Food and drink highlights of Greece
- Tipping - It is not obligatory to tip, but it is pleasantly welcomed, 5-10% is the optimal amount, preferably in cash and euros.
- Eating hours -
- Shopping hours - In the centers most stores stay open from 9am - 10pm. In smaller places it varies: Mondays and Wednesdays: 9am - 3pm, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays: 9am-2:30pm, 5:30pm - 9pm.
- Discount shops -
- Cuisine type - Part of the Mediterranean cuisine has Middle Eastern, Balkan and Ancient Greek influences.
- Savoir Vivre - Meals are usually meant to be shared with everyone, don't start your dish until your host suggests. Some parts of your food can be eaten with hands but usually use a knife and a fork.
- Main ingredients - Greek cuisine consists of a lot of olive oil, vegetables, herbs, cheese, meat and wine.
- Most popular alcohol - Ouzo happens to be the most-known Greek alcohol, it tastes exquisite with traditional Greek appetizers.
- Important info - Coffee lovers cannot visit Greece without trying a FrappΓ© coffee!
- Warning - If you are lactose intolerant then it may be difficult to replace the milk in smaller cafes or restaurants.
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Foods to try in Greece
- MoussakkaOne of the well-known traditional dishes in Greece. An oven baked layered meal consisting of minced meat, eggplant, bΓ©chamel sauce, potatoes, tomatoes and cheese.
- HoriatikiTo most of the population known as the famous Greek salad. Can have different variations depending on the city or island but the traditional one is made with tomatoes, cucumber, onion, feta cheese, olives and finally seasoned with olive oil and lemon. Great for hot summer days.
- SouvlakiMeat, usually fresh pork that is grilled on skewers in small pieces. Typically served with dips such as tzatziki or yogurt.
- GyrosVery popular Greek dish, resembling a sandwich. Made from cooked meat, depending on the location it can be chicken, lamb, beef or pork, the meat is wrapped in pita bread along with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and sometimes fries, finished off with garlic sauce.
- PastitsioBaked pasta dish served usually for dinner, consisting of beef and bechamel sauce. Sometimes flavoured with cinnamon, usually liked by most and will fill for a long time.
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Unusual facts about food in Greece
- Almost all dishes include olive oil, lemon or tomato.
- It is one of the healthiest diets as it isn't too high in calories and has a lot of nutrients.
- Gyros seems not to be as common in touristic places on islands when compared to Athens.
- Greeks enjoy sharing french fries with others and dipping them in tzatziki or other sauces.
- Some people say that eating with traditional Greek music in the background the food tastes better!
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Place to stay in Greece
- Best booking sites -
- Seasonality - Hotels will be a lot better prepared in the high season (June - September) but it shouldn't be a problem to find a place to stay during other months.
- Cost-effective - Booking in advance will help you find the best deals. In general, places outside of the center and without special extras such as swimming pools will be a lot more affordable.
- Formalities - Most places will probably ask for a deposit upon arrival.
- Air conditioning -
- Parking - Most places provide a free parking spot for their guests. However, not all places have them so you might have to park somewhere nearby.
- Payments - Check with your accommodation whether you have to pay in advance or after your trip, as this changes depending on each place. It is also important to notice if the place accepts cash and card depending on your preference.
- Local names - In Greece there are a lot of family hotels and fewer chains so local names will be almost everywhere.
- Unusual accommodation - Airbnb may have a lot of unusual places to stay at.
- Camp - In most places free camping may get someone in trouble, look for campsites as there are a lot to be found.
- Important - When island hopping aim for places with a free cancellation fee as sometimes unexpected weather conditions or sudden changes of plans may occur, making it difficult to arrive on the set date.
- Warning - When staying in a rented apartment it may be safe to take a few photos of the places upon arriving in case the owner tries to blame something on you (although it is highly unlikely).
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Accommodation in Greece
- Renting a house might provide a more interesting place to stay in than a hotel could.
- Villas in Greece may be cheaper for a family than an average hotel.
- The longer you wait to pick accommodation, the worse the prices are.
- It is best to carry a printed copy of your hotel confirmation.
- Most hotel chains include free breakfast when staying the night.
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Getting around Greece
- Most popular - Buses are the most common way of getting around in Greece.
- Cost-effective - Try to find best deals in advance, domestic flights may be very cheap when booked a couple months ahead.
