Shopping in Athens - the Best Areas to Shop

Like every European capital, Athens has many different shopping areas scattered throughout the city and each neighborhood has its own special features and atmosphere. You’ll be surely spoilt for choice as regards your shopping time, but you shall know where to go according to your specific needs, budget and tastes.

Let’s see where to plan your shopping day in Athens!

Athens Shopping Guide

Monastiraki with its busy and vibrant flea market

The main shopping attraction of Monastiraki is its famous flea market reminding of a chaotic Middle Eastern bazaar. It is composed of some actual antique and furniture shops and of many stalls running along the narrow alleys of the neighborhood, as well as around its metro station.

They sell anything you can imagine and quality is not always high, but you’ll find the best gifts while searching for some local handicraft objects. While wandering around the streets, you’ll find yourself in Avissinias Square, where the “real” flea market is, with plenty of stalls selling vintage goods.

How to get there: M1 and M3 – Monastiraki stop

Plaka with its souvenir shops

Plaka is one of the most popular neighborhoods among tourists and it’s also the one with the highest concentration of souvenir and gift shops for any budget and taste.

What to buy:

Handmade jewellery, copies of ancient artefacts, olive oil, honey, ouzo, local wine, natural soap, T-Shirts and other typical souvenirs

A few of my favorite shops:

Brettos (41, Kidathineon Street): a picturesque place that will surely catch your eye with its many colourful bottles of handmade ouzo
Forget Me Not (100, Adrianou Street): a modern shop selling quality modern souvenirs, like T-shirts, sandals, books, home accessories, a great souvenir for kids like ancient greek gods Playmobil etc
DiaTafta Greek Products (35, Andrianou Street): a shop selling traditional greek products. From olives, olive oil, greek wines, and cosmetics made from greek products.

How to get there: Plaka is just in the foothills of the Acropolis, so it’s a perfect stroll to relax after a day of sightseeing. Alternatively, with the metro, you can use Acropolis metro station or Monastiraki metro station.

Psiri with its creative and alternative shops

Shopping addicts will find many unusual and creative small boutiques in Psiri, but some high-end products and trendy brands too. In Psiri, there’s also something for the food lovers, especially in Evripidou Street with its shops selling local gastronomic specialties and high-quality ingredients.

What to buy:

Creative jewellery, perfumes, leather accessories, trendy clothes & shoes, local ingredients and gastronomic specialities

A few of my favorite shops:

Sabater Hermanos (31, Agion Anargyron Street): they sell handmade, natural and colorful soap
Karras Leather (12, Miaouli Street): if you like leather bags, that’s the right shop for you
Elixir (41, Evripidou Street): this old-fashioned shop has many herbs and spices of the finest quality

How to get there: Psiri is the neighborhood next to Monastiraki, so you can continue your shopping day after visiting the flea market.

Kolonaki with its luxury shops

This aristocratic neighbourhood is perfect for a high budget because its boutiques display the main international luxury brands such as Dior, Prada, Hermes and so on. The best boutiques are in Patriarchou Ioakim Street, Voukourestiou street, Skoufa Street and Tsakalof Street.

What to buy:

Luxury clothes, shoes and bags, jewelry, design objects

A few tips:

Attica Department Store (9, Panepistimiou Street): this trendy mall is the largest one in town and it’s housed inside a neoclassical building covering a whole block.
Kombologadiko (9, Amerikis Street): you’ll find the traditional komboloi (worry beads) made from various semi-precious stones.
Callista Crafts (11, Voukourestiou Street): the perfect place for bags lovers

How to get there: M3 – Evangelismos stop

And if you feel like venturing out to the suburbs you can choose

Glamourous Kifisia

This upper-class neighborhood is located north of the city center and it is relatively close to the main shopping streets in town (about 30 minutes by metro). It’s a good solution to enjoy your shopping in a quieter environment far from the busy central streets and malls. Kifissia is full of boutiques and elegant shops for real fashion addicts.

What to buy:

Clothes, accessories, jewelry

A few shops

Minas (8, Emmanouil Mpenaki 8): it is the perfect place to find an original and creative jewel

How to get there: M1 – last stop (Kifissia)

Exclusive Glyfada

This popular shopping area is located south of the city center, really close to the beaches. It has plenty of luxury and glamorous shops and boutiques running along the tram tracks. This neighborhood is relatively close to the city center (about 40 minutes by tram) and it’s an ideal destination for a day trip combining sunbathing on the beach, shopping, and a night out in one of the many restaurants and entertainment facilities of the area.

What to buy:

Clothes, accessories, cosmetics

Some recommended shops:

Rosina Perfumery (6, Giannitsopoulou Street): a luxury perfume boutique that will surely please all the fashion enthusiasts
Zerteo Jewelry (78, Kirpou Street): it’s perfect for a gift since it has many exclusive design creations

How to get there: Coastal Tram

Where to enjoy the best window shopping in Athens

Ermou Street: from Syntagma Square, take this long pedestrian street reaching Plaka and Monastiraki and displaying the main low-cost and popular international brands like Zara, H&M, Mac, etc. It’s always crowded, especially during the weekend, but it’s really central and has a great atmosphere. You can also go there in the evening and stop at one of its many restaurants and cafes.

Adrianou Street: if you don’t know what kind of souvenir to buy, have a walk in Plaka and explore the many gift shops of Adrianou Street

Protogenous Street: if you like vintage and ethnic looks, have a walk along this small street in Psiri

Voukourestiou Street: this nice shopping street is close to the Grande Bretagne Hotel and to Syntagma Square. It has an elegant atmosphere and it’s full of luxury shops.

The main shopping malls in Athens

During a hot summer day, have a break from the burning sun and spend a few hours in one of these large shopping malls:

Athens Metro Mall (Par. Leof. Vouliagmenis 276, Ag. Dimitrios 173): it is located close to the Agios Dimitrios metro station, so it’s really easy to get there from the city center. It’s not as large as other malls, but it includes about 90 shops and 18 restaurants and cafés. There are also 5 movie theaters and a skating rink.

How to get there: M2 – Agios Dimitrios stop