Shopping in Crete
-
A
Mat
A hobby that turned into an obsession for the late national chess champion Athanasios Diamantopoulos has put this tiny shop on the world map for chess enthusiasts. His wife continues to sell a large range of his original chess piece designs (from around €60 to around €1000), including the popular 'Athenians'.
reviewed
-
B
Miden Agan
Foodies and wine lovers will be delighted with the range at this excellent shop, which stocks over 800 Greek wines, as well as its own wine and liquors. There's a variety of beautifully packaged local traditional gourmet deli foods, including oil and honey and their own line of spoon sweets (try the white pumpkin).
reviewed
-
C
Paraoro
Stamatis Fasoularis' distinctive series of metal boats are functional as well as decorative, like his nifty steamship oil burner. The workshop also has unique ceramics by artist Yiorgos Vavatsis, including his trademark skewed drink ware. Their bigger gallery pieces are exhibited upstairs.
reviewed
-
Women's Cooperative
The Women's Cooperative, on the main square, sells a few rare pieces of kapaneli (lacework) made by local women. You can normally see women hard at work on this painstakingly long process. Prices for quality lacework range from around €15 to around €1500, depending on the size.
reviewed
-
D
Agora
Hania's magnificent covered Agora has some excellent eateries and is a worth a visit even if you don't want to shop. Sadly, the central bastion of the city wall was demolished to make way for this fine 1911 cruciform creation, modelled after the market in Marseilles.
reviewed
-
E
Roka Carpets
This is one of the few places in Crete where you can buy genuine, hand-woven goods. You can watch the charming Mihalis Manousakis and his wife weave his wondrous rugs on a 400-year-old loom, using methods that have remained essentially unchanged since Minoan times.
reviewed
-
F
Paleopoleio Antique Shop
One of the few surviving antique stores in a city obsessed with the latest brand names, this old store has a small assortment antiques and collectables, icons and old books, the showpiece being an old diver's costume hanging in the window.
reviewed
-
G
Carmela
This exquisite store has a tempting array of original jewellery designs with stones collected on their travels, as well as Carmela's unique ceramics using ancient techniques. They also have jewellery and ceramics by leading Greek artists.
reviewed
-
H
O Armenis
Owner Apostolos Pahtikos has been making traditional Cretan knives since he was 13 and has passed on the trade to his son. You can watch them work as they match the blades to carefully carved handles at the workshop (Sifaka 14).
reviewed
-
Kournas ceramic shop
As you enter the village there is an excellent Lake Kournas ceramics shop run by friendly Kostas Tsakalakis, who uses local clay and special lead-free glazes. There is a huge range and the prices are very reasonable.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
En Hordais
This tiny store, packed with handmade musical instruments, is the place to get that Cretan lyra (a three-stringed instrument similar to a violin), bouzouki or other Greek musical instruments.
reviewed
-
J
Exantas Art Space
This classy store has great postcards with old photos, lithographs and engravings, handmade gifts, Cretan music as well as a good range of travel, coffee table and art books.
reviewed
-
K
Kerazoza
Sells handmade masks, marionettes and figurines derived from ancient Greek theatre, along with some good-quality sculptures, ceramics and jewellery by local artisans.
reviewed
-
L
Karistianis
For outdoor clothing and hiking shoes to tackle gorges you could try this place or their hard core army supply store across the road for camping and climbing gear.
reviewed
-
1866
The busy, narrow market street, 1866, has stalls spilling over with sponges, herbs, fruits, vegetables, T-shirts, nuts, honey, shoes and bags.
reviewed
-
M
Mountain Club
If you haven't come prepared for hikes and adventures, you'll find outdoor clothing and footwear as well as camping, climbing and biking gear.
reviewed
-
N
Aerakis Music
Offers the best range of Cretan music, from old and rare recordings to the latest releases - many on their own record label, Seistron Music.
reviewed
-
O
Silverhorse
This place specialises in handmade belts, leather goods, saddles and other interesting leather paraphernalia, which it can make to order.
reviewed
-
P
Kosmimata
Designer Lily Haniotaki-Besi and her jeweller husband make all the modern and unique jewellery in this delightful small silver workshop.
reviewed
-
Q
Avli Raw Materials
Foodies will love this store, packed with a huge range of gourmet delights from around Greece, including an excellent selection of wine.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
R
Zominthos
This shop has an eclectic selection of jewellery from contemporary Greek designers as well as some ceramics and sculptures.
reviewed
-
S
Fanourakis
For leading designers and jewellers, head to Kalokerinou and 1821 where you'll find Greek jewellers like Fanourakis.
reviewed
-
T
Psimithio
This small jewellery workshop just behind the cathedral has some interesting original designs in silver.
reviewed
-
Gelasakis Travel
Gelasakis Travel, on the main square, changes money, handles air and boat tickets, and rents out cars.
reviewed
-
U
Mastic Spa
Mastic Spa has unique products made from Chios Island mastic, including foodstuffs and skin care.
reviewed
