Shopping In Thessaloniki - 12 Best Places to Shop till you Drop

Whatever your preferences are in terms of shopping, Thessaloniki can accommodate you! You will undoubtedly enjoy shopping while you are in Thessaloniki. Every shopper will find something they like in the city's diverse selection. Are you looking to shop in style? Do you prefer to shop at department stores for all your needs? Looking for tidbits of vintage charm that evoke nostalgia for a bygone era? Do you enjoy exploring and shopping at old-fashioned traditional markets? Tsimiski, Mitropoleos, and the streets nearby are the main shopping streets. Another excellent place to begin is by strolling through the lovely Aristotelous Square, where shops coexist with cafés and ouzo tavernas. In any case, the town's top shopping destinations are waiting to be found. Here is a list of locations to find the best markets and shops.

Shopping Avenues and Malls

1. Tsimiski Avenue

Following Venizelou Avenue, Tsimiski Avenue runs from Aggelaki Str., near the International Trade Fair area, to Ionos Dragoumi Str. Numerous boutiques, fashion stores, delicatessens, sizable bookstores, and roving vendors can be found along Tsimiski. On Tsimiski Avenue, close to Aristotelous Square, you'll find the Plateia shopping center, which houses the renowned Odeon multiplex cinemas. Tsimiski Av. is also home to numerous impressively large department stores like Nottos. If you're fortunate, you might find some well-known brands there for incredibly low prices. Since numerous local and lesser-known foreign bands perform on Tsimiski Avenue year-round, not just during the holiday season, your stroll will probably be accompanied by live music.

2. Mitropoleos Avenue

Nearly parallel to Tsimiski Avenue, Mitropoleos Avenue is shorter in length. In terms of cost, this street is much more expensive than Ermou Street and Proxenou Koromila Street. The visitor will find some of the city's well-known patisseries, outposts of well-known fashion brands, and smaller boutiques on Mitropoleos Street. Proxenou Koromila Street, formerly known as The First Parallel, is where most of the haute couture boutiques are found in the city's core. Take a break and socialize with the locals in one of the chic cafes, as this street is also well known among residents for its coffee shops and bars that are open until late at night, even on weekdays.

3. Agias Sofias Street

When it comes to shopping, Agias Sofia Street is a must-visit. A few less expensive fashion stores in this area sell fashionable apparel and accessories, as well as one or two contemporary cafes and patisseries. The well-known Agia Sofia Church, one of the few structures unharmed by the Great Fire of 1917, is located at Agia Sofia Street and Ermou Street. You can look at M. Tzobanaki's sculpture "Citizens," erected in 1987 on Agia Sofia Square, depicting citizens reading a newspaper. The renowned "Cookie Man" store is on Mackenzie King Street; visit here to try freshly baked cookies during your shopping excursion. Recently, a portion of Agia Sofia Street (from Tsimiski up to Ermou) was made a pedestrian street, allowing you to take your time and browse the stores that primarily sell clothing, fashion accessories, and shoes. Like Agias Theodoras, Agia Sofia is surrounded by streets and alleys where visitor can find additional vintage clothing stores and boutiques. What is unique is that while shopping, you can pass by the "Red House," a remarkable structure from 1928, which is located on the corner of Ermou and Agias Sofias Streets.

4. Egnatia Avenue

Although you will find some inexpensive stores on all of the above-mentioned streets, Egnatia Avenue is the place for those on a stricter budget. Numerous small shoe stores, fashion and accessory boutiques, bookstores, and newsstands can be found on the street. Egnatia Street is home to many inexpensive bakeries and bakeries where you can purchase a coffee, a small snack, or a pie. Note: The street is quite crowded early in the morning with drivers and students from the nearby Aristotle University.

5. Dimitriou Gounari Street

In addition to Egnatia Street, Dimitriou Gounari Str., also known as the Navarinou neighborhood after the nearby Navarinou Plaza, is a popular hangout for people with experimental tastes and tight budgets. You can find tattoo parlors, hippie fashion, accessory boutiques, some stores that offer cheap used CDs and LPs, collectible magazines, and books in this neighborhood. The herb sticks sold by rogue vendors in the area have a strong but enticing aroma. Once there, you can also explore Rotonda, Navarinou Plaza, and the Kamara monument (also known as the "Arch of Galerius"). You will quickly learn that almost anything you can imagine is for sale while strolling through the city center; you have to locate the appropriate location and shop to suit you.

6. Athonos Square

Numerous eateries that are popular with locals, college students, and tourists can be found around Athonos Square, which is close to Aristotelous Square and Kapani Market. Traditional small shops selling spices, food items, handcrafted straw items, and small furniture can be found on the streets surrounding Athonos. Additionally, the neighborhood is starting to house the little stores run by regional designers of jewelry, clothing, and other crafts.

