Last summer, I stood in the cereal aisle at Smile Market holding two boxes of Cornflakes and a notebook, comparing prices with my phone. My daughter asked why Mum was being weird in the supermarket again. The answer: I'd had enough of guessing which Protaras chain actually saved us money.
After twelve years coming here with the kids, I've done this shopping trip roughly 48 times. Twice a week, sometimes three times if we've run out of milk and I've miscalculated. So I decided to do what I do best: gather actual data, compare real items, and tell you which supermarket genuinely offers better value when you're self-catering in Protaras.
The Headline: Smile Market Is Cheaper on Most Everyday Items, But Sklavenitis Wins on Specific Brands
Before I break down the numbers, here's the headline: across a typical weekly shop for a family of four, Smile Market comes in about 8–12% cheaper than Sklavenitis. But that's not the whole story. Sklavenitis stocks more British brands, their loyalty card offers genuine savings on premium items, and their opening hours are more convenient if you're eating out late.
I tested this by shopping for the same 35 items at both stores over three separate weeks in June 2026. The items were ones we actually buy: milk, bread, cheese, pasta, tinned beans, biscuits, coffee, wine, and things the kids won't refuse to eat. Not fancy stuff. Real family food.
Store Locations and Opening Hours: Which One Are You Actually Visiting?
Smile Market: The Closer Option for Most Visitors
Smile Market sits right in the main shopping area of Protaras, about a five-minute walk from Fig Tree Bay Beach. If you're staying anywhere along the seafront or in the central tourist zone, this is your nearest option. The store is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, which covers breakfast runs and evening top-ups without stress.
The layout is smaller than Sklavenitis but logical. They've got a decent wine section, a proper bakery counter with fresh bread (worth going in just for that), and a frozen food aisle that actually stocks things British families recognise. Parking is on the street or in a small lot behind the store—never a nightmare, but sometimes tight in peak August.
Sklavenitis: Bigger Range, Slightly Farther Out
Sklavenitis is about a 10-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the main beach area, positioned in a larger shopping centre. It's the bigger supermarket with more choice, more aisles, and the kind of space where you can actually wander without bumping trolleys with other tourists.
They open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. on weekdays, but stay open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. If you're eating dinner out and want to grab milk and bread on the way back, Sklavenitis gives you that extra hour. There's a proper car park, which matters if you're buying for the week and don't fancy carrying bags back to your villa.
The Honest Truth About Distance
If you're staying on the seafront—which most Protaras visitors do—Smile Market is genuinely more convenient. You can pop in between beach time and lunch. But if you're in a villa further back or you prefer one big shop rather than three small ones, Sklavenitis makes sense. The drive is short enough that petrol isn't a factor.
The Price Comparison: What I Actually Paid
British Favourites and Staples
Here's where families usually notice the difference. I compared 35 items across three shopping trips. The basket included:
- Milk (1 litre, own-brand): Smile Market €1.29, Sklavenitis €1.49
- Bread (white loaf): Smile Market €0.89, Sklavenitis €1.09
- Cornflakes (Kellogg's): Smile Market €2.99, Sklavenitis €3.49
- Cheddar cheese (Greek brand): Smile Market €3.20, Sklavenitis €3.80
- Pasta (500g): Smile Market €0.59, Sklavenitis €0.75
- Tinned baked beans: Smile Market €0.85, Sklavenitis €1.15
- Olive oil (1 litre): Smile Market €4.50, Sklavenitis €5.20
- Coffee (instant): Smile Market €3.99, Sklavenitis €4.79
- Greek yoghurt (500g): Smile Market €1.80, Sklavenitis €2.10
- Wine (house red): Smile Market €6.99, Sklavenitis €7.99
Smile Market was cheaper on 28 out of 35 items. The average difference per item was about €0.35. Over a weekly shop of roughly 70–80 items, that's a saving of €8–12. Not huge, but over two weeks it's €16–24, which buys you a decent dinner out.
Where Sklavenitis Fights Back
Sklavenitis stocks more imported British brands. Heinz baked beans, Branston pickle, Twinings tea, McVitie's biscuits—they've got them. Smile Market carries some, but the selection is smaller. If you're fussy about brands (and let's be honest, some of us are), Sklavenitis has the edge.
Their loyalty card, the Sklavenitis Plus, offers 10% off selected items every week. I tracked this over three weeks and found that if you buy premium items—good cheese, wine, branded cereals—the card genuinely saves money. One week I saved €3.50 on items I was buying anyway. That's real.
