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Introduction to Greece
Glorious Greece offers something for all travelers! History buffs will admire the ancient monuments and stories behind them, in the country that was the birthplace of Western civilization. Thousands of islands offer beach buffs the ultimate paradise with beaches like nowhere else on earth, along with oceanview accommodation. Culinary lovers can enjoy the diverse foods, from seafood to the Greek salads, and “say cheese” in the country with the highest per-capita consumption of cheese. While the islands receive the majority of tourists, the mainland should not be overlooked. A short drive outside of Athens leads to ancient sites in the heart of a mountainous landscape. This travel guide, brought to you from my many years of travel experience, will help you plan your vacation to glorious Greece!
Quick Information
Currency: Euro. Click here to check the current exchange rate.
Electricity Socket: The standard voltage is 230V AC, and the frequency is 50 Hz. To avoid buying new adapters for every destination in the world, I recommend having a Universal Travel Adapter which can be brought on any vacation.
Entry Requirements: A valid passport is required for all travelers. The passport must expire 6 months or more after your return home. Greece is a member of the Schengen Agreement, which allows EU nationals to unlimited visa-free travel. Travelers from North America, Australia and New Zealand can travel without a visa for 90 days. Citizens of countries from other continents will need to apply for a visa beforehand. Click here to check the entry requirements which apply to your country of residence.
Staying connected:
- Wi-Fi can be found in most cafes, restaurants, hotels and hostels across Greece. Most hostels offer free Wi-Fi, while hotels typically charge a fee. In cafes and restaurants, as long as you buy something, they will allow you to access the Wi-Fi.
- If you’re looking for data while abroad, Airalo is the best eSIM company. Click here to view my article on how to have data abroad at an affordable cost.
- Traveler sim cards, often preloaded with data, can be purchased from many companies. A few companies offering them are Vodafone, WIND, Cosmote, SimOptions, among many others. Some of those companies even have counters in the arrivals sections of most airports, so you’ll never be short on internet.
Safety: Greece is a very safe country to visit. Travelers need to take normal precautions at all times, which is common in any big city. Pickpocketing and scammers are the most serious issues that one can come across, however, with proper precautions, it should not be a problem.
My #1 tip when traveling in Europe: wear your backpack in front of you rather than behind you. That is one of the best ways to avoid theft. Another problem is tourists who enjoy the nightlife and do crazy things. Yes, the Greeks are big party fans! All-nighters are daily occurrences in Greece.
Language: The native language is Greek. English is widely spoken across Greece, and there are lots of English-speaking tours. To better connect with the locals, I always recommend grabbing a phrase book and try learning the basics.
Time zone: GMT + 2
Tipping: although not mandatory, tipping is widely practiced in Greece. At restaurants and bars, as well as taxis, a normal tip is usually around 5-10% of the total price, depending how satisfied you are with the service. Many restaurants include a gratuity on the bill. If it shows on the bill, there is no need to tip above that. At hotels, it is nice to leave the housekeeper about 1 Euro per day if you were satisfied with the serve. Spas do not take tips.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO GREECE
Greece can be considered a year-round destination. However, it depends on the purpose of your trip. The weather is typically similar to other places in the Mediterranean, and can be broken down into 3 seasons:
Low Season (November to February): winters in Greece tend to bring temperatures around 10°C. Clearly it is not beach weather, however, it is a good time to visit Athens and the many ancient sites on the mainland. Tourist crowds are very low, which makes flights and accommodation cheaper. However, prices soar very high during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Shoulder Season (March-May, September and October): the shoulder months are the perfect time for those traveling on a budget. The weather gets warmer, usually around 15-22°C, and flights and accommodations tend to be cheaper (just a little bit higher than the low season, but affordable). Tourist crowds are low during this time.
High Season (June-August): As the summers are sunny and schools are not in session, huge tourist crowds flock to Europe, and many of them include Greece in their itineraries. Likewise, many Europeans as well as Greeks from the mainland come to the Greek islands for the sunny Mediterranean beaches, along with cruises carrying thousands of travelers. The weather is the best for beach buffs and those who enjoy the heat; however, flights and hotels tend to be higher priced. For those who want to travel in the summer, it is best to book 4-5 months prior to departure.
