Visit Greece, it`s one of the most popular destinations for tourism for decades – and there are many reasons for this. Blessed by the great climate, beautiful sea, and idyllic islands scattered around the Mediterranean it is a true tourist paradise.

Its vast archaeological and historical heritage that spawned modern civilization is present in every corner through monuments, preserved ruins, and numerous museums and it is worth visiting many times over as there is always something new to learn.

If your preference is nightlife and parties, Greece caters to that as well, with exciting clubs and beach parties throughout the summer. It is still a very family-friendly place as you can always find a quiet sea resort to enjoy holidays with kids.

And finally, delicious food and friendly locals, and very affordable prices make Greece an easy choice for holidays for any type of tourist. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

1. Quick facts

Official name: The Hellenic Republic
Capital: Athens
Country population: 11.4 million
Area: 131,957 sq km (50,949 sq miles)
Major language: Greek
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 78 years (men), 83 years (women)
Currency: Euro

2. Where is it?

Greece is located in Southern Europe, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and it shares its borders with four countries: North Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. It’s a medium-sized country – based on its size, Greece is the 95^th country in the world and 15^th in Europe.

3. Visa requirements

As with many countries, your passport must be valid for at least three months after you complete your visit to Greece, so please plan ahead. Greece is part of the Schengen agreement and a visa for any of the countries from the Schengen group is also valid for Greece.

More info about visa requirements for Schengen countries.

The rest of countries require visa and details can be found here.

4. Getting there

Getting to Greece is the best via Athens Airport (ATH) or other, smaller airports: Thessaloniki (SKG), Heraklion (HER), or Chania (CHQ). You can also arrive via boat or cruiser to one of the ports or drive from neighboring countries, such as Turkey, Bulgaria, Macedonia, or Albania if you are visiting the region.

Here are some flight offers to Greece from the US:

More cheap flights and hotels in Greece:

5. Where to stay in Greece?

Depending on where you want to go in Greece, your options for accommodation vary from standard hotels or Airbnb accommodations to boutique hotels and individual rooms, rented mostly on small islands.

For more information on Greece accommodation options click here.

It is up to you and your budget and personal preferences. For budget (and young) travelers, there is plenty of cheap accommodation to choose from in Hostel World.

For the latest offers on hotels from our providers use the search form below:

6. Moving around

For moving between cities and especially between Athens and Thessaloniki, you can use the train or a bus. Since Greece is not that large, you can also rent a car to move while on the mainland.

To visit islands, there is a network of ferries that can take you to major islands and for the smaller islands, you can go by boat service.

Moving around the cities can be done by metro, bus or taxi. Taxi is very affordable and sometimes it is cheaper to go by taxi if you are traveling as a family than to go by bus.

Going back and forth from Athens airport and Athens is the best via taxi if you are in a group as it has a fixed price (around $40). For individual travelers or couples, it is better to take the metro to reach downtown (return ticket is $20).

More info about transportation in Greece.

To move between cities you can also rent a car, which you can do online from our website or from many car rentals.

Car rentals – book your ride and transfer

7. Food in Greece

Greek cuisine is world-famous and Greek restaurants around the world are as popular and common as Italian or French. Greek dishes are mostly Mediterranean, but they have influence from various cultures, such as Balkans or from Ottoman Empire.

Souvlaki, meat on a skewer, sometimes mixed with vegetables in between meat cubes, is a very popular Greek ‘fast food’. It is served with fries or baked potatoes and tzatziki sauce. All types of meat are used, chicken, pork, beef, and even lamb. Gyros is another meat-based street food – pieces of meat are stuck on a pole that rotates slowly and is cooked and sliced down to be served in pitta bread with salad and French fries. Also comes with various meat types.

Moussaka is another meat dish, minced beef with tomatoes and aborigines, it resembles meat lasagna and it is equally filling and tasty. Dolmades is wine leaves stuffed with minced meat mixed with rice and vegetables. Greek salad, or Choriatiki, is a world-known salad and it comes in many varieties, but core ingredients are tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, olives, and feta cheese. It is usually condiments with salt, vinegar, and olive oil.

Spanakopita and Tiropita re respectively spinach and cheese pies, also very popular in Greece and can be found in every bakery.

