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Greece Travel Tips

Greece Travel Tips - for Mainland Greece

With tips for visiting Athens, one of the most cosmopolitan yet historical cities in Europe; where to stay and what to see in a short stop-over. Enjoy the capital, squeeze lots into your holiday, or take a more leisurely approach.

We have general travel tips below and tips for some of the most beautiful parts of mainland Greece, such as Delphi and Nafplion with suggestions on small guesthouses and atmospheric pensions, to ensure your accommodation is an integral part of your travel experience. We have plenty of ideas for independent travellers in Greece.

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Our Tips

Greece Travel Tips - General Ideas for Your Visit

• Allow Plenty of Time
  Firstly, do not expect to experience authentic Greece if you allow only a short time. It is just not possible. You will need at least two weeks to two months.
  
• Don't Squeeze In Too Much
  Don't rush and try to fit in too many places in a short space of time. Choose one or two islands and take plenty of time on each one. Flights and ferry crossings will eat into your precious travel time.
• Learn Some Greek and Use It
  At least learn the words for hello, yes, no and thank you. Your time will be enriched. Even trying will be noticed and appreciated. Give it a go.
• Travel Independently
  The economic crisis has meant hard times for many in Greece, for this reason share your money wisely and spend it locally. This ensures the money you spend in Greece stays with the local community. Use small family-owned pensions and guesthouses, and local tavernas for the real flavours and experience of the town or village you are visiting.
• Ask the Locals
  This is true all over the world, ask the locals where to eat, to ask for the local food in Greece say ‘dopio’.
• Travel In Spring or Autumn
  The Greeks take their holidays in summer, so does the rest of Europe, it gets really crowded on the famous islands. Spend time in spring or autumn in Greece and you will enjoy it much more, because the temperatures are cooler and all services are more relaxed. Get tables in tavernas more easily, enjoy more space on the beach, and less jostling in the narrow laneways of picturesque villages. Above all, meet more locals.
• Book Early for Summer
  If you cannot avoid travelling in July or August, make sure you book your accommodation well ahead.
• Use Athens as a Hub
  If you are stretched for time, forgo the ferries and just fly in and out of Athens to get from one island to another. This will maximise your time relaxing on the islands.
• Greeks Eat Late
  Local custom is to rest in the afternoon and eat dinner as late as 10pm. You will begin to fit into the rhythm of things if you do the same.
• Watch your Bag in Athens
  As in any big city, be aware of your personal belongings and watch out for pickpockets in crowds.
• Slow Slow Siga Siga
  Relax a little and don't be too uptight. The Mediterranean relaxed way is not about punctuality and precision. The Greek philosophy is 'siga siga'. Allow it to be infectious.
• Adaptors Required
  Electric current in Greece is 230V. Appliances from North America will need a transformer and from the UK will need an adaptor.
• Philosophise
  Every Greek is a philosopher, well that is an exaggeration, but they love dialogue. Don't be afraid to have a good, long, healthy discussion but get your brain into gear, Greeks will flow from current issues to history to philosophy and politics in a heartbeat.

Greece Travel Tips

• Be Taxi Aware
  This is true all over the world; do not get into a taxi without knowing how much the fare should be. Check it out with the taxi driver. Agree on a fare if you can, or at least an approximate. Ask at your hotel or at the tourist information desk before hailing the cab. Then you only have yourself to blame.

• Atmosphere is a Greek Word
  There is something magical in the atmosphere in Greece. In the light, the colours, the essence. Everything tastes different. We're serious. Many people have deep revelatory experiences in Greece. You might fall in love with life, or fall in love, or fall in love with Greece. Don't say we didn’t warn you. Its in the atmosphere.
  
  

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Athens

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Visit Delphi

Delphi Greece - The Delphi oracle was a tourist attraction of the old world. Travellers have been making their way into these hills for centuries. Many took pilgrimages to seek clarity on big questions in their lives. Delphi Greece is 165 km from Athens and can be reached by a day tour, however we suggest you take your time and absorb this magical place.

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Visit Ancient Olympia

Greece Travel Tips - Ancient Olympia is situated on Mt Olympus in the Peloponnese 270 km from Athens.

This UNESCO World Heritage site comes into our hearts every four years as the origin of the flame of the Olympic Games. The first games of the classical world were held here in 776 BC. Yet for centuries before that, this site had been a sacred gathering place.

Visit here on a 3 Day Classical Tour from Athens - including Epidavros, Myceanae, Nafplion and Delphi

Tips - try not to visit at peak summer season as this site gets very busy - shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are best. If visiting by car, combine this with an overnight stop in Nafplion.

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Visit Nafplion

Located just 140 km from Athens in the Peloponnese, Nafplion is our hot tip destination for mainland Greece, for its historic seaside charm. Visit the many museums, climb the 999 steps to the ruined fortress above the town, which gives you a magnificent view of the whole gulf. Imagine you can see the Argonauts leaving Argos and sailing down the Gulf of Argolis. Surrounded by history, this town is brimming with modern style and luxury.

Combine your visit here with a visit to the beautiful historic sites of Myceanae and Epidavros, or island hop to Spetses and Hydra, in the Saronic Gulf.

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The Greek Islands

Greece Travel Tips - looking for travel information about the Greek islands? For some of the most beautiful spots in the Med:

• Crete Island - our website is dedicated to letting you get to know Crete and travel independently, to explore her mountains and coastlines off the beaten track, in comfort and or on a budget
  
• Hydra - a short ferry ride from Athens will take you back in time
  
• Mykonos - get ready for bright flashes of white and stunning scenery
  
• Santorini - tips on when to go, what to see and where to stay
  
• Rhodes - how to get there, the historic Old Town and hotel tips
  

Greece Travel Tips - for the lesser-known, beautiful  islands of:

• Skopelos (pictured above) of Mamma Mia movie fame, is a green on blue island of exquisite beauty
• Naxos - how to get to this beautiful island from Crete
  
• Syros - in the Cyclades - is just a few hours from Athens by ferry
  
• Amorgos - a little known island of the Cyclades of simple rustic beauty
  
• Kythera - just next to Crete on the west
  
• Karpathos - a rugged island east of Crete

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