Greece is one of the countries on the bucket list of many tourists who are continually looking for amazing places to explore. Greece basks in the glory of the stunning islands, the several tourist attractions, and the beautiful smiles on the faces of the friendly people. We’ve made some of the best travel tips to Greece to give you a thrilling vacation.
Athens, the capital of Greece, is the biggest city in Europe. Greece has so much to offer, from the soft sands of the beach to the many mouthwatering cuisine, the national drink known as “ouzo,” and much more.
There are wonders, such as the Acropolis with its imposing buildings from the fifth century. In addition to New Historic Sites like Plaka, where you may find many pharmacies offering hand-made sun salver, you can also locate the ruins of ancient temples and other cultural relics.
This article provides important travel tips to Greece that will enable you to fully experience the social customs and rich cultural history of the Greek people, whether you are visiting Greece for the first time or returning after a previous visit.
30 Best Travel Tips when Traveling to Greece
You will get the most out of the Greek spirit if you follow these recommendations while visiting the nation. Ignoring these elementary details could limit your enjoyment or perhaps ruin your plans for having the best time possible while visiting Greece.
The following are the best travel tips to Greece that has been compiled from the experiences of many visitors to ensure that you have an exhilarating time there:
1. Taking Photos of Military Facilities is a No-No
As a tourist, one of the things you mustn’t do in Greece is to take pictures of military installations.
The country frowns at this, as it likes to keep its security architecture as close to the heart as possible. Don’t start taking those pictures that will probably get into the wrong hands.
2. Smokers are Everywhere
The Greek government has tried as much as it could to stop outdoor smoking to no avail. So, be prepared to run into one or more smokers during your stay in the country. And don’t make a fuss about it because it has become a “lifestyle” for the locals. For your safety, this is one of the best travel tips to Greece to keep in mind.
3. Enjoy Hospitality at Its Finest
The average Greek takes hospitality very seriously. So, if you have a couple of friends there or you have the money to stay at a hotel, be assured of all-around hospitality.
Check out these 21 Best International Travel Tips 2021 Review
4. Don’t Get Drunk
The hospitality, the atmosphere, and the overall ambience of the country can make lots of impressions on you.
But by all means, don’t get drunk while in Greece. The locals rarely drink to stupor and they expect the same moderation from you, an important travel tip to Greece you must remember.
Check out these travel case for camera and the best travel bags to keep your camera protected from external damages while enjoying your vacation in Greece.
5. Driving is Exhausting
Getting around the country is not always easy, thanks to the rough terrain that will leave you burned out at the end of the day.
Read also: 20 Most Sought after Cheap Vlogging Cameras to Buy
6. Schedule Your Tough for May
The best times to visit Greece are either between May and June or September and October. This is because of the influx of tourists at other times in the year.
7. Do the Moutza Instead of Throwing Fists
Okay, a Greek got on your nerves and you want to get back at him or her. A better way of avoiding the public fight is by doing the “Moutza” – an insulting hand gesture done by thrusting your palm at the offender’s face while extending every finger of the palm.
8. Put the Toilet Paper in the Trash Can
Most of the toilets in the islands are too narrow to flush toilet paper. So, consider throwing the toilet paper into a trash can for easy disposal.
Read also: Best 10 Travel Litter Box For Cats: Features, Pros, And Cons
9. Don’t Drive in the Capital
You just hired a car and you want to see more of the country. The capital is the last place you want to drive solo.
Athens is known for the prevailing reckless driving situations, including both sideways overtaking and potential accidents.
10. Tip Wisely
While tipping a waiter for excellent service or the restaurant for a great meal, you wouldn’t want to be taken for a ride either.
Confirm to be sure that the tip hasn’t been added to the bill. If it has, there is no need to tip. But if it wasn’t, consider dropping a tip.
11. Book on Time and Pay Less
You will save lots of money and time when you book ahead of time, especially during the high seasons. With an early booking, you may get lucky to get discounts.
