"The Plaka is a separate destination within Athens" Plaka by Confucius

Plaka Travel Guide: 22 reviews and 36 photos

Shop after shop all selling the same souvenirs

The Plaka has a plethora of tacky tourist shops

You might want to save the Plaka for last during your stay in Athens. It is mainly a tourist shopping district, although there are also a few historic attractions and a couple churches of interest. The Plaka district is also popular for its outdoor cafes, where you can enjoy views of the Acropolis and passing tourists.
Yet the overwhelming image you get from walking around the Plaka is the multitude of merchants selling every type of souvenir. You can find good bargains, but you'll need to take time comparing prices as the Hellas hat I finally bought for 3 Euros was being sold for 4, 5, and even 7 Euros elsewhere within the Plaka.

People from all over Greece converge on the Plaka

If I hear "Never on Sunday" one more time...

I was told by my tour guide that the Plaka attracts not only tourists from all over the world but also Greeks from every part of Greece. I can only guess that this meandering musician wandered into the Plaka from afar.

The Plaka has plenty of popular outdoor cafes

Here is Zorba's Cafe. They'll teach you to dance!

I saw an extraordinary number of outdoor cafes in the Plaka district. They seem to be popular with tourists as there were plenty that had no seats available during my lunchtime stroll. Not all have views of the Acropolis, as some people are content to just sit and watch other tourists who are walking around in search of an outdoor cafe.

Pros and Cons

Pros:The best place to buy all of your Greece souvenirs
Cons:Prices vary for the same item so shop around first
In a nutshell:Start early; then shop 'til you drop at an outdoor cafe

Last visit to Plaka: Apr 2006
Intro Updated Jun 12, 2006
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Reviews (3)

Closing time's the best opportunity for good deals - Plaka

Glove at first sight? Shop around and... Shopping (1)

One of the first things I noticed when walking Plaka's streets is that many merchants are selling the same souvenirs.... more travel advice

A morning photo of Plaka's ancient Tower of Winds - Plaka

Tower of the Winds Things to Do (1)

This octagonal marble structure was built nearly fifty years before the birth of Christ. Each of the wind's directions... more travel advice

Hello! Sponges here! Wanna buy a Greek sponge? - Plaka

Absorb the atmosphere of Plaka's sponge... Favorites (1)

I didn't know Greece was famous for natural sponges. There are shops in the Plaka that sell almost nothing but sea... more travel advice

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Comments (2)

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tini58de Jun 25, 2007 at 10:25 PM

Lovely little page! It was quite unexpected to find the Athens Plaka here - definitely a great area within Athens!
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nickandchris Jul 4, 2006 at 3:49 AM

Great little page here. I hope those sponges smell better than the one we once found washed up on the beach......