🗓️ Essentials

Public holidays and Greek Easter 2026–2027

Orthodox Easter is the biggest week of the Greek year — 2 May in 2027. The other date that changes a trip is 15 August, when half of Greece is on a ferry.

Contents · 5

ΑFixed public holidays
ΒThe moveable feasts
ΓEaster
Δ15 August
ΕOn holidays

Fixed public holidays

1 January — New Year's Day
6 January — Epiphany (blessing of the waters in every harbour)
25 March — Independence Day, with parades
1 May — Labour Day
15 August — Dormition of the Virgin
28 October — Ochi Day, with parades
25–26 December — Christmas

17 November is a commemoration of the 1973 Polytechnic uprising, with a march in Athens; it is a school holiday rather than a national day off.

The moveable feasts

They follow Orthodox Easter:

Easter Sunday: 12 April 2026 · 2 May 2027
Clean Monday (start of Lent, kites and picnics): 15 March 2027
Good Friday and Easter Monday: 30 April and 3 May 2027
Holy Spirit Monday: 1 June 2026 · 21 June 2027 (a day off mainly in the public sector)

Easter

Easter is the most important week of the year. Candlelit processions on Good Friday, the midnight service and fireworks on Holy Saturday, lamb on the spit on Sunday. Many Athenians go back to their villages, so ferries and roads are busy and some city businesses close. Island hotels that open for the season often open for Easter.

15 August

The Dormition is peak domestic travel: ferries sell out, island rooms are at their dearest and the big pilgrimages (Tinos above all) are packed. If you are island-hopping in mid-August, book every boat in advance.

On holidays

Banks, public services and most shops close. Archaeological sites have reduced hours or close on some holidays (1 January, 25 March, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25–26 December are the usual ones) — check the day's hours. Restaurants, beach bars and tourist businesses mostly stay open.