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Going to Greece is not just the fulfillment of a dream vacation. Once you visit you'll realize that you belong there. It's like going back home.

Traveling to Greece and need info and helpful tips?

Are you planning to travel to Greece? Have you already booked your vacation to Greece and looking for useful tips? Do you want to know when is the best season to travel to Greece? Do you want to know when is the cheapest time of the year to travel to Greece?

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If you won’t find what you’re looking for on this page, then please post your questions in our Greece travel forum and our community will provide useful tips and answers to all your questions.

What is the weather like in Greece?
Greece (on average) enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year!
Is it safe to travel to Greece?
Greece is one of the safest travel destinations in the world.
What is Greece's currency?
Greece is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency.
Do people speak English in Greece?
Most Greeks are fairly fluent in conversational English, as well as a few other languages.

Safety. Is Greece safe for tourists?

Despite the issues with the Greek economy over the past few years, and the unrest, demonstrations, and strikes caused because of these issues, Greece is still one of the safest places in Europe (and anywhere in the world) for tourists.

Crime

Up until a couple of decades ago, violent crime was virtually non-existent anywhere in Greece, even in large cities like Athens. Over the past several years things have changed a bit (mostly since the early 1990s) when many illegal immigrants came to Greece from Central and Eastern European countries, Asia and the Middle East. Their sudden arrival contributed to an increase in criminal activities throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Despite all this, Greece is still a very safe place to visit.

As an example, there were a total of 78 murders in the whole of Greece in 2017 (murder rate of around 0.7 per 100,000). There were an estimated 17,250 murders in the US in the same year (murder rate of around 7 per 100,000), and 31,174 murders in Mexico (murder rate of around 25 per 100,000).

Greek islands, in general, are very safe, with non-existent violent crime, and in general no crime other than some petty theft. As a precaution, avoid carrying large sums of cash on your person if not necessary. Also, ensure that your travel documents are up to date and that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times (preferably at your hotel’s safe).

Terrorism

Even though there have been no terrorist acts in Greece so far, there is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorists have carried out attacks in several European cities and further attacks are likely. Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places and exercise normal security precautions.

Road safety, driving in Greece

The traffic fatality rate in Greece is among the highest in the European Union. Poor driving standards, aggressive drivers, difficult terrain and heavy traffic create hazards. Driving motorbikes, scooters and mopeds are particularly dangerous, especially on the islands.

Small, unlicensed rental agencies (especially on the islands) do not always offer vehicles that comply with up-to-date safety standards. Read the rental contract carefully.

In the event of an accident, wait for the police to arrive. An accident insurance claim may not be valid without a police report. In general, driving in Greece is challenging, and at times dangerous. Prefer using the reliable public transportation and inexpensive taxi service where possible.

General safety notes

As mentioned earlier, in general, Greece is a very safe place to travel. People are usually friendly and accommodating. When staying in downtown Athens ask at your hotel lobby the areas you should avoid (especially at night). Other than this, exercise regular precautions and common sense when traveling. Don’t carry large sums of money (cash) and keep your travel documents (passports) safe at all times.

Athens, GR
12°
Fair
Feels like: 12°C
Wind: 5km/h N
Humidity: 72%
Pressure: 1011.18mbar
UV index: 0
WedThuFriSatSun
13°C / 6°C
18°C / 8°C
18°C / 9°C
16°C / 8°C
17°C / 11°C
Chania, GR
15°
Fair
Feels like: 14°C
Wind: 23km/h WSW
Humidity: 78%
Pressure: 1011.18mbar
UV index: 0
WedThuFriSatSun
15°C / 10°C
17°C / 12°C
18°C / 11°C
15°C / 10°C
18°C / 12°C
Rhodes, GR
16°
Fair
Feels like: 15°C
Wind: 18km/h W
Humidity: 58%
Pressure: 1009.14mbar
UV index: 0
WedThuFriSatSun
17°C / 12°C
18°C / 13°C
18°C / 13°C
17°C / 12°C
18°C / 13°C
Santorini, GR
13°
Fair
Feels like: 13°C
Wind: 3km/h W
Humidity: 81%
Pressure: 1011.18mbar
UV index: 0
WedThuFriSatSun
15°C / 12°C
15°C / 13°C
16°C / 12°C
15°C / 12°C
16°C / 14°C
Annual visitors
32
Sunshine (average)
300
Europe's latest victim of "over tourism"

Tourism is the shining light in Greece’s otherwise downtrodden economy. It has helped prop up a nation battling bankruptcy and a quarter of residents need the industry to make a living. But there is growing concern that it cannot cope with its burgeoning popularity for much longer.

In recent years the country welcomes record numbers of tourists (around 32 million foreign travelers expected to visit Greece in 2019 – up from just 6.2 million in 1998 and 15 million in 2010). No major European destination has seen a bigger increase in visitor numbers this decade.

Rapid growth means strained infrastructure and overcrowding in big cities and at major attractions. So it’s more important than ever to plan your trip to Greece at the right time of the year, to avoid peak season overcrowded destinations, and inflated prices.

Best time to visit Greece

What is the best/cheapest month to travel to Greece?

Most Greeks will advise a traveler that the best, and also most affordable, time to visit Greece is spring and early summer (May and June) or early autumn (late August to end of September).

The weather is still warm (and sometimes hot) during this time,and you'll avoid the summer high season (usually July to mid-August in most places in Greece), with its inflated prices, overcrowding with hordes of tourists visiting all popular destinations and sights, and extremely high temperatures (heat waves of +100 Fahreneit/+40 Celsius are routine during the months of July and August).

Best prices

How much does a trip to Greece cost?

This can vary a lot, depending on where you're coming from, the time of the year you're visiting, and also the places you're planning to visit.

As an example, popular islands like Mykonos or Santorini are usually expensive throughout the summer season (May - September), with prices jumping significantly higher from early July to mid-August. However, there are several other destinations which can be very affordable, even during the peak summer season. Shop around for prices, and if possible try booking directly if you're planning to stay at a small hotel or villa. If you're planning to visit outside the peak season then negotiating the standard rate should not be out of the question.

Greek vacation

What is the best Greek island to visit?

Everyopne has their favourite Greek island or favourite Greek destination.

Despite most visitor thinking the opposite, Greece is a diverse country with many unique places to visit. On one hand, you have all the usual favourite destinations of most tourists. Places like Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete, Corfu, Kos are usually top travel destinations bustling with tourists during the busy summer months. However, there's a different side of Greece in the lesser known - but equally beautiful - islands of Lesvos, Milos, and Samos, or the remote rocks of Meteora and the unspoiled beaches of Elafonisos in Lakonia.

But most of all, your trip to Greece will be about the sun and the sea. The 300 days of sunshine and thousands of islands guarantee that you won't miss either of the two while in Greece.

Questions about
traveling to Greece?

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