Athens's shopping divides cleanly between the central tourist streets (Plaka and Monastiraki) and the residential districts where Athenians actually shop (Kolonaki and the streets around Syntagma).
For souvenirs and crafts, the Plaka lanes have an inexhaustible supply of olive-wood, ceramics, embroidered linens, leather sandals, and worry beads. Quality is uneven; the better small shops sit on the side streets rather than the main pedestrian routes. Adrianou and Pandrossou are the two most concentrated stretches.
For the Monastiraki Flea Market, see the separate entry. Sundays are the most spectacular.
For serious shopping, Kolonaki holds the major Greek designers, the foreign luxury brands, and the city's best concentration of art galleries. Voukourestiou is the most concentrated luxury street.
For books, Ianos on Stadiou and Politeia in Kolonaki are the two best general bookshops, with English-language sections. Compendium on Nikis Street near Syntagma is the long-running second-hand English-language shop and a useful resource for travellers.