Greece Tips – A Locals Guide to Planning a Trip to Greece

Last Updated on May 2, 2024 by Tia

My Greece Tips article is packed with information you should know before planning a trip to Greece!

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and a little bit of planning. So keep reading for my local Greece tips to plan the perfect Greek Holiday.

Let’s start by stating the obvious. Greece is simply breathtaking!

Of course, I am Greek Cypriot and clearly biased, but honestly…is there a person out there that has visited Greece and not fallen in love?

A stunning holiday destination with extensive coastlines and islands in the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas.!

Additionally, a country with historical and intricate architecture, a cuisine that is out of this world, beautiful Mediterranean weather, and breathtaking sunsets.

Tia Does Travel contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For full information, take a look at our disclaimer here

Incredible Greece

Greece is a Mediterranean country in southeastern Europe with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas.

Famous for being the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and the Olympic Games, and for its unique and historical architecture.

Incredible such examples are the Acropolis in Athens, the Sanctuary of Delphi, and the ancient Theatre of Epidaurus.

Greece often referred to as the cradle of Western civilization is a country bursting with life – beauty and incredible food.

There is such an abundance of things to see, you could literally travel for months on end, and not run out of things to enjoy.

So if you are planning a trip to Greece, keep reading for my Greece Tips guide!

Greece Tips: Language and Religion

The official language is Greek, although English is spoken often – you won’t have too much trouble communicating!

Us Greeks, much like the Italians, love to see you try.

So teach yourself a few Greek words, make an effort, and I guarantee you, people will go out of their way to help you!

Our religion is Christian Orthodox and is actually an important aspect of Greek culture. 98% of the country is Christian Orthodox, with the other 2% consisting of Muslims, Catholics, and Jews.

Planning a trip to Greece – Islands and cities to visit

There are so many to choose from, I honestly don’t know where to start!

I would start every trip to Greece in Athens – the cradle of Western civilization.

Athens is packed with incredible things to do so I would spend a good few days in this historic city. I would then take a ferry to one of the very many breathtaking islands.

Greece Tips: Why you should hop around the islands

I enjoy island hopping or even country-hopping on my vacations.

The reasons are many, but being Greek myself, exotic destinations in Asia, Oceania, and the Americas often mean very expensive flights.

So once there, I take full advantage of my proximity to nearby paradisical islands and countries.

And Greece is exactly the same! Planning a trip to Greece should include Island hopping and will definitely provide you with a varied and multilayered Greek experience.

Read more for my Greek Island Hopping Itinerary proposals!

Greece Tips: Electricity outlets for charging devices

”Do I need a travel adapter?” In Greece, the power plugs and sockets are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Type C and F sockets are two-wire plugs that has two round pins.

Visitors from Cyprus, America, and the UK all need a power adapter in Greece.

Planning a trip to Greece – Airports

The 2 main and busiest airports in Greece are Athens and Thessaloniki.
El. Venizelos International airport in Athens receives direct flights from the majority of central European airports, while via transfer it receives passengers from around the world.
Macedonia Airport (The airport of Thessaloniki) is also very popular, particularly in summer. From there, you have quick access to all the regions of Northern Greece.

In recent years, the airports of the islands of Santorini, Heraklion, Mykonos, and Paros also get very busy.

Many other airports are scattered in the cities and the islands, please find a list of them below!

They receive domestic flights and some of them receive charter and international flights too.
The most popular islands have airports and serve both domestic flights from Athens and Thessaloniki and charter flights from abroad in summer.

The flight time from Athens to the Greek islands ranges from 40 min to 1 hour

Greece Airports in cities and Greek islands

ATH – Athens CFU – Corfu EFL – Kefalonia HER – Heraklion JNX – Naxos

IOA – Ioannina KVA – Kavala CHQ – Chania KGS – Kos ZTH – Zakynthos

LRS – Leros JMK – Mykonos LXS – Lemnos MJT – Lesvos JTR – Santorini

PAS – Paros MLO – Milos RHO – Rhodes SMI – Samos SKG – Thessaloniki

JSH – Lassithi

Greece Tips: Transportation

Public transport in Greece is pretty easy to use and fairly reliable – providing there are no strikes!

