Greek trade fair for souvenirs, folk art and tourist gifts, 13-17 January 2027 at Metropolitan Expo in Athens, alongside Laiki Techni and Technima.
Dates
13–17 Jan 2027
City / country
Athens, Greece
Venue
Metropolitan Expo
Event overview
Parousies 2027 is the Greek souvenir and tourist-gift trade fair, staged inside Souvenir Expo Greece at the Metropolitan Expo centre beside Athens International Airport. From 13 to 17 January 2027, wholesalers, importers and workshop owners present souvenirs, folk art, handmade crafts and tourist apparel to retail buyers from Greek island resorts, mainland gift shops, museums and hotels.
The combined exhibition, which also includes Laiki Techni and Technima, has run since 1986 and is trade-only. Buyers use the five days to compare suppliers for the coming summer season, negotiate wholesale terms and place orders before the tourist season opens.
TL;DR
You see the whole Greek souvenir supply chain in one hall five months before the season starts: makers, importers and agents with new collections, plus the folk-art and handmade sections that fill the higher-margin shelf. It is a working fair, so you compare samples, agree wholesale prices and place the order that stocks your shop for summer.
Greek retail buyers come to this fair to place seasonal orders, not to browse. For a maker or importer it is the shortest route to island gift shops, hotel boutiques, museum stores and tourism e-commerce sellers, with five days of concentrated meetings in Athens and a buyer base that returns every January.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Metropolitan Expo, Athens International Airport area, 190 04 Spata, Attica, Greece
Two free car parks, 100,000 sqm total, on the venue site 2 km from the airport.
Free ROTA visitor coaches from Doukissis Plakentias metro (Line 3) and from Athens airport arrivals exit 2.
Parking: Two free on-site car parks covering 100,000 sqm in total; follow the exhibition-centre signs from Attiki Odos.
Gate: Free organiser coaches run from Doukissis Plakentias metro station (Line 3) and from the airport, where the stop is opposite Arrivals exit 2.
Attend
Ticket info
Badge collection
Bring a business card and shop or company ID; badges are issued at the visitor desk in the main foyer.
Ticket notes
Trade visitors only: the organiser states the exhibition addresses professionals exclusively. No ticket price is published; register or declare interest through the official visitor page before travelling.
What's on
Laiki Techni
Folk-art exhibition staged inside Souvenir Expo Greece on the same dates and at the same venue.
Same halls, Metropolitan Expo, 13-17 January 2027.
WebsiteTechnima
Handmade-craft exhibition staged with Parousies and Laiki Techni.
Same halls, Metropolitan Expo, 13-17 January 2027.
WebsiteHow the last edition performed
Last edition
2026
This edition
2027
Visitors: 12,000
Exhibitors: 1,200
Floor area: 50,000 sqm
Next edition
2027
The next edition returns to its mid-January slot with the same three-exhibition format at Metropolitan Expo; the 2026 dates on the Greek home slider have been superseded by the 2027 announcement.
Same venue, same five-day January window Parousies, Laiki Techni and Technima staged together again
Edition recap
The 2026 edition closed on 18 January after five trading days at Metropolitan Expo. Exhibitors reported steady interest from island and mainland retail buyers, and the organiser described the commercial result as strong, with new partnerships agreed on the floor.
Testimonials
I have visited exhibitions in New York, Miami, and Atlanta, but Souvenir Expo Greece is unique. It is extremely well organised, and the presentation of the products is always perfect
Here you see everything and get a comprehensive view of what is available. This exhibition is more than half of our work, which is why we come every year
I found many different products that I didn't find in Portugal, Italy, or France
Impact
Five days in Athens in January is the point where the Greek souvenir trade commits its summer range. A buyer who attends can compare the whole supply base before the season, and a supplier who attends meets the shops that will decide what visitors buy on the islands in July and August.
Audience quality
The audience is narrow and commercial: souvenir and gift shops, hotel boutiques, museum and cultural-organisation retail, and tourism e-shops. Because the fair is trade-only, conversations start with range, price and delivery rather than consumer browsing, which shortens the path from sample to order.
Exhibitor outcomes
Value comes from order writing rather than lead volume. Exhibitors who arrive with a priced, deliverable collection and a production calendar can convert the week into seasonal accounts; those who arrive with concept samples alone usually leave with contacts but no orders. No rebooking or satisfaction statistics are published, so none are claimed here.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
Greece's souvenir trade is seasonal and island-heavy: buyers commit to a summer range in January. Parousies concentrates makers, importers and folk-art producers in one Athens hall, so a single visit replaces weeks of supplier travel and sets what resort shops stock.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Locally made, story-led souvenirs
Buyers are shifting shelf space from imported generic souvenirs to Greek-made pieces with a regional story, which lifts the folk-art and handmade sections of the fair.
What it changes: Higher margins and differentiation against airport and ferry-terminal commodity ranges.
Small producers selling direct to retail
Workshops and cooperatives increasingly deal directly with shops instead of going through multi-layer wholesalers, using January fairs to sign seasonal accounts.
