Greece - Traveling to interesting places on our planet

Greece is called the cradle of European civilization, the keeper of the ancient heritage, the birthplace of the Olympic gods, the source of classical art. Greece is also famous for its Orthodox shrines – two dozen monasteries of Mount Athos, the monasteries of Meteora merged with the rocks. But, as if this were not enough, nature generously added its gifts: it created the cave lake Melissani and the azure-white Santorini, blue and turquoise bays, picturesque cliffs and cozy beaches with white, pink sands… And it gave uniqueness to each of the islands scattered like a necklace around mainland Greece.

Why go to Greece?

People travel to Greece for four purposes:

To see Olympus, the Parthenon, the Acropolis of Athens and other sights that the ancient Greek civilization left as a legacy to humanity.
To touch the history of Orthodox shrines – Athos, Patmos, Meteora.
To swim, sunbathe, search for ancient amphoras on the seabed, have fun in water parks, go water skiing – in general, enjoy a beach holiday in a sunny country.
To get all of this, all of that, and all of that.

This is probably the most common reason. Holidays in Greece are a successful combination of resort and cultural leisure. Moreover, beach holidays have their own special feature (no other country in the Mediterranean has such a large number of islands), and the cultural space is so vast that even ten holidays will not allow you to get acquainted with all the significant monuments.

The main thing about the country

Greece is a country where you can get the most impressions without spending a lot of money by the standards of European resorts: if you take about 10,000 rubles per day, this will be enough for accommodation, food, excursions and entertainment. True, you will have to save and it is unlikely that you will be able to rent a yacht, but you will relax on the beach and get acquainted with the main attractions. If you double the amount, the vacation will become comfortable and eventful.

What is this country like:

The capital is Athens.
The official language is Greek.
The traditional religion is Orthodoxy.
Time zone UTC+2, summer and winter time are in effect.

Greece is divided into three zones:

The mainland part is located in the Balkans.
The Peloponnese is a large peninsula in the south of the country, separated from the Balkans by the narrow Isthmus of Corinth.
The island part. This is more than 3,000 islands scattered across the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas. The largest of them is Crete (the fifth largest in Europe).

Greek landscapes are predominantly mountainous. Rocks give the coast a spectacular picturesqueness. Mountains alternate with valleys, the coast is cut by bays. The relief in most parts of the country is complex. But there are also large plains: one is located in the Peloponnese, and the other – Thessalian – between the mountains in the Balkans.

The climate in Greece is Mediterranean: summers are dry and hot, winters are mild and rainy. The islands are warmer than the mainland: the holiday season begins a month earlier (in April) and ends a month later (in October).

When to go

If you are going to Greek resorts for the sea and sun, you can choose any month from May to September. But there are pleasant exceptions for those who are late: in Rhodes and Crete, the velvet season continues into October.
The islands are generally warmer. The resort season starts earlier – in April, ends later – at the end of October.
The sea in Greece warms up later than the heat comes. Sometimes it remains cool until the end of May. But it retains heat until October, and in some places even in November. So if you like swimming, it is better to come in the fall.
The peak season is July-August. But not everyone will like the hot Greek summer: extreme temperatures of around +40 ◦C are not uncommon, and the sun melts the asphalt and heats up the ruins.
Even in September it is quite hot in Greece. If you prefer pleasant, “velvet” weather, it is better to go in May or in the second half of September.
The best time for excursions is mid-spring or autumn. April and October are excellent months for sightseeing trips. You can even do it in winter, as the temperature will be around +12 ◦ C at this time. But there is a risk of getting cold — down to zero and below.
In general, the mildest and most comfortable months in Greece are April-May on the islands and May-July in the northern part of the country, as well as September-October.
As for skiing holidays, the season at Greek resorts is from December to April.

Holidays:

January 1st is New Year.
January 6 – Epiphany.
The first day of Lent (floating date).
March 25 is Independence Day.
May 1st – Labor Day and Flower Festival.
August 15 – Dormition of the Virgin Mary.
October 28 – Ohi Day (a holiday in honor of Greece’s rejection of the fascist ultimatum in 1940).
December 25 – Christmas.
December 26 – Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God.

Greece is an Orthodox country, so religious holidays are celebrated here with great solemnity. There is even an analogue of Maslenitsa – the bright and cheerful Apokriatika, or Apokries. If you like event tourism, it makes sense to come to these festive celebrations.

Currency

Greece is part of the Eurozone, and the Euro is used in this country. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, but cash is a good idea – for tips, walking around markets, and in case of a trip to the hinterland, where not all the attributes of civilization have yet reached. In addition, even in popular resort areas, small cafes and shops often do not have payment terminals.

