If you’re looking for the best shopping in Athens, Greece, you’ll find everything from major clothing stores and trendy boutiques to handmade jewelry, local artwork, leather goods, and traditional Greek souvenirs.
I knew Athens would have incredible historical sites, delicious food, and beautiful neighborhoods. But the SHOPPING?
Oh my gosh. I LOVED shopping in Athens!
What I especially liked was how different the shopping areas felt. One minute, we were browsing familiar clothing stores along a busy pedestrian street, and the next, we were wandering through market lanes filled with jewelry, artwork, and souvenirs, with ancient ruins practically around the corner.
We spent time shopping around Ermou Street, Monastiraki, Plaka, Syntagma Square, and Apostolou Pavlou. And yes, I definitely came home with jewelry, clothing, handmade artwork, and souvenirs.
Here’s where I’d recommend shopping in Athens, what you’ll find in each area, and which places ended up being my favorites.
If you love shopping for clothes while traveling, Ermou Street is probably where I’d start.
This is one of Athens’ main shopping streets, connecting the Syntagma area with Monastiraki, and it is FULL of stores. You’ll find international brands, clothing boutiques, shoe stores, accessories, cosmetics, and plenty of places nearby for coffee or a snack.
Unlike the more souvenir-focused areas of Athens, Ermou feels like a traditional city shopping street, and we LOVED it.
We spent time browsing clothing stores and found several fun things to bring home. One thing I always enjoy about shopping internationally is finding clothing or accessories I wouldn’t necessarily see at home. Even familiar brands sometimes have a different selection.
Much of the main shopping section is pedestrianized, which makes it easy to wander from store to store. Just be prepared for crowds because this is a popular shopping area for locals and visitors.
Best For: Clothing, shoes, accessories, mainstream brands, and traditional city shopping.
My Verdict: Our favorite area when we wanted to shop for clothes rather than souvenirs.
Now THIS was my kind of shopping. Monastiraki was probably my favorite area for shopping that felt more distinctly Greek.
The square itself is busy and surrounded by historic buildings, restaurants, shops, and ancient sites. But the shopping gets even more interesting once you start wandering through the surrounding lanes.
You’ll find jewelry, leather goods, souvenirs, clothing, vintage items, and all kinds of little treasures.
And can we talk about the JEWELRY in Greece? SO GOOD.
I found so many cute pieces during our trip, and Athens had an incredible amount of variety. If you’re looking for something more interesting than a standard souvenir, I’d definitely give yourself time to wander here rather than rushing through.
One of the main shopping streets is Ifestou Street, which begins near Monastiraki Square. Despite the name “flea market,” much of the area consists of permanent shops selling souvenirs, jewelry, shoes, clothing, and leather goods.
For more traditional flea-market finds like antiques and secondhand items, look around Avissinias Square and the neighboring streets.
WENDY’S TIP: Don’t stop at the shops immediately around Monastiraki Square. Wander farther into the smaller streets because that’s where the shopping starts to feel more interesting.
Best For: Jewelry, souvenirs, vintage finds, leather goods, and browsing.
My Verdict: My favorite area for more unique shopping in Athens.
This is one shopping area I definitely wouldn’t leave off the list.
We absolutely LOVED walking along Apostolou Pavlou, a wide pedestrian promenade near Thissio that runs along the western side of the Acropolis area.
It’s a beautiful place to walk even if you aren’t shopping, but what stood out to me were the handmade pieces and artwork we found along the way.
This felt completely different from browsing clothing stores on Ermou. We came across more artisan-style items, small crafts, jewelry, and artwork, and I LOVE bringing home art from our travels.
Street vendors and artists can vary depending on the day, so I wouldn’t expect the exact same stalls every time you visit. But if you enjoy handmade artwork or more unusual souvenirs, I’d absolutely include Apostolou Pavlou in your walking plans.
Best For: Handmade artwork, jewelry, local crafts, and a scenic shopping stroll.
My Verdict: One of our favorite shopping discoveries in Athens.
Plaka is a neighborhood where you can easily lose a few hours without meaning to. Located beneath the Acropolis, it’s filled with narrow streets, restaurants, cafés, historic buildings, and plenty of shops.
You’ll find traditional Greek souvenirs, jewelry, ceramics, artwork, olive-wood products, clothing, and smaller boutiques mixed throughout the neighborhood.
Adrianou Street is one of the main Athens shopping streets here, but I’d wander beyond it too. Plaka is touristy, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a reason to skip it. It’s pretty, convenient, and extremely easy to combine with sightseeing.
You can shop for a while, stop for lunch, visit a historic site, and then continue wandering, which is pretty much my ideal travel day.
If you’re visiting the Acropolis during your trip, my Visiting the Acropolis in Athens: Everything You Need to Know covers our experience and what I’d recommend before going.
Best For: Greek souvenirs, gifts, jewelry, boutiques, and shopping between sightseeing stops.
My Verdict: One of the easiest places to combine shopping with historic Athens.
I wouldn’t go to Syntagma Square specifically for a long shopping session, but it’s a convenient place to start one. The square sits in front of the Greek Parliament and is surrounded by hotels, businesses, cafés, and some of the city’s busiest streets.