Budgeting
Although Europe can be quite pricey, Greece is not as expensive. When someone mentions Greece, one would think of hilltop villas and sailing the Mediterranean on a yacht or cruise ship. But in reality, food, transportation and even accommodation can be reasonably priced for the budget traveler. You will find accommodation in the city center cheaper than in big European cities like London or Paris, and affordable dining options. The islands tend to be a bit pricier, but still affordable. Here is an approximate breakdown of travel costs:
Accommodation (per night)
| Hostels: | €12-30 for a shared dorm €30-150 for a private dorm |
| Mid-range hotels: | €35-100 |
| High-end hotels: | €70-200 night |
Food (meal for one)
| Street food & self-catering: | €5-15 |
| Mid-range restaurants: | €10-20 |
| Fancy restaurants: | €20-35 |
Transport in cities
| Public Transit | Around €1.50-2.00 per trip |
| Sightseeing Tours | Athens: €22 for 24 hours or €26 for 48 hours Other cities: €13-20 for 24 hours |
Getting to Greece
There is never a shortage of transportation options that can bring you to glorious Greece.
By air: Most travelers will arrive at the country’s main international gateway, which is Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, which is served by carriers from almost every continent. Some travelers will stop in Athens, others will connect to a domestic flight. Most low-cost carriers offer flights from other parts of Europe directly to the many islands.
The national airline of Greece is Aegean Airlines, which flies to Athens from many cities across Europe. For travelers coming internationally, Aegean Airlines is part of the Star Alliance group of airlines. Travelers flying on a Star Alliance airline can connect to an Aegean Airlines flight in any European city. Travelers flying to one of the many islands can connect in Athens to a domestic flight.
Top international airports in Greece other than Athens:
- Corfu
- Heraklion
- Santorini
- Thessaloniki
Top airports served by domestic flights, along with low-cost carriers from other parts of Europe:
- Chania
- Kefalonia
- Kos
- Milos
- Mykonos
- Naxos
- Rhodes
- Syros
- Zakynthos
Other ways: Greece is very popular for tour companies and cruises. Some will start/end in Athens, others will cover the islands. Tours range from budget tours for 18-35s such as Contiki Holidays, to companies for high-end travelers like Trafalgar or Insight Vacations.
Greece is very accessible by cruise ships. Numerous cruise lines include a stop in Athens and/or one or more of the Greek Islands. There are also overnight ships connecting Greece to Italy and other countries.
Traveling around Greece
My recommendation for travel on the mainland, rather than renting a car, is to travel on one of the many affordable tours offered by local companies. There are daytime and also overnight tours from Athens which will take you to the many ancient sites and mountains on the mainland.
For travelers looking to experience the beauty of the islands and soak in the sun, the many local ferries connect all the islands around Greece with frequent service. To find all the routes, one can check https://www.letsferry.gr or https://www.ferriesingreece.com/. Many of the ferries also transport vehicles for an extra fee.
My top recommendations:
- Hellenic Seaways and Blue Star Ferries offer domestic inter-island routes on large and spacious vessels (not the equivalent of a cruise ship, but spacious). However, it is good to check the duration, as some routes can take longer than other ferries. This is due to the number of stops made, which can involve the ship taking an indirect route. Tickets can be purchased at the port, however, if you will be bringing a car, it is important to reserve ahead of time.
- Minoan Lines offers overnight ferries between Crete and Athens. This is a fantastic way to save time! For a similar price to that of a hostel, one can get an interior room onboard the ship. For a room with a view, the rate can be a bit higher. Departure will be around 21:00, and arrival in Athens around 06:30. The ship looks like a cruise ship, however, services are limited to essential facilities for a one-night journey (such as a lounge, food facilities and a deck to walk on). Tickets can be purchased at the port, however, if you will be bringing a car and/or want a room, it is important to reserve ahead of time.
For faster transportation, one can take a domestic flight, although it will be a bit pricier than ferries. Domestic flights are offered by the low-cost airline Sky Express, as well as by Aegean Airlines. When flying Aegean Airlines, you can connect to/from other parts of Europe and the world, as they are a member of Star Alliance. This means that you can connect to one of the many airlines that are also Star Alliance members.
By rail: Greece’s railway system, served by the Greek Train Organization connects Athens to other places on the mainland, such as Thessaloniki, Patra, Alexandroupoli, and Kalambaka. There is no railway on the islands.
