Amazing Products to Buy at a Greek Pharmacy

When I started researching visiting Greece, I kept coming across articles about THE PHARMACY EXPERIENCE! Could the articles and blog posts that say that the pharmacies in Europe were the best thing since sliced bread true? Would I be too busy soaking in the food and sights of Europe to stand in line with the crazies!? Read on for tips on what products to buy at a Greek pharmacy!

Products to Buy at a Greek Pharmacy

In Santorini, there was a pharmacy about a 5-minute walk from our hotel. I spotted it on the way in but quickly forgot about it when I realized that our hotel was just perfection and I never wanted to leave. However, my husband felt like a cold was coming on so we walked to the pharmacy to see if we could get something to help him.

It was like stepping into a quiet and stark white Sephora. Full shelves held beauty products galore and brands I had never heard of. I could have spent all day in there but P dragged me out (I snuck back later.)

The pharmacy in Oia had the best prices and selection but hands down the pharmacy in Imerovigli had the best customer service.

In my humble opinion, here are some brands and products that are must buy in Greece.

Since Korres is made in Greece the prices were half of what they are here in the United States. I stocked up on some Korres soap, Korres shower wash and the Korres After Sun Face Cream Yoghurt after my shoulders got too much sun. I love how these products smell and they are super gentle on my skin. Fans of Korres know these products are expensive stateside.

Some of the best Korres products to buy in Greece include the Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanse, Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink, and Korres Greek Yoghurt Nourishing Probiotic Gel-Cream.

The Korres products I found at the pharmacy were literally HALF of what they are in the US and even in some cases on sale which gave me a 70% discount on the soap!

HerbOlive

I noticed a ton of copycat products but one tiny store in Oia had these products. I grabbed the Herbolive Body Cream Argan Oil, the Herbolive Olive and Aloe Foot Cream, and HerbOlive pomegranate lip balm. The prices were really reasonable and they smell heavenly.

Olive Oil Soap

Apparently, Greece is known for its soap and you can buy bars everywhere! I was told not to pay more than 2 Euro for each bar of Olive Oil Soap from Greece and we found them at every grocery store and pharmacy we went to. These soaps smell wonderful and make a great souvenir gift to bring home!

Other Tips:

Pharmacy Sign: Look for a distinctive green cross sign outside the pharmacy, similar to many other countries. The Greek word for pharmacy is “φαρμακείο” (farmakeío).

All the pharmacies we went to had staff that spoke English. I say this to encourage you to ask them questions, that’s what they are there for and they will help you pick out an over-the-counter medicine or product since most items will only have Greek lettering!

Operating Hours: Pharmacies in Greece have regular operating hours, usually from Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. On Saturdays, they open only in the morning, and some larger cities may have pharmacies on duty during weekends and holidays.

Most take credit cards in addition to cash.

Be open to brands you’ve never heard of. The HerbOlive products were my favorite purchases from the trip. I should have grabbed more!

Apivita: This brand focuses on natural cosmetics, utilizing honey, propolis, and other bee products in their formulations. They offer skincare, haircare, and personal care products.

Frezyderm: A Greek brand that is known for its high-quality dermatological products, including skincare, sunscreens, and baby care items.

Foltene Pharma: Specializes in hair care products, including treatments for hair loss and thinning hair.