Athens and around - The Rough Guide to Greece - page 109

store that sells everything) selling traditional Greek
preserves, honey, nuts, dried fruit, cheese, olives and olive
oil among much else. Great for edible souvenirs and gifts.
Mon & Wed 9am-4pm, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9am-2pm &
5-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm.
Tsatsos Veïkou 45, Koukáki; map p.60. Koukáki boasts
some of the finest zaharoplastía in Athens, and Tsatsos is
one of the best of them: try the traditional kadaifi and
baklava . Mon-Sat 7am-2pm & 5-10pm.

as well as graphic novels, models of characters and other
paraphernalia. Mon, Wed & Sat 9am-3.30pm, Tues,
Thurs & Fri 9am-2.30pm & 5-8.30pm.
Stoa tou Bibliou entered from Panepistimíou 49 or
Pesmazogloú 5; map p.66. A quiet arcade (or stoa )
devoted entirely to books, with seating areas and frequent
exhibitions. Almost all in Greek, but still worth a look - a
couple of antiquarian dealers have old maps. Individual
shop hours vary.

1

BOOKS
These are the main places to buy English-language books;
studenty Exárhia is best for Greek texts.
Compendium Nikodhímou 5, cnr Iperídhou, Pláka;
map p.66. Long-established English-language bookshop:
small secondhand section, noticeboards for travellers and
residents, and regular poetry readings and other events.
Mon & Wed 9am-5pm, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9am-8pm, Sat
10am-3pm.
Eleftheroudhakis Panepistimíou 17, Sýndagma; map
p.66. Seven floors of books provide space for an extensive
stock, with plenty in English; there's a travel section on the
top floor, and a good café on the sixth. Smaller branch at
Níkis 20, Pláka. Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-6pm.
Newsstand Athanasíou Dhiakoú 2, Makriyiánni; map
p.66. A city-wide chain, but this branch of the newsagent,
right by Metro Akrópoli, specializes in international press,
along with plenty of books in English, maps and guides.
Daily 8am-10pm.
Solaris Botási 6, Exárhia; map p.60. Comics old and new,

MUSIC
You'll find mainstream music stores in any of the main
shopping areas; below are listings for places to explore
Greek sounds, as well as classic vinyl (there are dozens of
specialist stores, especially in Exárhia).
7+7 Iféstou 7, Monastiráki; map p.66. A choice selection
of old and new rock and Greek music on vinyl and CD. This
alley in the Flea Market has several other record and
secondhand bookshops. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm.
Music Machine Records Dhidhótou 16, Exárhia; map
p.60. Fine collection of classic vinyl and posters, along with
high-end hi-fi, new and secondhand. A cool place with
good music. Mon & Wed 10am-4pm, Tues, Thurs & Fri
10am-2pm & 5-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm.
Xylouris Panepistimíou 39 in Stoa Pesmazogloú,
Omónia; map p.66. Run by the widow of the late, great
Cretan singer Nikos Xylouris, this old-fashioned store is one
of the best places for finding Greek pop, folk and Cretan
music. Mon & Wed 9am-3pm, Tues, Thurs & Fri
9am-2pm & 5-8pm, Sat 10am-4pm.

DIRECTORY
Banks and currency exchange Normal banking hours
are Mon-Thurs 8am-2.30pm and Fri 8am-2pm and just
about all banks can exchange money during those hours;
several banks with longer hours can be found around
Sýndagma, plus there are numerous currency exchange
places (generally with worse rates) in Pláka and around
Sýndagma, and hotels will change money at a worse rate
still. Almost every bank in the centre has an ATM.
Bike, scooter and motorbike rental For mountain
bikes try Athens by Bike, Tziréon 16 at Dhionysíou
Areopayítou T 2130 423 922, W athensbybike.gr. For
motorized wheels Motorent, Robérto Gálli 1, cnr Kavalóti
T 210 923 4939, W motorent.gr. Both are in Makriyiánni,
near Metro Akrópoli.
Car rental The vast majority of downtown car rental offices
are on Leofóros Syngroú, mostly in the first section close to
the Temple of Olympian Zeus. They include Avance at no.
40-42 T 210 920 0100, W avance.gr; Europcar no. 25 T 210
921 1444; Hertz, no. 12 T 210 922 0102; and Kosmos, no. 9
T 210 923 4696, W kosmos-carrental.com. The local
companies are generally cheaper; if you turn up in person
and compare prices, you can often haggle a better rate.

Doctors and hospitals The largest central hospital is
Evangelismós at Ipsilándhou 45, Kolonáki ( T 210 720
1000; Metro Evangelismós). You'll find a list of hospitals,
and a few adverts for English-speaking doctors, in the
weekly Athens News ; W athens.usembassy.gov has hospital
addresses and a list of practitioners (under Special Consular
Services). Most doctors speak at least some English, and
medical care is generally very good, though nursing and
after-care tend to rely on the help of family.
Embassies and consulates Most major embassies are in
Kolonáki or Ambelókipi, on or not far from Leofóros
Vassilísis Sofías. They include: Australia, Level 6, Thon
Building, cnr Kifissiás & Alexandhrás, Ambelókipi T 210
870 4000, W greece.embassy.gov.au (Metro Ambelókipi);
Canada, Ioánnou Yennadhíou 4 T 210 727 3400, W athens
.gc.ca (Metro Evangelismós); Ireland, Vassiléos
Konstantínou 7, in Pangráti near the Panathenaic Stadium
T 210 723 2771, W embassyoireland.gr; New Zealand
(honorary consulate), Kifissiás 76, Maroúsi T 210 692 4136
(Metro Panormóu); South Africa, Kifissiás 60, Maroúsi
T 210 61 06 645 (Metro Panormóu); UK, Ploutárhou 1,
Kolonáki T 210 727 2600, W ukingreece.fco.gov.uk (Metro