There are many ATMs in the country, but they charge a commission of 3-5% for cash withdrawals. You can exchange currency in banks, but their working hours are unusually short for a Russian: Monday through Thursday from 8:30 to 14:00, and on Fridays until 13:30. Only large banks work on Saturdays.

Prices

A holiday in Greece costs travellers less than a similar set of tourist benefits in Spain, Italy and France. It is easy to find a comfortable room for 30-50 euros (3,000-5,000 roubles), and for 100 euros (10,000 roubles) you can expect high-class furnishings. You can have a good lunch or dinner for 10-15 euros (700-1,500 roubles). Of course, it all depends on your tastes: some people will buy a gyro on the street for 3 euros (300 roubles), while others will want sea bream or seafood for 10 euros (1,000 roubles). But in general, prices in Greece are not shocking.

Museum tickets cost from 2 to 12 euros (200–1200 rubles). To have fun in the water park, you need to take 30–50 euros (3000–5000 rubles). An hour of yacht rental starts from 70 euros (7000 rubles), depending on its level. Excursions from 50 euros (50,000 rubles), two-day tours with a rich program from 200 euros (20,000 rubles).

Prices are valid for September 2023.

Resorts

Greece has dozens of mainland and island resorts that claim to be famous among tourists. However, the most interesting ones can be singled out:

Crete . The largest island of Greece with a large number of hotels, beaches, restaurants, entertainment. The capital is a fairly large city Heraklion, on the territory of which is the Palace of Knossos – a famous monument of the Minoan civilization. The most famous of the beaches is Balos at the confluence of three seas.
Santorini . Perhaps this resort most often appears in photographs illustrating the beauty of Greece. The white and blue palette has become its calling card. But there is another color in the Santorini palette: black. This is the color of the volcanic sand on its unusual beaches.
Elafonisos. The sand here is also unusual – pink. This color smoothly flows into the turquoise shade of the Laconic Gulf, creating an amazing visual effect.
The Dodecanese archipelago. The most famous islands are Kos and Rhodes . The second is famous for its picturesque ruins from the era of the Knights Hospitaller.
Paros and Mykonos, popular with young people and bohemians.
Corfu , which attracts those who prefer a relaxing holiday.
Peloponnese, where it is convenient to combine a resort holiday with a rich excursion program.
The Ionian Islands, which claim to be the most picturesque.
North Aegean islands with Middle Eastern exotic influences.
The Cyclades are where, according to legend, Apollo and Artemis were born, and where the most peaceful, “Edenic” landscapes of Greece are located.

If you are interested in ski resorts, Greece will offer good slopes and decent service in the Rhodope Mountains and the Pindus Mountains. This is the famous Parnassus (it turns out that not only poets but also skiers go there), Falako, Kalavrita, Vasilitsa, Pigadia and Kaimaktsalan, from where panoramic views of Olympus and the Thermaic Gulf open up.

Beaches

Greece is loved for its soft sandy beaches – pebbly ones are also found, but rarely. Small bays are common, especially on the islands. There are many beautiful and even phenomenal places: for example, what is the island of Elafonisos with pink sand! Another famous place, familiar to many from photographs, is the island of Zakynthos with its bright blue Navagio Bay, surrounded by cliffs. Or take Balos Beach in Crete – it is located at the point where three seas merge at once: the Aegean, Libyan and Ionian.

Thanks to its abundance of islands, Greece has many secluded beaches, ideal for a romantic or philosophical holiday, or even a real Robinson Crusoe. Some are quite difficult to get to, but this does not stop travelers. For example, Tsigrado Beach on the island of Milos – to get to this picturesque place, you need to climb over the rocks.

Beaches on the mainland are usually noisier and more crowded than on the islands. However, on the large islands – Crete, Rhodes – there are also beaches where you won’t get bored: there are a lot of people, there are restaurants, attractions, various services and entertainment.

So everyone can find a beach to their taste in Greece. And one more important point: in Greece, every year, not one, not two, not ten, but hundreds of beaches receive the Blue Flag – an international quality mark confirming the cleanliness and environmental friendliness of the coast.

