Shopping in Athens is best done the way the city itself moves: on foot, slowly, with a coffee stop in the middle. Three neighborhoods offer three moods, from the polished boutiques of Kolonaki to the workshops of Monastiraki and the lanes of Plaka. Here is a route for a day of Greek gold, handmade sandals and fashion with a sense of place.
Kolonaki: jewelry and designers
Begin where the city dresses well. Kolonaki is Athens at its most elegant, with a roster of Greek houses worth knowing. Lalaounis makes museum-worthy gold jewelry inspired by ancient Greek techniques. Zolotas works in a similar spirit, with gold jewelry inspired by antiquity. Even if you only look, the windows are a lesson in craft.
For clothing, look at Zeus+Dione, whose modern pieces are inspired by Greek mythology, as well as Deux Hommes for contemporary menswear and Ioanna Kourbela for architectural womenswear. Kolonaki is also home to higher-end antique galleries with fine art and period furniture, which are lovely to browse even if you buy nothing.
Monastiraki: the poet sandal maker
Cross into the old center and the pace changes. On Agias Theklas Street, Melissinos Art is a family workshop known as the home of the poet sandal maker, making custom handmade leather sandals since the 1920s. It is a small, memorable ritual. Allow time.
Around Ifestou Street you will find leather goods and vintage records, and on Avissinias Square, antique dealers show Ottoman-era copperware and mid-century Greek furniture. On Sundays the flea market brings out antique furniture, vintage cameras, secondhand books and old coins. Nearby bookshops reward a slow look too, with photography books, vintage maps and art prints.
Plaka: souvenirs, workshops and a jewelry museum
Plaka is the place for gifts with character. Pandrosou Street offers leather sandals, olive wood items, Greek cosmetics and food products, while Adrianou Street is known for decorative plates, cups and tiles. In Anafiotika there are fewer shops and more artisan workshops. If you wish to see the craft behind the Kolonaki boutique, the Lalaounis Jewelry Museum shows gold pieces by the same jeweler.
Planning a day of shopping in Athens
Start in Kolonaki, then head to Monastiraki and Plaka in the afternoon. Boutique hours vary, so check before you set out. Ermou Street is where Greek fashion brands sit alongside international names, and its side streets near Kapnikarea church hold independent boutiques and concept stores.
Round off the day with our guide to a slow day at the Acropolis Museum, which pairs naturally with a walk through the old center.