7. Koromila Street

Proxenou Koromila, a short street, is home to more expensive haute couture brands; this street contains brands slightly more expensive than Mitropoleos Avenue. So if you're looking to shop for more pricey presents or treats for yourself or your loved ones, this is the place for you.

8. Mediterranean Cosmos Center

You can travel to the Mediterranean Cosmos Center outside of the city, which is situated on the route to the airport. This area has numerous renowned fashion stores, food courts, and a sizable movie theater. This is a great location to visit if you're interested in electronics, fashion, etc. The area is also home to many delicious restaurants and bars that will keep you entertained well into the night. There are also a few fantastic outlet malls. The One Salonica Outlet Mall, just outside the western part of the city, offers fantastic brands like Adidas, Lacoste, Puma, and more at intensely discounted prices. The Mega Outlet, a similar shopping center, is situated on the city's eastern edge, close to the airport.

Local Markets in Thessaloniki

In the city, there are some fantastic markets where you can score a great deal. These markets sell food, trinkets, handmade goods, crafts, and other goods. The Mondiano Market is the biggest one unavoidably encountered while strolling through the city's center. These markets sell many things, from freshly baked goods, meats, fish, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and other items, to crafts, clothing, gifts, shoes, and leather goods.

9. Modiano Market

Thessaloniki's Modiano market is the most well-known and established. This market, which is situated right in the centre of the city, has served as a gathering place for Thessalonians for more than 80 years. Walking through Modiano will instantly take you back to the early 1900s when daily life included the bustle of the neighborhood market. Eli Modiano created the market and built it in 1922. Eli, who studied architecture in Paris, started constructing some of his hometown's most well-known and stunning structures, including Modiano Market. Most of the stores and stalls inside Modiano Market today are food and other outlets selling items like fish, meat, exotic spices, cheeses, delicatessen, fresh fruits and vegetables, handcrafted items, clothing, shoes, gifts, leather goods, etc. There are a few taverns, cafes, and eateries where you can try some of the locally produced food.

10. Kapani Market

In Thessaloniki, one of the oldest markets is the Kapani Market. Since the Ottoman occupation began in the 15th century, it has met customers' needs. The entire area is covered with small shops selling local produce, great spices, different kinds of meat and fish, and the well-known Greek olives in a wide range of varieties. There are also travel necessities, cooking supplies, clothes, footwear, monastic items, and keepsakes. Everything is affordable, of high quality, and reasonable in price. Additionally, the neighborhood has numerous little eateries and grocery stores where you can grab a snack or take a break for lunch. Every day from five in the morning until six in the afternoon, the stores are open, with the exception of Sundays, when the market is closed. But you can see heaps of street art on the shop gates during this time.

11. Bit Bazaar

The magical Bit Bazaar is located a little east of the Roman Forum. This is the market to check out if you are interested in vintage goods or antique stores. Bit Bazaar opened in 1928 and was the place to shop for used goods, barter endlessly, and even close some very lucrative deals. Many of the old shops have been converted into quaint little bars and taverns today. However, a lot of second-hand and antique stores remain open, and they are the best place to find a bargain.

12. The Bezenteni Market

Bedesteni Market, a typical enclosed Ottoman market, is located across Venizelou Street (close to the Kapani market). In Greece, only three of them are still intact. This one was constructed during Sultan Mehmet II's reign. It is an antique Ottoman structure with six domes. There are several silver and jewelry shops there. The place is filled with little shops where you can buy carpets, flowers, textiles, and clothing that needs to be repaired.

Things to Buy in Thessaloniki

For haute couture:

• Tsimiski Avenue 
• Egnatia streets
• Ermou 
• Proxenou Koromila

For Brands:

• Plateia mall 
• Mediterranean Cosmos 
• Mega Outlet
• One Salonica Outlet Mall

For Traditional/Inexpensive/Handcrafted goods:

• Modiano market
• Kapani market
• Bit Bazaar
• Bezenteni Market
• Dimitriou Gounari Str.
• Athonos Square

For Vintage items:

• Dimitriou Gounari Str. 
• Navarino square

For Books:

• Tsimiski Avenue
• Proxenou Koromila
• Aristotelous Square

For Traditional Art/ Paintings/ Jewelry/

• The shop at the Teloglion Foundation of Art of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 
• The shop at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
• The shop at the Museum of Byzantine Culture

For Sweet and baked goods:

• Mitropoleos Avenue
• Agias Sofias Street
• Egnatia Avenue

Thessaloniki is a place where everyone will find what they are looking for. The city is famous for its historical markets, popular streets and crowded avenues. You can find the costliest of things to the most reasonable ones when out shopping. You must visit these places and experience Thessaloniki at its finest. Depending on your taste, need and budget, you can choose where to shop from. However, do visit the local markets as they exude the very essence of this city and are a lens to witness the history and culture of this beautiful city.