English-language bookstores in Greece are limited in selection but found in more places today than a decade ago. Online shopping is in its infancy and prices remain high, though an occasional convenience or bargain can be found.
You can find used books by browsing in Monastiraki (center of Athens), a slightly disorganized section at Compendium or swap out your book at a hostel should you only be passing through town. Universities and expat organizations organize book swaps, and my hairdresser has a shelf at her salon where everyone can trade second-hand paperbacks. There may be a similar situation in your neighborhood.
There is no such thing as an American bookstore in Greece. Why? Because the concept behind U.S. bookstores is to sell in volume at a discount, and it simply isn’t possible to do that in Greece where taxes are high and demand is low.
Amazon UK no longer offers free delivery to Greece on £25 of eligible items as of June 11, 2013. I favor used books and inexpensive international shipping without limitations, so I use eBay with my American account (some sellers refuse to sell/ship to Greece due to fraud issues), Awesome Books — even though they no longer offer free shipping — and Better World Books, which sells new and used books and ships them worldwide for free. They also make a small charitable donation per book to literacy.
A number of other online booksellers have similar or better deals, and those who can afford a Kindle find it convenient to have books delivered electronically, inexpensively and instantly.
The National Book Centre reported that there are 1,500 bookstores in Greece as of late 2012, not including press points and supermarkets, though dozens have since shut down. Sales have fallen 70 percent.
*Article last updated January 8, 2015. If you own or have a favorite English-language bookstore that’s not listed below, please leave a comment.
Athens Airport
Newsstand Eleftheroudakis, Presspoint & Artpoint Papasotiriou and Hellenic Duty-Free Shop all have English-language books for sale, though selection is limited.
Best Book Hunters
Best Book Hunters closed its two stores on Solonos and Lefkados, moving to one large space in Exarcheia.
Zoodochou Pygis 41A
106 81 Athens
Phone: (210) 360-3473, (210) 825-6728
Fax: (210) 380-0173
Email: bbh@bestbookhunters.gr
Στα Ελληνικά, κάντε κλικ “Best Book Hunters locations in Athens.”
Bookstop
Akadimias 69
Phone: (210) 380-1146
Fax: (210) 384-4589
Email: info@bookstop.gr
M/W/Sa: 9:00-17:00
Tu/Th/F: 9:00-21:00
Need directions? See “Map and directions to Bookstop.”
Books 2nd Chance
Part library, part bookstore. Donations welcome.
Vlasi Gavrilidi 17 — 2nd floor
Thessaloniki
Phone: (2310) 741093
Email: book2chance@gmail.com
Booktique (operated by Eleftheroudakis)
Patriarchou Ioakeim 21
Kolonaki
10675 Athens
Phone: (210) 723-5425
Mon-Sun: 9:00-21:00
Bookworms (no website)
Leof. Vouliagmenis 85
16674 Glyfada
Phone: (210) 963-3626
Compendium
Athens – Syntagma (New and used)
8 Alikarnasou St Nikodimou 5
Tel: (210) 322-1248 or (210) 383-2139
Fax: (210) 322-2924
Email: info@compendium.gr
Eleftheroudakis
The five-level flagship store at Panepistimiou 17 in downtown Athens closed in 2011. Two smaller stores opened on the same street, and the Main Store is now located along the Athens/Corinth National Highway.
