Greece pairs ancient wonder with island paradise. Stand where philosophy was born beneath the Acropolis, then sail to Cycladic islands of blue-domed churches, cliffside sunsets and crystalline coves.
Capital
Athens
Population
10.4M
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Languages
Greek
Timezone
GMT+2
Calling code
+30
The cradle of Western civilization — democracy, philosophy, theatre and the Olympic Games all trace their roots here.
Warm hospitality (philoxenia), long seaside meals, and a rhythm of life built around family and celebration.
May–June & September for warm seas and calmer islands
Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Mauritius, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Seychelles are permitted to work in Greece without the need to obtain a visa or any further authorisation for the period of their 90 day visa-free stay. However, this ability to work visa-free does not necessarily extend to other Schengen countries.
The euro replaced the drachma in January 2002. In the Greek language, however, its name is pronounced something like EFF-ro. Euro cents are called sent in Cyprus but not in Greece, where they are called lepta (singular lepto).
A frequently asked question of travellers in Greece is whether they should rent a car. The primary advantage of having a car is that you can cover a lot more ground per day if you're travelling in rural areas or on the larger islands: you can get almost anywhere in Greece by bus, but some isolated villages may only have one or two buses per day, and having your own car means you don't have to wait in the summer heat for the bus to come. Almost all archaeological sites are accessible by bus, but at some of the more remote, less famous, sites, the bus may drop you off up to a mile away from the…
Greek is the official national language and is the native tongue of the vast majority of the population, although the English speaking visitor will encounter no significant language problem. English is the most widely studied and understood foreign language in Greece, followed by French, Italian, and German. Basic knowledge of English can be expected from almost all in the tourism industry and public transport services. Learning a few Greek terms, such as "hello" and "thank you" will be warmly r…
===Crime and theft=== Violent crime and theft rates are low; public disorder is rare, and public drunkenness is generally frowned upon. Visitors should rest assured that this is a safe and friendly destination, but it is always advisable for foreign tourists to exercise basic precautionary measures just as they would at home. There has been a spike in theft (or at least a perceived one), which some locals will not hesitate to blame on the influx of immigrants.
===Health care=== The government's austerity program in the 2010s led to a "meltdown" of Greece's previously admired health care system, as the budgets of state-run hospitals have been cut by up to 50%. Many citizens prefer private health care for longer-term hospital stays. Hospitals face shortages of doctors, nurses and basic supplies. However, public health care is free and universal for all citizens, and for all EU nationals upon presentation of an EHIC card (formerly the E111 form). For non-EU nationals, only emergency care is provided for free.
====Mobile internet==== There are no Internet roaming charges for EU citizens, so you can surf the Internet in Greece as normal with your local sim card. For Non-EU citizens, you can either buy a Greek sim card or use a virtual sim cards where you can buy the GB you want as credit at home and then surf the internet anywhere in Greece until the credit is used up. This is easier than buying a Greek sim card.
Greeks rate politeness with a person's behaviour and not their words. Furthermore, there is an air of informality; everybody is treated like a cousin. They use their hands to gesture a lot. Have fun with this. Sometimes over-emphasizing politeness in spoken language will only make the person dealing with you think you are pretentious. It's nice to learn basic words like "thank you" (Ευχαριστώ: ef-khah-rees-TOH) or "please" (Παρακαλώ: pah-rah-kah-LOH).
Practical guidance for Greece is summarised from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA). Always confirm official visa, health and safety requirements before you travel.
A suggested loop connecting Greece's major cities by proximity — a practical order for a multi-city trip.
Estimated total (your figures)
$3,160
≈ $1,580 per person · $451 per day
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