By car: For perfect freedom, you could rent a car. Driving in Athens is not as bad, however, public transit buses and streetcars link the city very well. The best would be to rent a car on the day that you plan leaving the city, rather than having the car while you are exploring Athens. Most cars in Europe are manual. For those who do not drive manual, an automatic car can cost up to double the price of a manual car because automatic cars are not as popular in Europe, hence they don’t have as many. If you want to take your car to the islands, many ferries transport cars as well for an extra fee. It is best to book ahead of time if you will be bringing a car. Also, the fee to bring a car on a ferry can sometimes be more expensive than the price of the ticket without a car.
Guided tours: For luxury travelers, guided tours are the way to go. Out of the hundreds of tours available through lots of tour operators, there are tours that focus solely on Greece (for example, one tour can cover Athens, Santorini and another 1-4 islands, depending on the duration of the tour). The tours include 4-star accommodation, along with all the transportation within the cities as well as between the islands. Whether the selected tour operator uses flights or ferries, it’s all included!
BEST THINGS TO DO IN GREECE
Greece has an endless amount of attractions. Below I have outlined the top experiences. At the bottom of the article, you will find more articles related to the top places to experience in this glorious country.
Explore historical Athens
The beating heart of this wonderful nation has lived for 2,500 years. Athens, a city of eye-catching archaeological sites and museums dating as far back as 5th Century BC, has a long and fascinating history. Occupied by lots of different conquerors over the years, it became the capital of Greece in 1834. Parties come to life at night in this city of opulent restaurants, and clubs open until dawn. Other than the Acropolis, make sure to visit the Parthenon, along with the Acropolis Museum for a complete experience. More history can be experienced at the Agora, the Museum of Cycladic Art, the Olympieion where the Temple of Olympian Zeus can be found, as well as the Byzantine Museum. Go for a nice walk along the Plaka and Anafiotika neighborhoods, and enjoy shopping like a local at the Flea Market. Experience the changing of the guard at Syntagma Square. A short drive outside the city, one will find beautiful beaches, which makes Athens the ideal city for any type of traveler.
Experience ancient history and religion in Delphi & Meteora
Beauty can also be found on the mainland of Greece. After driving through mountains, one will reach the foot of Mount Parnassos, where the ancient and Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi can be found. Delphi used to be looked at as the centre of the world. Mythology has it that the two eagles sent out by Zeus met here to find the navel of the world. Surrounded by mountains, Delphi was the cultural and religious center of the country, as well as the symbol of unity, for the Hellenic world.
A short drive out of Delphi takes travelers to the municipality of Kalabaka, which is dominated by the Meteora rock formation. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, anchorite monks built 24 monasteries on these rocky peaks overlooking the valley at heights between 200 and 600 meters. Most of these Eastern Orthodox monasteries are in ruins today, and only 4 of them are still in use.
Find true paradise in the Cyclades
Out of over 1400 islands in the Greek archipelago, 39 of those islands are referred to as The Cyclades. These islands are home to some of the most important archeological ruins in the country, and contain some beautiful beaches and rugged landscapes. The most popular one in Santorini, which is the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean. Other popular islands worth experiencing are Delos, Ios, Mykonos, Naxos, Syros, Tinos, among many others. The islands can be reached by a short ferry ride, or a one-hour flight from Athens.
WHERE TO STAY
There are endless options for accommodation in Greece. From hostels where you can meet like-minded travelers to luxury hotels, there is never a shortage of options. It is best to book in advance, especially if traveling during peak season.
For hostels, my tip would be to check the type of hostel you are booking. Hostels can be anywhere from just a cheap hotel to a live party place. I’ve stayed at hostels that were amazing and I made lots of friends. I’ve also stayed at hostels that looked like an abandoned building when I walked in, and no one to talk to because there are no facilities other than rooms and a small bar. Always check the description when booking and ensure the hostel matches the type that you look for.
Travel tip: when booking your hotel, always check under room amenities if it says “Private Bathroom”, and if it mentions a shower. Unlike in North America, many of the cheaper hotels in Europe do not have a bathroom in the room. Instead, the bathroom is located down the hall. Also, Europeans distinguish between a shower and toilet. This means that the shower can be separate from the toilet.
For luxury travelers, the Cyclades offer accommodation anywhere from 3-star to 5-star hotels, to as far as luxurious villas overlooking the majestic Aegean Sea. These hotels and villas are the perfect idea for honeymooners or romantic travelers. The 3-star and 4-star hotels are reasonably priced considering the setting that you will find yourself in.
