Ultimate Greece Vacation Shopping Guide – Who, what and where to buy

Shopping in Greece

Besides vacationing in a movie set style location with fantastic Mediterranean culinary delights, Greece is also a shopper’s paradise with many types of stores and open-air markets to choose from.  

Featuring local and traditional boutique shops along with a modern mall and cosmopolitan designer fashion stores you’ll find all this and more to satisfy every taste and budget.

Shopping in Greece can be an all-day-long activity! Most shops are usually open from 9 o’clock in the morning until late in the evening, even on the popular islands.  Souvenir shops are the most popular shops in Greece, where you can buy sophisticated Greek souvenirs and local products that will remind you of your holidays!

Here is our Ultimate Guide to the best markets and shopping areas in Greece along with the most popular and authentic items to purchase and bring home.  

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Part of immersing oneself into a destination and truly understanding the culture is to shop and eat like a local. With this mindset as our guide, , we’ll start with the top markets in Athens and work our way to popular shopping districts and round out this story with the most popular Greek items to purchase.  ​

Athens Markets:
1) Central Municipal Athens Market also known as Varvakeios Food Market

If you're a foodie and want to see where the locals shop and source their food this is your "sweet" spot.

This is the largest food market in Athens. Here, you’ll find a diverse array of meat and seafood as well as fresh produce and herbs and spices. You can also feast on Greek delicacies at the market’s numerous restaurants.

The market opens every day except Sunday. Get there early before the stalls start to run empty.

During your visit, consider having lunch at  Oinomageireio Epirus, a tavern that’s been serving the locals since 1898 and is famous for their tripe soup. 

Location: Athinas, Athens 105 51, Greece
Open: Monday–Saturday from 7 am to 6 pm (closed on Sundays)

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Monastiraki Flea Market

2) Monastiraki Flea Market
Located in center city, this market sells almost everything

​The Monastiraki Flea Market is more like a bazaar than a flea market, stretching across the cobblestone streets near Athens’ Monastiraki Square.

At this market, you’ll find everything from handmade sandals to replicas of ancient Greek Mythology and lots of clothing.

You can also indulge on tasty food  at various restaurants, cafés and ice cream parlors.  Open daily, it is recommended to visit on a Sunday, when more stalls are open.
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Location: Ifestou 2, Athens 105 55, Greece
Open: Daily from 8 am to 8 pm

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3) Kallidromiou Farmers’ Market
Fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices and dried nuts
The Laiki Agora is a fresh market held in various neighborhoods throughout Athens, with one of the most famous being located on Kallidromiou Street.

​The produce market on Kallidromiou Street takes place every Saturday from 7 am to 3 pm, though we recommend getting there as early as possible to avoid missing out on the tastiest treats. Afterward, you can walk to the Lofos Strefi City Viewpoint to take in panoramic views of Athens.
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Location: Kallidromiou, Athens 114 73, Greece
Open: Saturday from 7 am to 3 pm (closed Sunday–Friday)

4) Thissio Outdoor Market
Stalls selling artisan goods in a historic district.
At the Thissio Outdoor Market in Athens, you can browse artisan goods such as paintings and handmade jewelry. You’ll also find products ranging from second-hand cameras to clothes and homeware here. The shops and stalls are positioned on pedestrianized streets in one of the most historic districts of Athens.

The market is open daily, though be aware that operating hours can vary depending on the season. While you’re in the area, check out must-see attractions such as the Temple of Hephaestus, the Museum of Illusions and the Ancient Agora of Athens.
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Location: Ag. Asomaton, Athens 105 55, Greece
Open: Daily from 8 am to 10 pm

Plaka

Popular Athens Shopping Areas:

1) Plaka
This is the old and historic area of Athens located at the foothills of the  Acropolis.  If you just have limited time in Athens this is the  one area, you’ll want to visit.

​Here you'll find many small quaint shops, souvenir, and jewelry shops along with restaurants, cafes and taverns.   

