Key Takeaways
- Ermou Street is the most central and popular spot for Athensshoppingfor locals and visitors alike.
- The Monastiraki flea market is full of tourist memorabilia and leather accessories that carry the Greek signature.
- For Haute Couture, the district of Kolonaki and the luxurious Voukourestiou St., are a dream come true.
- For thrift and vintage shopping, head to the artistic neighborhood of Exarcheia, the hub of alternative culture.
Maybe seeing the Acropolis and enjoying the landscape is not all that you came to Greece or the Greek capital for. Maybe, your materialistic tendencies need to be fulfilled with a little bit of Greek shopping. Well, we are not here to judge.
What we are here for, is to help you and inform you about the best places to shop in Athens, whether you're into high-end or high-street fashion, and regardless of how many days your pick of our Greece vacation packages allows you to spend in the Greek capital.
Shopping inAthensis a must-do for all the incurable shopaholics out there! From the imaginative trinkets and sublime food to famous designers and unique boutiques, the Greek capital has an answer for every shopping need that you might have - even for those you didn't know existed!
Therefore, prepare yourselves, wear something comfortable, and let us show you the best way to savor yourshopping experiencewhen you visit Athens!
Ermou street
Let’s start from the basics; cueErmou Street. Below Syntagma Square, a delightful pedestrian street spreads, with a huge collection of shops selling all kinds of things and some of thebest romantic hotels in Athens.
There, you will find -mainly- the biggest commercial chain stores, as well as cute little independent shops scattered in between.
FromSephora and Mac for cosmetics toFoot Lockerfor athletic gear, Zarafor clothing, and Flying Tiger for quirky bits and bobs, Ermou St. combines a large variety of stores with a welcoming and friendly atmosphere that gets exceptionally festive around Christmas in Greece.
MonastirakiSquare
Walking a little further down, you can find the famous flea market of Monastiraki. The Monastiraki flea market is a dreamland for travelers since it is full of tourist memorabilia and leather accessories that carry the Greek signature.
A great advantage of this place is also that,unlike most markets in Greece,it remains open on Sundays as well.
For trifles, souvenir shops, leather goods, and bohemian accessories, the central market of Monastiraki cannot be beaten. What’s more, within the area, you can find the antique market of Avissinias square.
There, genuine vintage treasures at incredible prices await for you to discover. The variety of the antique market is truly outstanding, extending from shops selling jewelry and records to decoration and furniture!
The neighborhood of Kolonaki
If you are a fan of luxury, then the district ofKolonaki, located inthe center of Athens,along with the famous Voukourestiou St., will without a doubt meet and surpass your expectations with their out-of-this-world creations.
Along the whole length of Voukourestiou St., you can shop at the world's biggest fashion houses, withPrada, Gucci, and Cartier being only a few of the luxury brands you're going to come across.
Moreover, with the aesthetic of one of the richest neighborhoods of Athens, Kolonaki is ideal for unbridled shopping that is not prohibitive for people on a budget, due to shops likePre-loved.
Whether you are looking for something simple or something more sophisticated, something from the 50s or something of the glorious 80s, Preloved will provide it. In this underground shop, you will find everything: Hermes, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney, Gucci, and Prada, second-hand, but in superb condition.
Vintage shopping in Exarcheia
If vintage shopping is your thing, look no further than the municipal of Exarcheia. In this artistic neighborhood, vintage and second-hand shops will make vintage enthusiasts revel in the choices.
Yesterday’s bread, with its hilarious name, is one of the most popular vintage shops in Athens. In its tiny space, you can find unlimited bags, accessories, shoes, coats, shirts, jackets, dresses, and jeans at very good prices (2-90 €), mainly from Amsterdam and Paris.
Despite the shop being so small, you might find yourself devoting a lot of time to searching through a large variety of stock.
Skoros and Execute Fashion, in close proximity to oneanother, are also some of the most prestigious second-hand shops in Athens, located on one of the city's most vibrant streets.
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Skoros means'clothes moth'; you have to admit that when it comes to naming their second-hand shops, Greeks don't lose their humor! In any case,one thing is for sure: there is no way that you won’t find something that tickles your fancy among the many interesting offers!
Aiolou and St.Markou Street
If you're on a budget but still want to treat yourself to some retail therapy, inAiolou and Agiou Markou Str., located near the historic center, you will find a number of vendors with a wide variety of budget-friendly products.
Those streets have been favored by the locals for decades and the love is still strong, judging by the sheer number of people that visit them daily.
From shoes, bags, clothes, and accessories to furniture and homeware, the streets of Aiolou and Agiou Markou won't disappoint you! Even if you don't find anything to buy, you can mingle with an enthusiastic crowd of locals, which will give you an insight into true Greek culture!
