schedules.
Bus and trolley services are slated to end around 10 PM, with the last trips kicking off around 9 PM. Standard operations for night routes will carry on after 1 AM post-New Year.
This year's celebrations mark another round of tradition where consumers flock to markets to prepare for their festive gatherings, hoping to get their last-minute items before the long break. The early closures and schedule adjustments reflect the cultural habits during the holiday season, as residents embrace the start of another year.
For more details on transport, consumers can visit the transport authority's website or check local news for updates.
When normal store hours resume on January 3, 2025, consumers will find the typical schedules reinstated, barring any local variations dictated by respective commercial associations.