Plan you mediterranean vacation to Greece for 10 days with our travel guide – It got everything you should know before travelling to Greece.
We had been traveling in our homeland, India, until we visited Greece in 2018. Greece was our first-ever international trip. We made a few mistakes as first-timers. So, this travel guide to Greece is crafted, keeping the blunders we made in mind, so that you won’t.
Filled with essential information and intricate details, these tips can assist you in planning and traveling through Greece easily, especially if you’re not a full time traveller but a vacationer travelling the world without quitting 9-5. So this post is your BFF – A Perfect guide that shows you How to Travel through Greece on a mid-range budget.
Index
- How long and When to go
- Places to see
- Greece Travel Cost
- Booking Tours and Activities
- Preparing for Your Trip – Visa, Air connectivity, Currency, Cards
- Getting around
- Essential Information – Language, people, Culture and Safety
- Practical Travel Tips – SIM, VPN, Plug sockets and Tipping Culture
- Amenities – Public Toilet, hygiene, drinking water
- Food and Alcohol etiquette
1. How long and when to visit
How many days to spend in Greece?
You should spend at least 10 days in Greece to see Greece on the surface. It’s packed with history, mountains and a beautiful coastline. Spending 15 days in Greece to get a bit of taste of all the three. If you have a bit more time and budget, extending your stay to three weeks allows for deeper exploration of islands and archaeological sites.
What is the best time to visit Greece?
March to May is the best time to visit Greece. Early April sees cooler sea water, but by May, it warms up a bit makes it a pleasant time to swim in the Aegean sea. We could swim in Santorini beaches in May - It was still chilly for tropical folks like us. Expect abundant sunshine, mild evening showers leading to colorful sunsets, and a cool breeze during March to May. A light shawl or shrug will keep you comfortable as you wind down your day.
Avoid early July to August and also October to December which is peak tourist season in Greece. Costs rises, and places get overcrowded during these times.
1. Guide to crafting Greece Travel Itinerary
Greece is a treasure trove of history tied to the Olympics, Zeus, and Hercules. It’s the birthplace of democracy, with legendary philosophers in ancient cities by the Aegean Sea and mountains. Picture-perfect theatres and Christian monasteries dot the landscape. So shortlisting places to visit in Greece can be tricky – there is too many choices.
Choosing places to visit in Greece
Greece has 6,000 islands, around 220 inhabited. Visiting all is an option, but do you have the time and is it practical? There are over 100 archaeological places to see in Greece, including 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Want to see all of it? Additionally, with over 100 hiking trails in mountainous Greece, the question arises—can you explore them all on foot? This is what we pondered while planning our Greece trip.
A trip to Greece s best with a mix of everything—history, mountain hikes, and plenty of beachside sunshine.Here are some beautiful, famous places in Greece for your itinerary. Picking these islands is great for accessibility and connectivity – So these places to visit in Greece are ideal for amateur travellers and short holiday seekers. Expect crowds – But there is always a way to escape it when there.
- Top 5 Most Visited Islands : Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Rhodes, Crete
- 5 Best-Preserved Historical Places : Athens, Delphi, Knossos, Olympia, Mystras
- 5 Beautiful villages in Mountains : Metsovo, Zagori, Meteora in North, Fidakia in Central and Dimitsana in South
Places to see in Greece – 10 Days Itinerary
3. Greece Trip Cost
Greece is definitely not as budget-friendly as South east Asian countries like Thailand. But it is surely cheaper than the Netherlands.
How much should I budget for a trip to Greece?
- Greece trip costs vary with seasons and the kind of places you want to visit.
- April prices are 40% cheaper than June or August. Example, Athens to Santorini fast ferry: 40€ in April, 85€ in peak season.
- Greece has a per-night tourist tax, ranging from 50 cents to 4€.
- Local bakery breakfast: 5-8€ for coffee & cheese pie.
- Most Greek attractions are like beaches are free, except historical sites.
Greece Trip Cost for 2024
In April 2018, our daily expenses as mid-range travelers averaged 120€ per person. Expect around 160€ for the same in 2024, including:
- Three meals at budget-friendly cafes or street food spots,
- Budget homestays
- Entry fees, sailing tour.
- city public transportation,
- 2w rent, train, ferry fares, and a bit of shopping.
- Excluding international flights
Read our post “Is Shopping in Greece Worth Your Money and Time?” as part of our travel guide with tips to buy something beyond souvenirs.
