The Flea Markets of Greece

Monastiraki is the Flea Market heaven of flea markets. If you are taking a trip to Greece you can't miss it. Travel to Athens on Sunday for the flea markets that gives visitors, who love shopping, an array of modern to the ancient and the market is among the ancient streets of Athens. What a dream come true.

Monastiraki is part of Athens old area. It sits under Acroplis and leads you to the Palka area which is directly under the ancient site. The open markets are only open on Sundays, so plan your time around it. Make sure you join the activities that leads you around the narrow streets lined with small square stands and shops selling thousands of artifacts and much more.

Pandrossou and Ifaistu are the main shopping streets. They lead you off to other streets with just as many exciting merchants for shoppers to look through. Even though the market is open only on Sundays, there are many shops open any day of the week. Normal daily shopping offers wire fencing, office furniture and ironmongery; not exactly the elegant boutiques in the beginning shops.

You can only imagine what you will find. The things that are offered at the Flea Market are fascinating. One can find anything from Nazi uniforms to Mickey Mouse clocks. Roman helmets, old money, pine cabinets, ceramics, terracotta and marble ware name a few. Old chest sets, or new ones of silver, old copper pans and bronze hearth sets, jewelery, chandeliers and phonograph are some more. Anything from antiques to junk and of course the regular souvenirs of Athens can be purchased.

If you like to bargain, it's completely acceptable here and all through Greece; in fact they see it as fun too.

The shopping habits, tradesmen, its people and variety shows are what Greece is all about. It hasn't changed in centuries. The mixture of old and new is the perception of Greece. It will keep you busy with site seeing and of course, shopping for many days. Travel agents urge to reserve at least three days of travel when visiting Athens.