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Athens guide » Athens shopping |
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A wide variety of items, from throughout Greece can be purchased in
the centre of Athens to take back home as souvenir.
For leather
items such as bags, jackets, and sandals, you can find good value
for money and good quality anywhere in centre of Athens. For the lovers
of gold and silver, the variety is impressive. You can choose from
originally designed jewellery
based on ancient or modern patterns, or exquisite copies of gold and
silver jewellery. If you require new decorative ideas,
you can find original ideas in ceramics
and pottery both for you or your friends. Another great purchase
are icons
that are still painted in the traditional manner on wooden panels.
Kilims and hand woven fabrics in traditional patterns
are also a very authentic choice. However, you can remain classic
and buy miniature copies of statues in plaster or marble that are
available in many museums in Greece.
Another very good idea is not leave Greece without taking some great
greek music with you.
These items are available in the main shopping area downtown around
Syntagma, Plaka and Monastiraki,
the flea market.
Your best bet to find souvenirs and jewellery is at
Pandrossou pedestrian walkway. A myriad of small stalls carry everything
from first-class junk to quality cooper, brass, antique jewellery,
icons, paintings,
rare books, coins and leather goods. Monastiraki comes alive on Sundays
from 08.00 to 13.00. Other interesting gift idea is museum copies
of ancient Greek art, sold in many shops and at the National
Archaeological Museum. Greek food specialties found at mini markets
near Syntagma square.
Jewellery
always seems to be a hot item for tourists visiting Greece. The country
may not be known for its gold producing, but it has a history of at
least 3.000 years of manufacturing unique and skillful hand-crafted
gold jewellery. Eighty percent of the jewellery sold in the 4.000
jewellery shops throughout Greece is handicraft and every piece of
jewellery passes through four to five technicians. Greek jewellery
offers a lot of creativity in design, low labour costs and very good
technicians. It all adds up to a smart investment and a very nice
gift to take back home.
Most of these shops in Athens are located on Voukourestiou and Mitropoleos
streets and Syntagma square in the centre of the city and in the Plaka
area as well. In nearby Voukourestiou Str., you will find the renowned
Chopard collections. Besides jewelry shops, the pedestrian walkway
offers men's
and women's top fashion clothes stores as well as cafes
and restaurants.
One of the main thoroughfares of Syntagma Sq., the Ermou walkway,
is the most popular shopping area for both visitors and residents.
The stores line on both sides of the walkway, reaching from Syntagma
Sq. to Monastiraki, specializing in women's wear particularly as well
as hosting a number of fashionable shoe shops.
Nearby Mitropoleos Street specializes in fur shops, top quality jewellery
shops and dozens of souvenir shops.
There are a handful of large and well-known department stores offering
reasonably priced items ranging from household goods and appliances
to clothing, shoes, home
decor art objects and more individualized commodities. Some even
have Greek souvenir
for sale.
Shopping hours are normally 09.00-15.00 Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
and 09.00-13.30, 17.30- 20.30 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Sundays
most shops are closed except those in tourist areas.
Simply call us (tel: 210-9424464, mobile: 6938-009988)
to take you for shopping, while in Athens, or reserve
with your city tour.
Our cabs will take you for a shopping tour from 25€ per
hour.
See also: Going to... Shops in Athens
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