Zara in Greece vs Israel: How Much Do You Really Save? A Comparison of 6,923 Items (2026)

The short answer: yes, Zara in Greece is much cheaper. In a comparison of 6,923 identical items on Zara's official Greek and Israeli websites, on 23 October 2026, the same item cost on average 1.89 times as much in Israel as in Greece after converting to shekels, about 89% more. This is not "one dress we found cheap": only 5 of the 6,923 items were cheaper in Israel.

So it is no surprise that many Israelis add a stop at Zara to every flight to Athens, and some fly there just for that. In this guide you will find the full comparison, a table that converts any price tag in Greece to the price in Israel, where the Athens stores are and when they are open, how to get a VAT refund, how much you can bring into Israel without customs duty, and what is worth knowing before you buy.

How we compared the prices, and what we found

We pulled every item in the women's and men's categories from Zara Israel (zara.com/il) and Zara Greece (zara.com/gr), and matched them by Zara's model number. That left 6,923 models sold in both countries at full price. Items on sale on either side were excluded. Euro prices were converted at the Bank of Israel representative rate of 21 October 2026: 3.4722 shekels per euro. We also checked manually on the product pages that the prices match what shoppers see.

What we found:

• On average, the price in Israel is 1.89 times the price in Greece (about 89% more). The median is almost identical: 1.89.
• The gap is very consistent: for 80% of the items it is between 85% and 92%. This is no accident: Zara prices by fixed tiers (see the table below).
• No difference between women and men: a median gap of 89% in both departments.
• Only 5 of 6,923 items were cheaper in Israel.

Note: these are website prices at the representative rate. In Greece you will actually pay at your credit card's rate, including the card company's conversion fee, so the real saving will be a little lower. Prices and the exchange rate also change, so check the specific item on both websites before you travel.

What does it mean for real items?

Website prices on 23.10.2026, converted at 3.4722 shekels per euro:

Quick conversion table: tag in Greece → price in Israel

Zara prices by tiers: an item that costs a given amount in euros almost always costs a fixed amount in shekels. So when you look at a price tag in a Greek store, you know at once what the same item costs in Israel.

Each tier in the table is based on dozens to hundreds of items, and almost all of them match fully. The notable exception is €39.95: 990 of 1,173 items cost 259 shekels in Israel, and the rest a different price. The saving per item is calculated at the representative rate, before card fees.

Where are the Zara stores in Athens, and when are they open?

The most convenient area for a tourist is the city centre: three stores within walking distance of Syntagma Square that are open on Sundays too. The large malls in the north of the city are closed on Sundays. The data comes from Zara Greece's store locator, and the opening hours are for the week of 23 to 29 October 2026.

Hours at the central street stores: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 09:00–21:00, Saturday 09:00–20:00, Sunday 11:00–20:00. The Mall Athens and Golden Hall open at 10:00 on Saturdays.

Watch out for 28 October: according to Zara's website, on Wednesday 28.10.2026 all stores in the Athens area are closed. It is a national holiday in Greece, "Ochi Day".

Opening hours change with the season and holidays, so check your store on the Zara Greece website or app on the day of your visit. Outside Athens there are also stores in Thessaloniki, Crete and Rhodes. For the rest of the city's shopping, see shopping in Athens and Thessaloniki.

When are the sales in Greece?

In Greece the winter sales season is set by law: it starts on the second Monday of January and runs until the end of February. In 2026 it started on 12 January, and stores opened on two Sundays at the start, 18 and 25 January (Greek City Times, To Vima). By the same rule, the next winter season is expected to start on 11 January 2027. Taking part in the sale is voluntary, so not every store cuts prices on the first day.

• Consumer protection: on a discount, the store must also show the previous price, defined as the lowest price in the 30 days before the discount (To Vima). That makes it hard to "inflate a price" before a sale.
• Black Friday: in the past Zara offered 40% off selected items abroad, while there was no offer in Israel (ice). If your dates are flexible, the end of November may increase the saving even further, beyond the fixed gap.

How do you get a VAT refund (Tax Free) on a Zara purchase?

Residents of countries outside the European Union, including Israelis, are entitled to a refund of part of the VAT they paid in Greece. The standard VAT rate in Greece is 24%, and the minimum for a refund is €50 on the receipt (Planet). In practice you get less than 24%, because the refund company charges a fee: Pie VAT estimates a refund of about 12.5% to 14.75% on goods at the standard rate, and only for people over 18.

