The Central Market of Athens

You can buy just about anything in Athens and even on a purely visual level the city's markets and bazaar areas are worth some hours wandering. Among these markets, don't miss the Athens central market. You will find it when you go up on Athinas from Monastiraki to Omonia, on your right just past Evripidou.

The Athens central market (Varvakios Agora) is a great place to save money on food. You’ll find halls of meat, fish, vegetables and fruits from all over Greece. The market is open Monday through Saturday from about 08:00 to 18:00pm. This is a great place to buy meat, fish, vegetables, Greek spices and herbs, cheeses and sweets and to see how Athens is fed. Wear shoes as the floor may be a bit slippery, especially in the fish market.

Assuming that a restaurant within the Athens Central Market will have the freshest products available, just about anywhere, we recommend dining in one of the four working class (one is kind of a secret underground restaurant in the vegetable market close to the olive shops), no frills ouzeries and sit down restaurants in the market. Doesn’t matter which one either as you may have to wait in line for a place to sit in these cramped but delicious establishments.

Try the patsas soup. It is made of bull or lamb stomach wall and lamb feet but it is a great hangover killer and good for your blood. Patsas is the working class food and it can be eaten any time of the day. You will find restaurants serving patsas in almost every Greek town. If you like “life as it is”-photos, don’t forget your camera. You’ll need it.

Opening hours and admission
Athinas, Armodiou, Filopimenos and Aristogitonos Streets
Omonia or Monastiraki
Central Market photos

Athens' street markets

In addition to the central market, many Athenian neighborhoods have a laeki agora or street market on a set day of the week. Usually running from 07:00 to 14:00, these are inexpensive and enjoyable, selling household items and dry goods, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables, dried herbs and nuts.

The most centrally located ones are: Hansen street in Patission on Monday; Lesvou in Kypseli and Laskou in Pangrati, both on Tuesday; Xenokratous in Kolonaki, Dragoumi in Ilisia, Tsami Karatassou in Koukaki and Arhimidhous in Mets, all on Friday and Plakendias in Ambelokipi (one of the largest) and Kallidhromiou in Exarhia, both on Saturday. Finally, if you're after Greek plants or herbs , there's a Sunday morning gathering of stalls on Vikela in Patission and plants and flowers on sale daily at the Platia Ayias Irinis near Ermou Street.