The other half of the Greek menu is reserved for a wide variety of sweet treats: galaktoboureki – a sweet pie, similar to cheese and spinach one, but with sweet filling, baklava, layered sweet pastry with nuts and sugar syrup, amygdalota, almond cookies, kadaifi, unique sweet resembling noodles, wrapped around filling of nuts and loukoumades, fried dough balls covered in syrup.

The experience of Greek cuisine would not be complete without traditional Greek coffee, a selection of Greek wines, and local beers. Enjoy!

More info about food in Greece.

8. Safety

How safe is Greece for tourists and to move around? Greece is very safe, both inland and on islands. Tourist areas are generally safe, both for single tourists and groups or families, but extra caution for pickpocketers is advised. Recent economic problems have caused a slight increase in petty crimes.

More details about safety in Greece you can find here.

9. Prices

Greece is not that costly for tourists, and you can always find great deals on accommodation, meals, and attraction tickets.

For detailed pricing information for various items, click here.

Prices throughout Greece are almost the same, with slight variation, but Athens and Thessaloniki are most expensive for general tourism.

10. Weather

Greece has a warm Mediterranean climate in its central and south parts, while the north can experience some cold winter periods. Temperatures in the summer can go up really high, about 40 C (104 F), but it is still pleasant if you are near the sea with a breeze.

More info about the weather in Greece.

11. Best time to visit Greece

Greece can be a year-round destination for any traveler as there is so much to see and do, but the most popular times are April to mid-June or September-October, so as to avoid the high season and still have great weather. If you are going for beach season, sailing, or island hopping, then summer (June-September) is the best time to go. For visiting archaeological and historical sites, any time is good, if you don’t mind rain from time to time in winter.

More tips on when to visit Greece.

12. Money matters

Greece is part of the European Union and Eurozone and the official currency is Euro. You should always pay attention when paying bills if you are coming from non-Euro countries and mind the exchange rate. (Xe.com). Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, but please do check card charges from your bank in foreign countries before the trip.

It is always good to have some cash on you, especially when leaving a tip in the restaurant or for a taxi ride. There are ATMs and banks on every corner and cash withdrawals are in Euros with a fee. Major banks don’t charge ATM fees to foreigners, but privately operated ATMs may sometimes charge high fees. However, the machine should warn you about the charge so you have a choice to cancel the transaction before committing to it.

More info about money, banks and ATMs in Greece.

13. What to see in Greece?

Greece is a destination that is worth exploring over and again as there are so many places to see and things to do in this relatively small country. We are covering just a few most important attractions and landmarks.

Acropolis of Athens. Archeological ruins of a famous 5th-century BC temple complex on Athens’ central hilltop.

Meteora. Located in central Greece, this UNESCO-listed complex of six Eastern Orthodox monasteries is second most important in Greece, after Mount Athos.

Parthenon. Iconic 5th BC Athenian temple ruins, the main landmark in Acropolis site. Symbol of Athens and Greece.

Acropolis Museum. The modern museum is just downhill from the Acropolis site, hosting ancient treasures and artifacts in a well-organized and presentable manner. A must when visiting Athens.

Syntagma Square. The central square in Athens, main meeting and transport point for the entire city, popular tourist destination, and exploration starting point.

Plaka. Colorful Athens neighborhood just next to Acropolis, lined with cobbled streets, souvenir shops, cafes, and restaurants. Very popular with tourists to walk around and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

Mycenae. The ancient Greek city and temple ruin dating back to the 7th century BC, located in Peloponnese, southwest of Athens.

Knossos. Palaces and archaeological sites dating back to the Bronze Age, located on the island of Crete.

Temple of Olympian Zeus. Remains of a temple completed during the rule of Hadrian, dedicated to Zeus and located in Athens.

Delos. A small island next to Mikonos, with numerous archaeological sites and a museum. This island was mentioned prominently in Greek mythology.

The Ionian Islands. Group of islands in the Ionian Sea, off the west coast of Greece. Most famous is the island of Corfu.

Mount Olympus. Legendary mountain peak, standing at 2,918 meters, famous from Greek mythology as the home of numerous gods.

