If you want to see where many of the Athen’s restaurants gets their seafood and meat, head to the Dimotiki Agora, or public market.
The fish market forms the center of the covered market, with rows of stalls packed with mounds of ice on top of which the day’s catches are laid out. Vendors yell their prices with their considerable lungs, trying to rise above the din to get the attention of buyers.
Fish and seafood feature prominently in Greek cuisine, of course. That’s hardly surprising given that it sits right on the Mediterranean and Aegean, and there are so many islands. Because it’s mostly the local catch from the Mediterranean, the offerings feature more fish, octopus, squid, and cuttlefish than crabs and shellfish, although you can find them too. And, oddly, you can also find pigs’ trotters alongside the fish.
Around the fish market are the butchers’ stalls, with the butchers lining the passageway in their white aprons. Whereas the fish and seafood are mostly laid out in the open—albeit on ice—the meat mostly protected behind refrigerated glass cases. Lamb, goat, pork, and chicken are all on offer, hanging for display. And if you’re after a whole pig’s head, you’re in the right place.
There’s not much here to buy unless you have access to a kitchen, but it’s a boisterous and fascinating taste of local flavor.
Photos of the Dimotiki Agora
I have more photos from the Dimotiki Agora here.
What to Know Before You Go
- Wear solid shoes or boots—flip-flops or sandals aren’t the best choices. The floor is awash with fishy water and is very slippery.
- The vendors set up very early in the morning, but unlike some fish markets that are done pretty quickly, it gets buzzing later in the morning.
- Unless you’re planning to cook, there’s not much there for you to buy. But there are a few small cafes around the fish market stalls where you can get a cheap meal with fresh ingredients. They’re very basic places—not fancy restaurants like the ones at Santiago’s Mercado Central.
- You can walk there from Plaka and an easy walk from the Monastiraki Flea Market.
Where to Next?
Travel Advice for Greece
You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Greece (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.
The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Greece here and the Australian Government's here.
Health & Vaccinations
The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Greece here.
Guidebooks for Greece
If you're looking for a guidebook to make the most of your visit, these are some of the most popular ones currently for Greece. Some are available in both paper and e-book formats.
- Lonely Planet (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Steves, Rick (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Richmond, Simon (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Lonely Planet (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Travel Insurance For Your Trip to Greece
I never travel without travel insurance, and I've run into several situations where I've had to make claims. I consider it essential.
But shopping for travel insurance can be a pain and confusing. Thankfully, there are some travel insurance comparison sites that show you a wide range of plans, make it easy to compare coverage, and can save you money at the same time. And the coverage can be much better tailored to your specific needs than the checkbox offering at travel booking sites or through your credit card.
These are some good places to shop for travel insurance for your next trip to Greece :
Hopefully, you won't need it, but if something goes wrong, you'll sure be glad you have it!
