15 Greece Travel Tips to Help You Plan the Perfect Trip

I remember the first time I went to Greece back in 2014. I had just graduated from university and was embarking on a month-long European adventure, starting with Greece. The minute I stepped foot in Athens I was awestruck. Everything I read in a textbook was suddenly in front of my eyes and it was better than I could have ever imagined. With ancient history juxtaposed against a vibrant, modern city, I was instantly hooked. And of course, my fascination only increased as I explored the picturesque Greek islands. I knew I would be back again. And sure enough, since 2014 I’ve been back 3 times and we’re even planning our wedding there next year! As Greece is one of my favorite countries, I’m excited to share with you the best way to visit this magnificent country with these essential Greece travel tips.

​​While this post covers what I consider to be the most important Greece travel tips (aka it’s worth reading through), feel free to skip around to whatever section you want to check out. I promise I won’t be offended if you don’t read the whole thing.

When to visit Greece

I have been to Greece in May, July, and November and in my opinion the best time to visit Greece is outside of the peak season. That being said, you can’t really go wrong at any time of the year. Let’s break it down.

The summer months are undoubtedly the most popular time to visit Greece with July and August being the busiest months. When I went to Greece in July, besides the crowds, the summer heat was a bit too much for me. Of course, if that’s the only time you can go to Greece, by all means do so. Sure, it’ll be a bit crowded and hot but it’s better than not going at all.

I personally think the best months are those right outside of the high season (also known as shoulder season). I’d highly recommend planning your trip in April – early June or September – October. You’ll find pleasant temperatures, less crowds, and better prices. 

What about the winter months? When I went in November it was towards the end of the month and into December. Athens was perfectly lovely at this time and I think winter is a great time to visit this city. However, it’s not the most ideal for the Greek islands (of course this depends on where you go). We went to Santorini and a lot of places were closed for the winter and the weather was a bit dicey, lots of rain and windy. However, if you don’t mind a sleepier island, you will have it basically to yourself with incredible prices. We still had an amazing time!

How to get to Greece

Getting to Greece really depends on where you’re flying from. I typically fly from the United States (I am based in Boston) and there are direct flights from most major US cities to Athens Airport. 

That being said, there are other international airports in Greece (Crete, Rhodes, etc) and while they may not have direct international flights from the US, there are direct flights from other European countries. So if you are flying from Europe, you have more options for a direct flight to Greece. 

This is also a good travel hack! If flights to Athens are too expensive you could try flying to another European country and then get a flight to Athens. For example, I once flew to London and then bought another flight to Athens and that was much cheaper than when I was looking for BOS – ATH.

You can also then spend a day or two in another country and then hop on over to Athens. It’s a win win. 

Don’t believe me? Check out these screenshots.

Direct to Athens from Boston one way on October 19th is $444

Versus if you fly from Boston to London it’s $155 and then a flight to Athens the next day is $64. That’s a savings of $225 each way.

Regardless of where you’re coming from, generally speaking, your first point of entry is going to be the Athens International Airport. 

How to get around Greece

For the most part, there are two ways to get around Greece: flights and ferries. The best option really depends on where you’re going, what your preferences are, and the overall travel time you’re willing to do. There are a ton of cheap flights within Greece so if the destination you’re headed to has an airport, I’d definitely check out your flight options. 

Similarly, ferry tickets are usually pretty reasonable too and are a great way to get to nearby islands, especially if you book a high-speed ferry.

I usually look for my flights on Skyscanner.com and then I just Google for my ferry tickets. Some of the sites I’ve used in the past are Ferry Hopper and Ferry Scanner.

I’d recommend checking both options for anywhere you’re going to! Just so you can have an idea of cost, travel time, etc. Don’t forget to factor in getting to the airport early for security and check in. When you add that time in, it may make more sense to take a ferry. 

When to decide to rent a car

This depends on how much flexibility you want to have. Getting around some Greek islands without a car can be a challenge. It’s a good idea to grab a rental car if you are interested in seeing more of an island than just the main towns. For example, you can use public transportation in Milos to get to the most popular destinations; however, if you want to go and see different beaches you’ll need a rental car or an ATV rental. 

If you’re visiting a larger island, like Crete, you may want to rent a car so you can road trip all over the vast island. 

I have personally found that taxi drivers are few and far between on the islands I’ve been to and public transportation isn’t the most reliable. The easiest way to get around is by renting your own car (or an ATV). If you’re opposed to renting a car or you’re not traveling far distances, your best option is to ask your hotel for a reliable taxi driver’s number or to call a cab for you whenever you need it. It’s not the easiest to find taxis on the streets.