Elafonisi. The tiny island next to the southwestern corner of the island of Crete. Depending on the weather, it is possible to walk to the island through shallow waters.

Sounion. Ancient Poseidon temple and columns by the sea, located at the very south of Attic peninsula, south of Athens. Beautiful views, especially during sunset.

Samariá Gorge. The national park on the island of Crete. It is a biosphere reserve and popular for hiking and scenic views.

Monastiraki. Popular neighborhood in Athens, next to Plaka and Acropolis. Several iconic landmarks, such as the ruins of Hadrian’s Library, the Ancient Agora, and the rebuilt Stoa of Attalos with the museum. Many traditional taverns and shops in the area as well.

Akrotiri. Ruins of a prehistoric village from the Bronze Age. Located on the island of Santorini.

Imerovigli. A village on the island of Santorini, famous worldwide for photos of white houses, a church with a blue dome, and with the blue sea as a backdrop.

Balos Beach. Pristine blue and turquoise lagoon in the remote, northwest part of Crete Island. Accessible by boat or hiking trail.

National Archaeological Museum. Ancient Greek art and archaeology museum in Athens, exhibiting sculptures, metalwork, vases, and jewelry. Considered one of the most important museums in the world of this type.

Palaiokastritsa. A village in northwestern Corfu. According to the legend, it is the place where Odysseus disembarked and met Nausicaä. The area is also popular with hiking and water sports.

Erechtheion. Iconic temple of ancient Greece located on the north side of Acropolis and dedicated to Athena and Poseidon.

Mount Lycabettus. Landmark hill in Athens, featuring an amphitheater, restaurant, and panoramic view from the top. Reachable also by cable car.

Spinalonga. Tiny islet of the coast of northeast Crete, featuring a Venetian fort and the ruins of a former leper colony.

Corinth Canal. A canal connecting the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.

Santorini caldera. Volcanic crater submerged in the sea in a scenic setting. Offering hillside lodging, boat tours, and panoramic views.

Achilleion. A 19th-century palace built on the island of Corfu, for the Empress of Austria, Sisi. Open for guided tours with museums and gardens.

Melissani Cave. Scenic subterranean lake with boat tours, located on the island of Kefalonia.

Myrtos Beach. The scenic white sand beach between two mountains Located in the northwest of Kefalonia island.

Colossus of Rhodes. Presumably, this ancient word wonder was located on the island of Rhodes.

Temple of Hephaestus. Ancient, hilltop temple, very well preserved. Built in Doric style and located in ancient Agora of Athens.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Ancient stone theater on the side of Acropolis hill. Offering live performances.

Mount Parnassus. One of the highest mountains in Greece. Featuring a national park and a popular ski resort.

Sidari. A small settlement in the northern part of the island of Corfu. Popular with tourists as a resort area.

Antipaxos. Beautiful island with cliffs, caves, and scenic views. Located south of Paxos, which is south of Corfu.

Theatre of Dionysus. Ancient theatre performance space which could seat around 15,000 people. Built in 6^th century BC and located under Acropolis in Athens.

Port of Piraeus. A bust harbor with a seaport with ferries, yachts, and ships, southwest from Athens.

National Garden. Large historic park with native and exotic plants, archeological remains, and a children’s library, located in Athens.

Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. The palace, known as Kastello, dates back from the 14^th century and was renovated in 1940. Located on the island of Rhodes.

Porto Katsiki. Scenic, blue water beach under steep cliffs on the island of Lefkada in the Ionian Sea.

Kerameikos. Ancient cemetery ruins and a museum, located in Athens.

Heraklion Archaeological Museum. Museum of Cretan prehistory and history, one of the best museums in Greece and the top museum for Minoan art in the world.

Kolonaki. Neighborhood in Athens with high-end shopping and dining. Featuring concept stores and galleries.

White Tower of Thessaloniki. Landmark fortress and former prison exhibiting interactive artifacts from the city’s history. Dating back from Ottoman times in the 15^th century.

14. Interesting facts about Greece

Here are some interesting facts about this beautiful country:

There are around 6,000 island islets in Greece (only 227 are inhabited)
Greece has the largest variety of olives growing
Democracy first started in Greece.

More interesting facts about Greece.

We hope you enjoyed reading about Greece!

Safe travels!