Finding right accommodation
Stay options in Greece include hotels, apartments, guesthouses, villas, and resorts. Unique choices are Monasteries and Cave Houses. Monasteries in mainland areas host travelers but maintain a religious setting with dress codes, curfews, and unlikely mixed-gender stays. Cave Houses, were historical dwellings now hosting travelers. Choosing the right one, like we did, can make the experience 100% worth it!
Apart from monasteries, you’ll discover these stay options on Booking.com. Apply filters like elevator access and AC in summer. Choose locations away from tourist hubs for better prices. Confirm if tourist taxes are included; if not, pay them during checkout
4. Booking Tickets for Activities
You need to book some tickets in advance when you travel to Greece. Remember, this is one among the famous tourist destinations among folks from around the world.
- Always Pre-book the amazing sailing tours as they sell out quickly in summer. We could make on spot booking in May as it was off season.
- Hiring a good guide is essential to understand the facts and stories behind archaeological sites for a meaningful experience.
- Greek cuisine may not cater much to vegetarians ( poor me), but seafood enthusiasts can indulge; food tours reveal hidden culinary gems.
- Greek Wedding shows offer fun and a unique glimpse into lesser-known cultural experiences worth exploring – It was one of the best things we did in Greece.
5. Getting Around Greece
Roads and Driving
About 65% of the world’s population are in right-driving countries, and So is Greece. The roads are decently maintained in most of the places where we went.
I was surprised to hear Greeks drive crazily. But from my experience, even away from tourist areas, I haven’t found Greek drivers to be reckless. While they might not be as considerate as drivers in Austria, they’re better than those in Egypt or India. Greece’s traffic jams are notably quiet without much honking.
Renting cars and bikes
There are way too many places to visit in Greece beyond the usual ones. These are tucked away in mountains or in the middle of Aegean sea. Car gives you freedom for that. It doesn’t mean renting a car in Greece is an essential but optional.Getting around Greece between cities is doable by bus, train or ferry.
And even on islands and small town areas, there are local buses. Unless you’re off to the countryside or mountain spots like Meteora, scooters by the hour might be your best bet. Stick to public transport between cities and consider bikes once you’re there.
Public Transport Overview
When it comes to getting around in Greece, you’ve got a bunch of options:
- Buses
- Ferries
- Trains
- Trams and Metro
You can effortlessly explore your choices and book train/bus tickets on 12Go Asia. Because, Greece’s railway website is as user-unfriendly as those in Egypt and India.
Public buses
Buses are BAE in Greece! There are more than 600 lines! They’re used by both tourists and locals more than trains. The major bus stand will have all amenities with toilets and small cafe. While the bus stops will clearly display bus arrival time table.
You can purchase bus tickets at the station, onboard by driver by paying mostly by cash. Reservations usually aren’t needed for most routes during offseason but necessary during October – November and July-August. Pre-book buses and trains without hassle on 12 Go Asia.
Tips to travel in Greece by Railways
When you compare Greece’s railway network to its western cousins like Italy, France, or Austria, it is pretty limited. So, don’t expect high-speed trains similar to Japan’s or international trains in Greece. There are only six train routes in Greece. TrainOSE handles all rail transport on OSE lines, offering Regular, Express, and Intercity trains (from slowest to fastest).
When we travelled from Athens to Kalambaka near Meteora by train, there was a 30-minute delay on the return journey, which is quite common in Greece. Despite the delay and the dirty toilets, train rides in Greece are generally comfortable, and they have an onboard cafe serving coffee and simple bread. Most major train stations catering to tourists will have payable luggage lockers
Trams and Metro
Athens is the only city to have both – Tram and Metro. All the other cities anD villages depend on local buses (which is frequent) to get around.
Eurail pass for Greece
The common mistake many tourists make is purchasing a Eurail pass for Greece. Mainland Greece is mountainous, which limits railway development in these areas. With over 200 inhabited islands, even the most popular ones can’t be reached by train. If you’re island-hopping in Greece, your Eurail pass might offer slight discounts on specific ferries. Plus, there are no international trains from and to Greece! So, skip buying a Eurail Pass for Greece.
Tips on using Cruise and Ferries to travel in Greece
Greece is all about ferries and cruises. Although I’m not a cruise fan – they are slower and you spend more time on sea with tourists than on land with locals.
