Thessaloniki Outdoor Markets

Thessaloniki is a great shopping destination, it has many different shops to satisfy any taste, from big brand stores to unique boutiques and small independent shops. Thessaloniki also has quite a few large shopping centers or malls. It is truly a shopping paradise.

However, if you want to experience authentic shopping in Thessaloniki, you should visit the city’s open markets. They offer you a trip back to the past and a refreshing new shopping experience you probably haven’t encountered in your home country.

The Modiano Market

The Modiano Market is located between Vasileos Irakliou St and Egnatia Avenue, in the very heart of the city. Design of the building was inspired by eastern markets and it was built by the famous architect Eli Modiano. Under the glass roof you will find a multitude of small shops selling a vide variety of goods. It is predominantly a food market with stalls that that sell fish, meat, spices, cheese, delicatess products, sweets and more. Also, you will find a few taverns and traditional fast-food joints for hungry visitors of the city center. Bars are also hosted here. Kapani Market Just across the street of Modiano market next to Aristotelous Square is the Kapani market. Shops here offer fresh fish, spices and milk products. It is a favorite shopping place for locals. Fresh fruits, fish, meat and household items combined with some taverns create a noisy, colorful and unique shopping experience. Here, the atmosphere is like in the eastern bazaars, with narrow alleyways that are surrounded with shops on all sides. Open on Monday to Saturday from 8.00 to 15.00 (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday until 20.30). The Bezenteni Market Cross Venizelou Street (near the Kapani market) and you’ll find Bedesteni market, a typical enclosed Ottoman market, only 3 of them still survived in Greece. This one was built during the rule of Sultan Mehmet II. It is an old Ottoman building with a six dome roof. It houses several jewelry and silver stores. The place is filled with little shops where you can buy textiles, carpets, flowers or you can repair damaged clothes. Bit Bazaar

Further north of Aristotelous Square, east of the Roman Forum is the Bit Bazaar. It is a perfect place for those who are after old items and antique shops. It was founded in 1928 and focuses on antiques, second hand items but there are also some art galleries. It still has these old shops but today taverns and bars dominate the market. This area gets very lively in the evening as many of those old stores are now bars and small restaurants.

No doubt that shopping in these markets is one of the most unique experiences you can have in Thessaloniki.

Article by Rotonda Hotel Thessaloniki