Buying Well in Greece
Greek souvenir shops near cruise ports and famous sites sell much the same imported goods: printed T-shirts, plaster statuettes and fridge magnets. The better souvenirs are products Greece actually makes, bought from the places that make or sell them to locals. Before buying, it also helps to know what you cannot take out of the country, because Greek law on antiquities is strict and enforced.
Food and Drink
Food is the easiest Greek souvenir to get right.
- Olive oil. Buy extra virgin oil in tins from a producer, cooperative or regional supermarket, and check the harvest date. Protected regional oils include Kalamata, Sitia and Kolymvari on Crete.
- Mastic (masticha). The resin of the mastic tree, grown commercially only in the south of Chios and protected as Masticha Chiou PDO. It is sold as raw "tears", chewing gum, liqueur and in cosmetics.
- Honey. Thyme honey from the islands and pine honey from areas such as Thassos and Evia are typical. Buy from beekeepers or delis with clear labelling.
- Saffron. Krokos Kozanis, a PDO saffron from northern Greece, is sold in small sealed packs.
- Herbs and teas. Dried oregano, mountain tea (sideritis) and dittany from Crete are light and easy to pack.
- Spirits and wine. Ouzo, tsipouro, Cretan tsikoudia and wines from Santorini (Assyrtiko), Nemea and Naoussa travel well in checked bags.
- Sweets. Loukoumi from Syros (protected as Loukoumi Syrou) and spoon sweets in jars.
Feta and other cheeses are tempting, but check your home country's import rules first (see below).
Crafts and Things Made in Greece
- Komboloi (worry beads). Strings of beads used to pass the time, sold in amber, resin, wood, horn and stone. Specialist shops in Athens and Nafplio explain the materials; cheap plastic versions are everywhere.
- Evil eye (mati) charms. Blue glass eyes on bracelets, keyrings and wall hangings. Inexpensive and widely sold, though many are imported.
- Leather sandals. Athens has a tradition of handmade sandal workshops, especially in the Monastiraki area, and some island towns have their own makers.
- Hand-painted icons. Genuine icons are painted on wood with egg tempera and gold leaf and are priced accordingly. Mass-produced icons are printed images glued to wood. Ask whether a piece is hand-painted and by whom.
- Ceramics. Island workshops on Sifnos, in Crete and elsewhere still throw pots for kitchen use, which make better souvenirs than painted copies of ancient vases.
- Textiles. Woven and embroidered textiles are made on Crete and in mountain villages. Expect real hand-weaving to be expensive; low prices usually mean machine-made imports.
- Olive-wood kitchenware. Spoons, bowls and boards are practical and light, but some are imported, so ask where they were made.
Replicas of Ancient Art
Museum-quality replicas of ancient sculpture, pottery and jewellery are legal to buy and take home. The safest sources are the official shops in the major archaeological museums and established specialist shops, which supply documentation stating the object is a copy. Keep the receipt with the item, so a customs officer can see at once that it is a reproduction.
Antiquities Need an Export Permit
Genuine antiquities, and certain later objects of historical or cultural importance, cannot leave Greece without an export permit from the Ministry of Culture. The rule dates back to Greece's first archaeological law in the 1830s and is applied strictly at airports and ports. Exporting an antiquity without a permit is a criminal offence.
In practice this means:
- Do not buy anything offered as a genuine ancient coin, pot or figurine from a market stall or a private seller. It is either fake or illegal.
- A legitimate dealer selling an older item will handle the permit process. Ask about it before you pay.
- Do not pick up fragments of pottery, marble or stone at archaeological sites, even small pieces. Removing anything from a protected site is illegal.
- Taking sand, pebbles or stones from beaches is also prohibited in Greece, and fines are possible.
Food Rules in Your Home Country
Greece is in the EU, so travellers to other EU countries can carry most food for personal use. Outside the EU, rules differ. The UK, for example, has banned personal imports of most meat and dairy from EU countries since April 2025, which includes cheese such as feta. The US, Canada and Australia all require food to be declared on arrival and restrict meat and some other items. Olive oil, honey, spirits and sealed packaged goods are generally the least problematic, but check your own customs authority's guidance before buying.
Packing and Paying
Liquids over 100 ml, including oil, honey and spirits, have to go in checked luggage unless you buy them after airport security. Tins and plastic bottles survive the hold better than glass; wrap bottles in clothes inside sealed bags.
Card payments are accepted in most shops, though small producers and market stalls may prefer cash. Visitors from outside the EU can claim a VAT refund on larger purchases from shops that offer tax-free shopping, if they ask for the paperwork at the time of purchase and have it stamped at departure.