12. Learn Greek
Just like you would want to “behave like the Romans when in Rome;” do something similar by picking up a Greek language book to learn the language.
Learn the basics, such as how to say hello and yes.
Read also: Guide to Planning a Holiday Trip: Detailed Article on How to Plan a Trip
13. Greeks Can be Late
This is one of the things you should prepare for. Greeks operate on an island time, and as such, tend to do things at their pace.
Your ferry may take many days to arrive and your taxi may take several hours to get to you.
Just relax and go with the flow, irrespective of how late things seem to be.
14. Understand the Opening Hours
Take note of the operating hours of the different businesses in the country. Examples of the popular opening hours are supermarkets and department stores opening at 9 am and closing at 9 pm. This travel tip to Greece will help you avoid wastage.
15. The Islands are Only a Few Hours Apart
One of the travel tips to Greece you want to take note of is the distance between the islands. Going by the estimates, the islands are only a few hours apart from one another.
16. Shops Don’t Open on Sundays
Do you love shopping on weekends? Better do that on Saturdays, because most of the shops don’t open on Sundays. Cultural or religion? This is one of the travel tips to Greece that will help you get acquainted with the best cultural practices in Greece and save you the heartache of disappointment.
And oh, this goes for every other outlet in Greece. On Sunday, everything closes in the country! Remember they operate on island time (they relax and chill here).
Here is a bonus, shops and other facilities close early on Mondays and Wednesdays too.
17. Rent a Car to Save Money on Taxis
If you know how to drive and you can keep the pace in Athens, consider renting a car. This helps you save money, as well as lets you get around the city on your schedule. If saving is important to you, this is a travel tip to Greece you should keep in mind.
18. You Can Haggle in Greece
Think the price of an item is too high? You can haggle and beat down the price. Greece appears to be one of the few European countries where the prices of items are flexible, an important travel tip to Greece you should remember.
What this simply means is that unlike America where things have fixed prices, in Greece you can bargain the tags on goods to get said goods at a cheaper rate than earlier offered to you. This travel tip to Greece will help you avoid a lot of unnecessary expenditures and help you save your money for other fun.
19. Drink Only Bottled Water on the Island
Taking bottled water with you when on the island is recommended because the water out there is not always safe for drinking.
You can always drink tap water when you get back to the mainland.
20. Don’t Rely on Credit Cards
The average Greek is not yet prepared to tap into electronic or digital payment methods. Cash remains the best way to transact in the country. So, carry lots of it with you anytime you want to make a financial transaction. This is a travel tip to Greece you should never forget.
However, where and when you don’t have enough cash on you, there are always ATMs around where you can make a withdrawal to pay for a service or item.
21. Coping With a Disability in Greece can be Tasking
This simply means that most facilities in Greece ranging from hotels to public facilities and attractions are not quite disability-friendly. A lot of things in Greece are not made with people with a disability in mind. And note that the country is full of mountains and requires a lot of climbing for most of the outdoor activities and fun.
There are actually few hotels and outlets that have features for the disabled but they are always easily occupied.
One of the travel tips to Greece when traveling with someone with a disability is to always check with the authorities in charge of the facilities you hope to use to be sure they have disability friendly resources and book on time!
22. Drinking is Allowed but Just Don’t Get Drunk!
Of course we there’s the popular Ouzo and other alcoholic drinks in the country at everyone’s disposal. Shocking, it is to note that though the alcoholic content of the popular local Greek gins are quite high yet getting drunk in this country is not allowed. So drink with caution and avoid drinking at all on an empty stomach.
23. The High Season is Usually More Expensive and Busy
It is best to visit Greece in the low season because the high season always has an influx of tourists in their numbers to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of the country and why not? This usually makes the cost of accommodations, restaurants and even tags on items more expensive. The high season is usually between July and August and sometimes September too.
It is best you visit in May or June for a better quiet and serene time and especially if on a honeymoon!
24. There are Dress Codes in Some Facilities
The churches in Greece fall under this category and of course other worship centers. Cover up when visiting these areas or even some of the rural areas. Even visitors with indecent attire are greatly frowned upon in these facilities like the Blue-domed Churches in Santorini and Monasteries in Meteora.