What it changes: Shorter supply chains mean better margins for shops and more control over exclusivity.
Tourism volumes push early ordering
With Greek arrivals strong, retail buyers place summer orders earlier and demand repeatable stock, pushing suppliers to show complete collections in January.
What it changes: Late or incomplete collections lose shelf space for the whole season.
Parousies sits in a family of ROTA-run souvenir fairs and in the wider Greek gift, houseware and craft calendar. Buyers often pair the January Athens visit with one of the group's other editions.
January order cycle
Five days in mid-January, timed so orders can be produced and shipped before the Greek summer season.
Autumn houseware window
Athens houseware and decor fair later in the year for non-souvenir ranges.
Circuit rows are editorial planning aids; only names and cities come from the organiser's own pages.
Plan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos
The venue sits on the airport side of Attiki Odos; exit towards the exhibition centre. Free organiser coaches also run from Arrivals exit 2.
2 km
to venue
5 minutes
by car
Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia
Alternative Greek gateway; domestic connections to Athens take about an hour and land at the same airport as the venue.
About 500 km
to venue
5-6 hours by road, 1 hour by air
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
USD 70–110 / night
Simple seaside hotels used by exhibitors who want to be near the venue rather than in the city.
USD 130–190 / night
Closest practical base: 10-15 minutes to the halls, with breakfast and parking.
USD 230–330 / night
Choose central Athens for evening meetings, or the airport Sofitel for a same-day arrival and departure.
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
Metro Line 3
Airport surcharge ticket; about 40 minutes to Syntagma, then a taxi or the organiser coach for the venue.
Airport express bus
Cheapest public option; the free ROTA coach from the airport covers the last 2 km to the halls.
Taxi / ride-hail
Metered taxis from the airport rank; allow 35-45 minutes from the centre in morning traffic.
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
| Type | Who needs it | Fee | Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen short-stay visa (type C) | Visitors from countries without a Schengen visa-waiver agreement who travel for business meetings or a trade fair | $90.00 | About 15 calendar days, longer in peak season |
EU and EEA citizens, and nationals of countries with a Schengen waiver (for example the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Japan), do not need a visa for a short business visit.
Greece accepts ATA carnets for temporary import of samples and professional equipment; have the carnet stamped at Athens airport customs on arrival.
Official visa pageWeather
January is Athens' coolest month: roughly 8-15°C, with rain on several days and a cold wind near the airport. Halls are heated but the walk between halls and car parks is outdoors.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Greek mobile networks and venue wi-fi cover the halls; EU roaming applies for EU SIM cards, so buyers from other member states use their home allowance.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Late dinners, late meetings
Athens business dinners start around 21:00; a 19:00 table is early. Allow for this when booking evening supplier meetings.
Business dress and greetings
Smart casual is normal at the fair. A handshake and first names are standard in the tourist-retail trade, and Greek exhibitors appreciate a few words of Greek.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: ATH - Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos
Book early for the 13-17 January window; mid-January is low season in Athens, so fares are usually well below summer levels.
Schengen rules apply. Many nationalities enter visa-free for short business trips; others need a type C visa obtained before travel.
Estimated cost: EUR 90 standard adult Schengen fee, plus service-centre charges
Processing: About 15 calendar days
Carry a printed exhibitor invitation or registration confirmation for the border and for the visa file.
OfficialGet to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: 2 km: free organiser coach from Arrivals exit 2, taxi in about 10 minutes, or a short drive via Attiki Odos.
Hotel → venue: Airport-corridor hotels run shuttles or are 10-15 minutes by taxi; from central Athens allow 35-45 minutes.
Ride-hail: Beat and Uber operate in Athens; taxis are metered and plentiful at the airport rank.
Public transit: Metro Line 3 connects the airport to the city; the venue itself is served by the organiser's free coaches from Doukissis Plakentias and the airport.
Parking: Two free on-site car parks with 100,000 sqm in total.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: January
Temperature: 8-15°C
Seasonality: Wettest stretch of the Athenian winter, with several rainy days and wind near the coast.
Packing: Bring a warm layer for the halls, a rain jacket for the walk to the car parks, and comfortable shoes for five days on concrete floors.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: 2027-01-14
The second day is when stands are fully dressed and buyers have settled into meeting rhythms, while the opening-day crowd has thinned. By day four attention shifts to closing orders, and the last day is short.
Confirm trade credentials and register interest on the official visitor page — Trade-only entry: bring shop or company ID and business cards.
Book flights to Athens and an airport-corridor hotel — Mid-January is low season; the airport corridor cuts daily travel to minutes.
Shortlist exhibitors by product section and set three priority meetings — Use the exhibitor list and the Parousies, Laiki Techni and Technima sections.
Fix the floor plan: which halls on which day, plus a price benchmark sheet — Leave one flexible half-day for follow-up meetings.
Travel, collect the badge and walk the venue to locate priority stands — Badges are issued at the visitor desk in the main foyer.
