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Shopping for Jewelry in Greece
A guide for our customers and friends buying gold and silver jewelry on vacation.
Updated June 2026
You are in Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, or some other breathtakingly beautiful place. You are happy, maybe in love, and you want something of beauty and permanence to remember your time in this magical place.
Our advice; DO IT!
Take a piece of that warm sun and blue Greek sky with you for the rest of your life. Here is the advice you need to do it successfully.
Quick answers — the short version of everything below, if you're in a hurry.
Is gold cheaper in Greece than at home?
No. The price of Gold is the same everywhere in the world and can be found here: GoldPrice.org
Is jewelry cheaper in Greece?
If you are visiting Greece in late September / October after a slow tourist season, some stores will want to unload whatever they can at more reasonable prices. If you visit during the summer months you might not do as well.
What is our biggest piece of advice:
Shop early in the day - before the vacation drinks set in (see below for more).
What should I ask a jewelry store in Greece before buying?
Ask who made the piece, whether it's solid silver or gold or has plating (like rhodium), and whether the piece can be resized without disrupting the design.
Do I get the full 24% VAT back when buying jewelry in Greece?
No. After provider fees, the realistic refund is roughly 12–15% of the purchase price, not the full 24% VAT rate.
Is there a self-service VAT kiosk in Athens like Paris's PABLO system?
Not yet. Unlike France's self-service PABLO kiosks, Athens still requires a staffed Customs office to stamp your tax-free form.
Where is the Customs office at Athens International Airport?
It's located across from Check-in Counter 61 in the public access area, and travelers must visit before checking in or dropping off luggage.
1. Shop And Buy Before Lunch
Better Service: Shopping before lunch usually gives you a little more elbow-room to peruse the offerings (fewer crowds and more attention from a salesman if you need it)
Drinking and Shopping: Every salesman in the tourist-trade (anywhere in the world) knows that the "balance of power" starts to change after a few lunch-time drinks. Nobody is being evil; people just handle life differently. Our advice is to enjoy lunch! Have a good time … you're on vacation! Just save the big spending 'til the following morning!
A Better Eye: If you shop before lunch you will get better value. As the hours pass during the day and the sun's heat starts melting away your ability to reason you'll start getting pulled into the vibe that is Greece. At that point you're be more likely to buy jewelry that goes with all the windmills and temples than with your environment back home.
Circle back to that jewelry store in the morning with a clear head ... if that piece is still "right" ... then get it!
A store displaying 18k fine jewelry in Athens Plaka district
The back of a cross made by Gerochristo, marked with 925 (sterling silver), 750 (solid 18k gold parts), workshop code Ωτ15, and GR (made in Greece)
2. Ask These Questions
"Who Made This?" If you want to check the knowledge level of a salesperson ... simply ask who made the piece. If you happen to know (from our site) that it is Kouzoupis or Gerochristo ... then they should know that too. If they can't say, or if they simply go with the generic "we made it here", it typically means they don't know as much as they should and that they also may be mistaken about the stones or service levels available.
"Can this be resized?" Most rings can be sized at least a little, and most jewelry shops either have the ability to do it in house or somewhere nearby. First look at the band and see if it has any design-work that will be interrupted by the cut they make. Ask questions about this if you do see it because their "resize" may simply involve a stretching of the band rather than a cut. AND; if they want to stretch the band we advise only doing so if it has no gemstones. Rings that have full granulation and/or detail all around the ring (an example is our Maramenos & Pateras Collection) are nearly impossible to resize without seeing disruption in the design.
"Is this Rhodium or Gold plated?" Always ask if there is any gold or rhodium plating on the piece. Silver often gets a rhodium plating to keep it from oxidizing … and it looks great on the shelf but after a few months it will wear off in a blotchy sort of way.
"What's the tiny number stamped on the jewelry?" by Greek law, every piece made in Greece must be stamped or etched with a workshop code and metal type. This ensures that the workshop and seller's will be held accountable for their products and that the jewelry trade in Greece safe, legitimate and therefor successful.
Here are some codes you'll find:
750 = 18k gold (75% pure gold) — common on higher-end Greek pieces
585 = 14k gold (58.5% pure gold)
375 = 9k gold (probably not even Greek)
925 = sterling silver (92.5% pure silver)
GF/GP = gold-plated (jewelers are under no obligation to mention this - if the piece looks gold but the only number you see is "925" - then it's probably only silver with gold plating)
Look for these marks inside a ring band, on the back of the piece. They will be small so use your phone's camera zoom to help. If there are no markings the piece was not made in Greece.
