Greece travel guide

Getting there

Athens International Airport is the main gateway, with many seasonal international flights to islands such as Crete, Rhodes, Corfu and Santorini. Ferries link Greece with Italy and Turkey, and there are land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Best time to visit: May–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm sea, sunshine and fewer crowds.

Tougher months: July–August if you dislike heat and crowds; many islands are also very quiet from November to March.

Weather by month in Athens

• 13°J●●
• 14°F●
• 17°M●
• 20°A●
• 26°M
• 31°J
• 34°J
• 34°A
• 29°S
• 24°O●
• 19°N●●
• 15°D●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Europe/Athens. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Greece without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-10-23). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Greece travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Greece are based around Athens, Santorini or Crete. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$45–70 for a backpacker and US$110–190 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Greece page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +30.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Athens (Capital · ancient sites and nightlife): The Acropolis, superb museums and lively neighbourhoods such as Plaka, Psyrri and Koukaki.
• Santorini (Cyclades · volcanic island): Cliff-top villages, black-sand beaches and the prehistoric site of Akrotiri.
• Crete (Largest island · beaches and gorges): Minoan palaces, Venetian harbours in Chania and Rethymno, mountains and long sandy beaches.
• Meteora (Thessaly · monasteries): A UNESCO-listed landscape of monasteries balanced atop rock towers.
• Naxos (Cyclades · beaches and villages): Long beaches, mountain villages and a relaxed alternative to busier islands.
• Nafplio (Peloponnese · historic town): An elegant harbour town, ideal for visiting Mycenae and the theatre of Epidaurus.
• Thessaloniki (Northern Greece · food and Byzantine heritage): A vibrant city of Byzantine churches, Roman ruins, a waterfront promenade and great food.
• Corfu (Ionian Islands · Venetian old town): A green island with a UNESCO-listed old town and clear blue bays.

Things to do

• Climb the Acropolis. Walk up to the Parthenon early in the morning and look out over Athens to the sea.
• Watch a Santorini sunset. Join the crowds in Oia as the sun sinks behind the volcanic caldera.
• Island-hop by ferry. Sail between the Cyclades, discovering whitewashed villages, quiet coves and harbour tavernas.
• Visit the Meteora monasteries. Gaze at medieval monasteries perched on top of towering sandstone pillars.
• Hike the Samaria Gorge. Trek through one of Europe's longest gorges in Crete's White Mountains down to the Libyan Sea.
• Run on the ancient stadium. Walk through the tunnel into the original stadium at Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games.
• Consult the oracle's home. Explore Delphi's sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, once considered the centre of the world.
• Feast at a taverna. Share meze, grilled octopus and a Greek salad by the sea as the evening cools.

Source: full Greece guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Moussaka – baked layers of aubergine, meat and béchamel
• Souvlaki – grilled meat skewers often served in pita
• Horiatiki – Greek salad with tomato, cucumber and feta
• Spanakopita – spinach and feta pie in filo pastry

Source: RoamSun Greece guide

Talk

Twenty basic Greek phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: Euro (EUR). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Round up or leave 5–10% in restaurants.

Emergency numbers: 112 general · 100 police · 166 ambulance · 199 fire.

• Greece uses the euro, and cards are widely accepted, though some small tavernas and kiosks prefer cash.
• ATMs are easy to find in towns, but carry cash on small islands where machines may run dry.
• Greece is generally safe, but pickpocketing is common on the Athens metro and at busy sites.
• Heatwaves can be intense in summer; avoid strenuous sightseeing at midday and drink plenty of water.

Source: RoamSun Greece facts