Everything You Need to Know for a Great Trip to Greece
Greece is regarded as the birthplace of western civilization and is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. It is a peninsula that lies in south-eastern Europe surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas. Greece is comprised of thousands of islands where you’ll encounter some of the most beautiful beaches in the world as well as ancient ruins dating back thousands of years. The captivating history, delicious food, and insane nightlife is enough to make it to the top of anyone’s bucket list. Follow this guide for everything you need to prepare for your dream getaway trip to Greece!
When is the Best Time to Visit Greece?
The most important thing to decide is planning when to visit. Peak season is during the summer months from June to September. This is when then crowds are heaviest, the prices are most expensive, and the scorching sun is at full force with temperatures averaging around 90°F. The shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) offer pleasant weather, thinner crowds, and more affordable prices. Winter months include chilly weather with high chances of rain.
We chose to visit during the middle of May – Early June for slightly cheaper airfare, decent weather, and less crowds. Temperatures ranged from high 60s to mid 70s and tourists were plentiful around the popular sights so I couldn’t imagine during the peak of summer. It was still warm enough for a few beach days but the water was very cold. Shortly into the trip there was some windy / rainy days but it cleared up near the end of the trip. Avoiding the scorching heat of summer and the chilly winter months will ensure you have the ideal climate to explore ancient ruins, lounge on pristine beaches, and revel in the vibrant atmosphere of Greek nightlife.
What Essential Items do I Need to Pack for Greece?
Greece is the birthplace of democracy, stoic western philosophy, the Olympics, and so much more. It has a top tier food scene and ancient architectural ruins that marvel the sights of Rome. Before you start discovering everything this influential country has to offer, here are the essentials you’ll need to pack:
- Passport
- Visa – US Citizens and most European nations won’t require a visa for tourists visiting under 90 days. Here’s a list of countries and their specific Visa requirements.
- Power Outlet Adapter – Greece operates on a 230 voltage so be sure to bring a plug for either type C or F to charge your devices
- International Driver’s Permit – Transportation around the islands is notoriously bad, so I suggest applying for an international driver’s permit incase you want to rent a vehicle. Download the application here and apply at the nearest AAA facility for around $40 USD. It’s a simple process you can get in under 20mins.
- Swimming Clothes – Bring your bathing suits if you intend on basking in light of the Greek sun or revitalizing in the clear waters of the Aegean Sea. Buying one over there is surely to be overpriced.
- Sunscreen – The beaming sun is no joke whether you’re exploring ancient ruins in the city of Athens or lounging on the beautiful beaches of Mykonos. Try to fit it into 100ml or less containers to bring on the plane.
- Comfortable Shoes – There are a lot of uneven surfaces and inclined rocky terrain around the country especially near archaeological sites so be sure wear comfy sneakers. Most of the beaches also contain rocky shores instead of sand.
- Jacket – The weather became surprisingly chilly at night, especially atop the hilled viewpoints to watch the sunset. Plus some islands like Santorini can be very windy.
Which Islands or Cities Should You Visit?
Greece boasts a plethora of stunning islands that cater to every type of traveler. Some of the most popular ones include Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete. Of course no trip to Greece is complete without indulging in the capital city of Athens. Here’s a short description of some famous destinations you might want to consider:
- Athens – Known as the Greek capital and the heart of ancient Greece. Most flights typically only fly between the huge Athenian airport. Athens is home to the mighty hilltop citadel known as the Acropolis, and is enriched with history around every corner. The city is has incredible food to taste (with the most beautiful restaurant decorations I’ve ever seen), astounding cultural sites, and epic nightlife where you can party till the sun rises. It’s a busy city, but you can experience most of the highlights between 2 and 3 days.
- Santorini – Probably the country’s most famous island, Santorini is known for picturesque villages and some of the most sublime sunsets on the planet. Primarily regarded as a romantic destination, this Cyclades Island has a rugged volcanic landscape and is comprised of various smaller islands. The whitewashed cliffside houses make the perfect backdrop Instagram pics. The island has a more luxurious vibe with many of the beaches containing pebbly shores. It can be a very expensive vacation.
- Mykonos – Another island in the Aegean Sea infamous for its wild party atmosphere and some of the beast beaches in the country. Mykonos is loaded with many beautiful beaches, beach bars, clubs, and restaurants. It’s a small island that makes for the perfect party destination although the crowds seem pretty young and nights can get expensive real quick.
- Crete – is the largest island in Greece with a huge city, ancient ruins, and scenic beaches to enjoy. It has a family oriented vibe and is much cheaper than other islands. It is also known for its great quality of food.
- Zakynthos – Another island famous for its parties, also has some of the best beaches in the country including an isolated shipwrecked beach.
- Naxos – The perfect island destination if you’re looking to avoid the crowds and enjoy more secluded beaches.
