Travel and shopping tips and options
They say that money can’t buy happiness. Still, there are many happy things you can do with it, like – endless shopping! Greece invites you to explore the variety of its boutiques, shops, malls, flea markets, and food markets during your travels here.
Athens
As expected, Athens leads the way, with many designer shops, especially in the Kolonaki, Kifissia, and Glyfada districts, and several shopping malls within the city and on the outskirts. Add traditional neighborhoods such as Monastiraki, Thiseio, Plaka, and Exarcheia, which are vibrant hotspots for Greeks and tourists alike. These must-visit areas are a stone’s throw from Syntagma Square and the Acropolis. In their narrow, picturesque streets, some car-free, you will find almost everything under the sun: souvenirs; bric-a-brac; antiques; refurbished, shabby-chic or vintage furniture items; clothing; leather goods; jewelry; and even traditional foods, next to quaint little cafés, tavernas, restaurants, and nightclubs.
Thessaloniki
In northern Greece, Thessaloniki offers visitors a world of choice for shopping sprees. By the waterfront, explore the lively neighborhood around Aristotelous Square, lined with beautiful neoclassical buildings; go shopping along Tsimiski Avenue, Ermou, Mitropoleos, Proxenou Koromila, and Egnatia Streets. This area is very popular with tourists and ideal for your buys: you’ll find department stores, boutiques, clothes shops, leather items, jewelry, fashion accessories, and also cafés, bakeries, and confectioneries. You might come across small musical groups offering entertainment to passers-by during your shopping trips. Make sure you also visit the marketplaces Thessaloniki is famous for: the Modiano Market and the Kapani Food Market, located within a short distance of each other. You will be seduced by the aromas wafting through the air; there’s an immense variety of savory and sweet foods, such as local fruit and vegetables, meat, seafood, candy, pastry, spices, organic products, ethnic food, and more. There’s a lot to be said about the local nightlife, too. Visit the nearby Ladadika area and enjoy your dinner or drinks in the local eateries, tavernas, bistros, bars, and clubs. The night owls among you will be happy to know that the clubs and bars don’t close until the early hours!
Kavala
Another northern Greek town, Kavala, is a destination full of contrasts, where the traditional and modern ways of life have mingled. This picturesque town is washed by the Aegean Sea and is located east of the green Mt. Pangaio nearby. You’ll have plenty of options for sightseeing and exploring the local market in the Shopping Centre of Kavala, housed in an impressive, refurbished tobacco warehouse. Also, shop in the Agios Nikolaos neighborhood, the port area, and in the Old Town. For a taste of the local nightlife, take your pick from the tavernas, cafés, and clubs in and around the Panagia neighborhood.
