Greece is a beautiful landscape filled piercing blue skies, ancient sun-bleached ruins, endless coastlines, vibrant culture and mouth-watering cuisine.
Many people associate the country as just another Sun, Sand and Sea destination, but there’s much more to explore! Greece’s depth eclipses the sun-drenched archipelagos and 9000+ miles of coastline with a multitude of inspiring sights inland. Magnificent mountains and peaks mix with lavish meadows, rivers and gorges for hiking trails, and unique flora and fauna are can be found far and wide.
Weather
You’ll have to pick the right time of year when travelling to Greece, and if you’re looking for maximum sun in the high season, be prepared for larger crowds and busy attractions
In the Shoulder seasons, temperatures are a few degrees cooler, and Internal flights and island ferries may have reduced schedules.
In the low seasons many hotels, sights and restaurants shut down, especially on the islands, Athens and Crete may even see snow. On the upside, accommodation rates can be significantly lower, as much as half price!
Low Season: November–March
Shoulder Seasons: April, September-October
High Seasons: Easter, May-August
Budgeting
The currency in Greece is Euros, although you can arrange a currency exchange before you travel, purchase a currency card, or exchange money once you have arrived.
Here’s what you can expect to pay on an average day:
Hotel – Typical £30-£40｜Luxury £50-£75 (Very nice hotels!)
Food – Typical £30-£40｜Luxury £50 (Nice meals with alcoholic drinks)
Drinks – Typical £15-25｜Luxury £30
Activities – Typical £30｜£40 (including day tours)
Total – Typical £105-£135｜Luxury £170-£195
These are generous estimates however, and it’s certainly possible to travel for much less!
Food
To get the most out of your journey to Greece you’ll need to delve in the rich and vibrant culture, and what better way to start than tasting the unique foods Greece has to offer Traditional Greek cuisine is Mediterranean based food filled with masses of different flavours:
Greek Salad - The Traditional Greek salad (which is also known as Horiatiki) includes some of Greece’s best produce such as Kalamata olives and Feta Cheese. Light, fresh and hard to resist!
Gyros –A hand-held pita sandwich like you’ve never had it before! Gyros can be filled with a wide assortment of Greece’s delicious meats and vegetables. These can be found all over Greece in different variations, you may have to hunt down your favourite local mix!
Souvlaki – A lamb Kebab, marinated with an abundance of herbs and spices and then grilled to perfection. Often served alongside other Greek classics such as pita or a Greek salad.
Tzatziki – an all-purpose sauce in Greek cuisine. It’s made with a combination of Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon and dill, then drizzled with olive oil and dressed with some olives. Often eaten as a party dip alongside salads or kebabs.
Phrases
It’s never a bad idea to learn more language and a country’s culture, so here are a some words you can practice for your trip:
Good morning: Καλημέρα (kah-lee-MER-ah)
Good afternoon/evening: Καλησπέρα (kah-lee-SPER-ah)
Goodnight: Καληνύχτα (kah-lee-NEEKH-tah)
Thank you: Ευχαριστώ (eff-kha-ri-STOE)
Please / You’re welcome: Παρακαλώ (para-kah-LOE)
Yes: Ναί (neh)
No: όχι (OH-hee)
Here are a few longer phrases you may find useful:
Do you speak English? Μιλάτε αγγλικά (Mee-LAH-teh ag-li-KAH)?
Where is the bathroom?: Πού είναι η τουαλέτα (Poh-EE-nay ee tua-LEH-tah)?
How much is it?: Πόσο κάνει αυτό (POH-soh KAH-nee af-TOH)?
I love Greece!: Αγαπώ την Ελλάδα (Ah-gah-POH teen Eh-LAH-tha)
Sights and Highlights
Greece is filled with must-see destinations to add to your travel bucket list, here are a few of our top picks:
Athens – many ancient structures still stand in the capital city – the Acropolis and the Parthenon are just two of these must-see UNESCO relics.
Mount Olympus – Feel all-powerful by hiking the home of the ancient Gods!
Island hopping – from the parties of Mykonos to the stunning sunsets of Santorini, around the Greek Islands is something every traveller should experience at least once.
Metéora Monasteries – one of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes combining exquisite architechture in immense rock formations
Delphi – A mystical place where mythology and history collide, the ancient sanctuary is the most important oracle in Greece.
Interesting Facts
98% of the total population of Greece is ethnic Greeks. The other minority groups consist of Albanians, Armenians, Bulgarians, and Macedonians.
More than 40% of the total population of Greece resides in the capital of Athens.
There are no Retirement homes in Greece as the Elderly usually live with their children.
There are more than 250 days of sunshine in a year in Greece with an average of 3000 hours total, double that of the UK!
So where should you go?
You can probably name a few of the Greek islands, but with a total of around 200 inhabited islands and estimated as many as 6000 total, which, if any, should you visit?
We have a blog post for that! - Which Greek island should I visit?
Or if you’re ready to book your great Greek getaway then call us on 0161 440 6735 and start your adventure!