What is the best time to visit Greece?

The best months to visit are usually Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct.

What are the cultural customs in Greece?

Greeks rate politeness with a person's behaviour and not their words. Furthermore, there is an air of informality; everybody is treated like a cousin. They use their hands to gesture a lot. Have fun with this. Sometimes over-emphasizing politeness in spoken language will only make the person dealing with you think you are pretentious. It's nice to learn basic words like "thank you" (Ευχαριστώ: ef-khah-rees-TOH) or "please" (Παρακαλώ: pah-rah-kah-LOH). Greeks generally consider it proper etiquette to let the stranger make the first move. You may find that on entering a cafe or passing a group on the street you feel that you're being …

Field guide

Greece

Europe • Southern EuropeAthensEuro (EUR) · €

GR, Elláda, Hellenic Republic, Ελληνική Δημοκρατία

Updated December 21, 2025 at 10:30 PM · Sources

Names & aliases

GreeceHellenic RepublicGRElládaΕλληνική Δημοκρατία

Quick facts

CapitalAthensCurrencyEuro (EUR) · €LanguagesGreekPopulation10,400,720Area131,990 km²Calling code+30Driving sideRight-hand

Climate (capital proxy)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

9°58

9°52

11°52

15°25

20°23

25°12

28°5

24°13

19°30

14°58

11°55

BestAprMayJunSepOct

Source: Open-Meteo Climate

Timezones

UTC+02:00

IANA zones (1)

Europe/Athens1 cams

Source: REST Countries

Pre-trip intel

Safety & entry

Source: U.S. Department of State

Level 1Exercise Normal Precautions

There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Advisory Summary Exercise normal precautions in Greece. Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Stay aware of your surroundings. Large-scale demonstrations related to the local political situation may occur with little notice. Demonstrations may disrupt transportation and other essential services. If you decide to travel to Greece: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Greece. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Greece. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.

Full advisory →

Safety highlights

There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated.

There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators.
Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations.
Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist.
We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel.

Source: U.S. Department of State

Entry & docs

No summary available.

No bullet notes stored.

Source: Wikivoyage

On the ground

Getting around & connectivity

Source: Wikivoyage

Getting around

As of 2022, there are no long-distance international passenger services to Greece. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, there used to be overnight trains from Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia to Thessaloniki.

As of 2022, there are no long-distance international passenger services to Greece. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, there used to be overnight trains from Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia to Thessaloniki. International trains might be resumed but there is no confirmation on when. An exception to this is that from November 2022 a regional service between Florina and Bitola in North Macedonia will commence.

Source: Wikivoyage

Wi-Fi, SIMs & staying online

No summary available.

No bullet notes stored.

Source: Wikivoyage

Local wisdom

Etiquette, tipping & staying well

Etiquette & respect

Greeks rate politeness with a person's behaviour and not their words. Furthermore, there is an air of informality; everybody is treated like a cousin.

Greeks rate politeness with a person's behaviour and not their words. Furthermore, there is an air of informality; everybody is treated like a cousin. They use their hands to gesture a lot. Have fun with this. Sometimes over-emphasizing politeness in spoken language will only make the person dealing with you think you are pretentious. It's nice to learn basic words like "thank you" (Ευχαριστώ: ef-khah-rees-TOH) or "please" (Παρακαλώ: pah-rah-kah-LOH).
Greeks generally consider it proper etiquette to let the stranger make the first move. You may find that on entering a cafe or passing a group on the street you feel that you're being ignored, but if you take the initiative by saying hello first, you're likely to find that people suddenly turn friendly. In the countryside it is not uncommon that total strangers will greet you, greet them back in kind. Greeks like to smalltalk, and when they get carried away smalltalking, they might even forget what they were doing to begin with, ending up drinking raki with you.
Greeks are often incorrectly stereotyped as "lazy". In actuality, Greeks take leisure very seriously. Don't take perceived laziness or rudeness harshly. Keep in mind that Greeks have a strong work ethic.
Dress codes for churches sometimes include covered shoulders for women and knees covered for both sexes, but generally they don't mind about your clothes as long as they are not very provocative. This tends to be lightly enforced during the height of the summer tourist season, simply due to sheer volume! In any case, appropriate clothing is usually available at the entrance of churches and monasteries, especially the ones receiving most tourist traffic. Just pick it up going in and drop it off on the way out.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tipping guidance

Traditionally tipping in restaurants is not customary in Greece. Rounding of the bill used to work both ways, up or down to the nearest note amount.