We visited while sightseeing and stopped to see the Parliament and the Changing of the Guard.
From there, you can head directly toward Ermou Street, so it makes sense to combine the two rather than treating them as separate outings.
If shopping and walking around central Athens are priorities, staying near Syntagma or Monastiraki can make exploring these areas convenient. My Where to Stay in Athens Greece: Best Areas for First-Time Visitors compares the neighborhoods and helps narrow down where to book.
Best For: Starting a shopping route, sightseeing, and easy access to Ermou Street.
My Verdict: More useful as a starting point than a shopping destination itself.
Psyrri, also spelled Psirri, is near Monastiraki and is known for its street art, independent boutiques, vintage finds, restaurants, and nightlife. The shopping is more spread out than on Ermou, so it’s better for wandering than visiting a specific shopping street.
We walked through Psyrri, and what really stood out was how many restaurants there were! If you’re looking for somewhere to eat, this is a great neighborhood to explore. My Where to Eat in Athens Greece: Restaurants We Actually Tried covers more of our dining experiences.
If luxury shopping is more your style, Kolonaki is known for designer boutiques, upscale fashion stores, galleries, and stylish cafés.
We didn’t make this a major part of our shopping itinerary, but I’d keep it in mind if you’re looking for high-end fashion rather than souvenirs or traditional markets.
One of the best things about shopping in central Athens is how easily several areas connect on foot.
If I were planning a shopping-focused afternoon, here’s the route I’d take:
I’d visit Plaka separately while sightseeing around the Acropolis.
Allow at least three to four hours if you actually enjoy going inside stores rather than just walking past them. And if you’re like me and get distracted by every cute little shop, you may need considerably longer.
If you’re organizing the rest of your sightseeing, my The Perfect 3 Days in Athens Greece: A First-Time Itinerary can help you plan your time.
A few practical things I’d keep in mind:
ABSOLUTELY!
Now, I do love to shop, so my opinion may not be entirely valid if shopping gives you hives. Ha! If I could only choose two shopping areas again, I’d prioritize Monastiraki for the atmosphere and unique finds and Ermou Street for clothing.
But I’d still make time for Apostolou Pavlou because I LOVE finding handmade artwork while traveling. And judging by how much we brought home from Athens? I’d say we did pretty well.
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If you’re planning your first visit, start with my How to Plan a Trip to Greece: A First-Time Guide or explore more attractions in Best Things to Do in Athens Greece: 25+ Attractions for First-Time Visitors.
We stayed in different areas of Athens during our trip, and the locations made a difference depending on what we wanted to explore.
You can compare Athens hotels and prices before choosing your neighborhood.
For guided sightseeing, food experiences, and other activities, you can browse Athens tours and experiences.
If you’re interested in visiting more historic sites, my Athens Ancient Sites Walking Guide: Acropolis Agora and More covers how to explore them on foot.
My Greece Packing List: Everything You Need for Athens and the Greek Islands covers what I’d recommend bringing.
For a full day walking around Athens, a Nano Bag is useful for carrying smaller purchases without bringing an extra bulky bag. I also like having my Clutch Powerbank handy when we’re out exploring all day.
The part of European travel nobody puts in the highlight reel.
The blisters, the 20,000 steps before lunch, the train you almost missed, and somehow still saying “this is the best trip ever.” 😂
Thanks for following along on my travels! If you’re planning your own European getaway, you’ll find all my destination guides and itineraries on the blog. Link in bio!
If I could go back to one of the beaches in Hydra, Greece, it would be Avlaki. 🇬🇷
Of the two swimming spots I visited, this one was my favorite because it felt quieter, more private, and had the perfect spot for cliff jumping. It was a little rockier getting into the water, so water shoes are worth bringing, but it was such a fun way to spend part of the day.
If you’re visiting Hydra, add Avlaki Beach to your list!
I don’t even like seafood but @sunsethydra surprised me!
The panko-crusted feta with prickly pear chutney and pistachios was one of my favorites, and the Sunset Salad with fresh oranges and homemade orange-ginger dressing was so good. Even the bread and olive oil stood out!
Brad ordered the fresh catch of the day, sea bass, and loved it. And yes, even I enjoyed a bite!
Comment whether or not you’re a big seafood fan! 👇
Taking a day trip from Athens to Hydra? Here are 3 things to know before you book!
Book a high-speed ferry from Piraeus. Our ride took just 1 hour and 15 minutes each way, giving us almost 7 hours to explore.
Check your ferry options. We took Alpha Lines to Hydra and Magic Sea Ferries back. I personally preferred Alpha Lines for its open outdoor deck!
Plan to explore on foot. Hydra is car-free, and the ferry drops you right at the heart of town, making it easy to explore the harbor, shops, and waterfront restaurants as soon as you arrive.
Hydra ended up being one of my favorite days in Greece! Head to the blog for my full ferry guide, booking tips, and everything I wish I’d known before going.
I had less than 7 hours to spend in Hydra, Greece, and here is how I made the most of it.
From waterfront lunch to swimming at two beautiful beaches, this day trip was one of my favorite parts of Greece.
Read my full Hydra itinerary on the blog and save this for your trip!
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
