The Athens contemporary art scene has been one of the most-active in southern Europe since the 2008 financial crisis sparked a wave of artist-run spaces and experimental galleries. Today the city has 60+ serious art galleries, the contemporary EMST museum (the National Museum of Contemporary Art), the Onassis Stegi cultural centre, and a string of design boutiques selling everything from Greek contemporary ceramics to high-end international furniture. The geography clusters in three areas: Kolonaki for the established gallery scene, Psyri-Plaka for the contemporary younger galleries, and Kerameikos for the cutting-edge alternative spaces. This is the complete Athens art galleries design shops guide for 2026 with the best galleries by district, museum shops, and Greek-designer brands worth seeking out.
The Athens Art Scene at a Glance
Athens has emerged as one of Europe’s most-discussed contemporary art cities — Documenta 14 (2017) co-hosted in Athens; the EMST National Museum of Contemporary Art opened its full Syngrou Avenue home in 2020; international curators and collectors now include Athens in their gallery-tour itineraries. The art-shopping scene combines the established blue-chip galleries (Bernier-Eliades, Eleni Koroneou, Sadie Coles HQ Athens), the contemporary mid-career spaces (Breeder, Rebecca Camhi, Hot Wheels), and the museum and design shops (Benaki Museum Shop, EMST Shop, several design-focused independent retailers).
For broader context, see our Shopping in Athens pillar, our Athens museums guide, and our unique experiences guide.
Major Contemporary Art Galleries
1. Bernier-Eliades Gallery
11 Eptachalkou Street, Thissio. Athens’s most-established contemporary art gallery, founded 1977. Represents major international and Greek contemporary artists. The most blue-chip Athens gallery; the reference point for serious collectors. Open Tuesday-Saturday 11 AM-7 PM.
2. The Breeder
45 Iasonos Street, Metaxourgeio. Founded 2002; the most-internationally-recognised mid-career Athens gallery. Programme includes emerging and mid-career international artists. Important historic Athens art-scene venue.
3. Eleni Koroneou Gallery
5-7 Mitsaion Street, Makrigianni. Established Athens gallery with strong programme of international contemporary artists. Walking distance from the Acropolis Museum.
4. Rebecca Camhi Gallery
9 Leonidou Street, Metaxourgeio. Mid-career international focus; the artist-run-feel space with strong contemporary photography emphasis.
5. Hot Wheels Athens
7 Diomeias Street, Syntagma. Newer gallery focused on contemporary cutting-edge international and Greek artists. The most fashionable young-collector destination.
6. Kalfayan Galleries
11 Charitos Street, Kolonaki. Long-established Kolonaki gallery; established Greek and international contemporary artists.
7. Citronne Gallery
27 Patriarchou Ioakeim Street, Kolonaki. Contemporary Greek and international.
8. Zoumboulakis Galleries
20 Kolonaki Square, Kolonaki. The historic Kolonaki gallery, founded 1912. Strong Greek-modern and contemporary programme; the longest-running Athens gallery.
Museum Shops & Cultural Institution Shops
9. Benaki Museum Shop
1 Koumbari Street, Kolonaki. The premier museum shop in Athens. Curated selection of Greek-designer jewellery, ceramics, textiles, books, and reproductions of museum pieces. Excellent for distinctive Greek gifts.
10. EMST Shop (National Museum of Contemporary Art)
Kallirrois Avenue, Syngrou. Contemporary art books, artist editions, design objects, posters. The best Athens art-book selection.
11. Acropolis Museum Shop
15 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street. Reproductions of ancient Greek artefacts, books on ancient Greek civilisation, museum-quality replica jewellery. Excellent gift selection.
12. Onassis Stegi Shop
107-109 Syngrou Avenue. Contemporary design objects, books, and limited-edition artist pieces from the Onassis cultural centre programme.
13. Cycladic Art Museum Shop (Goulandris)
4 Neophytou Douka Street, Kolonaki. Cycladic-art-inspired contemporary design pieces, jewellery, ceramics, and books. The minimalist white-marble ancient Cycladic style still inspires contemporary Greek design.
Design Shops & Greek Designer Brands
14. Mastiha Shop (Mitropoleos)
Beyond the Greek-food selection, the Mastiha Shop has a curated selection of Greek-designer ceramic and home objects.
15. The Lost Unicorn
Plaka. Contemporary Greek artists and design objects with a focused selection.
16. Forget Me Not
100 Adrianou Street, Plaka. Contemporary Greek-designer brand selection — t-shirts, ceramics, jewellery, books. The contemporary alternative to the touristy Plaka.
17. Sub Zero Athens
Several Athens locations. Greek-designer streetwear and contemporary design.
18. Apivita Flagship
Beyond cosmetics, the Apivita flagship on Solonos has a curated selection of Greek-designer body and home products.
