Athens is one of those cities that has everything. A crossroads between Europe and the Middle East. Athens has long been a centre for craftsmanship; craftsmen jewellers, furriers, leatherworkers and ceramicists. Modern boutiques sit side by side with huge department stores and some of Europe's top establishments now have at least one store in the capital. Most visitors buy honey, olive oil, sponges, ceramics, gold and silver jewellery, shoes (a lesser-known craft, some of the best shoemakers and designers work in Greece), pottery, embroidery and even worry beads. The choice is there, it's up to you to discover the variety on offer.

The center of Athens is full of shops for music lovers and English-language readers. Before going to the music shops and bookstores, you can find English-language magazines and newspapers at the centers kiosk, such as the Financial Times, The European, USA Today, The International Herald Tribune and the Economist among other publications.

And for those interested in local news you may find the Athens News or the Greek News.

At the bookstores you may find anything your heart desires, starting from internation books, which you can find anywhere in the world, all the way to translations of modern Greek authors not easily found outside of Greece.

Athens is a collectors haven for music, since there are many music shops where you can find records no longes on the shelves.