Smaller islands such as Folegandros don’t necessarily need a car rental. We mostly walked around Chora and then when we went to other spots, we had our hotel call us a cab. 

If you do get a car rental, make sure you either have google maps downloaded offline or reliable service. Of course, if that’s not possible you can stop and ask for directions. I just prefer to have my maps because it’s easier for me to navigate around an island that way. 

Can you drink the water in Greece?

You can not drink the tap water in every part of Greece. In Athens and other parts of mainland Greece the water is safe to drink however, in a lot of the islands it’s best to drink bottled water. You can find bottled water easily and it’s pretty affordable. As someone who drinks a tonnn of water every day I had zero issues finding affordable water in Greece. Plus, a lot of hotels we stayed at included free bottles of water in the mini fridge!

Of course, you can always drink some delicious Greek coffee instead.

What is the local currency?

The local currency in Greece is the Euro. You can find current exchange rates here. 

Are credit cards widely accepted?

You can use credit cards in most places in Greece, especially in tourist spots. I have had zero trouble in the past with my credit card at restaurants and hotels. However, it’s always a good idea to have some cash as you never know when you may want to buy some street food or something from a more casual spot that may not take credit card. Plus, it comes in handy for taxis or bus fare.

Food in Greece

I’m a vegetarian and a huge foodie. I spend an embarrassing amount of time researching where to eat / looking at menus. Aka trust me, any restaurant recommendations you see on this blog are worth it. I know good food. 

In general, food is a great way to experience and embrace a country’s local culture. It’s why I spend so much time looking into local dishes and where to try them. When I say a country is one of my favorites, food is a huge part of that. 

Greece is a vegetarian’s paradise. There are plenty of options no matter where you go as a lot of the local food is vegetarian by nature. Your tastebuds will be singing in bliss with Greek food. Trust me. My mouth is watering right now. Am I tempted to stop writing this post and start looking for flights to Greece instead? Maybe. 

Want to know what to eat? For details on what dishes I recommend you try, check out this post. 

What’s really exciting about Greek cuisine is it is a little bit different depending on where you are in Greece. Each Greek island, for example, has its own regional cuisine and dishes that they are known for. Sure, you can still find the staples but there’s always something unique as well. Trust me, you won’t be eating the same exact thing everywhere you go!

How to find the best food in Greece

I already told you I’m obsessed with good food so of course, it’s imperative that I find good restaurants when I’m traveling. To be fair though, it’s hard to find a bad meal in Greece. I still think about some of my favorite restaurants in Greece to this day.

Here are my tips to finding a good restaurant:

1. Ask your hotel or a local – this can be very helpful in finding some good restaurant gems however, you should be very clear on what you’re looking for. For example, I always tell hotels that I’m looking for somewhere off the beaten path or not too touristy. I tell them that ambiance doesn’t matter as much as good food does. Something like that to ensure they point you in the right direction. 
2. Avoid the main street in a popular destination – of course, you can still find good food on a popular street however, it’s more likely to be geared towards tourists so it could be overpriced and not as great quality.
3. Open up Google Maps and click on restaurants around you – I love doing this to find spots. I literally take my phone, open up the Google Maps app, and then zoom into the map and click on different restaurants around me. I look for a highly rated one and read some of the reviews to see if I think it’ll be a good fit.

Restaurant culture in Greece

If you’re an American, like me, you’re probably used to being somewhat rushed through your meals. Maybe not overtly but definitely subtly. As soon as we’re done eating, we’re asked if we want the check or it’s dropped off at the table or we ourselves are in a rush to get out of there the moment the last morsel of food is consumed. 

This is not the case in a lot of other countries and especially not in Greece. Not only have we never been rushed out of a restaurant, but we’ve also been encouraged to sit and enjoy our meal.

I remember one time I was in a bit of a rush so I asked for the check before I finished eating and the waiter stared at me, slightly confused, and was just like “there’s no rush. Just enjoy your food.” Needless to say, he didn’t bring me the check. I respected him for it. It was a nice reminder to me that mealtimes are not something to rush through and enjoying your food is one of the most important aspects of travel.

Another time, there was a long line outside of the restaurant and when we were done we asked for the check so that we could get out of their hair as they were clearly busy. They brought us the check and apologized when setting it on the table, even though we were the ones who asked for it!

When in Greece, embrace your mealtimes, especially dinner. This is a wonderful opportunity to slow down and savor your meal and conversation (or your own inner thoughts if you’re dining alone). Don’t be in a rush to finish up your meal and have patience if the food takes awhile to prepare. This is part of Greek culture and another wonderful way to experience it!

