Thinking about moving to Greece for work—or you’ve just landed a job and you’re mapping out your time off? Understanding how holidays and leave fit into Greek work culture is essential, since time off is closely tied to family life, religious traditions, and overall work-life balance.
This guide brings together everything a foreign worker needs to plan vacations, long weekends, and cultural deep dives with confidence: how Greek public holidays work, how much paid annual leave you get by law, what happens if you work on a holiday, and practical tips on combining it all for maximum downtime.
Here’s what we’ll be covering:
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Public holidays in Greece
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Annual leave (paid vacation) in Greece
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How Greece compares to the EU
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Practical tips for better vacation time management
Public holidays in Greece
How many are there?
Greece treats every Sunday as a public holiday. On top of that, the law recognises a core set of mandatory national holidays, and in practice Greeks observe roughly a dozen national holidays each year. Some are fixed-date holidays, others are moveable feasts tied to the Orthodox calendar. May Day (1 May) is a special case that may be moved by ministerial decision when it clashes with a Sunday.
The national holiday set (what they are and why they matter)
Here are the nationwide holidays you’ll see every year, with brief notes on what makes each one tick:
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New Year’s Day (1 January) – Family gatherings and name days for Agios Vasilios.
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Epiphany (6 January) – “Theophania,” known for the Blessing of the Waters in ports across the country.
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Clean Monday – Kicks off Great Lent; families picnic on lagana bread and fly kites. Date moves each year.
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Greek Independence Day (25 March) – Military and student parades mark the 1821 uprising.
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Orthodox Good Friday – Somber processions in the evening; a non-working day nationwide. Date moves.
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Orthodox Easter Monday – The day after the biggest religious celebration in Greece. Date moves.
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May Day / Protomagia (1 May) – Labour Day with springtime outings; typically observed nationwide.
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Whit Monday (Monday of the Holy Spirit) – The day after Orthodox Pentecost; date moves.
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Assumption of Mary (15 August) – Peak summer holiday; many businesses shut as Greeks head to islands and villages.
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Ohi Day (28 October) – Parades commemorate the 1940 “No” to the Italian ultimatum.
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Christmas Day (25 December) and Synaxis of the Mother of God (26 December) – The winter holidays.
Local observances (for example, a municipality’s patron saint day) may add one-off closures in specific towns, especially for schools and public offices. Ask your HR team or colleagues if your area observes an extra day.
What closes, and do you get paid more if you work?
Banks, schools, and most offices close on public holidays. If your employer requires you to work on a Sunday or public holiday, Greek law provides extra pay: the standard rule is an additional 75% on top of the statutory hourly pay for the hours worked that day.
Employers also handle the necessary permit/notification when scheduling work on Sundays or holidays and must state the compensatory rest day in their application; the filing deadline is by 13:00 on the business day before that Sunday or holiday.
Annual leave (paid vacation) in Greece
The legal baseline
Annual leave in Greece is guaranteed by law and accrues in proportion to your service with the same employer. For full-time employees on a five-day week, the statutory baseline is 20 working days per year after a full year of employment; for those on a six-day week, the baseline is 24 working days. Leave accrues pro rata from day one with your employer and reaches these baselines after 12 months of continuous service.
Increases with service (how it grows over time)
Entitlement increases with tenure:
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In your third calendar year with the same employer, your allowance typically rises to 22 working days (five-day week) or 26 working days (six-day week).
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After 10 years with the same employer or 12 years of total service (with any employers), entitlement becomes 25 working days (five-day week) or 30 working days (six-day week).
Collective labour agreements or company policies may grant more generous terms, so make sure to always check your contract.
Example: You join a company on a five-day schedule. In your first year you accrue leave pro rata toward 20 days. In year two you get the full 20-day entitlement. From 1 January of your third calendar year with that employer, you are generally on 22 days, and if you reach 10 years with the same employer (or 12 years overall), you step up to 25 days.
When you can take it, carry-over, and payouts
Greek law aims for annual leave to be actually taken for rest and health, not simply paid out. As a rule, employers must make sure employees can use their leave within the calendar year, but reforms introduced in recent years allow unused statutory leave to be taken up to the end of March of the following year. If employment ends, unused leave must be paid in your final pay. Company policy can be stricter or more generous, but not less than the law.
How Greece compares to the EU
Under the EU’s Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC), every worker in the EU is entitled to at least four weeks of paid annual leave. Greece meets this standard at baseline (20 working days for a five-day week) and exceeds it with tenure-based increases for long-serving employees. As in other EU states, the Directive safeguards daily and weekly rest and caps average weekly working time.
How to plan your time off like a local
Taking leave in Greece is more than just about marking days on a calendar: it’s about aligning with the rhythm of the country. Many locals build their holidays around religious observances, family gatherings, and seasonal travel. For newcomers, understanding these patterns can help you integrate smoothly at work and get the most out of your time in Greece.
Below are some practical ways to plan like a local.
Best times to take leave
Easter period: The week culminating in Orthodox Easter is one of the year’s most meaningful times, with rich traditions in every region. Leave is scarce and travel prices can rise, so plan early.
Mid-August: Around 15 August (Assumption), many businesses slow down or close. It is an ideal moment for island trips or village visits, though ferries and accommodations book up quickly.
Shoulder seasons: May–June and September–October deliver great weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices for domestic travel.
Combine holidays and annual leave
Use the holiday calendar to create long weekends without burning many days of leave. Clean Monday and Whit Monday already land on Mondays; if Independence Day or Ohi Day abuts a weekend, one or two leave days can unlock a four- or five-day break. Check each year’s calendar for the movable Orthodox dates—Clean Monday, Good Friday/Easter Monday, and Whit Monday—to see where the best bridges are.
Travel and culture tips
On holidays like Clean Monday, join locals in parks and on hillsides to fly kites and enjoy meat-free fare. During Easter, head to Corfu for the famous pot-throwing tradition or to islands like Paros and Patmos for deeply moving candlelit processions. In October, Ohi Day brings parades to cities across Greece. These are perfect opportunities to fold cultural experiences into your time off.
Practical tips for better vacation time management
Adjusting to the Greek workplace can take some time, and knowing how to handle holidays and leave is part of that process. These tips are designed to help you navigate expectations, communicate effectively, and make sure you get the most out of your entitlements.
Understand your workplace rhythm. Many offices will expect you to plan your leave well in advance for summer and Easter, either formally or informally. Ask your manager about blackout dates or preferred leave windows, especially in smaller teams that need coverage.
Make clear, early requests. Submit leave requests early for peak periods. Written confirmation protects both sides and helps HR sequence team absences.
Know the rules on holiday work. If your role involves Sunday or holiday shifts (which are common in hospitality, retail, and tourism) your employer handles the permit/notification and you are paid the 75% premium for the hours worked. Confirm how your employer applies compensatory rest when scheduling.
Check your contract and any collective agreement. Statutory minima are just that—minimums. Your sector’s collective agreement or your contract may grant more leave or additional paid days. HR can point you to the exact clause.
It’s Your Turn Now!
Greece observes Sundays plus a core set of national public holidays each year, with several important ones moving according to the Orthodox calendar. Planning ahead for Easter and mid-August is particularly important, since these are peak holiday times.
Use this framework to map your Greek year: block out the public holidays, stack a few long weekends, and bank a proper summer break.
If you’re still choosing your next role, browse Jobs in Greece and weigh vacation policy and holiday practices alongside the job itself—you’re moving here for the lifestyle as much as the work.
Or, better yet,
submit your CV and start looking for your ideal job today!