Athens Art Districts
Kolonaki (Established Galleries)
The traditional Athens gallery district. Zoumboulakis, Kalfayan, Citronne, and several others. Combined with the Benaki and Cycladic Art museum shops. The most-comfortable walking tour for first-time art browsers.
Psyri & Monastiraki (Contemporary Mid-Range)
Younger contemporary galleries and design shops. The Hot Wheels gallery; several design boutiques on the Psyri side streets.
Metaxourgeio & Kerameikos (Cutting-Edge)
The artist-run experimental spaces and the most-respected mid-career galleries (Breeder, Rebecca Camhi). The contemporary Athens art-scene heartland.
Thissio & Makrigianni (Blue-Chip)
Bernier-Eliades and Eleni Koroneou; the established serious galleries.
Syngrou Avenue (Institutional)
EMST and Onassis Stegi cultural centre; the institutional contemporary art experience.
Sample Athens Art Day
10 AM: EMST National Museum of Contemporary Art (€8 entry; 1.5-2 hours).
12:30 PM: Lunch at the EMST cafe or a Syngrou Avenue restaurant.
2 PM: Taxi to Kolonaki for the gallery walk. Start at Zoumboulakis (free entry); continue to Kalfayan and Citronne.
3:30 PM: Visit the Benaki Museum (€12; 1.5-2 hours) or the Cycladic Art Museum (€7; 1 hour).
5 PM: Coffee at a Kolonaki cafe.
6 PM: Visit the Bernier-Eliades in Thissio (free entry) for the established blue-chip experience.
7:30 PM: Aperitivo at a Thissio rooftop with Acropolis views.
Buying Contemporary Greek Art
Print editions and small works (€100-1,000): available at most galleries; ask about artist editions and prints.
Mid-career artist works (€1,000-10,000): the standard gallery range.
Established artist works (€10,000-100,000+): the blue-chip galleries (Bernier-Eliades, Zoumboulakis, The Breeder).
Shipping arrangements: most galleries handle international shipping and customs documentation. Allow €100-500 for shipping plus 5-15% gallery commission on shipping arrangement.
Best Time to Visit Athens Galleries
Best months: October-May for the active gallery season. June-September the galleries reduce hours and many close for August.
Best days: Tuesday-Friday for relaxed visits. Saturdays for openings.
Gallery openings: Thursday and Saturday evenings the standard Athens gallery-opening nights. The art crowd attends; €0 entry; complimentary wine.
Athens Art Calendar Events
Art Athina (Annual Art Fair)
The major Athens contemporary art fair; September annually at the Faliro Athletic Pavilion. 30+ galleries; 4-day event; €15 entry. The single biggest Athens art week.
Athens Biennale
Multi-venue contemporary art biennale. Next edition: 2026-2027. Free entry to most venues.
Documenta
The Kassel-based art event was co-hosted in Athens 2017 — the catalytic moment for the contemporary Athens art scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best art gallery in Athens?
Bernier-Eliades (Thissio) is the most-established blue-chip Athens contemporary gallery. The Breeder (Metaxourgeio) is the most-internationally-recognised mid-career gallery. Zoumboulakis (Kolonaki) is the historic gallery founded in 1912. Hot Wheels (Syntagma) is the most fashionable young-collector destination.
Where can I buy contemporary Greek art?
The Athens gallery scene: Kolonaki for the established (Zoumboulakis, Kalfayan, Citronne); Metaxourgeio/Kerameikos for the contemporary mid-career (Breeder, Rebecca Camhi); Thissio for the blue-chip (Bernier-Eliades, Eleni Koroneou). Prints from €100; mid-career works €1,000-10,000; established artists €10,000+.
What is the best museum shop in Athens?
The Benaki Museum Shop (Kolonaki) for distinctive Greek-designer jewellery, ceramics, textiles, and reproductions. The Cycladic Art Museum Shop for minimalist Cycladic-inspired contemporary pieces. The Acropolis Museum Shop for ancient Greek replica jewellery and reproductions. The EMST Shop for contemporary art books.
Is the EMST contemporary art museum worth visiting?
Yes. The National Museum of Contemporary Art opened in its full Syngrou Avenue home in 2020. Strong permanent collection of Greek post-war and contemporary art plus rotating international exhibitions. €8 entry; 1.5-2 hours typical visit.
When is the Athens art season?
October through May. Many galleries close for August; reduced hours June and September. Art Athina (September) is the major art week. Gallery openings typically Thursday and Saturday evenings.
Where do contemporary Greek designers sell in Athens?
The Benaki Museum Shop (curated Greek-designer selection), the Lost Unicorn and Forget Me Not (Plaka contemporary design), Sub Zero Athens (Greek streetwear), Mastiha Shop (curated Greek home goods), and the EMST and Onassis Stegi shops (institutional design objects).