There is a comprehensive transport network that connects the cities, all the way to the smallest of villages!

Metro and buses

Athens is currently the only city in Greece with a metro service. So how much do these tickets and cards cost?

Well, the 90-minute ticket costs 1.40 euros. The 24-hour ticket costs 4.5 euros and the 3-Day tourist ticket costs 22 euros.

(The bus to and from the airport costs 6 euros and the metro to and from the airport costs 10 euros.)

Fun Fact: Thessaloniki started building a metro, only to uncover an entire underground ancient city underneath it all, so they put a halt to the proceedings! The rest of the cities all have an extensive and pretty reliable bus service (Some cities also have tram).

Useful Links: Athens Transport Page

Long Distance Buses – KTEL

KTEL is the Greek inter-city bus system. Most of the KTEL buses look like modern tour buses, with semi-comfortable seats.

Your luggage is stored underneath the bus, much like it is on an airplane! A KTEL ticket gives you an assigned seat too, so it is all pretty organized by Greek standards!

KTEL long-distance buses will get you in all cities and villages of Greece at a super cheap price

Top Tip: There are two KTEL terminals in Athens, and they are located far apart from each other! So please read your ticket carefully, so you don’t end up at the wrong terminal!

KTEL Athens Address:

Terminal A: Leoforos Kifisou 100
Athina, Greece
+30 801 114 4000

Terminal B: Kotsika 2
Athina, Greece
+30 21 0880 8000

Taxis and Uber

In regards to taxis and Uber, all cities are crawling with taxis.

There is no official Uber in Greece, but you can book one through the Uber app, as the regular taxi drivers will pick up the ride!

The locals like to use the Beat app instead, which works in the same way! The Beat app has a far bigger pool of drivers.

This means less of a wait time, and more chance of one being nearby.  Taxis in Greece cost much less than the rest of Europe so they provide a great alternative to public transport!

Traveling to Islands – Ferries

All Greek islands are easily accessible by daily ferry boats. The majority of them depart from Piraeus Port in Athens.

Ferries are a good and cheaper alternative to flying and are a fab way to island-hop to your heart’s delight!

They are pretty comfortable, and air-conditioned and you can even book 1st class seats with more legroom for extra comfort!
Dozens of ferries depart every day from Piraeus, and you can check out the timetables and prices here!

You can also check out my Greek Island hopping Itinerary for ideas and suggestions of islands to visit.

Planning a trip to Greece – Budget

 When planning a trip to Greece it’s important to understand that it is all about how you travel.
Every trip can be either cheap or expensive depending on how you spend your money.

There is always someone traveling cheaper and someone traveling more expensive than you! Below I will break down some of the costs depending on your travel style.

A. Budget. For example, If you’re backpacking through Greece, you can expect to pay as little as 50-60 euros per day.

This means you will be staying in a shared hostel room, eating cheap food, doing little tour activities, and using buses and the metro (if you are visiting the cities).

B. Mid Range. For a mid-range budget, you will likely need 60-90 euros per day. With this amount, you will be able to take more tours, and dine and wine in fancier restaurants here and there.

Your accommodation would be on the mid-budget scale – perhaps a 3-star hotel.

C. Luxe. If you like to travel with no restrictions, then you would need to budget 150-200 euros per day. For this amount, you can expect a good 5-star hotel and excellent restaurants.

Additionally, you can take all the activities and tours you can manage, as well as Uber and taxis.

Greece Tips: Tipping in Greece

Customary, but not obligatory! The service in Greece is pretty incredible, but the wages are pretty low so I almost always leave a tip, but it really is up to your discretion.

5-10% is pretty standard, just make sure you hand it to the waiter with your bill!

