Monastiraki Flea Market

In the Monastiraki Flea Market, around the busy square that gives it its name, Monastiraki is the district where the old city's market tradition survives in the middle of Athens. The name means 'little monastery' and comes from the church of the Pantanassa that stands on the square. The square sits at the meeting of several streets, with the metro station, the Tzistarakis Mosque and a view up to the Acropolis, and many visitors arrive by train and step straight into the crowd.

The stalls fan out along Ifestou Street, which runs west from the square, and the lanes around Pandrossou Street. In the shops and at stalls, Greek vendors sell leather sandals, ceramics, olive oil products, backgammon boards, worry beads, brass and copper ware, secondhand books, vinyl, vintage clothing and the sort of mixed antiques that reward browsing. Ifestou Street, named after the god of metalworking, has a long tradition of antique and curio dealers. On Sundays the market expands onto Avissinias Square, where dealers lay out old tools, furniture, coins and curiosities in an informal sale.

The atmosphere is part of the draw. Shopkeepers call out to customers, and haggling is accepted in the antique and souvenir shops, although it is gentler than in some bazaars. Cafes on rooftop terraces overlook the square and the ancient rock behind, so this is a good place for a break with a view of the Parthenon at sunset. Nearby, the Roman Agora and Hadrian's Library are visible from the street, and the Ancient Agora lies a few minutes to the west; the Temple of Olympian Zeus is further away to the southeast.

Visitors should expect crowds in the afternoon and especially on weekends, and keep valuables close, as in any busy tourist area. Weekday mornings are calmer and give a better chance to browse. Operating hours are loose; shops generally open mid-morning and stay open until evening, but individual hours vary.

The market is a good place to pick up gifts such as hand-woven bags, olive-wood spoons, icons, jewellery and small ceramics, usually at friendlier prices than in the souvenir shops near the Acropolis. Compare a few stalls before buying, and look at the construction of leather goods carefully.

Monastiraki connects easily with Plaka and the Acropolis, and an hour or two wandering the lanes works well between sights, as much for the atmosphere as for any purchase.