Greece

Explore Greece

Santorini honeymoon

The ultimate Summer destination, Greece attracts millions of tourists every year, for good reason. A country with roughly 6000 islands and islets located in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, it is easy to assume there will be an island to satisfy almost every need. Over 200 of the islands in Greece are inhabited and many of these welcome tourists, offering stunning views, delicious food, fun activities, and an endless blue sea.

Let’s not forget about the Penninsula and its many hidden gems waiting for you to discover them!

Greece general information

Local Currency

Local language

Visa

The local currency in Greece is the EURO. Credit cards are used in Greece and on the Islands so you won’t have any problems in paying with Visa, Mastercard, or Amex. However, cash is still king in Greece and many places might require cash payments. ATMs are widely available and I suggest withdrawing money rather than using exchange desks.

The local language spoken in Greece is Greek.

However, English is widely spoken and you won’t have to worry about people not understanding you even at the small local shop.

Even though Greek has its own written characters, most signs will be also in Latin form.

Greece is a part of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement; therefore, EU citizens don’t need a visa to visit, and U.S. citizens may enter Greece without a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

If you are traveling from other parts of the world, you must get in touch with a local embassy or consulate, or check the requirements on iVisa.

Tipping

Driving

Best time to visit

When it comes to tipping in Greece, a gratuity of between 5% and 10% is a good guide.

Leave it on the table with the bill, or tell the waiter you don’t want change.

Renting a car in Greece is easy and recommended when you want to make the best out of your vacation. However, drive vigilantly, because drivers in Greece tend to drive aggressively.

Summer is the most popular season for visiting Greece.

However, since temperatures skyrocket in July and August, and along with them the prices rise as well. I would recommend planning a vacation for May-June or September-October.

Getting to Greece

Depending on where you are traveling from, you will either have a direct flight to the island of your choice or land in Athens.

From Athens, there are plenty of ferry boats linking Greece’s capital to many of the islands, but also internal flights.

Greek Islands with airport: Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Astypalaia, Chios, Karpathos, Kasos, Kefallonia, Kithira, Kos, Lemnos, Leros, Mytilene, Samos, Skiathos, Skyros, Syros, Zante, Ikaria, Kalymnos, Kastelorizo.

Use Skyscanner.com to check for the best flight connections.

Getting around Greece

Depending on the destination you choose to visit, it would almost always make sense to rent a car.

Discover Cars is a great aggregator that will help you find and book the best option for renting a car during your trip, helping you save up to 70% on your car rental.

When you prefer tours and trips, I recommend booking through GetYourGuide – they have a wide selection of tours and a great cancellation policy. They also provide transfers.