The Plaka is your spot to shop in Athens. Pandrossou is a pedestrian street, lined with shops, with plenty of fun stuff for kids - dolls in costume (some are museum reproductions), polished stone eggs, embroidered slippers, miniature Greek vases and statues, ceramic boxes, bronze helmets, ceramic horses, painted wooden donkeys, onyx boxes, Athena's owl. Andrianou is another good shopping street.

Monastiraki (right at the metro stop) is a permanent flea market that's fun to wander through, not necessarily to buy. You'll see all kinds of stuff, and it feels more like the oriental bazaar.

Ermou St. - Walk down pedestrians-only Ermou St, all the way to Syntagma square. The street is lined with street musicians - it's fun to stop and listen (you can also buy their CD's too).

Museum of Greek Children's Art ( 9 Kodrou St.) - This charming little museum has a wonderful exhibition of bright paintings and multimedia artwork by Greek children. Each year, kids up to 14 years old have a chance to participate, and winning entries are exhibited in the museum. See Greece through children's eyes. Museum is closed Mondays.

Museum of Greek Folk Art - Before you shop for costume dolls, see the real thing - a fabulous collection of costumes from all over Greece, plus an exhibit of Greek shadow theater, called Karaghiozes.