DanckTravel

I love visiting Greece and have explored several islands and cities throughout the country. Greece is a magical place, with fantastic food, interesting history, and fabulous beaches. Below are some of our best tips and locations from our travels.

Key Takeaways

• There are a ton of islands in Greece to explore and each one has a slightly different vibe. Rhodes and Crete are huge, while Mykonosos is well known for partying.
• Greek is the official language of Greece. However, you shouldn’t have a problem with English if you come in the shoulder season.
• The shoulder season is an ideal time to visit, since the weather is beautiful and there are fewer crowds.
• If you plan on driving, be sure to get an international driver’s license if you are an American.

Logistics

1. Greek is the National Language

The main language of Greece is Greek. However, if you are in the more touristy areas, you should have no problem getting around with English. Being able to say a few words in Greek is however very appreciated. 

The Greek alphabet is also very different than ours. This can make it difficult to navigate if you visit more remote places, where signs may not be in Latin letters. However, most touristy places do have signs in both Latin and Greek letters for convenience.

2. Greece has Several Airports

There are several airports across the country, with Athens and Thessaloniki having the largest ones. 

Some islands do have international airports, but I don’t think there are any with travel from the US. 

Many times, I’ve also found it easier to travel to Athens first and then either catch a flight or ferry to the next the next day (Athens is also a very cool city to explore). Below are some airports on some of the Greek islands:

• Corfu: CFU
• Crete:
  • CHQ (Chania)
  • HER (Heraklion)
  • JSH (Sitia Public Airport)
• Karpathos: AOK  
• Kefalonia: EFL 
• Kos: KGS
• Lemnos: LXS
• Lesvos: MJT
• Milos: MLO
• Mykonos: JMK
• Naxos: JNX
• Patras: GPA
• Paros: PAS
  • Please note: Flights are only domestic from this airport.
• Preveza and Lefkada: PVK
• Rhodes: RHO
• Santorini: JRT
• Samos: SMI
• Skiathos: JSI 
• Zakynthos: ZTH

3. There are Ferries to the Greek Islands

Not all islands will have an airport, so consider booking a ferry if you are looking to go island hopping. The ferries are a really nice way to travel, with nice seating and food on board. Once on the islands, you can also take a ferry to hop between the islands. 

However, not all ferries from Athens go directly to all Greek islands. For example, if you are looking to go from Athens to Corfu, it is easier to fly.

4. Get Euros Before You Leave

Greeks use the Euros, like much of the EU. We recommend at least having a few Euros along in case you want to do some shopping at smaller stores. I’ve also had problems with my credit cards before since the US is generally less up-to-date with their technology (for example: Europe had tap credit cards before we did). This led me to almost miss my flight (story for another day. haha). We also recommend getting at least some foreign currency before you leave, which can typically be done at your local bank (just call in advance to make sure they carry Euros).

5. Some Stores are Closed on Sundays

Many stores will be closed on Sundays, like in other parts of Europe. However, there are some excpetions for tourist places during peak season. 

Restaurant Culture

6. Try the Food (Family-Style) 

Eating family style is much more common in Greece than in the US. And it’s the perfect opportunity to try a wide range of dishes! There are also a lot of smaller plates (think hummus and tzatziki).  If you’re not sure how many things to try, we usually recommend two per person. 

7. Desert is Sometimes Included

Many places in Greece (including some of the islands and some restaurants in Thessaloniki)  will include a small dessert at the end of the meal. This isn’t true everywhere (and personally, I have found it to be less true in cities like Athens). But if you’re planning a big meal and they offer free dessert, make sure to save room!

Getting Around

8. Get an International Driver’s License

If you are planning on renting a car, make sure to add getting an international driver’s licence to your international travel checklist. It is highly important and you may not be able to drive without one.

For many European countries, an American license sufficed for picking up a car. However, this was not the case in Greece. Luckily for me, I had a German friend who was allowed to drive with his license. If we hadn’t had him in our group, we would have had to miss Mount Olympus.

