Athens Layover and Santorini shopping
 

We have a 6 hour layover in Athens from10 am to 5 pm- is practical for us to do anything besides stay at the airport?
From Athens we will be flying to Santorini. I have heard that there are no bargains to be had at Santorini, but it is the only place we are visiting in Greece. Any ideas for shopping, things to buy, local specialities?

From the Airport you will take the Metro, that will take you straight to the heart of Athens. ( calculate 1 hour).
According to how you wish to spend the remaining time in Athens, you can get off at Monastiraki station, and walk through the Plaka, or you can get off at the Acropolis station and visit the Acropolis.
Just keep in mind that the metro back to the airport is every 60 minutes ( blue Line )
Santorini produces some of the best greek wines, i am sure this is something you could take home.

Is 10am your landing time & 5pm your take off for Santorini? If so that reduces your usable time quite a bit.
As Clausar says, allow an hour for the metro, even though the journey only takes 40 mins to Syntagma, you may have to wait for a train as they are every 30 mins, timetable here,
http://www.amel.gr/index.php?id=363&L=1
If your sole aim is to see the Acropolis you need to go as far as Syntagma, then change for one stop further on the red line (direction Agios Dimitrios) to the Akropoli station. This gets you right by the Acropolis museum & the start of the walk to the Acropolis itself, you will only be able to do one or the other.
There are left luggage facilities at Pacific on arrivals level at the airport, turn left as you come out of the exit (exit A on the map) & it is there at the end of the terminal (showing as far right on this map),
http://www.aia.gr/flash_files/imap.asp
You alternative is a walk around Plaka & a lunch stop, for this stay on the metro as far as Monastiraki,
http://www.alpha-omegaonline.com/ath..._metro_map.jpg

BTW, tickets are 8 euro each (14 for 2) for the airport-city journey & vice versa. Don't forget to validate them (date & time stamp) in the machine before getting on the train.

It could be done, but you will have only about an hour of useable time in central Athens. What sort of shopping bargains are you looking for?

In Thira town there are very expensive shops and shops that have cheap tourist stuff. One that I bought several things in is owned by a Canadian, named Jackie. There were greek artists items at reasonable prices. The name of the shop is Armonia (0286) 24040 and it was on the main cliff side road just north of the main road coming up from the central square. I have her business card because I bought a piece of work, a stone statue, that weighed allot and it was the beginning of a 2 month trip. She personally delivered it to my hotel in Athens where it was waiting for me on my return. I also met Australians that bought from her shop and had the items shipped home.

I am kicking myself for not buying several jars of caper leaves that were so delicious on tomato feta salad. They were at the Athen's airport as were very good Greek wines which we cannot get at home either.

Thanks everyone.

I am not sure that I want to spend all that time traveling to and from central Athens to get an hour of sightseeing (have been before). So maybe we will lounge around the airport for the layover. I suspect what we do will depend on how we feel after the trip, and whether the plane arrives early/on time/later.

Thanks for the shopping ideas. I love idea of the caper leaves. I've read about bowls and serving pieces fashioned out of olive branches. Has anyone seen those? Icons?
I'll be sure to check out the art suggested by Chania.

When you go through passport control to the departure gates at Athens Airport there is a wonderful little shop that sells olive oil, feta cheese, and many other Greek delicacies. Your purchases are put in a sealed plastic bag so you can get though security and take them aboard as carry-ons.

Be careful, though, if you are transferring to another plane on the way home and your hold baggage is checked straight through -- liquids may not be allowed past security at another airport, but other items should go through okay. :-)