Can I ship artwork home from Athens?
Yes. Most galleries handle international shipping and customs documentation. Allow €100-500 for shipping plus 5-15% gallery commission on the shipping arrangement. For valuable pieces, the gallery typically arranges insured shipping with full documentation.
The Athens Art Scene Post-Documenta
The 2017 Documenta 14 (the international contemporary art event historically held only in Kassel, Germany) co-hosted in Athens was the catalytic moment for the contemporary Athens art scene. Documenta brought 100+ international artists to Athens for 3 months; the city’s galleries, museums, and alternative spaces all participated. The post-Documenta legacy:
New galleries: dozens of new galleries opened during and after Documenta.
International attention: Athens entered the international art collector circuit.
Greek artist visibility: Greek artists previously known only in Athens gained international representation.
Restored alternative spaces: the artist-run spaces from the 2010-2015 era gained legitimacy and expanded programmes.
EMST: The National Museum of Contemporary Art
The EMST (Ethniko Mouseio Synchronis Technis / National Museum of Contemporary Art) opened its full Syngrou Avenue home in 2020. The museum:
Building: the former Fix Brewery building (built 1957; converted by the architects 3SK Stylianidis); 18,000 sqm of exhibition space.
Permanent collection: the largest Greek post-war and contemporary art collection. 1,000+ works by Greek and international artists.
Rotating exhibitions: 4-6 major exhibitions annually featuring international contemporary art.
Specific Greek artists represented: Yannis Kounellis, Jannis Tsoclis, Christos Karas, several younger contemporary artists.
Entry: €8 standard; reduced rates for students and seniors.
Visit time: 1.5-2 hours minimum; allow 3 hours for serious visit.
Bernier-Eliades Gallery in Detail
Bernier-Eliades on Eptachalkou Street (Thissio) is Athens’s most-established contemporary art gallery. The detailed reference:
Founded: 1977.
Owners: Jean Bernier and Marina Eliades.
Artists represented: major international names including Christopher Wool, Sol LeWitt, Jenny Holzer, Liam Gillick; significant Greek artists.
Exhibition schedule: 6-8 major exhibitions annually.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11 AM-7 PM; closed Sunday-Monday.
Catalogue: the gallery publishes serious exhibition catalogues; available for purchase.
Buying art: serious-collector pricing; €5,000-200,000+ typical for major works.
The Breeder Gallery
The Breeder on Iasonos Street (Metaxourgeio) is the most-internationally-recognised mid-career Athens gallery:
Founded: 2002 by Stathis Panagoulis and Nadia Gerazouni.
Programme: emerging and mid-career international artists; particularly strong in conceptual art and photography.
The space: the converted warehouse offers 300+ sqm of exhibition space.
Specific exhibitions: The Breeder participates in major international art fairs (Art Basel, Frieze).
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 12 PM-7 PM.
Buying art: €3,000-50,000+ typical range.
Hot Wheels Athens
Hot Wheels on Diomeias Street (Syntagma) is the newer fashionable young-collector gallery:
Founded: 2018.
Programme: cutting-edge contemporary; emphasis on younger international and Greek artists.
The space: a smaller boutique-feel gallery.
Specific exhibitions: 6-8 annually; opens have become Athens art-scene events.
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 12 PM-7 PM.
Buying art: €1,000-20,000+ for most works.
The Athens Gallery Walking Tour
For a self-guided 3-4 hour Athens gallery walking tour:
Start: Bernier-Eliades (Thissio) — the established blue-chip.
Walk: to Kerameikos via the south-Acropolis pedestrianised walk.
Visit: Eleni Koroneou Gallery (Mitsaion Street).
Continue: through Psirri to Hot Wheels (Diomeias).
Walk: to Kolonaki for Zoumboulakis and Kalfayan.
End: at the Lalaounis Jewelry Museum (Karyatides Street).
Free entry to all galleries; allow 30-60 minutes per gallery; coffee or lunch stops between.
The Benaki Museum Shop in Detail
The Benaki Museum Shop on Koumbari Street is the premier Athens museum shop:
Curated Greek-designer jewellery: the broadest selection of contemporary Greek-designer jewellery in Athens. €100-1,000 typical pieces.
Replica artefacts: high-quality replicas of museum pieces; €30-500 typical.
Greek textiles: embroidered traditional Greek pieces; €50-500.
Books: excellent Greek art and history book selection; €15-80.
Greek-designer home goods: contemporary Greek design objects.
Free to enter (no museum ticket required). The most-recommended single Athens shop for visitors wanting authentic Greek-designer items.
