Greeks make lunch their big meal of the day, and eat it between 2 and 3pm. Especially in summer, Greeks often head to a cafe for some ice cream around 8pm. Dinner is often a light meal, seldom eaten earlier than 9pm, but when Greeks do go out to dinner, they usually don't think of eating before 10pm.
Most Greeks will have some form of lunch around 2 pm. Strangely, official lunch breaks at work are not as common as in some other countries. Dinner time in Greece is usually late, after 9 pm, especially when it's a dinner out with friends.
What time is dinner in Greece? In a country that never sleeps, no time is "too late" for dinner. You will find most eateries open until past 12 at midnight. Regardless, traditionally, dinner in Greek homes is served at around 8-9 pm.
Lunch time is between 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. and dinner is usually around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. Of course, restaurants in the more tourist-centric areas will serve lunch as early as 11:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. and dinner starting at 7:00 p.m., but the restaurants will be largely empty with fewer locals.
In informal conversation, however, Greeks express time much as we do -- though noon may mean anywhere from noon to 3pm, afternoon is 3 to 7pm, and evening is 7pm to midnight.
The standard working week in Greece consists of 40 hours a week, typically eight hours a day for a five-day working week. The working week can be increased to 48 hours per week if agreed upon by the employer and the employee.
Siesta is a sacred tradition in Greek culture. So sacred that a law called the “Hours of Common Silence” was written back then. Nowadays, siesta is less common in the touristy parts of Greece but it doesn't mean that the Greeks have forgotten its existence.
Do not leave the table until everyone has finished eating. It is polite to offer the host your help in preparing and cleaning up the meal. That being said, do not expect your gesture to be accepted unless you insist.
Lunch should be about four to five hours after breakfast. For example, if you ate breakfast at 7 am, eat lunch between 11 am and noon. If it is not possible for you to eat lunch until 2 pm on a particular day, then plan a snack in between those two meals.
Greeks typically have 3 meals a day. Traditionally the largest meal of the day was lunch, but many habits have changed due to Greeks adapting a westernized way of living.
And then in Mediterranean countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, dinners are a party reserved for much later. Typically, these hot weather countries have a long afternoon siesta (nap) and people commune for dinner later in the night, starting at 10pm or even later.
Traditionally, local people in Greece would eat a very light breakfast and a late dinner because the largest meal of the day was often lunch. Breakfast would consist of a phyllo pastry, Greek yogurt or fruit, and make way for a typical Greek lunch or mesimeriano that would normally take place in the late afternoon.
There is not a strong tradition of tipping in Greece, particularly among the locals, but it's become expected that tourists leave a small tip while travelling through the country. In restaurants it's common to leave a cash tip for whoever is looking after you – 10–15 per cent is standard.
Greece: 3 hours
It's also rooted in traditional meal times. Greeks view lunch as the biggest meal of the day, which means it takes more time to chow down. Most people head home for lunch and a nap around 2 p.m., returning to the workplace at 5 p.m., which is about when the American workday slows down.
Greek lunch breaks might also surprise people around the world. In Greece, the long lunch break may last about three hours. Lunch is their biggest meal of the day, consisting of meze, or small plates. These include feta cheese, olives, veggies, and souvlaki, according to Reader's Digest.
Lunch timing (early eaters (lunch at 2 p.m.), late eaters (lunch at 4 p.m.)) Lunch timing (12 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.)
In the United States and Canada, lunch is usually a moderately sized meal generally eaten between 11 and 1.
Most Americans eat dinner early because they start their days early and have to go to bed relatively early. It's not good to eat a big meal too close to bedtime. Most Americans like to eat dinner together as a family and don't want to make children wait for a later dinner.
The various rules of the Greek Orthodox Church have shaped people's eating habits. Even non-religious Greeks abstain from foods deriving from animals –meat, dairy products and eggs— during the numerous Lenten days that precede Easter, Christmas and other religious occasions.
Nodding your head "yes" is not polite; say "yes" instead. "Yes" is signified by a slight downward nod of the head; “no" is a slight upward nod of the head. The “O.K.” sign is a rude gesture; "thumbs up" means O.K.
Our travel expert shares their tips on etiquette, hygiene and water sanitation in Greece. In most places throughout Greece you can't put toilet paper down the toilet. Instead, you must put your toilet paper in the bin beside the loo.
Yes, you can drink tap water in Greece – it is not unsafe.
According to the measure, residents are allowed to make a complaint to the police if disturbances are noted between 10 p.m. and 7.30 a.m. and from 3.30 to 5.30 p.m. during the customary siesta break.
In modern Greece, it's highly recommended to keep silence from 2 till 3 – 5 pm. It is said that the one, who sleeps well – works well either. Siesta makes all banks, shops, offices, stores, and restaurants “fall asleep” for some hours. Moreover, this “quiet time” is regulated by the law.