Where as ferries are essential for reaching those stunning turquoise islands, not just by tourists but also Greeks. Plus not all islands have airports, but do have ports. So very likely, you will take at least one ferry ride during your trip to Greece.The ferries are reliable and millions of folks take it every year.
Ferry tickets to Greek islands differ in cost based on the season, ferry type, and distance. Options include pricey private yachts or more affordable high-speed ferries. During winter, ferries to smaller islands often pause, but popular destinations maintain year-round service. Choosing a ferry used to be confusing in 2018, with multiple companies requiring manual website visits and timetable notes. Now, you can easily compare Greece ferry options to various islands on 12Go Asia using your credit and debit cards.
Cycling
The bicycle isn’t really a part of Greeks’ daily life as it is for the Dutch. But in spring and autumn, when the weather is nice, a cycling vacation outside cities is a good idea. There may not be exclusive cycle lanes, but it’s all open countryside beside the coastline or in the mountains, with hardly anyone around when you leave the city.
Taxi in Greece
In Athens, taxis are easily spotted in bright yellow with illuminated ‘TAXI’ signs on their roofs. Hail one by raising your hand or at a designated stand. Uber operates only in Athens; elsewhere, taxis are typically booked by dialing their agency numbers. Unlike Japan, they are more budget-friendly. We used taxi only twice across 10 days—late-night return from Meteora to our Athens room and early morning departure to Port Piraeus. Pre-booking was essential due to the odd hours.
6. Preparing for Your Trip
Greece Tourist Visa
Greece is one of the 27 Schengen countries. Politically, people see Schengen in different ways. But for tourists, having a visa from any of these 27 nations means you can visit the other 26.
More than 50 nationalities don’t require a Visa to enter the 27 Schengen countries. For these nations, a valid passport grants easy entry. Changes are coming: By 2025, non-Europeans with visa-free access to Schengen area will need ETIAS. Visit iVisa for details.
Greece Schengen Sticker Visa
The other 140+ nations such as India need to get Sticker visa for Greece. Gathering a 50+ page document with a face-to-face interview at the embassy isn’t exactly child’s play – But guess what we did! As honeymooners who had applied for Greece before getting married, we had t submit many more docs than what is mentioned in their official website. So read our post” How to get Greece Tourist Visa” to know how to conquer a Greece Schengen Visa like we did.
Air Connectivity
Greece has around 14 international airports, but Athens Airport (ATH) tops the charts for air connectivity. Thessaloniki (SKG) in the north follows. Other airports link through Athens, requiring a flight change. Very likely you enter and exit Greece from Athens. But it’s really smart to explore options using the Skyscanner.
It assists in finding better direct connections from your city to Greece. Choose the most suitable option from their selections.
Domestic flights in Greece
Greece isn’t as vast as India but not as compact as Belgium. Domestic flights can be an option but not essential. Ferries to hop between islands, railway to connect mountain towns and plenty of buses are your best option.
Small town airports in Greece have their quirks. Santorini’s tiny waiting area earned it a place among Europe’s worst airports in 2016. When crowded, seating might mean the floor or cramped corners, even waiting outside in the sun! They lack cafes and amenities, so don’t plan sleepover at small town Greek airports. Plus, they often have fixed opening hours.
Aegean Airlines is Greece’s main flag carrier, and Sky Express is a popular choice too. Just a heads up, these airlines can be pretty strict about luggage! Make sure your ticket covers all your baggage or be ready to buy extra allowances.
Currency
Like 20 of the 27 countries in the EU, Greece uses the Euro (€) as its currency. It’s smart to bring Euros from home as exchanging other currencies can be tricky. Indian Rupees and Egyptian Pounds won’t work. The rates for US Dollars, British Pounds, or Canadian Dollars might not favor you.
Card Payments
International credit and debit cards function seamlessly in shops, restaurants, homestays, and ATMs across Greece. Besides small purchases, you can rely on your cards for nearly everything in Greece.
7. Essential Information
Language Spoken in Greece
Greek is Greece’s official language, stemming from Ancient Greek but with tweaks in grammar and words. Yet, it still holds onto its fundamental structure. Street and monument signs usually display info in Greek and English.
English works well in Greece unless you’re really remote. Still, knowing a few basic Greek phrases is awesome. It lets you start a conversations with locals, especially older folks who love a good chat.
Greeks and their culture
About 90% of Greece’s population practices Greek Orthodox Christianity, and many Greeks are quite religious. You do find local people in church and they do take pride in maintaining them. There are smaller communities of Catholics, Muslims, and Jews.