- Rhodes – This port city was once famous for one of the 7 ancient world’s wonders; The Colossus. Despite being destroyed by an earthquake centuries ago, Rhodes is still steeped in a cultural atmosphere of medieval architecture and cliffside towns.
- Meteora – Hidden in the central mainland is the charming city of Meteora surrounded by towering cliffs. Atop the summits you can find historic monasteries perched over 1,200 feet up.
How to Get Around in Greece?
For such a developed nation, the transportation around Greece is surprisingly bad. There are no Ubers so you’ll have to rely solely upon exorbitant taxi rides or unreliable public transportation. In Athens there are subways and buses, but they lacked punctuality. Fortunately the train and buses from the airport were simple, cheap, and efficient. A 9 euro ticket on the M3 will take you directly downtown in about 40mins. Inside the city, we just walked everywhere since most landmarks are within close proximity.
Transportation around the islands was even worse. The taxis were even more expensive and the buses left too infrequently to be relied upon. I recommend renting a car if you’ll be doing tons of sightseeing since it can be relatively cheap ( we rented a car for 50 Euros a day). You can also rent a scooter, moped, ATV, or UTV to mix things up! Just be sure to keep your international driver’s permit with you. The public transportation system on Santorini is the KTEL bus which is actually really cheap ( less than 2 Euros purchased at time of boarding). The KTEL bus system on Mykonos is similar and you can find the schedule here. Just be aware the buses can fill up quickly around popular zones (Oia in Santorini and Mykonos Town) so be careful taking the last ones. Fortunately many hotels include airport transfers or you can ask them to call a taxi for you.
For traveling between islands there are 2 options: take a flight or a ferry. Flights are typically under an hour from Athens and are surprisingly cheap (around $50 USD). Ferries are around $90 USD and go directly to the specified islands (we took the ferry from Santorini to Mykonos in 2hrs). I prefer taking flights since the boarding ferry was unorganized, took a bit longer, and was delayed. Whichever you choose, just make sure to reserve tickets in advance.
Which Greek Food is a Must Try?
Greek cuisine is a feast for the senses, with dishes that blend simplicity and freshness into culinary masterpieces. Prepare your taste buds for an odyssey of flavors with high quality ingredients, healthy recipes, and savory meats. Some of our favorites include souvlaki, moussaka, Greek salads, and the world famous gyros (pronounced yee-ros). Greece also has incredibly fresh seafood on the islands and distinctive & flavorful wine (especially on Santorini). Stay tuned for our food blog where we’ll go into more details of each of the delightful delicacies in Greece.
What are the Highlights of Greece?
There’s so many incredible experiences to have in Greece. You can immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Greek culture by exploring its ancient wonders and vibrant traditions. From wandering around archaeological sites, indulging in a sensational bar/restaurant scene, or relaxing on volcanic beaches there’s so much to do. Here’s just a few of the epic excursions you can experience:
How Much Money Should You Bring?
Fortunately credit cards are accepted almost everywhere around the country, even small vendors and random shops. However, there were a few instances when we needed cash to pay for something like a couple of taxi rides or buying souvenirs from the market. I suggest either bringing cash to exchange once you get to the inner city or just withdrawing a small amount from ATMs. A couple of hundred Euros should be enough. Also be sure to have some coins readily available for the buses.
How Expensive is Greece?
Despite Greece having a reputation as a luxurious vacation destination, your trip can be as cheap or expensive as you are willing to go. There are many budget friendly accommodations such as hostels or Airbnbs as well as fancy hotels, resorts, or hillside villas. Hotels in Athens can be dirt cheap (we saw some for around $35USD!) while average hotel prices on the islands were much more expensive (almost nothing under $100USD). Food can also be quite expensive with $40-50 on the low end or restaurant tables with scenic views with minimum spending limits of $70 or higher. Unlike the out0of0control culture in the USA, tipping in Greece is not mandatory and if you do decide to, even 5% was sufficient.
axis are also very pricey so if you intend to save money on transportation consider taking the buses or subways. Flights to get to Greece are also very expensive (around $1,000USD or higher for summer season) so be sure to buy them far in advance. Overall, it was one of our more expensive trips but totally worth it since it was our honeymoon. We did a mix of splurging on restaurants and budget traveling on buses and 4star hotels so I think we did alright. But if you want that true luxury vacation with a private pooled villa get ready to spend the munny. Stay tuned for our coast analysis vlog where we break down exactly how much we spent!
Armed with these essential tips, you are now ready to plan the perfect Greek adventure. Whether you seek historical marvels, sun-kissed beaches, or culinary delights, Greece will leave an aspirational mark on your heart. It is easily one of my favorite countries in Europe and should be at the top of everyone’s bucket list. Even with a small exposure to the marvelous wonders of Greece, I can attest it is worth the hype. Stay tuned for more adventures thru this incredible country. Thanks for reading an keep leveling up!
Check out our Greece travel vlog for even more insight into our experience!
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