- Time-efficient - For long distances, ferries or airplanes might be the best choice. Keep in mind that even though flying is shorter in general, individuals should be at the airport 2 hours before their departure time. For short distances consider using a scooter.
- Traffic safety - In smaller places the rules are not really followed by the locals.
- Important - Be aware of taxis next to the airport as they try to get the most money out of customers, ask about the details before getting in.
- Warning - When using a taxi, one might be charged with an extra fee for their luggage that weighs over 10 kilograms.
Car
- Some people describe driving in Greece as 'going with the flow', the roads are in a pretty good condition but some drivers may be impatient.
- Unless otherwise stated: the urban speed limit is 50km/h, expressways allow 110km/h, and on motorways it is 110-130km/h.
- The legal blood alcohol limit is 50mg per 100ml. In other words, blood alcohol content of 0.05% is considered under the influence.
- In Greece you drive on the right side of the road.
Taxi
- Taxis accept: cash, credit cards, Paypal (sometimes).
- Don't pay the taxi beforehand, it is best to use an app such as Beat, Uber or iMove to avoid the risk of being scammed.
- When in Athens there is an app called Beat, in other places such as islands it is best to stop a random taxi and talk about the price beforehand.
Hitchhiking
- In general hitchiking is okay, but it is very important to be cautious.
- Hitchiking is not very common.
- It really depends, in some areas the waiting time for hitchiking can be 3 hours in others it's a matter of minutes or no luck at all.
Bus
- Buses are probably the most common way of moving around, they are cheap and can be found basically anywhere.
- Most buses have discounts for students or elders. Before buying such ticket make sure that you're eligible.
- Buses in Athens are very frequent and will take you to more places than a car.
Train
- Trains are not the best way of moving around Greece as they tend to be a lot slower, and not found in all places. However, they can be cheaper than other means of transport.
- There are international routes so you can travel with a normal ticket or Interrail across countries.
- There are no trains on islands.
Plane
- There are a lot of airports in Greece, airplanes are a frequent way of domestic or foreign travel.
Motorcycle
- Around 19% of vehicles on roads are motorcycles, they may be a nice way to move around the city.
Boat
- Boats are a common tourist attraction in Greece loved by many. It can be a nice day trip, or a way to get from one island to another.
- Remember that most items will be offered on a boat, but in most cases you do have to pay for all of them.
- Some of the most fun trips are by going on a day trip on a boat, to another island or to chill.
Bicycle
- Biking is not very common in Greece maybe because of the amount of hills, but it can be quicker than walking.
Metro
- There is a metro in Athens, there are 3 lines that go to different parts of the city.
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How to travel in Greece
- The traffic is one of the worst in Athens, sometimes it might be quicker to walk.
- Always have your seatbelt on, because there are a lot of small accidents in Greece.
- Don't be surprised by the lack of road signs in some places.
- When catching a taxi between 12pm-6am keep in mind that the prices are doubled.
- Almost all transport in Greece has a working AC.
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Best time to visit Greece
When to go
- Spring and summer are considered the best time to visit Greece. Individuals who despise really hot weather should avoid July - August.
- People who want to avoid crowds, but want warm weather might be the most interested in September - October.
Temperature
- In the warm months the average temperature is between 19.2 Β°C to 32Β°C. In the cold months the average temperature is between 7.3Β°C to 16Β°C.
Rainfall
- Rain is the heaviest in the north and in the mountains. The annual rainfall ranges from 50 - 121 centimeters in the north, and 38 - 82 centimeters in the south.
Fall
- It is still possible to swim, even though the sea is not as warm as in the summer. It can be quite windy and the nights can go down to 11 Β°C.
Spring
- Some consider this the best time to visit Greece as it is not very hot, yet it is possible to swim and it's not crowded. A lot of beautiful flowers are blooming which make the country even prettier.
Summer
- Summers are extremely hot, the sun is the strongest between 11am - 2pm so it might be safe to minimize the exposure then. The days are very long.
Winter
- When compared to other European countries the winter is quite pleasant, the north is colder than the south and there might even be snow. Expect a fair number of rainy days.
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Greece weather Insights
- Even though Greece is very hot in the summer, rains do occur and can 'paralyze' the country.
- 99% of indoor places have an AC because of the climate.
- Crete is the warmest island in Greece.
- On average there is snow in Athens every other February and it paralyzes the city.
- Don't be fooled by the wind, you may still get sunburn even if you don't feel the sun.
