Shopping in Athens – Ermou Street
It might be impossible to visit Athens and not find yourself on perhaps the most visited path in Athens, Ermou Street.
This shopping haven begins at Syntagma Square (Constitution Square) which is surrounded by the Parliament building, the Hotel Grande Bretagne, the National Gardens and the Syntagma metro station. From the metro station, follow the steps toward the iconic McDonalds and you’ve found your way to the beginning a very long, fashion-focused street.
Ermou Street is a pedestrian road surrounded by every shop imaginable on either side –clothing, jewelry, shoes, athletics gear, sunglasses, purses, souvenirs, electronics, toys and more. The street is laced with big name brands from Nike and Zara to small Greek boutiques showcasing hidden, unique gems.
On the street, you’ll find foreign street vendors selling pirated CDs and fake designer hand bags to Greeks selling tasty treats to snack on during your shopping journey –try the roasted corn and chestnuts.
I promise, you’ll be overwhelmed and in shopping bliss all at the same time! And, whether you want to spend Euros on this street or not, it’s worth spending a little time to explore.
Follow Ermou Street all the way down to discover Plaka and Monastiraki, where you can recover from a shopping hangover with an ice cold Frappe (coffee) and tiropita (cheese pie) at cobblestone sidewalk café.