Athens malls
Another effective way to do your shopping without having to wander around the whole of Athens is to visit a mall. Shopping malls are in fact a relatively new discovery for Greeks as they came to be in Athens only a few years ago. The first and largest mall is The Mall Athens, located at Maroussi, with Athens Heart, Athens Metro Mall, and Attica following.
Malls provide convenience and comfort while potentially protecting you from the unbearable heat in the summer and chilling cold in the winter. You can find most things you're looking for in the same well-kept place and you can also stop for a coffee, a bite, or a drink.
Go for the classics!
Apart from the rich historical background,Athens' city centreis popular among bothvisitors and locals for the vast array of shopping choices. Begin your shopping stroll from the island-like area ofPlaka.
Walking under the pink leaves of bougainvillea, you will find some hidden gems and specialty shops between coffee shops and restaurantsand get the opportunity to explore original Greek and Byzantine jewelry, second-hand books,Greek boutiques, and traditional food shops.
Walkyour way through the paved laneways ofMonastiraki in central Athens,where visitors and locals flock to buy traditionalGreek souvenirs; dig out quirky antiques, real-leather products, handmade bags, jewelry, and baubles- you want it? You've got it!
Keep on roaming and make your way toPsirri, where you will find a variety of shops alongside local eateries; you can buy quaint worry beads - the famous Greek “kompoloi” – from many souvenirs shops and the renowned handmade sandals by thePoet-Sandalmaker.
Get off the beaten track and slip into the small Nika Street; if you love stringed musical instruments,there you can find a small shop with handmadeGreek instruments, such as bouzouki and baglamas. When leavingPsirri, don’t forget to invest in some natural soaps and beauty products made with organicGreek ingredients. You won’t regret it!
Enjoy a foodies’ paradise!
When it comes to food shopping, Athens is undeniably a foodie’s paradise. Whether you look for localproducts or distinctiveGreek flavors, this is the place for you!Go back toPsirriand discover local food shops that offer the miracles of Greek nature n your plate.
Step in the 'Pantopoleio… Peri Lesvou' and admire all kinds of goodies the island of Lesvos has to offer, from delicious cheese toouzo. Shop for smoked meat, sausages,soutzouki,andpastourmain 'Aapian', a shopthat has been standing tall in the heart of Athens since 1922. Carrying on with your food quest in Psirri, you will find all sorts of places that sell an unlimited variety ofGreek spices and herbs.
Luxury shopping in Athens
For those of you who are fans of unique Greek designers or just enjoy luxury window shopping, the neighborhood ofKolonakiis the place to go for a more high-end shopping experience.
Go wander around the streets of the expensive district, discover unique boutiques hosting creations of famous Greek designers like 'Favela,'and indulge in pure elegance, sophistication, and style.
If you are more of an artistic type, you can also explore popular contemporary art by visiting the numerous art galleries of Kolonaki; culture and fashion make the best couple!
Moving on to the NorthSuburbs,Kifisiaoffers a more extravagant lifestyle; you can wallow in the aesthetic fashion of vintage and modern clothes, one-off accessories, and high-quality shoes that are geared toward high society clients.
A few kilometers north of Athens, one will find the municipality of Chalandri, close to Marousi and The Mall Athens, with one of the most beautiful markets in the northern suburbs.
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Offering a wide variety of local shops, one can wander around the pedestrian streets of Chalandri, combining shopping with coffee and snacks in a beautiful urban landscape.
Our favorite shop there is the bookshopEvripidis, which is cultural heaven on earth for all the bookworms out there, with nothing short of impressive stationery and book selection, both Greek and foreign.
Evripidis offers, at the same time, the comfort of a modern bookshop and the intimacy and warm environment of a cozy coffee shop.
Two tasteful coffee rooms, one in the bookshop on the 1st floor and the other in the courtyard, offer sweet and savory delicacies, putting a literal twist on the expression 'food for thought.'
Athens offers, among many things, the opportunity for great shopping no matter your taste or budget. What better way to explore a new city, discover her streets, and take in the local vibe than indulging in a little retail therapy?
Whether you’re looking for something for yourself or your loved ones, the city is full of independent stores and much-loved high-street brands, providing plenty of hours' worth of browsing. The shopaholics amongst you will not be disappointed.
What's more, if you head to the southern part of Athens,the best place forhigh-end shopping isGlyfada; although the areais knownfor its nightlife and restaurants, you can find a vast array of unique shops for shopping as well.
Final Thoughts
No matter what your budget is or what your preferences are, one thing is for sure:Shopaholismcannot be cured in this city! We hope you will find ourshopping guideuseful and that you get to get an unmatchedshopping experience in Athens.
If you'd like to avoid any organizing that a shopping adventure might entail, don’t hesitate to contact us fortailor-madeGreece tours fully adjusted to your needs and tastes!
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