Are Greeks Friendly?
The world’s earliest balconies trace back to Greek times! They adored and continue to soaking up the sun and having chats, a tradition that carries on today. Give them a big cup of coffee or beer, and conversations can stretch for hours. Typical Greek streets are lively with loud talks, hearty laughter, and mug refills against historic sites or serene nature, among themselves. Greeks sharing tables with tourists is a rare sight.
Some points in case
Tourism’s a major deal for Greece, boosting their GDP. But in touristy spots, don’t count on friendly vibes from cafe owners and shopkeepers. In our 10-day holiday there, most restaurant staff didn’t seem welcoming, regardless of guest’s race or color!
During our week in Santorini, we visited Cafe Tranquilo six times. The food was amazing. However, inquiring about the food seemed to bother them. Once, when we asked for a water refill, a staff member was rude, stating, “I can only serve you once; get it from the purifier. I can’t keep bringing water.” If it was their policy, they should’ve informed us earlier or communicated it politely later on.
The nuns at Meteora (with respect) seemed unfriendly. We understand wearing shorts to a religious place was a mistake, but their tone felt like they wanted to push us off the cliff!
There are many incidents like this – at railway stations and on the streets of Athens. Foreigners staying in Greece often note that Greeks take time to warm up to outsiders. During a short trip, don’t expect overwhelming hospitality or warmth from most Greeks, although there might be a few exceptions.
How to dress in Greece?
Lured by glamorous island images, I packed mainly beachwear and super casual street clothes. But, I included Meteora in my plans, which is incredibly beautiful and a place of worship for Orthodox Christians. Most Greeks dress modestly. Throughout the trip, except near the beach, I realized I wasn’t appropriately dressed for the place.
Read our post “What to Wear in Greece as a Tourist?” a necessary guide with some rarely told tips on how to dress up appropriately as a traveller.
Safety Concerns
Though there are petty crimes like pickpocketing and scams, Greece is generally safe for tourists. Recently, due to refugees and illegal immigrants from some Middle Eastern countries, Greece is building a wall along its shared border with Turkey.
While exploring Meteora, we lost our way on bikes and stumbled upon an isolated area, meeting a couple who camped there in their RV the night before. We also wandered Fira and Perissa at night, feeling safe. We stuck to standard precautions, avoiding flashy jewelry and keeping a low profile. Basically, if you follow what we did—Avoid getting too drunk and steer clear of places heavy with weed and buzzing parties—you’ll stay safe.
Read our post “10 Stunning Bollywood Filming Locations Abroad to Visit” as a filmy twist to our Greece travel guide and check which all famous movies were filmed in Greece.
Tourist Scams in Greece
Turkey, India, and Greece rank high for tourist scams. Scammers target spots like the Acropolis entrance in Athens and island ports, often eyeing well-dressed tourists. They notice folks taking tons of selfies too! To play it safe, avoid looking too flashy and maybe slow down on the selfie spree.
Close Calls: Scams We Dodged in Greece
a. The Young Skater Boys
As you stroll in Athens streets, you might come across skaters. While some are just enjoying, some are pickpockets on wheels aiming for handbags. On our walk from Plaka to Zeus temple, these skaters approached us but left empty-handed—we don’t carry fancy handbags, just a small day pack worn in front.
b. Lady with Rose Bouquet at Acropolis
At the Acropolis foothill, women holding a bunch of roses approaches couples taking selfies, saying, “You’re a lovely couple. I was taking these flowers home, but your lady deserves one. Give this to her. I don’t need anything, but if you give me two Euros, I can buy food for my hungry kid.” It’s best to walk away until she stops following you. A friend who visited Athens in 2019 encountered the same scenario and trusted the lady’s story. However, the scammer took 10 Euros from my friend, promising to exchange it nearby and return 8€, but she never did.
c. Taxi Scams
Many tourists don’t find Athens’ ruins appealing. Some taxi drivers take advantage, offering rushed tours for around 25€, dropping you at the Acropolis. Don’t fall for it. Opt for a certified guide or explore by foot.
d. Santorini Thira port Scam
At Thira port, car rental agents might lie, claiming Santorini’s buses aren’t reliable. They’ll urge you to rent a car without documents, asking for your phone number and hotel. Don’t believe them. Santorini’s buses are reliable, so save your money and skip the car rental.