Attractions

Even if a traveler can devote a whole year to Greece, he will hardly be able to see all the sights of the country that are worthy of attention. Here is a list of the most beautiful, most ancient, most famous sights of Greece:

The Acropolis of Athens is the heart of the great city, dedicated to one of the most important goddesses of the ancient Greek pantheon – Athena. The Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Theatre of Dionysus and the Erechtheion are also located in this city.
The Palace of Knossos in Crete, where, according to myths, the Minotaur lived.
The Great Parthenon is a symbol of Greece, an example of harmony, a miracle of ancient architecture.
The Temple of Apollo at Delphi, where the Delphic Oracle prophesied.
Mount Olympus with the Throne of Zeus at its peak is where, according to the ancient Greeks, the Olympian gods feasted and decided the fates of mortals.
Olympia with its picturesque ruins. This city is considered the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
Mycenae with the tombs of legendary kings.
Epidaurus with a huge ancient amphitheater.
The monasteries of Meteora in Thessaly, miraculously perched on the tops of cliffs.
Mount Athos is one of the main shrines for Orthodox Christians, a center of pilgrimage tourism. There are two dozen monasteries on this mountain, and this territory is considered an autonomous monastic republic.
Patmos with the Cave of the Apocalypse.
Thessaloniki with the White Tower and the Heptapyrgion fortress.
Rhodes, where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood, one of the wonders of the world. This monument has not survived, but on Rhodes you can see the medieval palace of the Grand Masters of the Order of Hospitallers. We must not forget about the natural attractions of Greece. At a minimum, you should see:
The Melissani cave lake, which seems to glow under the rays of the sun falling through the collapsed dome of the cave. By the way, you can take a boat ride on this lake.
The turquoise lake Plastira looks like a giant octopus spread out among the mountains.
Samaria Gorge is a national park with colorful landscapes.
Navagio Beach is a picturesque combination of dramatic cliffs and a cozy bay.

Entertainment

Holidays in Greece can be both philosophical, relaxed and active. If you are tired of sipping rakia, watching sunrises and sunsets, you can add a little adventure to your life:

Get to know the underwater world and try to find an ancient Greek amphora. The most popular diving spots are Corfu and Crete. Rocks, underwater gorges, solidified lava of an ancient volcano, caves, sunken ships – this is what awaits divers in the vicinity of the Greek islands.
Go to a water park. In Crete, for example, there are as many as five of them. There are water parks at other resorts, too. Waterland in Thessaloniki gets high marks.
Get to know Greek amusement parks (perhaps the most interesting one is in Thessaloniki – this is Magic Park), go to Dinosauria Park, get lost in Labyrinth Theme Park.
A ride along the edge of a precipice in a railway carriage is an adventure that awaits you in the Vouraikos Gorge, and the line itself is called Odontotos.
See Thessaloniki or any other city from a bird’s eye view by taking to the skies in a small private plane.
Immerse yourself in the nightlife of trendy Ladadika and other youthful areas that never sleep.
Go windsurfing, SP surfing, snorkeling, water skiing, yachting, paragliding – all the things you’ve been meaning to do for a long time but have always put off.

Kitchen

Multi-colored vegetables and juicy greens, olives, feta cheese and olive oil are recognizable features of Greek cuisine. In Greece, you will be offered dishes created at the crossroads of cultures, absorbing Mediterranean, Balkan, and Eastern traditions. And at the same time, Greek cuisine is unique and distinctive.

To feel the flavor of the national menu, in Greece you should order moussaka made of eggplants, tomatoes and juicy minced meat, meat stew stifado (it is cooked in wine sauce flavored with cinnamon), pastitsio casserole, lamb chops called paidakia, sausages-spetsofai with bell pepper. And also – be sure to find out how the real Greek salad differs from its variations.

Those with a sweet tooth should try baklava and custard puffs – galaktoboureko. Judging by the ratings and reviews, these pastries are among the most delicious desserts on the planet.

Souvenirs

When talking about shopping in Greece, associations with so-called fur tours immediately arise. “Shubing” is really popular with tourists, especially since many go specifically for fur products. The main center of “shubing” is Kastoria.

But you can bring many other interesting, useful things from Greece, and much more budget-friendly ones. Among the most popular goods among travelers is real olive oil. You can buy canned olives, honey. If you are interested in cosmetics, you should pay attention to olive oil.

When visiting monasteries and Orthodox churches, travelers often buy icons and komboloi prayer beads. Incidentally, even those who are not particularly religious buy them: komboloi are beautiful and calm the nerves well.

And, of course, few tourists will leave Greece without a vase that “I, an ancient Greek, made,” as they joked in the movies. There are plenty of imitations of antiquities in any shop — red-figure and black-figure ceramics, marble and alabaster figurines, “archaeological finds” with an aging effect, coins, jewelry in the ancient Greek style… In general, everything that is associated with the Olympian gods and ancient Greek culture.

Transport

In large cities in Greece you can use buses and taxis, sometimes trolleybuses and trams. In Athens there are also trams (a mix of a train and a tram) and an overground metro. You can rent a car, a bicycle or a scooter.

