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Monastiraki

Old towns ·Athens ·Open now
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#2Old towns in Athens#6Old towns in GreeceTravelers' Choice 2026
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About

Monastiraki is a flea market quarter in central Athens, on the south side of Odos Ermou, beside Psyrri.

More photos 11

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Monastiraki — Aerial view over Monastiraki Square and its busy market C messier · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Monastiraki — Aerial view over Monastiraki Square and its busy marketMonastiraki — Monastiraki Square with the mosque and market stallsMonastiraki — Crowds crossing Monastiraki Square beside the mosque and marketMonastiraki — Tzisdarakis Mosque with the Acropolis rising behind itMonastiraki — Pantanassa Church beside the shops and trees of MonastirakiMonastiraki — Crowded flea market lane lined with small street stallsMonastiraki — Monastiraki market street with shops and goods displayed outsideMonastiraki — Narrow covered market passage between Monastiraki shopsMonastiraki — Nighttime shops and market stalls along a Monastiraki streetMonastiraki — Historic view of Monastiraki Square and its station buildingsMonastiraki — Stone wall and arched doorways in the Monastiraki area

Why go

  • The Monastiraki metro station, one of the city's most important hubs, where lines 1 and 3 meet.

Opening hours

Today00:00 – 23:59Show all
Monday00:00 – 23:59
Tuesday00:00 – 23:59
Wednesday00:00 – 23:59
Thursday00:00 – 23:59
Friday00:00 – 23:59
Saturday00:00 – 23:59
Sunday00:00 – 23:59

Don't miss

  • Church of the PantanassaThe church of the Pantanassa, once the katholikon (main church) of a monastery, stands inside the square.Inside the square On the map
  • Tzistarakis mosqueA mosque built in 1759 by the governor Tzistarakis, now a branch of the folk art museum.In the south-east part of the square On the map
  • Hadrian's LibraryA large library founded by the emperor Hadrian, lying next to the Tzistarakis mosque.Next to the Tzistarakis mosque On the map
  • Pandrossou StreetOne of the quarter's two main streets, along with Adrianou Street.Leads onto the square On the map

Photo spots

  • The church from the squareStand in the square and frame the church, once a dependency of a monastery on the mountain.Inside the square On the map
  • The mosque from the squarePhotograph the mosque from the square. It was built in 1759 and stands in the south-east part.South-east part of the square On the map
  • Pandrossou StreetPhotograph Pandrossou Street where it leads onto the square.Where the street leads onto the square On the map

Tips for your visit

  • The metro station is partly open-cut and partly underground, with two side platforms.
  • Shops range from clothing boutiques to souvenir and specialist stores.
  • Next to the quarter are Thisio, Plaka, Makrygianni and Psyrri.

Best time to visit

  • The church celebrates its feast day on 15 August.

Legends and hidden details

  • Legend has it that the mortar of the mosque's walls was made from a temple column, which was blown up for the purpose.
  • Legend has it that the temple wailed so loudly that no one slept that night.

Interesting facts2

1/2

  1. Earlier, the church was a monastery owned by a single private person.

    Μοναστηράκι - Wikipedia

  2. The square runs along the south side of a main street, flanked by two other squares.

    Μοναστηράκι - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The quarter takes its name from the square, which is named after the Panagia Pantanassa church on it. The name means 'little monastery' in Greek. The church was once a monastery owned privately by one person, and later it became the parish church of the quarter, where the Kimisis tis Theotokou is venerated. A donor gave the building two valuable collections of furniture, vessels and icons. It was then renamed a national museum of decorative arts.

  1. 1759Governor Tzistarakis builds the mosque on the square, using material from older buildings.
  2. 1821After the revolution the building serves various purposes for more than a century.
  3. 1835Odos Ermou is laid out, and the quarter becomes a separate district.
  4. 1895The metro station under the square opens; its original name is still shown on line 1 signs.
  5. 2003The station is modernised, and the line 3 platform opens fully underground.

How to get there

  • 2 minOn footFrom a hostel in the area, Monastiraki metro station is a two-minute walk.

Sources: Monastiraki - Wikipedia · Athens - Wikivoyage (sleep) · Hostel Athens Monastiraki, Greece - Book Online… · Monastiraki (Athen) - Wikipedia · Μοναστηράκι - Wikipedia · Monastiráki - Wikipedia · checked 19 Oct 2026

Where
Athens

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

How do I get to Monastiraki by metro?

Take metro line 1 or line 3. The Monastiraki station lies under the square, where both lines meet, with direct links to Piraeus and the airport.

Where is Monastiraki in Athens?

It lies in the city centre, on the south side of Odos Ermou, beside the Psyrri quarter.

What can you buy at the Monastiraki flea market?

Clothing, souvenirs and specialist goods, plus reproductions of antiquities and coins.

Is Monastiraki good for bargain shopping?

Yes. The district is known for its flea market and is a major tourist draw in Athens for bargain shopping.

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