Can my shop open on Sundays?
Conditional: as a rule no, with specific exceptions. Sunday is a non-working day for retail (Law 4177/2013, Art. 16) — operating is the exception. Article 16 allows certain optional Sundays: the first Sunday of each sales period (winter/summer) and festive/commercial Sundays, such as the two Sundays before Christmas (typically 11:00–18:00, at the owner's choice). In tourist zones, optional operation is allowed on more/all Sundays, within limits set by ministerial decision. Generally outside the restriction are very small shops, pharmacies, kiosks, bakeries, tourist/souvenir shops, and airport/port/station shops. Employees working a permitted Sunday get premium pay/rest day. In short: only on permitted Sundays or in a tourist zone.
📋 The rules
- Sunday = retail non-working day (Law 4177/2013, Art. 16)
- Permitted Sundays: 1st of the sales, festive ones
- Tourist zones: optional operation on more Sundays
- Exempt: small shops, pharmacies, kiosks, bakeries
- Sunday employees: premium pay or rest day
🔓 Exceptions
- Tourist areas: limits set by ministerial decision
- A shop just outside a tourist zone: bound by the general rule
- The exact dates change by year/region
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Unauthorised Sunday operation is fined heavily: under Article 21 of Law 4177/2013, the fine is 1% of annual turnover, with a minimum of €10,000; on a repeat within 5 years the ceiling rises to 4% of turnover. Beware the "€5,000" myth: the statutory floor is €10,000. Also, the exact list of permitted Sundays changes by year and region — treat specific dates as indicative and confirm them each year. To stay compliant: open only on the statutory Sundays (or if you're in a tourist zone/exempt category), keep to the hours, and pay employees the premium or give a rest day.
📎 Official sources
- Law 4177/2013 (Article 16) — Sunday operation →
- Ministry of Development — commerce →
- gov.gr — shop operation →
❓ Frequently asked
Can my shop open every Sunday?
As a rule no. Sunday is a non-working day for retail and operating is the exception. It's allowed only on specific, statutory Sundays, in tourist zones or for certain exempt categories of shops.
Which Sundays am I allowed to open?
Article 16 allows certain optional Sundays, such as the first Sunday of each sales period and festive Sundays, like the two before Christmas. The exact dates change by year and region, so it's best to confirm them each year.
What applies in tourist areas?
In designated tourist zones, optional operation is allowed on more or all Sundays, within limits set by ministerial decision. A shop just outside the zone, however, is bound by the general non-working-day rule.
Which shops are exempt?
Generally exempt from the restriction are very small shops below a floor-area threshold, pharmacies, kiosks, bakeries, tourist/souvenir shops, and shops in airports, ports and stations. These may operate on Sundays too.
What's the fine?
Unauthorised Sunday operation is fined 1% of annual turnover, with a minimum of €10,000. On a repeat within five years, the ceiling rises to 4% of turnover. The myth that the fine is €5,000 is wrong — the statutory floor is €10,000.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “shops open sunday greece 2026”
- “law 4177/2013 article 16 sundays”
- “permitted sundays retail”
- “tourist zone sunday operation”
- “fine sunday operation”
- “sunday work premium pay”