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The capital’s chic designer boutiques line the streets of Kolonaki, with shoe emporia and high street chains on Ermou and Patission. The bargain market areas are Monastiraki, Psiri and Thissio. However, some suburbs have recently made challenging bids to the centre’s fashion monopoly, and leafy Kifissia in the north hosts a wealth of upmarket designer boutiques and elegant shopping malls filled with expensive imports. In the south, Glyfada boasts a Miami-style coastal boulevard containing branches of most of the centre’s clothing, shoe, accessory, home decoration and beauty stores.

As a general rule, shops open 9am–3pm Mon, Wed and Sat; 9am– 2:30pm & 5–8:30pm Tue, Thu and Fri. Department stores, shops in tourist areas, florists, bakeries and many larger shops stay open later and often do not close for lunch. Chemists are closed Sat, and street kiosks often stay open until midnight.

Most Athens shops accept any major credit card (VISA, American Express, Mastercard, Diners Club), although smaller, family-run shops and tavernas may not. In the countryside and on the islands not only do many establishments refuse credit cards, but also cash points are often few and far between. So, if you are planning a day trip from Athens, make sure you take plenty of cash with you.

VAT of roughly 18% is included in the price of most items bought in Greece; edible produce is taxed at 8.5%.

Goods can be exchanged with a receipt. Although Greek law states that a refund must be given if a customer is dissatisfied with an item purchased, in practice shops will always offer an exchange instead.

Sunday is the day for Athens’ flea market and the flea market in Piraeus (see Sunday Morning Flea Market). Additionally, each area of Athens holds its own weekly street market, the laiko , at which local residents purchase fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and even underwear.

Jan/Feb and August are the proper sales months, but you will find shops with prosfores (discounts) throughout the year. Stock shops such as The Factory Outlet on Pireos (running between Plateia Omonia and Piraeus) has a wide range of designer brands at bargain prices.

Plaka and Monastiraki are the best areas for traditional gifts such as handicrafts, vases, leather goods and worry beads aplenty, as well as more contemporary pieces by young Greek artists. The area around Athinas is the best place to buy olives and olive oil, Greek cheeses, honey, spices, herbs, tin trays and jugs.

Both the Benaki Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art sell excellent reproductions. The former stocks copies of icons, sculptures and ancient vases, toys and jewellery; the latter trades in wonderful replicas of Cycladic figurines.

Greece is justly renowned for its jewellery. Old masters Lalaounis (see Lalaounis Museum & Lalaounis Museum Jewellery Shop) and Zolotas, both famous for intricate works in gold, have showrooms on Voukourestiou, alongside international brands like Bulgari and Gavello. Newer talents, such as Elena Votsi and Lito Karacostanoglou are based in chic Kolonaki. Global high street jeweller and watchmaker Folli Follie has boutiques in most upmarket retail areas of Athens.