A new law passed in 2005 set uniform business hours (weekdays 9-9, Saturday 9-6) for retailers across Greece, although establishments in tourist resorts may remain open longer. For certain categories such as pharmacies, banks, and government offices, hours have always been standardized. Many small businesses and shops close for at least a week around mid-August, and most tourist establishments, including hotels, shut down on the islands and northern Greece from November until mid-spring. Restaurants, especially tavernas, often stay open on holidays; some close in summer or move to cooler locations. Christmas, New Year's, Orthodox Easter, and August 15 are the days everything shuts down, although, for example, bars work full force on Christmas Eve, since it's a very social occasion and not particularly family-oriented. Orthodox Easter changes dates every year, so check your calendar. On Orthodox Good Friday, shops open after church services, around 1 PM.

Banks & Offices

Banks are normally open Monday-Thursday 8-2, Friday 8-1:30. Hotels also cash traveler's checks on weekends, and the banks at the Athens airport have longer hours.

Government offices are open weekdays from 8 to 2. For commercial offices, the hours depend on the business: large companies have adopted the 9-5 schedule, but some small businesses stick to the Mediterranean 8-2 workday.

Churches & Monasteries

Your guess is as good as the locals' as to when churches and monasteries are open to the public; in numerous cases monasteries are merely ruins, no longer functioning or looked after. In cities, opening hours are fairly standard, but in rural areas, you may need to find the caretaker to unlock the church doors; he or she usually lives nearby. In such cases it is customary to light a candle or buy a postcard in remuneration. The best time to find churches unlocked is during services, especially Sunday morning; otherwise try from about 8 to noon and 5:30 to 7:30 on any day, unless otherwise noted. The hours for monasteries are dependent upon their keepers, but they are generally more likely to be open in the morning to early afternoon. Some monasteries may only admit the public at set times.

Gas Stations

All stations are open daily 7-7 (some close Sunday), and some pump all night in the major cities and along the National Road and Attica Highway. They do not close for lunch.

Museums & Sights

The days and hours for public museums and archaeological sites are set by the Ministry of Culture; they are usually open Tuesday-Sunday 8:30 to 3, and as late as 7:30 in summer. (Summer hours are published on the ministry's Web site, www.culture.gr, in April or May.) Throughout the year arrive at least 30 minutes before closing time to ensure a ticket. Archaeological sites and museums close on January 1, March 25, the morning of Orthodox Good Friday, Orthodox Easter, May 1, and December 25-26. Sunday visiting hours apply to museums on Epiphany; Ash Monday, Good Saturday, Easter Monday, and Whitsunday (Orthodox dates, which change every year); August 15; and October 28. Museums close early (around 12:30) on January 2, the last Saturday of Carnival, Orthodox Good Thursday, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve. Throughout the guide, the hours of sights and attractions are denoted by the clock icon.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from about 8:30 to 3 and Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 to 2 and 5 until 8 or 8:30 at night. The pharmacy at Athens International Airport operates 24 hours. According to a rotation system, there is always at least one pharmacy open in any area; closed pharmacies post a list in their window of the nearest open establishment for Sundays and off-hours.

Shops

Department stores, shops, and supermarkets may stay open until 9 PM on weekdays and 8 PM on Saturday, but some merchants are sticking to the old business hours and continue to close on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday afternoons. There are no Sunday trading hours, except for the last Sunday of the year and in tourist areas like Plaka in Athens and island or mainland resorts.

If it's late in the evening and you need an aspirin, soft drink, cigarettes, newspaper, or pen, look for the nearest open kiosk, called a periptero; these kiosks on street corners everywhere brim with all kinds of necessities. Owners stagger their hours, and many towns have at least one kiosk that stays open late, occasionally through the night. Neighborhood minimarkets also stay open late.