Traditionally tipping in restaurants is not customary in Greece. Rounding of the bill used to work both ways, up or down to the nearest note amount. A tip was considered insulting, and the best way to show appreciation was to come back. In touristy areas this has almost completely vanished, but off the beaten track it is still alive.
Tipping is certainly not based on a predetermined percentage. Customers usually leave a tip on the table, varying from a few coins to large amounts of money, according to how satisfied they are by the service, but usually something like €1-2. Tipping taxi drivers is uncommon.
Many restaurants bring you a bottle of water and charge you without your having ordered it. Thus, if you do not like this approach, kindly refuse the bottle of water if it is a fresh and newly opened one. Tap water is generally free.

Source: Wikivoyage

Health & wellness

Mosquitoes transmitting West Nile virus appear routinely, even in urban areas like Attica. Wear long sleeves and/or use repellents in the infested areas.

Wear long sleeves and/or use repellents in the infested areas.
Mosquitoes transmitting West Nile virus appear routinely, even in urban areas like Attica.
Most infected people don't get any symptoms.
In the worst case the infection develops into West Nile fever which can lead to meningitis, encephalitis, damage to the nervous system and death.
As of 2019, Greek authorities have declared this a public health issue with 300 infections and 50 deaths from the illness in 2018.

Source: Wikivoyage

Scams & street smarts

The most commonly reported major scam against travellers is the Greek version of the old clip joint routine. This is reported primarily from central Athens, but also occasionally from other cities and even the larger island towns.

The most commonly reported major scam against travellers is the Greek version of the old clip joint routine. This is reported primarily from central Athens, but also occasionally from other cities and even the larger island towns. A single male traveller will be approached, usually at night in a neighborhood where there are a lot of bars, by a friendly Greek who will strike up a conversation leading to an invitation to go to "this really cool bar I know" for a drink. Once at the bar, they are joined by a couple of winsome ladies who immediately begin ordering drinks, often champagne, until, at the end of the evening, the mark is presented with an astronomical bill, payment of which is enforced by the sudden appearance of a pair of glowering thugs. The reason this scam works is because most Greeks have a tradition of being friendly to visitors, and almost all Greeks who strike up a conversation with you will have no ulterior motives. But if you're a single male traveller approached by a Greek in the circumstances described above, it's safest to politely but firmly decline any invitations.
Also don't accept to change your money on the street and if someone asks you if you could change a €20 or €50 note, refuse (you might get a counterfeit note).

Source: Wikivoyage

Practicalities

Money & essentials

Euro (EUR) · €GDP/cap $24,626.148Inflation 2.7%Plugs & voltage

Source: World Bank GDP per capita

Source: WorldStandards (plugs)

Highlights

Top places

Source: Wikivoyage

1Parthenon2Samaria National Park3wine

Cams

Cams in this country

Source: Webcam DB aggregates(prisma://webcams)

1MARKET: 1

Top cities (1)

Heraklion Municipal Unit · 1

Browse cams

Plan

Plan your trip

Trip planning

Source: Affiliate hub config(local://affiliate)

Flights via Skyscannerflight, transport Hotels via Booking.comhotel, lodging Travel Insurance via SafetyWinginsurance Guided Tours via Viatortours, experiences International eSIM via Airaloconnectivity

Links are templates; confirm final tracking codes before launch.

Reference

Country reference data

Reference

ISOGRTLD.grBorders4Translations26Google Maps OpenStreetMap

Show full reference data

Identifiers

ISO Alpha-2GRCCA3GRCCCN3300CIOCGREFIFAGRETLD.gr

Borders

ALBBGRTURMKD

Demonyms

Greek / Greek; Grec / Grecque

Translations (26)

ara اليونانbre Gresces Řeckocym Greecedeu Griechenlandest Kreekafin Kreikkafra Grècehrv Grčkahun Görögországind Yunaniita Greciajpn ギリシャkor 그리스nld Griekenlandper یونانpol Grecjapor Gréciarus Грецияslk Greéckospa Greciasrp Грчкаswe Greklandtur Yunanistanurd یونانzho 希腊

Sources