Intercity travel is more interesting. In some parts of the country, getting to a neighboring city is easy, and in some places you will be offered a trip by boat, on a donkey, or on foot. But if you travel to popular tourist spots, you can choose a civilized option:

KTEL buses are probably the most popular type of intercity transport. A good combination of comfort and affordability. They operate not only on the mainland, but also to many islands. You do not need to pay for the ferry separately, it is included in the ticket price.
Trains. If you like to travel to the sound of the wheels, you can take the Athens-Thessaloniki route. Beautiful landscapes – mountains, valleys, sea – are guaranteed. The pleasure will cost about 55 euros (5500 rubles). There are other train routes.
Local aviation (Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines). The easiest way to get to the 23 Greek islands that have airports. But it is also the most expensive: about 200 euros per ticket (20,000 rubles).
Ferries. In Greece, whose territory is scattered across many islands, this is a very popular form of transport. The ferry network is dense, with trips to popular islands departing several times a day. But there are also corners where you can only get by sea 2-3 times a week. And there is no other way at all. Tickets cost 40-50 euros (4,000-5,000 rubles). Traveling by ferry between the islands is convenient in the warm season. In the cold season, trips are often cancelled due to storms.

Safety

Greece has a relatively low crime rate, and tourist police officers are always available in popular tourist destinations. Tourist police departments have English-speaking officers.

Most incidents that happen to tourists are banal thefts. Most often, wallets and valuables are stolen in a crowd, for example, at a market. You should be more careful when walking. It is not recommended to change currency on the street. You should not leave money and valuables unprotected in a hotel; it is better to put them in a safe.

Medicine

Medical tourism in Greece is not the most developed area, although people come to this country for treatment. The competitive advantage is low prices for medical services for Europe. An additional bonus is the healing natural factors: the ion-rich sea breeze, the presence of thermal springs on the Halkidiki Peninsula, the island of Evia, not far from Athens. Thanks to these factors, even an ordinary holiday in Greece can become a health holiday. Massages and SPA procedures, which are offered in many hotels, and the Mediterranean type of food, typical for Greece, will also be beneficial.

Customs regulations

If you buy a fur coat in Greece, don’t forget to take the receipt from the store with you: it will be checked at customs. There are no duties or taxes on the export of fur products, but the traveler must confirm the legality of the purchase.

Traditions

If you decide to go to Athos, it is worth considering that this is not just another tourist destination. Officially, it is the Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain, which sets its own rules for entry and stay. The rules are quite strict, monastic. Video filming is prohibited, photography – with the permission of the monks.

Women, girls and young women are prohibited from entering the Holy Mountain in principle.

When visiting other Orthodox churches and monasteries in Greece, women should choose closed, non-provocative clothing. It is advisable to cover your head with a scarf.

Internet

Mobile communications and the Internet cover almost all of Greece, with the exception of the wild islands, where a couple of tourists come once a year. Crete and other large islands have both mobile communications and mobile Internet. Almost all hotels, cafes and shopping centers give out Wi-Fi for free.

To save on roaming, a traveler should buy a SIM card from a local operator – Panafon, Vodofone, Cosmote or Wind. Some tourists use pay phones to save money. They call using “telecards” (telekartа), which cost 5-20 euros (500-2000 rubles).

Useful facts

The optimal tip size is 10%.
Sometimes in restaurants, visitors are silently brought bread and water without warning that they have to pay for it. If the expense of 1-2 euros (100-200 rubles) is significant for you or you simply do not like this approach, clarify who is paying for this treat. You can refuse.
Some establishments in Greece have a rather original surcharge – for a tablecloth.
When going somewhere in Athens and Thessaloniki, it is better to leave early – there are big traffic jams in these cities.
The day off for shops is Sunday, but on Monday and Wednesday most have shortened working hours until lunch.
Excursions to excavations, ruins and other open spaces are best done in the morning – it is not so hot and there are fewer people.
Tap water is considered drinking water, but it is better to drink bottled water. It is also better to wash fruits and vegetables and use store-bought water for rinsing when brushing your teeth.
Greeks are a nation of smokers, and often violate smoking rules in public places. If you are bothered by smoke, just ask them to put out your cigarette. If you smoke yourself, you should not copy the behavior of violators. The fine is from 50 to 200 euros (500-2000 rubles).
On Sundays during the winter season (from November 1 to March 31) all museums are open for free.
If you are a student, take your student card with you to Greece – and any day you will receive a 50% discount on visiting any museum. And if you are a university teacher, you will be admitted for free. The same benefits are for artists, architects and archaeologists.

Local laws

You must always have your identification documents (or a copy) with you.

The Greek police do not tolerate hooliganism or indecent behavior, especially when it comes to excessive alcohol consumption. You can get a fine or jail time for such behavior.

Pepper spray, brass knuckles, knives with blades 10 cm or longer are considered weapons and are subject to gun laws. Tourists must have a special license from the local police to carry any weapons or they may face arrest and prosecution.