What this solves
Greek holidays are not just the date itself — Holy Week (Megali Evdomada) is a full week of afternoon closures, August 15 (Dormition) closes most major archaeological sites, and October 28 (Oxi Day) is a parade day in the capital with cascading traffic disruption. This tool outputs a simple OK / limited / closed rating per sector so you can plan around it instead of finding out at a shuttered door.
Calculator
How to read the result
Each sector gets a status: OK (no special impact), limited (reduced hours, special services, some closures), or closed (full closure, don't plan around it). The calculator handles Greek Orthodox dates (Easter is April 12, 2026) and fixed secular dates. Moveable feasts are computed from the Orthodox Easter.
The "tourist vs local" note is the most useful bit: on Greek holidays, local shops close but tourist-area shops stay open. On Good Friday, the Acropolis is closed but Plaka tavernas are open. The calculator flags this so you know whether your sector is on the tourist spine or not.
Limitations
- The 2026 Orthodox Easter date is fixed (April 12). Megali Evdomada dates are computed from Easter Sunday. Fixed secular dates (Mar 25, Oct 28, Jan 1, Jan 6) do not move.
- Calculator does not handle pre-2026 dates — for those, see the source list. Local-name saints' days (each town's patron saint) are too granular to encode.
- On Sundays generally, opening hours at most museums are reduced (08:00–15:00 vs 08:00–20:00 weekday).
- Strikes (general strikes, sector strikes) are not predicted. They tend to coincide with Labour Day (May 1) and political anniversaries.
FAQ
When is Greek Orthodox Easter 2026?
Sunday April 12, 2026. Megali Evdomada (Holy Week) runs Monday April 6 through Saturday April 11. Easter Monday is April 13. The bank holiday is Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday — many shops close all four days in the afternoon.
Is Aug 15 really a problem?
Yes — Dormition of the Virgin (Aug 15) is the biggest religious holiday after Easter. The Acropolis, Ancient Agora, most major archaeological sites, and many museums close. Banks close. Most local shops close. Tourist-area restaurants stay open. Plan on it.
What's Oxi Day (Oct 28)?
Anniversary of "No" to Mussolini's 1940 ultimatum. Military parade, traffic disruption in central Athens from 06:00–14:00, schools and banks closed, museums mostly open. If you're in the city centre that morning, build an extra 30–60 minutes into any movement.
Are ferries running on Greek holidays?
Reduced holiday timetables apply on Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Aug 15, Jan 1, Jan 6, Mar 25, and Oct 28. Most routes have 1–2 departures per day instead of the usual 4–6. Book ahead and expect the boat to be fuller than usual.
Related tools
Sources
- Greek Orthodox Church — 2026 ecclesiastical calendar, including Megali Evdomada dates.
- Hellenic Ministry of Labour — official 2026 public holidays list (fixed and movable).
- On-site observation: Easter 2024 and 2025 (Athens, Patmos), Aug 15 2024 (Crete), Oct 28 2024 (Athens parade).
About this tool
Built because the Greek calendar is the #1 "didn't expect that" trip-planning miss for first-time visitors. The 2026 Orthodox Easter falls on April 12. Reference data for 2026 — for other years, the same offsets apply but with different absolute dates. We are not affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Church or the Hellenic Ministry of Labour.
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Disclaimer
For informational purposes only. Closure patterns are sectoral averages — individual sites may differ. Strikes and special events are not predicted by the calculator. Always verify on the official site or by calling the venue for the specific date you plan.