Best Shopping Neighborhoods in Athens

Athens shopping rewards curiosity, with a commercial landscape that ranges from ancient market streets to contemporary design studios, all connected by a walkable city center. The prices are notably lower than western European capitals, which makes the city particularly rewarding for food, leather goods, and artisan products.

Monastiraki is the obvious starting point. The flea market on Sundays fills Avissinia Square and the surrounding streets with antiques, vintage furniture, old records, and assorted curiosities. During the week, the permanent shops on Ifestou Street sell leather sandals, handmade jewelry, and ceramics -- quality varies, so examine carefully. Adrianou Street has become touristy, but the side streets hiding behind it still hold genuine workshops.

Ermou Street is the main high-street shopping strip running from Syntagma Square to Monastiraki, but the more interesting section is the upper part near Syntagma, where Attica department store occupies a grand building. Turn off Ermou onto the smaller streets heading toward Plaka for jewelers, icon painters, and traditional grocery shops selling olive oil, honey, and spices.

Kolonaki is the upscale neighborhood, with Greek and international designer boutiques along Tsakalof, Skoufa, and Voukourestiou streets. It is also where you will find the best bookshops, including Politeia with its several floors of titles. The streets around Plateia Dexameni have homeware shops and galleries.

For food shopping, the Varvakeios central market is unmissable for its fish, meat, and olive sections. The surrounding streets on Athinas and Evripidou are lined with spice shops, nut vendors, and stores selling pastourma, loukaniko, and every variety of olive imaginable. Evripidou Street in particular is a sensory experience.

Psyrri has developed an artisan shopping scene, with leather workshops, ceramicists, and small Greek fashion labels opening in renovated neoclassical buildings. Forget Me Not on Adrianou Street curates the best of Greek design -- ceramics, textiles, and jewelry -- from contemporary makers.

Timing: shops typically close for siesta between 2pm and 5pm on weekdays, then reopen until 8 or 9pm. Saturday afternoons many shops close entirely.