Badge collection and a first pass through the Parousies souvenir halls
Main foyer, Metropolitan ExpoSupplier meetings with two priority makers, samples and wholesale terms
Parousies hallsLunch and a quick walk through Laiki Techni and Technima
Venue catering areaSecond supplier block, price benchmarking and order notes
Handmade and giftware sectionsFollow-up calls and a written order shortlist before the halls close
Hotel or venue business cornerCape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon
Half-Day Coastal Drive
About 70 km, 1 hour 15 minutes by car
The classic Attica sunset drive; easy to combine with a Rafina or Lavrio hotel stay.
Aegina island
Full-Day Ferry Trip
40 minutes from Piraeus
A quick island taste with a famous pistachio market, useful for buyers studying island retail.
Venue catering and coffee stands
On-site
Where exhibitor and buyer conversations restart between meetings; busiest mid-morning and after 16:00.
Syntagma and Plaka tavernas
Central Athens
Standard venue for supplier dinners; book for 21:00 and expect a late finish.
Greek souvenir suppliers plan production around the summer season, so a January conversation only becomes an order when the delivery date is fixed in writing within two weeks of the fair.
Budget
Shell scheme
EUR 95–150 / m²
Raw space
EUR 75–110 / m²
Standard booth
9 m²
Indicative Greek trade-fair rates for a January event at Metropolitan Expo; ROTA quotes on application and no tariff is printed on the public pages.
sourceAdjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
booth_shell
exhibitor · standard
EUR 855–1350 / 9 sqm stand
booth_raw
exhibitor · large
EUR 2700–3960 / 36 sqm raw space
hotel
both · mid
EUR 130–190 / per night
flight
both · economy
USD 200–800 / return
visa
both · standard
EUR 90–120 / per person
per_diem
both · standard
EUR 50–80 / per day
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| booth_shell | exhibitor | standard | EUR 855–1350 / 9 sqm stand | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| booth_raw | exhibitor | large | EUR 2700–3960 / 36 sqm raw space | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| hotel | both | mid | EUR 130–190 / per night | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| flight | both | economy | USD 200–800 / return | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| visa | both | standard | EUR 90–120 / per person | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| per_diem | both | standard | EUR 50–80 / per day | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
Decision
Six questions on your role, objective, budget, timing, product fit and readiness. The strongest match of visit, exhibit or skip is shown, with the runner-up as context.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
Which best describes you?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
You buy for resale and can travel in mid-January.
Best for
Souvenir, gift, hotel and museum retail buyers who need a summer range
Min. budget
$600.00
Timeline
Book 6-8 weeks out; two to three days on the floor
Risks
Trade-only entry needs credentials
January weather disrupts some flights
Airport-corridor hotels fill once the fair dates are public
exhibit
You have a priced, deliverable collection and want seasonal accounts.
Best for
Greek makers, cooperatives and importers selling to retail
Min. budget
$2,500.00
Timeline
Commit 90 days out for stand, collection and freight
Risks
Stand costs are quoted individually
Buyers order for delivery, so production must be ready
No published visitor audit to benchmark against
skip
Your range does not overlap souvenirs, craft, gift food or tourist fashion, or you cannot travel.
Best for
Buyers outside the tourist-gift category, or anyone who cannot travel in January
Timeline
None
Risks
Missing the January order window
Competitors securing island shelf space first
Book with
Metropolitan Expo
Greece's largest exhibition centre, 2 km from Athens International Airport, hosting Parousies, Laiki Techni and Technima in the same halls.
Venue named on the organiser's access page; not a commercial partner of this listing.
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos
The main gateway, with the venue on its doorstep and free organiser coaches from Arrivals exit 2.
Airport named as the access point on the organiser's page; no partnership implied.
Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The city's business chamber, a practical contact point for Greek retail and wholesale company checks.
Public body relevant to trade visitors; not named as a supporter of the fair.
Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT)
The national tourism body, useful for context on Greek visitor flows and the retail season that drives this fair.
Public tourism body; no endorsement of the event is claimed.
Recommended providers
Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs - visa information
Official Schengen visa guidance; apply through the Greek consulate or visa centre for your country of residence.
Compare the airport corridor, Rafina and central Athens; confirm shuttle or taxi access to Metropolitan Expo.
Flag carrier with direct European and Middle East routes into Athens; book 6-8 weeks ahead for January.
Air and road freight to Athens with customs clearance near the airport; confirm exhibit handling fees with the organiser.
Travel and public-liability cover; exhibitors normally need stand liability cover under the venue rules.
Cape Sounion and Aegina day trips can be booked around the fair days; venue is 2 km from the airport, so plan transfers.
Your own CRM with a CSV import
No official scanner is confirmed for 2027; a tablet form plus badge photos covers most stands. GDPR consent at the point of capture.
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
5 more alternate names hidden
Trust footer
8
References
2
Publishers
8
Date checked
ROTA S.A.
Metropolitan Expo S.A.
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