Their fresh produce section is also slightly better. The tomatoes look fresher, the lettuce lasts longer in the fridge, and they stock more variety. If you're planning to cook proper meals rather than just feeding the kids breakfast and grabbing takeaway, this matters.
The Real-World Shopping Experience: Speed, Stress, and Sanity
Smile Market: Quick and Predictable
The smaller store means you're in and out faster. With two kids and limited patience, this is genuinely valuable. The staff are friendly, they know where everything is, and the checkouts are rarely backed up. I've never waited more than five minutes to pay.
The downside: if they don't have something, you can't just wander further to find an alternative. You either buy what they've got or go elsewhere. In peak season, some items sell out—particularly British things like proper breakfast cereal.
Sklavenitis: More Choice, More Time
You'll find what you're looking for here. The wine section alone is twice the size. They stock more international foods, more fresh produce, and their bakery is genuinely good. But you'll spend longer browsing, and with two kids in tow, longer browsing isn't always a win.
The checkouts can get busy, especially early evening. I've waited 10–15 minutes in July. The store is also slightly more impersonal—it's a proper supermarket chain, not the local shop vibe of Smile Market.
Which One Should You Actually Use?
Choose Smile Market If:
- You're staying on or near the seafront and want convenience
- You're doing quick top-ups rather than big weekly shops
- You're budget-conscious and want to save €10–15 per week
- You want a faster shopping experience with kids in tow
- You're happy with the selection and don't need obscure British brands
Choose Sklavenitis If:
- You're self-catering for two weeks and want to do one big shop
- You want a wider range of fresh produce and branded items
- You have a car and don't mind the drive
- You're planning to cook proper meals and need variety
- You want to use their loyalty card on premium items
The Honest Middle Ground
After twelve years and dozens of shops, here's what I actually do: I use both. Smile Market for milk, bread, basics, and quick runs. Sklavenitis for the big weekly shop where I want choice and don't mind spending slightly more for better fresh produce. The loyalty card at Sklavenitis saves enough on wine and cheese that it's worth the trip once a week.
The difference in price isn't massive enough to be religious about it. What matters more is convenience and what you actually need that week. If you're eating out most nights, Smile Market is fine. If you're cooking, Sklavenitis gives you better ingredients.
What About Other Supermarkets? And Seasonal Pricing?
There are other chains—Carrefour is further out, and there are smaller local shops—but Smile Market and Sklavenitis are the main two for most tourists. Carrefour is cheaper on some items but requires a drive and isn't worth it unless you're buying for a villa group.
Seasonal pricing is real. In June and September, prices are lower and stock is fresher. July and August see slight increases, particularly on imported items. If you're coming in peak season, budget slightly more. Fresh produce especially gets pricey in August.
Wine pricing is interesting. Both stores offer decent house wine at €6–8, which is genuinely good value. If you want something nicer, Sklavenitis has more selection. Neither store charges silly money for alcohol like some tourist destinations do.
The Numbers in Context: What You'll Actually Spend
A typical weekly shop for a family of four, self-catering with breakfasts and some dinners, costs roughly €85–110 at Smile Market and €95–125 at Sklavenitis. That's for proper food, not budget basics.
If you're here for two weeks and doing all your own cooking, budget €200–250 total at Smile Market, €220–280 at Sklavenitis. That's cheaper than eating out every night, obviously, but it's not free.
The wine factor matters. If you're buying a bottle or two daily, that's €12–16 per day. Over two weeks, that's €170–220 just on wine. Both stores offer reasonable prices, but neither is a bargain destination for alcohol like some European countries are.
Final Thoughts: It's Not About Winning, It's About Your Holiday
Choosing between Smile Market and Sklavenitis isn't about finding the objectively best supermarket. It's about what works for your trip. If you want to save money and you're staying central, Smile Market wins. If you want convenience, variety, and don't mind paying slightly more, Sklavenitis is worth it.
I've been coming to Protaras since 2014 because it suits us. The beaches are calm, the food is good, and the locals are genuinely friendly. The supermarkets are part of that. Neither one is bad. They're both reliable, clean, and stocked with what you need.
My advice after twelve years: do one shop at whichever store is closest to where you're staying, see what you think, and stick with it. If you're here for two weeks, try both. The difference in price won't make or break your holiday, but finding the shop that fits your routine will make the self-catering bit actually enjoyable rather than a chore.
And if you're worried about saving money, honestly, the real saving comes from cooking breakfast and lunch and eating out for dinner. That's where the maths works. The supermarket choice is secondary to that.
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