How to do it:

1. Before buying: check at the till that the store takes part in the scheme and issues a Tax Free form. Not every store does (Wise), so ask at Zara too and don't assume.
2. At the till: show your passport and ask for a Tax Free form on the receipt (at least €50).
3. At the airport, before leaving the EU: show customs your passport, the receipt, the form and the items themselves to get a stamp (Wise). Keep the items accessible, as you may be asked to show them.
4. With the stamped form: go to the refund company's desk. The form is valid for 3 months plus the month of issue (Planet).

Example: buying 4 items at €29.95 (€119.80, about 416 shekels) would cost 799.60 shekels in Israel. A refund of about 12.5% to 14.75% takes off roughly another 52 to 61 shekels in Greece.

How much can you bring into Israel without customs duty?

A traveller may bring personal items into Israel tax-free up to a total value of $200 (according to Calcalist). At the representative rates of 21.10.2026 (3.0910 shekels per dollar), that is about 618 shekels, or about €178 of shopping in Greece.

• Over $200: you go through the red channel and pay import taxes (ice).
• The allowance is personal: each traveller gets their own. Four travellers can bring four items of up to $200 each, but not one item of $800 (Kol Zchut).
• An item over $200: the tax is calculated on the full value, not just the part above $200 (Kol Zchut).
• Duty free: duty-free purchases also count towards the limit (ice).

In practice: €178 in Greece buys items that cost about 1,170 shekels at Zara Israel according to the tier table, and all of it fits within one traveller's allowance. Keep your receipts, and when in doubt it is better to declare. This information is general; for a specific question, check the Israel Tax Authority website.

Can you return an item bought at Zara in Greece in Israel?

No. Under Zara's returns policy (Travel Mode), items can only be returned in the same market where they were bought. So an item bought in Athens will not be returned or exchanged at a store in Israel.

• Try it on in the fitting room before paying, especially jeans and shoes.
• If you are not sure, buy on the first day of the trip, so you have time to go back to the store in Greece.
• Keep the receipt until you board the plane.

Checklist before a shopping flight to Athens

• A list of items from the Israeli website with their shekel prices, so you know in the store exactly how much you saved.
• Internet from the first moment: in the store you will want to check a price on the Israeli site, look for a size on the Greek site, navigate between Ermou and Stadiou and open the store locator for current hours. FlySim's eSIM for Greece is installed in advance at home and connects the moment you land.
• Passport in your bag, not just at the hotel: without it you won't get a Tax Free form.
• Check your dates: is there a Greek holiday during your trip (like 28 October), and will you be there on a Sunday when the malls are closed?
• Suitcase space and the weight allowance on your ticket, before you fill the bags. How to find a cheap flight and what a low-cost ticket includes, in the guide to flights to Greece.
• The customs limit: up to $200 per traveller, about €178.

Frequently asked questions

Is Zara in Greece cheaper than Zara in Israel?

Yes. In a check of 6,923 identical items on 23.10.2026, the price in Israel was on average about 89% higher, after converting at the representative rate. Only 5 items were cheaper in Israel.

How much does an item that costs €29.95 in Greece cost in Israel?

199.90 shekels. In Greece it costs about 104 shekels at the representative rate, a saving of about 96 shekels per item.

Are Zara stores in Athens open on Sunday?

The street stores in central Athens (Ermou 47, Ermou 9 and Stadiou 32) are open on Sundays from 11:00 to 20:00 according to Zara's website, while The Mall Athens and Golden Hall are closed (checked for the week of 23–29.10.2026). Check your store on the day you visit.

Can you get a VAT refund on a Zara purchase in Greece?

Israelis are entitled to a VAT refund in Greece on a receipt of at least €50, in a store that takes part in the scheme. Ask at the till before paying. The actual refund is about 12.5% to 14.75%, after the refund company's fee.

How much can you bring into Israel without customs duty?

Personal items worth up to $200 per traveller, about €178. The allowance is personal, and an item that costs more than $200 is taxed on its full value.

Can I return an item bought in Greece in Israel?

No. Zara accepts returns only in the same market where the item was bought.

Sources

• Prices: zara.com/gr and zara.com/il, pulled and checked on 23.10.2026.
• Stores and hours: Zara Greece store locator, 23.10.2026.
• Representative rate: Bank of Israel, 21.10.2026.
• VAT refund: Planet and Pie VAT (Tax Free in Greece), Wise (VAT refund in Greece).
• Customs: Kol Zchut (declaring items from abroad at customs), Calcalist (personal items allowance), ice (customs guide for travellers).
• Sales: ice (Black Friday at Zara), To Vima (winter sales 2026), Greek City Times (winter sales dates).
• Returns: Zara's Travel Mode policy.