In Athens
Main Store
Athens — Korinthos/Athens National Road
40th km. National Hwy Athens/Corinth toward Corinth
Phone: (22960) 22805-6
Fax: (22960) 9044
Daily: 9:00-21:00
Athens — Downtown
Panepistimiou 11 15*
Phone: (210) 325-8440
Fax: (210) 323-9821
M – F: 9:00 – 21:00
Sa: 9:00 – 19:00
*Moved in 2013 due to high rent
Athens — Downtown
Panepistimiou 41
Phone/Fax: (210) 331-7018
M – F: 9:00 – 21:00
Sa: 9:00 – 17:00
Athens — Syntagma
Nikis 20
Phone: (210) 323-1401
Fax: (210) 322-9388
M – F: 9:00 – 21:00
Sa: 9:00 – 18:00
Athens — Ag. Paraskevi
Gravias 17
Phone/Fax: (210) 608-4525
M/W/Sa: 9:00 – 17:00
T/Th/F: 9:00 – 21:00
Athens — Ambelokipi
Davaki 3-5
Phone/Fax: (210) 693-0250
M/W/Sa: 9:00 – 17:00
T/Th/F: 9:00 – 21:00
Athens — Athens Tower
Synopis 2
Phone/Fax: (210) 770-8007
M/W/Sa: 9:00 – 17:00
Tu/Th/F: 9:00 – 21:00
Athens — Filothei
Malamatianou Square
City Hall of Filothei
Kalliga 31
Phone/Fax: (210) 683-0748
M/W/Sa: 9:00 – 15:30
Tu/Th/F: 9:00 – 14:00 &17:30 – 21:00
Athens — Glyfada
Lazaraki 27
Phone/Fax: (210) 894-3892
M – F: 9:00 – 21:00
Sa: 9:00 – 18:00
Athens — Kifissia
Panagitsas 3
Phone/Fax: (210) 808-3764
M/W/Sa: 9:00 – 17:00
Tu/Th/F: 9:00 – 21:00
Athens — Kifissia
Kifissias Avenue 268
Phone/Fax: (210) 623-6677
M – F: 9:00 – 21:00
Sa: 9:00 – 18:00
Athens — Maroussi
Golden Hall
Spyro Louis 37A
Phone/Fax: (210) 6836070
M-F: 10:00 – 21:00
Sa: 10:00 – 20:00
Athens — Maroussi
“MITERA” Maternity Ward
Er. Stavrou Street 6
Phone/Fax: (210) 689-7072
M – F: 9:00 – 20:00
Sa: 9:00 – 17:00
Athens — Neo Kosmos
Syngrou Fix Metro Station
Phone/Fax: (210) 922-0337
Daily: 7:00-22:00
Athens — Nea Smyrni
K. Palaiologou 2
Phone/Fax: (210) 932-9983
M-F: 9:00 – 21:00
Sa: 9:00 – 18:00
Athens — Neo Psychiko
Shopping Mall of Psychiko
Kifissias 294
Phone/Fax: (210) 677-8350
M/W: 9:00 – 16:00
T/Th/F: 9:00 – 14:00, 17:30 – 21:00
Sa: 9:00-17:00
Athens — Peristeri
Ag. Antonios Metro Station
Phone/Fax: (210) 571-8169
Daily: 7:00-22:00
Athens — Piraeus
Kon. Palaiologou 13
Plateia Terpsithea
Phone: (210) 429-6433
M/W: 9:00 – 15:30
T/Th/F: 9:00-14:30, 17:30-21:00
Sa: 9:00 – 15:00
Athens — Village Park
Thivon Avenue 228
Phone/Fax: (210) 425-6800
M/Sa: 10:30 – 21:00
Sa: 11:00 – 20:00
Outside Athens
Alexandroupoli
Andrianoupoleos 4A
Phone/Fax: (25510) 22808
www.alexpolis-books.gr
M – F: 9:00-14:00 & 17:30-21:00
Sa: 9:00-17:00
Crete – Irakleio
Odos 1821 – No. 10
Phone: 2810-227500
Fax: 2810-227501
M/W: 9:00-14:30
T/Th/F: 9:00-14:00 & 17:30-21:00
Crete – Irakleio Airport
Phone/Fax: (2810) 226442
Daily: 6:00-22:00
Ioannina
Sp. Katsadima 7
Phone: (26510) 75880
Fax: (26510) 75138
M/W/Sa 9:00-15:00
T/Th/F: 9:00-15:00 & 17:30-21:00
Thessaloniki — Center
Nikis 73 & Gounari 1
Phone/Fax: (2310) 256406
M – F: 9:00 – 21:00
Sa: 9:00 – 20:00
Στα Ελληνικά, κάντε κλικ “Eleftheroudakis locations in Greece.”
FNAC (offline)
FNAC originally announced expansion at the rate of two outlets per year until 2012, in partnership with Marinopoulos as FMB, with an end goal of eight to 10 branches. However, the French company decided to withdraw from Greece due to poor sales, and Public took over the Maroussi and Glyfada locations. The Monastiraki location is closed.
Monastiraki (fate unknown)
Aiolou & Mitropoleos
M-F: 09:00-21:00, Sa: 09:00-20:00
Tel: (210) 3731100
Leader Books (offline)
Five bookstores closed.