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Savoir-Vivre in Greece
- Greetings - A handshake with groups of all ages is your safest choice, friends can be greeted with a hug or a kiss on the cheek.
- Punctuality -
- Dress code - Casual is best; formal wear can be left for the evening or a fancy restaurant.
- Temple entrance - Dress in a modest way, cover shoulders and knees. Due to the hot weather it may be more comfortable to bring 2 small scarves with you to cover summer clothes when entering a temple.
- Home invitation - Greeks are some of the most hospitable people, don't be surprised with a home invitation. Dress nicely but not over the top, arriving 30 minutes late is considered normal, don't eat too much beforehand as they will usually provide a lot of delicious food.
- Etiquette - Try not to avoid eye contact and refuse gifts as it is deemed rude, but attempt to smile as Greeks are very hospitable
- Drones - We recommend using this map to easily check the applicable restrictions. If you are looking for more specific information take a look here.
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Things not to do in Greece
- More popular islands such as Santorini or Mykonos are going to have significantly higher prices than less visited islands like Serifos or Hydra.
- When on public transport be aware of people around you. Pickpocketing especially in Athens is quite common.
- Being underdressed in a temple is considered very rude and may get someone kicked out.
- Don't try to visit too many islands at once as it may take away from your holidays and most of the time would be spent on ferries.
- All drugs in Greece are prohibited and there are some of the strictest laws about it.
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Interesting facts about Greece
- There are about 2500 islands in Greece, of which only 165 are inhabited.
- After Spain and Italy, Greece is the third-largest producer of olives, and some trees were planted as early as the 13th century.
- Greece has more archeological museums than any other country.
- There are different colored beaches in Santorini; black, red, white.
- 80% of the terrain in Greece are mountains.
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Greece packing list 💡
- Sunscreen & aloe vera - The sun in Greece is very strong, it is important to have a high SPF and some after tanning/sunburn lotion.
- Water shoes - Most beaches in Greece are very rocky, shoes specially designed for the shore can ease the mild pain of entering the sea.
- Swimwear - Don't forget to bring swimwear as most tourists spend more than half of their trip on the beautiful beaches!
- Pajamas, socks, underwears, bras - Easily forgotten, but are some of the most essential items when travelling.
- Cash - Not all places accept cards, especially on islands. Make sure to have a fair amount of euro when going anywhere.
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Get a personalized packing list before travel to Greece 🧳
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Local prices
Average cost of food, tickets and accommodation
Things to do in Greece ⭐
- Most popular sports: π€Ώ Scuba diving, π₯½ Snorkelling, π Hiking
- Most popular activities: ποΈ Beach day, π¦ Cliff diving, π₯οΈ Boat trips
- Most popular places: π Zakynthos, Santorini, Corfu, Mykonos, βοΈ Acropolis, β°οΈ Meteora
Top attraction in Greece 📸
Tourist information about Greece
Country | Greece |
Capital | Athens |
Currency | European euro |
Language | Greek |
Timezone | GMT+3 |
English speaking | Widely spoken (advanced) |
LGBT tolerance | Very high |
Gender ratio (overall) | 51% | 49% |
Population | 11 mln |
Visitors per year | 34.01 mln |
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Useful information about Greece
Card payments | |
ATM Availability | Widely available |
Suggested ATM takeout | 100 EUR |
Drinking in public | |
Tap water | |
Internet speed (avg.) | 12 Mbps |
Socket type | C / F |
Best taxi app | |
Public toilets | Unpopular & Free |
Top mobile providers | Cosmote, Vodafone, Wind |
Best internal air carrier | Aegean |
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Cost of living in Greece
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
10 EUR
10.6 USD
8.35 GBP
43.34 PLN
|
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant |
35 EUR
37.1 USD
29.24 GBP
151.68 PLN
|
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) |
4 EUR
4.24 USD
3.34 GBP
17.34 PLN
|
Gasoline (1 liter) |
1.61 EUR
1.71 USD
1.35 GBP
6.98 PLN
|
One-way ticket (public transport) |
1.4 EUR
1.48 USD
1.17 GBP
6.07 PLN
|
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Quality of life in Greece
Quality of life | Moderate |
Safety Index | Moderate |
Healthcare likability | Moderate |
Climate likability | Very high |
Costs of living | Low |
Level of pollution | Moderate |
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Important numbers
Emergencies | 112 |
Fire department | 199 |
Ambulance | 166 |
Police | 100 |
Tourist police | 171 |
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