Beware of your luggage
When you load/unload the luggage from the taxi or bus, never take your hands off it. We escaped from a thief in a fraction of seconds at Athens railway station at the night.
8. Practical Travel Tips for the Greece
Mobile SIM and Connectivity
We bought two SIM Cards from Cosmote Network in Athens, which had free-roaming in the Netherlands, not in Turkey. Their network coverage was good, and the data package was expensive. I am not sure of other service providers, but Cosmote isn’t the best one.
Plug Sockets and Adapters
Greece uses Type C & Type F power sockets. Check if your country needs a plug adapter here. I carry a universal adapter.
Tipping Culture
Tipping is not expected at restaurants in Greece, but taxi drivers will force you to tip. So be blunt and say no, if you don’t want to. But when you go sailing or attend a cultural show, they keep a separate box calling it a “tip box” It is up to your wish, and nobody forces you there.
9. Amenities
Public Hygiene
You won’t find trash on the roads, but the streets aren’t well-maintained in Greece. Apart from private properties, open lands and roads are filled with dirt and random mess. Their graffiti isn’t exactly artistic—it’s more about using abusive language than expressing opinions in their writings targeting a particular community
You see vandalism on monuments, street benches, and public properties in the name of street art. Only some parts of streets where tourists go more is kept attractive! So remember, those lovely images of Greek streets with corbelled streets, white houses, and pink bougainvillea don’t exist all over Greece.
Public Toilet Policy
Greece doesn’t have public toilets everywhere, but they’re better than those in Belgium. You’ll usually need to pay around 40 to 50 cents for a single use. The closets are usually commodes and always have tissue paper, no water spray jets. They’re usually just okay in terms of cleanliness, and most don’t have seat covers. When using restrooms at cafes and restaurants, you might need to purchase a soft drink or a salad. Not all cafes in Greece prioritize hygiene like they do in the Netherlands.
A crucial thing about public toilets in Greece is never to flush your toilet paper. Instead, after wiping, you’ll have to dispose of the used tissue in a waste bin, not in the toilet – Be prepared to see other’s mess in the dustbin or lift your heads up, pinch your nose while disposing your used toilet paper.
10. Greece Food and Alcohol Etiquette
Greek Cuisine Overview
Greek food mainly centers on seafood. The octopus, squid, and crabs are some of the best my husband has ever tasted. Their typical breakfast often includes bread or cheese pies paired with black coffee. Greek yogurt is an essential part of breakfast, snacks, or even a meal! They’re healthier, cheaper, and absolutely delicious.
Greeks enjoy hearty meals, where a portion for one person is often enough for two. During our chat with the BnB host, he highlighted the generous serving sizes of Greek meals. He mentioned, “If restaurants offer smaller portions, locals might not even bother going there. We meet friends at 5 PM for coffee and have several rounds of large mugs till 8 PM. Around 8:30, we start with beer, and dinner comes later, maybe by 10 PM. It can stretch till 1 AM for sure.
Take a look at our post “Appetising Guide to Local Food in Greece” – a drool worthy section our travel guide detailing what to eat and where in Greece.
Tips to Vegetarian Dining in Greece
Compared to Turkey and Egypt, which were once part of ancient Greece, the vegetarian food options are only about 10% of what I found in those countries. In Greece, you can get by with tomatoes with feta cheese (not that great, though), falafels, and mainly yogurt with fruits! Even McDonald’s here doesn’t offer as many veg options as in Austria.
Greek Coffee culture
Coffee is a big deal in Greek culture and society! It’s their drink of choice, even with their noon meals. When you ask for coffee in Greece, 99% of the time you’ll get a small cup of black coffee with a little sachet of milk if you want to add some.
Smoking
Regardless of the area, both men and women smoke heavily in Greece. While the Meteora Monasteries strictly prohibit smoking, some tourists and Greeks still smoke while hiking outside the main worship areas—cigarette buds litter the hiking trails. Public smoking, including on trains is also common.
You might come across impromptu parties in local park or squares, like the one we saw near Plaka. The live music was fantastic, but we could smell weed. Some people sell tickets to these gatherings, so be cautious if you decide to attend.
Drinking Culture in Greece
Greeks love beer and wine. Whether it’s morning or noon, Greeks enjoy beer. Anywhere and everywhere, you find beer except near the religious sites. Santorini’s wines are one of the finest in the world. We tried Resiina ( wine with resin from a pine tree during fermentation). The locals prefer their native drinks like Ouzo.
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