Inquires at:
Koniari 60
115 21 Athens
Tel: (210) 6452825
Email: info@leaderbooks.com
Papasotiriou
Limited English-language selection; good selection of technical and computer books.
In Athens
Athens — Downtown
Stournari 35
Phone: (210) 380-9821
Fax: (210) 380-4397
Email: economics@papasotiriou.gr
M/W: 9:30-17:00, T/Th/F: 9:30-20:30, Sa: 9:30-15:30
Athens — Downtown
Panepistimiou 37 & Korai
Phone: (210) 325-3232
Fax: (210) 325-3222
panepistimiou@papasotiriou.gr
M-F: 9:00-21:00, Sa: 9:00-18:00
Athens — Syntagma
Ermou 39 – Hondos Center
Phone: (210) 372-2988
Email: hcermou@papasotiriou.gr
M-F: 9:00-21:00, Sa: 9:00-18:00
xAthens — Glyfada
A. Papandreou 13
Phone/Fax: (210) 894-2745
Email: glyfada@papasotiriou.gr
M/W/Sa: 9:00-17:00, T/Th/F: 9:00-21:00
Athens — Kifissia
Kolokotroni 10
Phone/Fax: (210) 623-1854
Email: kifisia@papasotiriou.gr
M/W/Sa: 9:00-17:00, T/Th/F: 9:00-21:00
Athens — Kolonaki
Museum of Cycladic Art
Neof. Douka 4
Phone: (210) 722-8321
M/W/Th/F: 10:00-17:00, Sa: 11:00-17:00
Athens — Marousi
Mall of Athens
A. Papandreou 35
Phone: (210) 610-0266
Fax: (210) 610-0265
Email: marousi@papasotiriou.gr
M-F: 10:00-21:00, Sa: 9:00-20:00
Athens — Nea Ionia
Leof. Irakleiou 269
Phone/Fax: (210) 275-7650
Email: n.ionia@papasotiriou.gr
M/W/Sa: 9:00-18:00, T/Th/F 9:00-21:00
Athens — Peristeri
Ethnikis Antistaseos 55
Phone: (210) 574-0888
Fax: (210) 574-8777
Email: None
M/W/Sa: 9:00-17:00, T/Th/F: 9:00-21:00
Athens — Spata
McArthur Glen Shopping Center
near Athens Airport
Phone: (210) 663-8014
Fax: (210) 663-8012
Email: spata@papasotiriou.gr
M-F: 10:00 – 21:00, Sa: 10:00 – 20:00
Athens — Zografou
EM Polytechneio
Phone/Fax: (210) 748-2548
Email: zografou@papasotiriou.gr
M-F: 09:00-17:00
Rest of Greece
Agrinio
Sp. Tsiknia (Tsaldari 52)
Tel/Fax: 26410-45677
Email: agrinio@papasotiriou.gr
M-F: 9.00-14.00, 17.30-21.00, Sa: 9.00-16.00
Crete — Irakleio
Korai 17
Phone/Fax: (2810) 300880
Email: iraklio@papasotiriou.gr
M/W/Sa: 09:00-16:00, T/Th/F: 9:00-21:00
Eretria
Archaeio Theatro 48
Phone: (22290) 64014
Email: Eretria@papasotiriou.gr
Daily: 7:00-00:00
Ioannina
Mix. Aggelou 6
Phone: 26510-64000
Fax: 26510-64001
Email: ioanina@papasotiriou.gr
M/W/Sa: 8:30-14:30, T/Th/F: 8:30-14:00 & 17:00-20:30 (Winter)
M/W/Sa: 8:30-14:00, T/Th/F: 8:30-14:00 & 17:30-21:00 (Summer)
Kalamata
Aristomenous 38
Phone: (27210) 25210
Email: kalamata@papasotiriou.gr
M-F: 9:00-21:00, Sa 9:00-18:00
Karditsa
Iroon Polytechneiou 13
Phone: (24410) 25012
Korinthos
Apostolou Pavlou 51
Phone: (27410) 73740
Email: korinthos@papasotiriou.gr
M-F: 9:00-14:00 & 18:00-21:00, Sa: 9:00-16:00
Larissa
Papanastasiou 57
Phone: (2410) 549326
Fax: (2410) 549327
Email: larisa@papasotiriou.gr
M/W/F: 8:30-13:30 & 16:30-20:00, T/Th/Sa: 8:30-14:00 (Winter)
M/W/F: 8:30-13:30 & 17:30-21:00, T/Th/Sa: 8:30-14:00 (Summer)
Lesvos – Mytilini
Ermou 211-213
Phone: (22510) 23388
Fax: (22510) 23317
Email: mitilini@papasotiriou.gr