Similarly, if you are in a rush, maybe skip a sit down restaurant and find a more fast casual / fast food spot. 

Tipping in Greece

Ah tipping. This can be such a hot topic depending on where you come from. Regardless of what your home country is, it’s important to know what the tipping culture is like in the country you’re traveling to.

To make it easier for you, shoot for 5-10% of the bill for fair / good service or higher if you feel the service warrants it. This seems to be the norm in Greece. Note that some restaurants may include a service charge in the bill, especially in more tourist areas or in upscale restaurants.

But, here’s the thing, if you feel like tipping more, go for it! There is no rule that you must only tip a certain percentage. Tips are always appreciated.

Wine in Greece

One of the many many reasons I love Greece so much is because of Greek wine. In the beginning of my wine journey, I thought I only liked red wine. I’ve since changed my opinion and realized how complex wine can really be. I now plan whole trips just around tasting wine from different wine regions around the world. 

The first time I took a sip of an Assyrtiko wine from Santorini I fell in love. It was the first time I enjoyed any white wine and it served as my introduction to the diverse wines of Greece. 

There are over 300 grape varieties in Greece and 4 main wine regions with distinct characteristics. My advice? Try as many different wine varieties as you can. And don’t just stick to white wine! Greece also produces a variety of different red wines as well. 

I think Greek wine is underrated compared to the big players like Italy and France. Trust me, Greek wine is well worth savoring and learning about. It’s now one of my favorite countries for wine.

I hope you’ll fall in love with Greek wine as much as I have. I am constantly searching for a good bottle in Boston!

How do I decide where to go?

Between mainland Greece and all of the islands, there is sooo much to see and do that it can be overwhelming to decide where to go. There’s never enough time to see it all so it’s important to prioritize.

If you just search for the “best places to see in Greece” you’re going to either just find the most popular places or feel overwhelmed by the amount of options. 

Instead, consider what you want to see and do and what kind of vibe you’re looking for because each place and definitely each island has its own distinct vibes.

Santorini is best for sweeping and expansive views, Milos is best for beautiful beaches and exploring, and Folegandros is best for chill vibes. Get the picture?

Each island has something different to offer and its own unique energy and while I think they are all worth a visit, there has to be a way for you to narrow it down. And that’s not even including all the incredible places there are to see in the mainland! 

So how do you figure this out? I’d focus on the following things:

1. Time – how many days do you have and how many places can you visit? Anything less than 3 days somewhere can feel pretty rushed. 
2. Logistics – if you are going to multiple Greek islands, consider choosing ones in the same area, such as only going to Cycladic or only going to Ionian islands. Rhodes to Santorini, for example, is a 14 hour ferry or a flight where you have to stopover in Athens. Be sure to consider logistics and how you’ll get in between places!
3. Size of the island – I personally love smaller islands because they’re easy to get around but there’s also large islands like Crete where you could easily spend just a week (if not more) exploring. 
4. Vibe you’re going for – do you want off the beaten path? Nightlife? Relaxing? Decide what you’re looking for and find spots that match the vibe (you can Google this like “best Greek island for XYZ”).
5. Things you want to do – similar to vibe but this is important if there are any specific things you want to do such as see as many beautiful beaches as possible or get scuba certified or go to a bunch of different wineries.
6. Food – if food is important to you (which it should be) then you may want to look into what the local dishes are. While you’ll find dishes that are commonplace all over Greece, each island or city usually has their own dishes that they specialize in.

Should I visit Athens?

I LOVE Athens. Surprised? I bet you are. People really hate on Athens without giving it a chance. I hear so much bad advice about skipping Athens or just spending a day there to see the archaeological sites and then heading on to the Greek islands. 

I completely disagree with this advice. Yes, the ancient ruins are a great way to get a glimpse into ancient Greek history but they aren’t the only thing to see and do in Athens and it’s a complete miss if that’s all you do.

Instead, plan to spend at least a few days in this vibrant city. You’ll find wonderful restaurants, stunning rooftop bars, and endless areas to explore. I cover a few things to do in Athens in this post.   

Really taking the time to decide what you want out of your trip is going to be one of the best things you can do for yourself to ensure you have a great trip and that the places you’ve picked are aligned with your travel style and interests. 

Should I avoid the main tourist destinations?

This is another great question (that I basically made you ask). This depends on what you’re looking for but even the most popular tourist destination (Santorini, for example) may be worth visiting. 

I hate crowds and I hate overly touristy places. That’s just me. And yet, I think there’s a way to visit a popular spot and still enjoy it. For example, we had a phenomenal wine tasting in Santorini at Hatzidakis Winery and we were the only people there. 

