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Greece

Duration: All Weekend 4-7 days 8-14 days 15+ days Kids: All 👨‍👩‍👧 Kid-friendly
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Greece: Athens, Delphi and Meteora
Greece 10 days

Greece: Athens, Delphi and Meteora

Athens, the Peloponnese, the oracle of Delphi and Meteora on a road trip
Cyclades, island after island
Greece 12 days

Cyclades, island after island

Athens, Mykonos and Delos, Naxos, Paros and Santorini by ferry

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Planning a trip to Greece? Here you'll find our 2 day-by-day itineraries (Athens and Attica, Peloponnese, Delphi and Meteora, Cyclades, Crete, Ionian Islands), plus all the practical info to organise your journey: currency, visa, e-SIM, health, plugs and useful numbers.

When to go to Greece

Mediterranean: hot dry summers (July-August can reach 35-40°C on the mainland and at archaeological sites), mild coastal winters, colder in the north. The best time is the shoulder season — late May-June and September-October — with pleasant heat, warm sea and fewer crowds. In summer the Cyclades get the meltemi, the north wind that cools things down but can stir up the sea and delay ferries.

Practical info for travelling in Greece

Updated: June 2026

Currency

Euro (EUR). Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere and ATMs are common in towns, but on the islands and in country tavernas always keep some cash: some kiosks, local ferries and rental shops prefer it.

Language

Modern Greek (with its own alphabet: knowing a few letters helps with signs). English is spoken very well in tourist areas; a 'kaliméra' in the morning is always appreciated.

Documents / Visa

EU citizens only need a valid ID card or passport: no visa, it's the EU/Schengen area. Travellers from many other countries enter Schengen visa-free for up to 90 days but should check their own nationality's rules. Note: Greek border police are strict and may refuse entry with an expired or damaged document — make sure yours is intact, especially if you plan trips to non-Schengen countries (e.g. Albania). Always carry a copy of your document.

Health / Vaccines

No mandatory vaccines. West Nile Virus (mosquito-borne) is now endemic from summer to autumn: use repellent in the evening. EU citizens can use the EHIC for public healthcare, BUT islands and tourist spots often lack hospitals for serious cases: travel insurance with cover for air transfer or repatriation is strongly recommended. Pharmacies are plentiful but work on a rota.

e-SIM / Connectivity

With an EU SIM, roaming is included at no extra cost. Visitors from outside the EU should get a local SIM or eSIM. 4G/5G is excellent in cities and on the larger islands; gaps in the mainland's interior valleys and on the smallest islands. Wi-Fi is widespread in hotels and tavernas.

Electricity

230V, 50Hz, type C/F (Schuko) sockets — standard European. Travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere need an adapter. Note: Santorini and some smaller islands can have brief power cuts in summer.

Time zone

Eastern European Time: UTC+2 in winter, UTC+3 in summer (one hour ahead of Central European Time).

Payments

Cards and contactless are widely accepted, even for small amounts. Mild capital controls remain for Greek residents but do not affect tourists paying or withdrawing with foreign cards. On the islands, though, cash stays handy for kiosks, small tavernas and local ferry tickets.

Good to know

  • Ferries between the islands — Island hopping is done by ferry: book online with the Ferryhopper app, which compares all companies with no surcharge and tracks delays in real time. In high season book well ahead. There are fast boats (pricier, rougher in heavy seas) and slow ones (cheaper, more stable). Allow about half a day for each crossing — packing, port, waiting, arrival — and reach boarding 30-40 minutes early.
  • Scooters and quads: real caution — A scooter is the handiest way around the islands, but the Italian foreign ministry reports many accidents, some fatal, due to rough roads, worn-out vehicles and recklessness. A helmet is ALWAYS mandatory (riding without one means losing your licence). Motorbikes over 50cc need an A licence. The quad in particular is discouraged: it counts as an extreme sport, may only cross paved roads, and many insurance policies EXCLUDE accidents on one. Before renting: photograph the vehicle, insist on a contract in English too, take out broad insurance and don't hand over your original ID (give a copy).
  • Safety, earthquakes and wildfires — Greece is safe, but petty crime against tourists is rising: watch for pickpockets in central Athens (Monastiraki, Plaka) and especially on the airport metro line. The country is highly seismic (rarely felt, but download the mySafetyPlan app with assembly points). In summer wildfires can be severe: in wooded areas follow the Civil Protection website (civilprotection.gr) and local instructions. Wild camping is banned and fined.
  • Book ahead, dodge the crowds — For the Acropolis in Athens buy a timed ticket online and arrive at opening: three million visitors a year show no mercy. Same for the Delos trip from Mykonos and for Akrotiri on Santorini. In summer many archaeological sites close in the hottest hours: plan visits for early morning or late afternoon. On Santorini book the port transfer ahead (taxis are scarce) and your accommodation early (it's Greece's most sought-after island).
  • At the table and tipping — You eat very well and often cheaply: pita gyros, souvlaki, Greek salad with feta, grilled octopus, tzatziki. In tavernas a free jug of tap water is normal. Tipping isn't compulsory but is appreciated: rounding up or leaving 5-10% is fine. Meals run late: Greeks dine from 9pm onwards.
  • Respect at monasteries and sites — To enter the Meteora monasteries and Orthodox churches you need shoulders and knees covered: Meteora lends wrap skirts at the door, but bringing a scarf or long trousers is easier. Each monastery has its own closing day, check ahead. At archaeological sites it is strictly forbidden to take away any artefact, even a stone: Greek law is very harsh, especially on underwater finds.

Useful numbers

  • 112 — EU single emergency number, 24/7
  • 166 — Ambulance / medical emergency
  • 100 — Police (199 fire brigade, 1571 tourist police)
  • +30 210 3617260 — Italian Embassy in Athens — travellers of other nationalities should contact their own embassy

💡 Greece is at its best in the shoulder season (June and September): the right heat, a sea already or still warm, sites and islands without the August crush. And remember the travellers' golden rule: book your ferries on Ferryhopper as soon as you have your dates, and budget half a day of travel for each island. The crossing is part of the journey too.