Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis

Here’s a riddle. They don't exist anywhere in the world, but Greece. They hang newspapers off clothes pegs. They sell bubble gum, cigars, and painkillers. What are they?

By Maria Kostaki

You'll encounter dozens of these on your visit to Athens.

Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis

When the munchies strike, head to a periptero.

Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis

Athenians visit their local periptero for all the news of the day.

Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis

The periptero is much more than a small wooden box to locals; they're a way of life.

Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis