Everything you need to know about travelling to Greece
Greece is a destination that appeals to all the senses. It has so much to offer from ancient ruins, incredible food, strong coffee. A booming nightlife, mesmerizing beaches, friendly people and I could go on and on. You can spend your days sightseeing the arthenon in Athens. The Acropolis of Rhodes, the churches of Thessaloniki, and the Oracle of Delphi. Or you can take advantage of the 200 days of sunshine Greece experiences and island-hop and laze on the beach to your hearts content.
In this blog we will answer all of the questions you could have regarding your future trip to Greece, so get ready to be inspired!
Getting to Greece from South Africa
From South Africa, the most popular options are Emirates, Qatar or Turkish Airlines into Athens. We usually recommend spending a night or two in Athens after your flight and then taking a ferry to start island hopping. You can fly to the bigger islands such as Crete, Santorini or Mykonos, but most times you still do a stop in Athens either way. Depending on your itinerary My Travel Guy will research what is the best routing with regards to cost, layovers and timing.
Best time of the year to visit Greece
Greece has their summer when it’s South Africa’s winter. The most popular time to visit Greece is in the summer (June to August) when the weather is beautiful and sun is guaranteed. Greece’s Mediterranean climate gives it long, hot, dry summers. Late spring (April and May) and early autumn (late August through September) are also lovely times to holiday in Greece, as crowds are thinner and the sun is gentler and the conditions are milder.
We don’t recommend visiting the Greek islands during their winter (our summer) as most of the islands basically shut down and close. (December to February) sees the coldest, most variable weather and is the least popular time to visit. Travellers looking to explore Greece’s cultural and historical attractions should not be put off by the winter months.
How much spending money do you need in Greece?
We recommend you pre-book all hotels, airport transfers, ferries and tours. But then what about spending money? It is always a difficult question to answer as everyone’s spending habits, but we estimate for meals and transportation per day you can budget around R800-1000 per person per day. Take a look at numbeo.com as it provides the cost of living and taxi fare in the country you are visiting, and this can give you an idea of the costs of meals and drinks, so you can work out what you think you will need.
Typically, a 7-9-day holiday is between R22 000- R 30 000 per person, depending on the number of islands you visit and star rating hotels you stay in. However, My Travel Guy will tailor-make a package for you to suit your length of stay, style of accommodation and budget. For good Greek experience with at least 2 islands, we don’t recommend looking at less than 22k per person.
How many days to spend in Greece and where?
Spend at least seven days in Greece, and you’ll be able to comfortably explore Athens plus one or two Greek islands. Pair Mykonos and Santorini, for example, or stick to the culture and cuisine of Crete. With more days to spend, add a few less-visited islands to your itinerary. Or explore the mainland, from the mountains of the Peloponnese to history-rich Macedonia. If you’re planning a quick getaway, base yourself in Athens with mainland day trips (and an overnight on Naxos, if there’s time).
However, My Travel Guy can customize a trip to suit your requirements. We will work with how many days you have to be away, your budget and what you want to see and experience.
Do I need to exchange money for Greece or is my bank card sufficient?
Unlike other European countries, Greece is big on cash. So we do recommend exchanging your Rands to Euro’s before your trip. But do not despair if you don’t, as it is easy to find ATM’s, especially in the bigger cities. For smaller/less-known islands we do recommend having cash on you as there may be less ATM’s. With that being said, credit cards are accepted in the majority of big stores and most restaurants.
How to get around Greece
Taxis
Once on land, you can find taxis virtually everywhere. Taxi fares are rather cheap, except for airport rides. As a heads up, once you locate a taxi the driver may ask where you need to go and then decide if it’s convenient for him or not. This is a very common occurrence in Greece. Also, do not be surprised if the driver stops to take other people while you’re in it. Few drivers do it, but it may happen. And if it does, note that you will not share the fare with them.
Buses
The intercity bus system in Greece is very efficient and if you do your homework you can travel anywhere in the Greek mainland with the “KTEL” (intercity) green coloured buses. Every city has a KTEL bus station and the locals would be happy to direct you.
The bus system was never created to accommodate tourists so you might run into the language problem. The best thing to do is to find one of the other Greek travellers who speak English and ask for assistance. Most young people in Greece speak a little English and most would be more than happy to assist you.