Patra
Patra University — Rio
Phone: 2610-995455
Fax: 2610-995456
Email: adamop@upatras.gr
M – F: 9:00-18:00
Santorini
Atlantida Shopping Center in Kamari
Phone: 22860 28330
Fax: 22860 28333
Email: santorini@papasotiriou.gr
M-F: 9:00-14:00 & 17:00-21:00 (Winter)
M-F: 8:00-24:00 (Summer)
Thessaloniki
Tsimiski 87 & Gr. Palama 3
Phone: (2310) 250808
Fax: (2310) 234965
Email: thesaloniki2@papasotiriou.gr
M/W: 9:00-17:00, T/Th/F 9:00-21:00
Volos
Dimitriados & Koumoundourou
Phone: (24210) 76210-2
Fax: (24210) 76213
Email: volos@papasotiriou.gr
M/W/Sa: 9:00-14:30, T/Th/F: 9:00-14:00 & 17:00-21:00
* Στα Ελληνικά and to see relevant maps, κάντε κλικ “Papasotiriou locations in Greece.”
Public
Athens – Syntagma
Karageorgi Servias 1
Phone: (210) 324-6210
M-F: 9:00-21:00
Sa: 9:00-20:00
Athens — Glyfada (formerly an FNAC store)
S. Karagiorga 4 & Lazaraki
Phone: (210) 898-4300
M – F: 9:00-21:00
Sa: 9:00-20:00
Athens — Mall of Athens (formerly an FNAC store)
Andrea Papandreou 35
Marousi
Phone: (210) 630-0410
M – F: 9:00-21:00
Sa: 9:00-20:00
Athens — Metro Mall
Leof. Vouliagmenis 276
Ag. Dimitros Metro Station
173 43
Phone: (210) 973-0006
Fax: (210) 973-0040
Athens — Piraeus
Grigoriou Lampraki 152-154
Phone: (210) 412-6400
M-F: 9:00-21:00
Sa: 9:00-20:00
Ioannina
Pyrsinella 4 & G. Melanidi
Phone: (26510) 70087
Fax: (26510) 70840
M-F: 9:00-21:00
Sa: 9:00-20:00
Thessaloniki
Tsimiski 24 – Mitropoleos 33
546 24
Phone: (2310) 227288
Fax: (2310) 227233
M-F: 9:00-21:00
Sa: 9:00-20:00
Thessaloniki
Mediterranean Kosmos Shopping Center
11οth km Ε.Ο. Thes./Neon Moudanion
57001 Pylaia
Phone: (2310) 472633
Fax: (2310) 475984
M-F: 10:00-21:00
Sa: 10:00-20:00
Volos
Oul. 28 & Ι. Kontaratou 9
Phone: (24210) 22904
Fax: (24210) 24530
M-F: 9:00-21:00
Sa: 9:00-20:00
Στα Ελληνικά and to see relevant maps, κάντε κλικ “Public locations in Greece.”
Reymondos (no website)
Athens
18 Voukourestiou
Phone: (210) 364-8189
In the News
“Public: «Πάντρεψε» τα ψώνια με τη διασκέδαση” — Ta Nea
Kat Reply:
September 9th, 2008 at 07:25
That’s a good question. The only places I know that take used books in Greece are in Athens — Compendium Bookstore and various sellers in Monastiraki. Most expats I know sell their books online via eBay or something similar, donate their books to charity boot sales run by various organizations (i.e., SPAZ, AWOG), sell them via classifieds in English language newspapers or toss them in recycling. Universities won’t take used books, even if you donate them because they have specific needs and limited space. Sad but true.
There’s a stigma around “used” items, as if one is admitting they are poor. Greece as a whole does not recognize reusing and extending the life of perfectly good items, which may explain why the recycling program is failing miserably, treated water is seen as dirty (so there are water shortages), and environmental conservation remains low on the list of priorities.