3. Be Aware of the 24% VAT tax — and the Airport Process
We're not customs lawyers, and these rules shift year to year — but based on 20+ years sourcing directly from Greek workshops and helping customers navigate this exact process, here's the current picture: Greece's VAT (national sales tax) is 24%. If you qualify for a refund (you live outside the EU, and your purchase meets the store's minimum spend — commonly around €50), the merchant can issue you a tax-free form right then. You'll need your passport on you while shopping, which remains the most annoying part of the whole program.
Don't expect Paris-style speed. In France and some other countries you can use self-service "PABLO" kiosks. Simply scan a barcode on your phone or paper form at airport security, and get cleared n a couple of minutes with no officer involved. As of 2026 Greece hasn't gotten there yet. The customs stamp at Athens International Airport still requires a staffed Customs office (located across from Check-in Counter 61). You must do this before checking your bags, so given the layout of Athens airport we advise keeping your jewelry in your carry-on.
Rules and procedures can change — for the most current customs and refund info, check Athens International Airport's official guidance.
The actual steps:
1.
Buy your jewelry and get your tax-free form (passport required) from the merchant.
2.
At the airport, go to the Customs office before check-in/bag drop — not after security. Bring your passport, the form, your receipt, and the jewelry itself.
3.
After you clear security, look for a Global Blue or Planet refund counter (these are today's operators — Premier Tax-Free is now Planet, and Global Refund is now Global Blue). Take cash on the spot (minus a handling fee) or have it credited to your card (usually a few weeks).
Build in extra time.
New EU passport-control rules (the Entry/Exit System) took full effect in March 2026, and Athens airport is now recommending arrival 2.5–3 hours before your flight just for that — plus the VAT stamp step.
Country hopping?: if you're connecting home through another EU country, get your customs stamp at your last EU departure point, not in Athens.
Net-Net: Budget on getting back roughly 12–15% of what you paid, not the full 24%.
Declaring Jewelry at US Customs
Getting the VAT refund sorted in Athens is only half the trip home. US Customs requires you to declare everything you acquired abroad — including jewelry — when you land back in the States.
Returning US residents get an $800 personal exemption per person, duty-free. Go over that, and duty applies only to the amount above $800. Most fine jewelry falls under low or 0% duty rates, but the declaration itself is required either way.
The myth that trips people up: wearing the jewelry instead of packing it does not get you out of declaring it. CBP officers are trained to account for it either way — on your wrist or in your suitcase, it's the same declaration.
Keep your receipt. Write a specific description on the declaration form ("18kt gold necklace, 20 grams") rather than just "jewelry" — it makes the process faster and gives you something to point to if anyone has a question. Honesty here costs you nothing if you're under the exemption, and saves you a real headache if you're not.
Old School? Historically, trips to Greece involved at least a little rule-bending with paying VAT and dealing with customs. We simply advise caution as things have "modernized".
4. "Text a Friend" (we're here to help)
Are you getting a good deal? Are you getting good info? Feel free to text us at: +1 (862) 222-0442, use the chat here on this website, or email athena@athenagaia.com
Send us a photo of the piece you are looking at, it's gold weight and the store name and location as well. Or just ask us your question!
Send us a photo of the piece you are looking at, it's gold weight and the store name and location as well. Or just ask us your question!
We in turn will give you our best info on the piece and an idea about how it should be priced.
How is this buying in Greece different from buying on-line at Athena Gaia?
As for the process:
Our goal is to make things as simple as possible. This is a U.S. based transaction with banking protections in full force. There is no VAT or sales tax unless you live in New Jersey, nor are there any customs declarations, rushed airport math or even tariffs to be concerned about (we take care of all of that for you - and it's included in the price you see next to the piece)
As for shopping:
People make better purchasing decisions when they have time to compare all the products and variants - with us they get all the time in the world. Pieces get custom made at the workshop at the requested size and with the customer's stone choices. Post-sale service happens in New Jersey when required (no need to send anything back to Greece).
So ... what should we do?
If you find yourself in jewelry store overlooking the Santorini caldera, and the ring fits, and it's stone reminds you of the dreamy look in his deep blue eyes when just a few moments ago he told you how amazing you are ... BUY THE RING! ... But if making a well informed, unrushed decision is your more your thing ... we're always here :-)
In Athens? Once you have shopped the Plaka (the old part of Athens), get above the bustling crowds and enjoy lunch or early dinner in the cool shadow of the Acropolis. Here we are (Joanne and Pete) at a favorite taverna stop: Psaras Tavern.