9 Best Places to Go Shopping in Santorini

Fira is the capital of Santorini and a main centre for shopping, with a huge variety of shops and diverse products from jewellery to clothes to housewares. The city centre is marked by the famed 'Gold Street' that features more than 40 jewellers selling precious and semiprecious stones, chains, gold, silver and other adornments. Many of these shops offer handmade, authentic items that are truly unique and part of the island's tradition, while others are ultramodern in their presentation.

Also in the city centre, you can find shops that offer the latest in Greek haute couture fashion as well as bags and accessories. If you're looking for a spot to adorn yourself in style, Fira has it.

Santorini ceramic and pottery stores allow you to find stunningly beautiful and handmade souvenirs and gifts that will be the unique showpiece of your home decor. The handcrafted bowls, plates, cups, pitchers, pots, vases and other ceramics and pottery will enchant you and take your breath away. Many of the pottery shops here very carefully handcraft all of their own wares with love, and the detail-oriented shaping and decorations are nothing short of beautiful. They can even custom craft pottery for special orders.

Among the great pottery and ceramics shops on Santorini is the popular Replica in Oia. You'll find fantastic ceramics and pottery shops in just about every town and village.

Hondos Center Santorini is a major department store where you can find everything you need from clothing to personal hygiene to toys and style for everyone. It's famed for its selection of big brand-name cosmetics from such manufacturers as Estée Lauder, Christian Dior, Lancôme, Clinique and others. Expert beauticians are on hand to give their guidance and opinions on just the right colours and styles for you. You can also find body and hair products here as well as bags, shoes, beachwear and fashion.

For the kids, you can find everything from action figures to plush animals and other kinds of toys. Hondos Center is located in the heart of Fira, in a busy cobblestone pedestrian area.

Santorini art galleries open the door to every kind of cultural expression, from handmade jewellery to paintings, carvings, bas-reliefs, tapestries and other kinds of decorative and wall arts. You'll find stunning galleries full of intricate paintings with the original works on sale from the artists who made them. Some are in brightly lit, ultramodern galleries with stark white walls, while others can be found in exquisite ancient basements and wine cellars. Still others showcase incredible works of sculpture and handmade crafts to take home.

The wealth of stunning artwork is astounding. Some popular Santorini galleries include 2U Santorini and AK Art Foundation in Fira, Art Space in Exo Gonia, Epilekton and Galanopoulos in Oia, and Hand-Crafted Workshop in Kamari.

Epilekton offers a stunning array of eclectic folk art and collectable objects gathered from all over the world from antique bells to handmade pottery, sculptures, paintings and more. This spot in the heart of Oia has been around since 1920 and offers a wide range of the unusual, beautiful and bizarre, so you can find a truly unique gift or souvenir to take home to remember your trip. Here you can find everything from vintage maps to collectable comic books, postcards and coins, and a range of rare treasures and knickknacks.

The owners of the store refer to it as 'Alibaba's Cave' due to the treasures within. It's the place to discover hidden gems you never thought you'd find.

Santorini fruit markets are a specific variety of traditional farmers' markets that open in the early evening and offer fresh-picked fruits of every variety from all over the island. Somewhere between a produce market and a night market, these spots are the height of romance, filled with sweet fragrances and backed by the soft crashing of the ocean waves along the shore.

After a day of strolling through villages or relaxing on the beaches, these spots offer a unique escape and opportunity to take in local culture while enjoying the best fruit you've ever tasted. One of the most popular fruit markets is the Oia fruit market, which offers amazing produce just inches from the seashore.

Fabrica Shopping Center is an outdoor mall located at a former historic flour mill that offers the biggest name brands in a deeply historic location. This spot is spread over 3 levels and offers guests the height of shopping and entertainment under crystal-blue skies and overlooking the island's scenic volcano for spectacular views. This mall offers big names such as Fila, Galatis, Pink Woman and Adidas, plus eateries like the Espresso Café and Ouzeri Fabrica Greek Food. You can even find handmade arts and crafts at the Mati Art Gallery, Mavrolithos Souvenir Shop and Pili Hand Made Accessories.

This was the first commercial centre on the island and is among the largest. It's in the heart of Fira.

Nomikos Street is a primary commercial, boutique, and antique shopping street in the heart of the Oia neighbourhood, offering almost every kind of independent and big-name shop in one spot. It's a lively spot and as popular with locals as it is with visitors. It also provides a gateway to some of the most-favoured viewpoints in Oia and has fantastic sunsets. Whether you're looking for the height of fashion, handmade arts, crafts, gifts, souvenirs or antiques and collectables, you'll find a wealth of treasures here.

You can also stop for a bite at restaurants and cafes that offer fantastic seaside views. It's a pedestrian-friendly stone-paved street with a cosy feel where you can get lost for hours.

Atlantis Books is one of the most quaint, homey and welcoming shops in the Mediterranean, filled with unique rare books and the latest bestsellers. The store was created by a group of young bibliophiles from America and Europe who wanted an escape and retreat for readers and writers of all types. Since 2004, it has regularly made lists of the best bookshops in the world. It's located in the basement of an old-fashioned whitewashed house in the heart of the town of Oia.

Here you'll find everything from novels to biographies, nonfiction, comic books and beyond. If you're looking to score a rare gem or 1st edition, this may be the place to find it.