Location: Adrianou Street, The Plaka, Athens, Greece

2) Ermou Street
A cobblestone street just over a mile stretches from Syntagma square to Pieros Street in the Kerameilos neighborhood.  This area features many international stores and local clothing boutique shops. 
Location:  Ermou Street, Athens, Greece

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3)  Aeolu and Agios Markos Streets
These are two popular streets with local shops selling yarn, shoes and clothes.  It is said you can find some great deals on off-brands but just need to be patient and willing to wade through many items till you find the perfect item. 

Location: Aeolu & Agios Markos Streets, Athens, Greece

4)  Athens Metro Mall
Located in the Agios Dimitrios area, this is the major mall for the Athens area and features a wide range of stores, cafes, restaurants and movie theaters.  You’ll find many brand name stores here.

Opening Hours: Mon-Sun, 9 AM-11 PM
Location: Par. Leof. Vouliagmenis 276, Ag. Dimitrios 173 43, Greece

Souvenir Store

What to  Buy:
Souvenirs:
Souvenir shops are located everywhere in Greece.  Wherever you go, you can find a nice shop with tourist souvenirs, like fridge magnets or candle holders shaped after a typical sight of the local area.  

For example, in the some of the Greek islands like Mykonos you can find candle holders in the shape of a windmill or a small church. 

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Greek Wines

Greek wine and Ouzo:
Apart from liqueurs, other typical local beverages are wine and ouzo. In fact, Greece has a large and high-quality wine production, therefore wine bottles are among the most popular things to buy in Greece.

Check out our blog and guide to Greek Wines for more information. 
 
Ouzo is also a famous Greek beverage that usually accompanies small dips and seafood in taverns. It is a dry anise-flavored aperitif similar to other anise liquors like Sambuca.  

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Ceramic Shop

Ceramics:
Many Greek islands have a long tradition in pottery art and ceramics.  You’ll find a variety of handmade decorative items, museum replicas, tiles, kitchenware along with ceramic jewelry. 

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Carpets and handmade Textiles:
Many Greek towns and islands have a long tradition with carpets, textiles, and other handmade weavings. Traditional Greek motives, decorative textiles,  handmade shirts and blouses are popular things to buy in Greece and give as presents.

Olive Oil

Olive Oil:
Greek olive oil is regarded as the best in the world, and you will find this everywhere.

Rich and aromatic, Greek olive oil is produced only from green olives. Its color, aroma and flavor vary depending on the location, type of soil, climatic conditions, and maturity of trees.  

The best and most expensive oils are produced and handpicked from a single green grove where the trees are the same age and soil is not varied so the taste is consistent in taste and structure.

Types of Greek olive oil rated from best to standard include:

• --Extra virgin olive oil: This is the best quality olive oil with exceptional color, aroma, flavor, and acidity that does not exceed 1%.
• --Virgin olive oil: This is differentiated from extra virgin olive oil not only because of the degree of acidity, which does not exceed 2%, but also because of its flavor.
• --Substandard virgin olive oil: This is an olive oil of medium quality and flavor with an acidity that exceeds 2%.
• --Mixed olive oil from refined and virgin olive oils: With a pleasant flavor and aroma, it has a yellow-greenish color, and its acidity does not exceed 1%.

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Olivewood items:
Olivewood is hard and strong and has a beautiful grain pattern, giving each individual carved piece a distinct aspect. 

With an abundance of olive trees Olivewood items are very popular in Greece.  Products range from kitchen utensils and decorative items to jewelry. You will find olivewood stores virtually anywhere in Greece and on the islands.

Spoon sweets:
Spoon sweets  are treats usually often served to welcome guests in your house. Consisting of fruits, and sometimes vegetables, preserved in syrup, these are served on spoons with a glass of water. You can find them anywhere in Greece and they are delicious sweets to offer guests back home.

Leather Goods Store

Leather goods:
Greece has a long tradition of leatherwork, so you add some leather pieces to your collection when visiting Greece. 
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From sandals, belts, bags, wallets, and purses as well as briefcases and many accessories, leather goods in Greece are made with good quality leather and will last you a lifetime.

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Most shops in Greece accept credit cards, but small grocery shops, kiosks and other shops in secluded places usually accept only cash so just ask beforehand if in doubt.

We hope this is helpful for your visit and creating your own shopping story.   Have fun making new discoveries.