Ferries and boats
Getting to the islands would require either a short flight from Athens or Thessaloniki or a boat ride of varying length. Most flights from Athens are at most thirty minutes long.
For islands close to mainland hopping on a ferry is your best option. Keep in mind that most of the ferries may make several stops on different islands en route to their final destination.
Renting a Moped or Four-Wheeler
The most popular way for visitors to get around in the islands is by moped. You can rent one every touristy town in Greece, and at about €20-30 per day, they are a bargain.
To rent a moped, usually, you have to show a driver’s license, pay the daily fee, and to leave a passport as guarantee that the moped will be returned.
We do not recommend renting a moped in Athens or in any of the other big cities. It’s an option best considered in the small islands. Even experienced motorcycle riders would find driving around Athens a major hazard.
Metro
In Athens, the best way to get around is on foot and with the newly built Athens Metro. For destinations out of the Metro’s reach getting in a Taxi would be the best option.
Donkeys
Donkeys are used on many islands for rides, but mostly to take tourists around for a stroll.
You will find them in Santorini, where you can climb up to the town from the cruise ship harbour either on a donkey, or a cable cart. In Lindos, in Rhodes, they are also used to take tourists to the acropolis there.
Hiring a donkey ride in such places is not cheap (over €20 in most cases), and the ride is at best precarious. But it’s quite an adventure, so if you get the chance to do it, go for it.
If you walk on the same path where these donkeys ride all day, be prepared to step around a lot of donkey-poo. Or better yet, find a different route to your destination because they don’t like sharing the road with pedestrians.
On many small islands, few locals still use donkeys for transportation since they are very efficient on steep narrow streets.
Must see places/activities
See our blog 25 of The Best Things to do in Greece
What should I pack for my trip to Greece?
We recommend you pack light. If you plan on island hopping, you do not want to be hauling around a big suitcase. Also do not pack uncomfortable shoes. A lot of Greece is fairly hilly, and the roads are cobbled so you will want to have the most comfortable shoes. Greece is also filled with the most beautiful beaches, however, to get down to some of them is a bit tricky and a lot of them are quite rocky. So pack shoes, like lightweight water shoes for these types of excursions.
Also, pack heaps of sunscreen, the sun is harsh so you will want to constantly be applying sunscreen. If you plan on visiting churches and monasteries pack a thin scarf. Otherwise, you won’t need much other than a swimming costume and we also recommend a swimsuit cover-up. Greece is really hot so these come in handy when you want to go from the beach to the restaurant and be modestly dressed but still cool.
Should you pre-book tours and ferries beforehand?
We definitely recommend pre-booking your tours, ferries and hotels, especially during high season. There are two reasons. 1 The earlier you book the less you’ll pay. 2. If you are travelling during the busy season it can get very crowded. As Greeks and tourists are on holidays over this period, you may be disappointed if you do not pre-book.
Do you need to tip in Greece?
A tip is usually automatically added to most restaurant bills and an additional tip is not expected. Though they are always welcome if you feel the desire to tip extra. Rounding up the bill is sufficient for drinks at cafes. Taxis, porters and cloakroom attendants will expect a tip.
Other need to knows for your trip to Greece
Greeks are the heaviest smokers in Europe and will often ignore the smoking ban in public places.
Greeks drink regularly, but you will rarely see them drunk. As such, they expect the same from you.
You can drink water from the tap in virtually any city in mainland Greece. On the islands, it’s best to stick to bottled water. The majority of Greek islands do not have sufficient water, and the little that they do have is used for hygienic purposes and laundry.
Throughout Greece, shops, department stores, and supermarkets are open from 9 AM-9 PM. (On Saturdays, most stores close at 8 PM.) As far as small stores and local shops, the hours are as follows: 9 AM-2:30 PM & 5:30-8:30 PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Mondays and Wednesdays, they open at 9 AM and close at 3 PM. Other than mini-markets and Kiosks, shops are usually closed on Sundays.
Do not throw paper in the toilet: this sign is omnipresent in Greek toilets. Greece is an ancient civilization. And although sewage pipes are not that old, they just cannot support the quantity of flushed paper.