Some of these rules on dress codes include covering pubic areas, shoulders and legs are some of the travel tips to Greece.
25. Some Beaches Allow Nudity
You may likely stumble on some of these beaches so prepare your mind and sight. However, if you can’t stand this sight, make enquiries and avoid these kinds of beaches because they are there in Greece just like in any other Mediterranean beach.
But if you don’t mind a topless adult or going without one yourself, by all means, please go with the flow!
26. Be Disciplined About The Number of Days You Plan To Stay
Just so you know, even months spent in Greece won’t be sufficient to experience all its wonders and amusement. Therefore, one of the best travel tips to Greece would be to set a timeframe to how long you’ll stay on the islands and keep to it.
Make sure to experience as much fun as you can. But don’t expect to see everything in those few days. You can end up spending a lot of money and weeks on the island if you don’t plan the days you’d like to spend there. It won’t be adequate still.
27. Have a Budget
With so many sites to discover in Greece, setting a budget for travel there is not that simple. Even so, you should have a budget because there is so much to want in the country that you can wind up becoming broke. You wouldn’t want to return from vacation to find your bank account balance in a state of mourning. That will ruin all the enjoyment from visiting Greece.
One of the most important travel tips to Greece is to establish and keep to a budget. For the season in which your trip takes place, your budget should be adequate.
Read also: Inventory Systems Used By Travel Agencies.
28. Ditch the Internal Flights
It is true that Greece has a sizable number of airports dispersed throughout the nation, and their flights are reasonably priced. On the other hand, although being smaller, some of the islands are nonetheless very interesting to explore but difficult to reach by plane. So why not use the ferries instead of the flights?
Yes, aircraft are faster, but ferries are more enjoyable and give you a panoramic perspective of the lovely countryside. The main benefit is that they make it much simpler to get to those stunning islands that might not be reachable by plane
If the time is an issue for you? Ferries take longer, no doubt, but since Greek islands are close to one another, flights are not necessary.
29. You Need a Visa to Travel to Greece
You require a visa to enter Greece if you are not an EU resident. Make sure your visa is present. Consult the Greek Embassy in your country for information on Greece’s entry rules to prevent embarrassing situations like getting turned away at the border. Before moving on with other aspects of your trip to Greece, this is one of the first top travel suggestions to take into account and resolve.
30. Pack for the Weather/Season
I understand that some people travel with the plan to look good in pictures for their social media handles. While it’s fun to take adorable selfies in fancy attire, remember the season’s weather. One of the best travel tips to Greece would be to pack appropriately. You don’t want to get a cold, have respiratory problems, or become sunburned. Consider your health when you pack, and consider the season. This tip for traveling to Greece is to make sure your holiday is realistically planned while aiming for top-notch enjoyment.
Wrapping Up
Greece is a beautiful location. The friendly people, the wealth of attractions, and the lavish way of life will make you not want to leave. By finding out the top travel tips to Greece, you will enjoy your vacation and come back with a lot of knowledge.
Some of the best travel tips to Greece you should keep in mind include the following: beware of smokers, they’re everywhere, taking photos of military facilities is forbidden, drink only bottled water to keep good health, don’t drive in the capital and use trash can always.
Packing some of the most important travel essentials is a great way to get ready for your trip or vacation, there are some travel tips during covid-19 that will help you to stay safe and out of every health risk.
If you are traveling with your family, you should consider these travel tips when traveling with toddlers to help you get the most thrilling experience on your vacation.
Acquiring travel subscription boxes, and learning about some of the best travel tips are important for all your vacations. If you need some bags for packing, consider looking at the best travel bags for the best experience review to help you make the best choice.
And keep in mind those travel tips to Greece so that you can enjoy your stay there.
Got some personal experience to share? Please use the comment section.
Other Articles
10 Most Sought After Travel Case for Camera
20 Most Important Travel Tips to Mexico you Must Know