The Cycladic Art Museum Shop
The Cycladic Art Museum (Neophytou Douka Street, Kolonaki) inspires contemporary Greek design. The museum shop offerings:
Cycladic-inspired contemporary jewellery: the minimalist white-marble ancient aesthetic translated to silver and gold.
Replica Cycladic figurines: the famous “Cycladic figures” reproduced in various sizes.
Contemporary ceramics: Greek designers creating Cycladic-inspired pieces.
Books on Cycladic art: the most-comprehensive Athens collection.
€20-1,000 price range.
The EMST Shop & Onassis Stegi Shop
The contemporary art shops:
EMST Shop: contemporary art books, artist editions, design objects, posters. The best Athens contemporary art book selection.
Onassis Stegi Shop: design objects, limited-edition artist pieces from the Onassis programme. €15-500 typical price range.
Forget Me Not: The Contemporary Greek Design Brand
Forget Me Not at 100 Adrianou Street is one of the most-curated Greek-design shops:
Contemporary Greek designer brands: selection of 50+ Greek designers across fashion, jewellery, accessories, home.
T-shirts and casual wear: Greek-designer screen-printed pieces with contemporary motifs.
Greek-designed ceramics: the contemporary Athenian ceramic scene.
Books: Greek design and culture books.
€20-300 price range. The contemporary alternative to the touristy Plaka.
Athens Art Districts in Detail
Kolonaki Art District
The traditional Athens gallery concentration. Zoumboulakis, Kalfayan, Citronne, and several others. Most-comfortable walking-tour district for first-time art browsers.
Metaxourgeio Art District
The contemporary mid-career galleries (The Breeder, Rebecca Camhi). The Athens equivalent of London Bermondsey or Brooklyn Williamsburg.
Kerameikos Art District
The cutting-edge experimental spaces and artist-run galleries. The most-bohemian Athens art neighbourhood.
Thissio & Makrigianni Art District
Bernier-Eliades and Eleni Koroneou — the established serious galleries. Walking distance from the Acropolis.
Syntagma Art District
Hot Wheels and several smaller cutting-edge galleries. The youngest-collector district.
Buying Contemporary Greek Art: The Process
For visitors interested in serious art purchases:
Initial visit: browse multiple galleries; identify artists or styles of interest.
Second visit: request additional information from gallery staff; portfolio reviews of specific artists.
Negotiation: gallery prices are typically firm but established collectors sometimes get 5-10% professional discount.
Documentation: certificate of authenticity; artist’s signature; gallery letter of provenance.
Shipping: most galleries handle international shipping; €100-500 for shipping plus 5-15% gallery commission.
Customs: contemporary art is generally not subject to Greek Ministry of Culture export restrictions (those apply to antiquities).
Athens Art Calendar
Art Athina (September): the major Athens contemporary art fair at the Faliro Athletic Pavilion. 30+ galleries; 4-day event; €15 entry.
Athens Biennale (2026-2027 edition expected): multi-venue contemporary art biennale.
Athens Photo Festival (Summer): the dedicated photography festival at various venues.
Action Field Kodra (Thessaloniki; September): contemporary art event in Thessaloniki worth considering.
Athens Open Studios (annually): Athens artists open their studios to the public; the most-intimate art-scene event.
The Athens Art Bookshops
For visitors interested in Greek art books:
EMST Shop: contemporary art focus; the best Athens contemporary book selection.
Onassis Stegi Shop: design and contemporary culture books.
Politeia (Kolonaki): the broader bookshop with strong art section.
Public Books (Syntagma): mainstream bookshop with art books.
Athens Book Fair (annually June): the major Greek book event including art publications.
The Athens Street Art Scene
Beyond the formal gallery scene, Athens has become one of Europe’s most-respected street-art cities:
Major artists with Athens work: iNO (Greek), Cacao Rocks (Greek), Stmts (stencil artist), WD Wild Drawing (Indonesian-Greek), Same84 (Greek collective).
Best street-art districts: Psirri (the most-concentrated), Exarchia (the political), Metaxourgeio (the experimental), Gazi (the post-industrial).
Street art walking tours: several Athens operators offer dedicated tours; €25-45 per person.
Self-guided street-art walks: the Psirri back streets (Karaiskaki, Sarri, Eumolpidon) provide 60-90 minutes of street-art exploration.
Sub Zero Athens & Streetwear
The Athens streetwear scene includes several Greek-designer brands:
Sub Zero Athens: the most-recognised Greek streetwear brand; multiple Athens locations.
The Lost Unicorn: contemporary design with streetwear elements.
Several smaller Greek-designer streetwear brands: available at Forget Me Not and similar curated shops.
Plan the Rest of Your Athens Trip
For more cultural content, see our Shopping in Athens pillar, our museums guide, our Kolonaki guide, our souvenirs guide, and our things to do guide.