International licenses are relatively easy to obtain with a Triple-A membership. Just bring in your American license and they will fill out the paperwork. The whole process takes about 10 minutes and costs around $25.

When to Visit

9. Come During the Shoulder Season

July and August are peak travel times around Europe. However, global warming is causing temperatures to rise across the continent, making the temperatures really, really hot in the summer. Consider going in September, October, April, or May. You’ll still have the benefit of warm weather, with fewer crowds. Additionally, the weather in Greece in months like October and May is particularly nice. It’s not too hot, but still good to swim, especially if you visit places like Rhodes

Other Considerations

10. Be Careful of Pickpockets

I wouldn’t say this is true throughout Greece, but major metropolitan cities, such as Athens do have problems with pickpockets. Be aware of your surroundings and be sure to keep your passport and money safely tucked away. Usually, I carry money in a few different locations on me in case I were to get pickpocketed.

11. Stay Hydrated and Wear Sunscreen

The sun is powerful in the Mediterranean. If you do during the summer, make sure you are staying well hydrated.

12. Use the Bin for Toilet Paper

Greece has really old plumbing, which means that toilet paper could clog and ruin the pipes. In Greek bathrooms, you’ll see a trash can that is meant for toilet paper. Use these instead of flushing anything down the toilet. Otherwise, you may need a plumber!

Where to Go: 9 Locations to Visit

If you’re unsure of where to go, let this guide help you:

The Islands (There are a Lot of Them)

1. Corfu

Corfu is a beautiful island on the Western side of Greece. It has rich mountains and a cute city center known as Corfu Town. It also has a relatively large airport (in comparison to other islands), making Corfu a little easier to get to from Athens or other European cities.

2. Naxos

According to Greek myth, Dionysus met the Minoan Princess, Ariadne, on Naxos. This island is the biggest of the Cyclades Island group. It has beautiful beaches and architecture. 

3. Paros

If you’re looking for an Instagram-worthy Greece trip, consider visiting Paros, which is an island that checks the boxes. In particular, we loved Naoussa, which is a pitcuresque fishing village located in the Cyclades. Naoussa also has great nightlife and a lot of delicious restaurants to choose from.

4. Rhodes

If you’re looking for an island rich in history, with beautiful beach towns, you’ve come to the right place. It’s also one of the biggest islands in Greece.

We recommend checking out Rhodes City and Lindos if you make it here. Rhodes City has a downtown that is walled in. You can walk along the walls around the shoreline and explore some of the old architecture. Lindos on the other hand looks like a walled-in paradise, No cars are allowed in the downtown area and the walls of the building are pristine white.

5. Symi

Symi is a smaller island and is relatively easy to access from Rhodes. The water is pristine and the downtown is adorable.

6. Delos

I haven’t been here yet, but this island is high on my list. This is the island in Greece, where no one was allowed to be born or die. According to myth, Apollo and Arthemis were born here, making it a holy site. Today, tourists can visit the site, but it’s almost as if frozen in time. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, preserving archeological finds across various points in Greece’s history.

The Mainland

7. Thessolinki

Thessaloniki is the second biggest city in Greece. They have fabulous restaurants (I had some of the best food of my life in Thessaloniki). Be sure to visit the downtown port and the white tower (where you can get incredible views of the city). 

If you plan on going to Mount Olympus, Thessonoliki is also a great starting point, since it’s relatively close.

8. Athens

Athens is Greece’s capital and the largest city. There are many things to see in Athens including the Parthenon and the museum. Even if you are going to one of the islands, this a great starting point for your trip.

9. Mount Olympus

Mount Olympus is an important place in Greek mythology, having been the throne to the god Zeus. There are several trails that hikers can explore of varying difficulty. It is possible to do Mount Olympus as a day trip, but you likely won’t be able to summit the mountain. 

Pro Tip: Book the Overnight Lodge in advance to secure a place. They also don’t let hikers enter after certain hours, so be sure to get there early.

Final Thoughts

Any tips we missed? Any places you would recommend? Leave them in the comments below.