Places like Santorini are popular for a reason and just because they can be a bit more crowded isn’t necessarily a good reason to skip them entirely. In fact, I have a whole post on how to beat the crowds in Santorini.

Before deciding whether or not to go to a popular destination, ask yourself does that destination match the vibe I’m looking for? Does it have the things I want to do? If the answer is yes, then go! If it’s a no, then skip it. Easy as that. You can of course get other people’s opinions on the subject but everyone has different priorities and preferences so just remember that.

My top Greek island recommendation

My absolute favorite Greek island that I’ve visited thus far is Folegandros. It’s perfectly off the beaten path and has calm, relaxed vibes. In fact, when we were there the only other tourists were Greek tourists. This small island is the perfect place to relax and unwind.

I do want to note that we went in July of 2021 which, of course, was during the pandemic so things could have also been more chill and laid back because of that. We do plan on going again on our honeymoon so if things are different, I will update this post to reflect that.  

Top things to do in Folegandros:

Boat trip

We went through a company called Sea U (they are located in Chora) and it was extremely reasonably priced to do a private boat tour. We went to different beaches only accessible by boat, snorkeled, and just had an incredible day out on the water.

Watch the sunset from the Church of Panagia

This church is perched on top of a hill so be prepared for an uphill walk. The views make it all worth it and it’s such a great place to watch the sunset. I’d recommend getting there a little bit before sunset so you can snag a spot. It’s a fairly popular spot so keep that in mind.

Walk around Chora

Chora is the best place to walk around as no motor vehicles are permitted. You’ll find cobblestone paths, whitewashed buildings, and little cafes to sit and stay awhile. 

Check out Agali Bay

We spent a couple of nights in Chora and then a couple of nights at a hotel near Agali Bay. The views of the water from our hotel were absolutely breathtaking. The water is crystal clear and the sweeping views of the bay are so worth it. The beach itself is kind of small so keep that in mind.

Eat at incredible restaurants: 

Some of the best restaurants that we ate at on our last trip to Greece were in Folegandros. They were unassuming and just focused on what matters: really freaking good food. Some highlights include Irene’s and To Spitiko.

Where to stay in Folegandros

I would recommend staying either in Chora or Agali Bay. We stayed at Blue Sands Hotel in Agali Bay and loved every minute of it!

What to wear in Greece

I’ll assume you’re going to Greece during the warmer months which means it can be a little cooler in the early morning and late at night so it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket or another layer you can throw on top of your outfit. 

You’ll generally experience warm to hot weather during the day so bringing a mix of breathable pants or shorts and lightweight tops are a great idea. If you’re going to do dresses just note that it can be a bit windy so either pack a pair of shorts to wear under the dress or opt for a maxi dress. 

Want to know exactly what to pack? I have a whole post on what to wear in Greece with a packing list. 

Greek phrases to learn

Anywhere I go I try to learn a few basic phrases in the local language. I highly recommend you do the same. It shows that you respect the local culture and you’re making an effort. Plus, it can honestly help you go a long way with striking up interesting conversations.  In my experience, locals have been really excited when I’ve tried to say a few words in their language. I’m also a nerd who loves learning languages so this is fun for me to do.

Don’t worry if learning languages doesn’t come naturally to you. You’re only going to learn a few words and they are relatively straightforward.

Let’s dive into a list of Greek words I recommend you learn before your trip, starting off with greetings.

Learning a few greetings is a great way to start any conversation off on the right foot. I used “kalimera” and “kalispera” a ton when I was in Greece

Hello

Yeia sou “Yah-Soo” (Γειά σου)

Good morning

Kalimera (Καλημέρα)

Good evening

Kalispera (Καλησπέρα)

Goodbye

Andio (αντίο)

Next, let’s learn how to be polite. Luckily the way to see please and you’re welcome is the exact same so boom you learned two words in one. 

Please/You’re welcome

Parakalo (Παρακαλώ)

Thank you is an important phrase to learn in any language.

Thank you

Efharisto (Ευχαριστώ)

And of course, cheers! We still say “yamas” anytime we cheers, even back home.

Cheers!

Yamas (Στην υγειά μας!) 

Last but not least, is how to say “excuse me”

Excuse me

Signomi (Συγνώμη)

So there you have it! These Greek words will help you go a long way as a traveler. 

Bottom Line

I love Greece and I am confident that you will too. There’s so much to see in this beautiful country that you could spend a lifetime just endlessly exploring! I hope these tips help you plan the perfect trip and help you take advantage of all that Greece has to offer. If you have any questions, leave a comment and I’ll be happy to help. 

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