EXPLORE GREECE LIKE NEVER BEFORE

The Cradle of Western Civilization

Know before you go

Language

Greek, and English in tourism hot spots, and business services.

Time Zone

TIME ZONE: GMT +3 hours

Dialing Code

+30

Climate

Generally, the Mediterranean climate of Greece will give you a hot, dry summer with a moderate, wet winter in the southern lowlands and island regions. A cold, snowy winter can be expected in the central and northern mountainous regions.

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What to expect

It’s a real pleasure!

Greece, the birthplace of Western Civilization, is renowned for having more than six thousand lovely islands, lovely beaches, crystal-clear oceans, spectacular sunset locations, pleasant summer weather, and historic temples. The Greeks have a connection to the past thanks to well-known sites like the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, the Acropolis, Delphi, and Epidaurus, while they throw the best parties in Europe on cosmopolitan islands like Mykonos. Absolute ultimate in diversity!

The superb sculpture and Cycladic architecture of the Greeks are well-known. Numerous civilizations, including the Roman Empire, were impacted by Greek culture, which is still having an impact on contemporary societies.

The Best Time To Visit Greece

Your travel budget will benefit when you visit the Greek Islands before and after the summer season. When you check availability on Booking.com you’ll find that the rates are much higher during the summer season when it is also the big annual school holiday. Thus, it is also more crowded.

Therefore, an enjoyable time to visit Greece and its spectacular Greek islands is towards the end of May, and the beginning of September. These months are also much cooler and usually do not go into the high thirties as we’ve seen the last few summers.

That said and done, if you like the sizzling summer days, as I do, June to August are the months to consider, with August being the hottest month of the three months.

Holidays & Observances in Greece

Build your holiday around Greece’s public holidays. You can travel for less outside of the peak seasons, which usually are around public holidays. That said, it remains the best option to check rates directly with your hotel of choice.

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Is Greece expensive?

Currency

Euro €

Average Daily Travel Costs reported by Actual Vacationers

To assist you in budgeting for your upcoming trip, view typical and average travel prices for Greece nationwide. The average travel expenses and budgets are all estimates from actual travelers.

Greece Travel Costs

Getting Around

Ferries

Greece has some of the world’s busiest and most effective ferries. At any given moment during the summer, there are hundreds of them operating between Greek Islands and ports on the mainland.

Find and book a ferry.

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Eat & Drink

Top 10 Must-Eats While you're in Greece

Baklava. Filo pastry is used to make the layers of the dessert known as baklava, which is then filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey or syrup.
Tiropita (Greek Cheese Pie). An egg-and-cheese-filled Greek pastry constructed from layers of buttered phyllo.
Moussaka. This classic Greek dish is created with aubergines, lamb mince, and béchamel sauce.
Mezedes. This tray of bite-sized fish, pork, and vegetable dishes is the Greek equivalent of the Spanish tapas.

Kakavia. Like Hungary has Halászlé, the Hungarian fisherman’s soup, so it is with Greece. Kakavia is Greece’s fisherman’s soup, consisting of fish onions, potatoes, olive oil, and seasonings. Variations may even include shellfish, carrots, celery, or crustaceans.
Gigandes Plaki. Large white beans roasted in a rich tomato sauce and seasoned with various herbs, such as oregano, parsley, and mint, are another staple in Greek cuisine. The recipe calls for using fasolia gigantes, a genuine Greek bean variety distinguished by its generous size, hence the name (gigantic). Giantdes plaki is a typical meze meal that is best enjoyed with bread on the side. However, it can also be enjoyed as the main course.
Gyros. It’s a versatile Greek favorite made with thin shavings of chicken, lamb, or veal meat. Gyros come in wraps as a popular street food, and you’ll also find it on restaurant menus as a meat dish.
Souvlaki. Come to Skiathos if you want to eat the best souvlaki in the entire globe.

Olive oil. I like to buy gifts in the form of traditional products, like Kalamata Extra Virgin Olive Oil. With a maximum of 5% Mastoeidis olives, this extra virgin olive oil is mostly made from Koroneiki olives. The finished product is bright green to yellowish green in color and tastes great. If at all possible, get the “Messinia Union – Kalamata,” as it comes from the illustrious Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Messinia, which is renowned for producing the best extra virgin olive oil in Greece.
Cheese. While Greece is most famous for its Feta cheese, the princess of cheeses, you should try some other super delicious cheeses. Like, Kefalotyri. They make it with sheep’s or goat’s milk. Kefalotyri cheese is best paired with pasta dishes or grated over salads, pizzas, and stews.
Yiaourti me meli. This dessert is one of my all-time favorites. Yiaourti me meli is quick and easy to serve. Put thick Greek yoghurt into a dessert bowl, add a generous amount of toasted walnuts topped with honey and you have Yiaourti me meli. Yiaourti me meli is a refreshing dessert in many traditional taverns. However, it’s equally enjoyable as a light breakfast.

Top 3 Traditional Drinks in Greece

Ouzo (typically consumed following a meal). This spicy, anise-flavored spirit will undoubtedly make your chest hair stand up.
Tsipouro. When you order Greek meze (a variety of small Greek dishes) it is not unusual to be served with Tsipouro. Tsipouro, a strong Greek spirit, is also a popular and traditional welcoming drink.
Greek coffee. Also known as Turkish coffee, they use extra finely ground-roasted coffee beans to make a uniquely strong and rich coffee. Tradition calls for the use of a cezva, or ibrik (a traditional coffee pot) to brew the beans in cold water over low heat until frothy, and just before it starts to boil.