Greece › Nafplio › Best Shops
By Santorini Dave
See Also
• Where to Stay in Nafplio
• Best Tours & Things to Do in Nafplio
• Best Restaurants in Nafplio
• Peloponnese Travel Guide
• Mainland Greece Travel Guide
• Athens Travel Guide
Souvenir shops line the charming, marble-paved, Staikopoulou Street in Old Town Nafplio.
11 Best Boutique Shops in Nafplio
From sandals to tee-shirts to evil-eye jewelry, the charming streets of Old Town Nafplio are chock-full of souvenirs to buy. Here are some of our favorite spots to source locally-made and one-of-a-kind items that are a cut above the mass-produced merchandise you’ll find elsewhere.
1. Polytimi Pottery
Unique and exquisite handmade ceramic candle-holders, dishware, and decorative items. The trademark pieces here are the beautiful hole-punched lamps, but other pieces incorporating elegant forms and creative glazing techniques, are equally tempting. Watch the artist at work in her on-site studio is just behind the register.
• Map2. Agnythes Hand-Woven Textiles
Master weaver Maria Gonidou has been a Nafplio resident for over 20 years, and has exhibited her hand-woven shawls, scarves, and neckties throughout Europe. Most days, you can find her at her working away at her in-shop loom, creating beautiful new pieces from natural materials like wool, silk, linen, and cotton. She’s happy to chat with you about her craft, as well as take custom-comissioned orders for larger pieces like tablecloths and blankets.
• Map3. Glykos Pierasmos
With a name that aptly translates to “sweet temptations,” this excellent local and family-run bakery is the best spot in Nafplio to satisfy your sweet tooth. Stop in for fantastic pastries, cakes, cookies, and traditional local sweets like marzipan and loukoumia. While you’re there, be sure to pick up some of their delicious homemade preserves to take home.
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4. Dim.Arg Art
Self-taught hagiographer and Nafplio native Dimitrios Argyropoulos creates and sells beautiful Byzantine-inspired religious iconographic art in both paint and mosaic mediums. In addition to his corner studio shop on Agios Georgios Square, where you can watch the artist at work, Dimitrios’ art can be found in chapels throughout the Peloponnese.
• Map5. To Kompologaki T’Anapliou
Of all traditional objects, Nafplio is best known for komboloi, Greek worry beads made of natural materials like wood, amber, bone, and precious minerals. Cheap ones abound in souvenir shops across Old Town, but the selection is high-quality here. The friendly shop owner is happy to help you pick out just the best one, or custom-craft one for you from scratch. Another great spot to buy worry beads is Nafplio’s small but excellent Komboloi Museum.
• Map6. MASKA
Since 1989, this shop has offered a beautiful and well-curated selection of jewelry, ceramics, and decorative items handmade by local craftspeople – all made from high-quality natural materials like silver, gold, wood, clay, glass, and stone. Knowledgeable shop-keeps are on hand and happy to give you details about the artists and their work.
• Map7. Nectar & Ambrosia
Amazing top-quality honey of all varieties are sold in this clean and contemporary shop near Nafplio Harbor. All products are sourced from the owners’ family bee farm, dating back over 200 years. Fan favorites flavors are thyme, chestnut, heather, and spruce-vanilla; stop in for a tasting to see which you like best, and take some home.
• Map8. Karonis Wines
Excellent wine shop offering a wide range of Greek and international wines, as well as ouzo, tsipouro, whiskey, and other spirits. Call or email ahead and book a tasting (karonisd@otenet.gr). The shop owner, Dimitris Karonis, comes from a long and distinguished line of distillers – you can also visit their family distillery just a five-minute drive from Old Town.
• Map9. Basil Papantoniou Foundation Museum
In addition to showcasing traditional Peloponnesian arts and crafts, this museum maintains a fantastic gift shop selling regional books, housewares, locally-made food and beverage items, toys, jewelry, stationery, and gifts. Visit the museum if you can, but it’s not necessary to stop in the gift shop. If you can’t make it to either, take a peek at their online shop.
• Map10. Nafplia Bookstore
This tiny, charming bookstore offers a selection that’s mostly in Greek, but maintains a small but well-curated section of English and other-language titles as well. Fiction, non-fiction, travel, and children’s books are all on offer here, and the staff is exceptionally friendly and helpful.
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