Planning a trip to Greece – Cuisine

You are in for a treat! Greek cuisine is simply put, the best in the world.

The only other cuisine that can compete is of course, Italian – equally mouthwatering in its own right.

In Greece, expect to be blown away by the incredible variety, smells, and vibrant colors of the dishes.

Food in Greece is not just a meal; it’s an experience!

Spiced meats, colorful vegetables, and fresh fish are all cooked with love, passion, and of course, extra virgin olive oil.

Greece Tips: Weather in Greece

Greece has a typical Mediterranean climate, with mild and wet winters and glorious dry summers.

The country is mostly sunny throughout the year. The northern part of the country can be very cold during the winter, with snow in many areas!

Winter tends to be milder in south Greece. July and August are the busiest months, with the most frequent transit schedules to more remote Greek islands.

The weather is perfect for outdoor adventures and day trips.

If you plan to explore the many natural wonders of Greece or want to enjoy an outdoor Athens tour, schedule your trip from April to October.

But if you want to swim, temperatures are warm enough from mid-May through September.

What to pack for Greece

If you want to limit costs, then my carry-on packing list will come in handy! This list is filled with my secret tips to fit everything in carry-on luggage.

The result? Cheaper, easier, stress-free traveling 🙂

If you are wondering on what clothes to pack for your holiday to Greece then, look no further! One of my favorite tips to travel light and pack smart is packing cubes.

These ingenious cubes make packing a breeze, can help you pack more, and keep your clothes clean and wrinkle-free!

Planning a trip to Greece: When to visit

I am going to state something you won't read in other travel blogs. 

But being Greek Cypriot, and an island child at that, I would be lying if I told you Greece's beauties are just as accessible in the winter. 

Because guess what, they are not! 

Of course, you can have a wonderful winter holiday in Greece, but don’t be fooled into thinking it is the same.

Greece, much like Cyprus, thrives in the summer.

The islands for starters come alive after a sleepy and empty winter. Yes, you will find cheap deals and empty backstreets by visiting in the months of November to March.

But it’s the kind of empty that reminds you of a ghost town!

An important fact is that the winter in Greece is not mild either!

During winter, many islands and coastal resorts will be closed. Transit schedules will also be at a minimum, making it harder to get around quickly.

Greece Tips: Safety and Scams to look out for

Generally speaking, Greece is a safe country to travel to – given that you apply caution and take the usual precautions.

Nevertheless, there are still some things to be aware of when traveling there. Find my safety Greece tips below:

• Petty theft in the streets – be aware of your belongings in busy streets, bus stops, and markets. Pickpocketing is not uncommon! Tip: Keep your passport locked in your safe in your hotel. And try to always keep credit cards and cash separately as a backup plan
• Spiked Drinks – this, unfortunately, is not uncommon either, especially in party islands in Greece. Often, other tourists are responsible for this, but you should be very careful. Don’t accept drinks from strangers, don’t leave drinks unattended, and always keep your hand on your glass!
• Leery/ Creepy men. Greek men can sell ice to Eskimos – don’t fall for it girls! haha! As much as they love to stop you in the street and apply their best flirt game, they aren’t leery, and hardly ever feel dangerous. Use your instinct!

Female Solo Travelers

There is a great deal of female solo travelers in Greece! And with the crime rate remaining relatively low, most women are perfectly safe.

Having said that, all women should apply extra caution when walking alone at night.

Bag snatching and sexual assault do sometimes happen!

Traveling with Children

Greece is a fantastic, easy country to travel with your children!

You will see local children playing in village squares, streets, and playgrounds. surrounded by their siblings and cousins.

Children will be kept busy in the cities by playing in the parks and climbing the ancient ruins and castles.

In the islands, the paradisical beaches and watersports will keep them happy and occupied!

Nevertheless, children must not be left to wander alone anywhere.

And if you can teach them a phone number they can call if they get lost, even better.

Health and Vaccinations

If you are visiting Greece in the Summer, beware of heatstroke, mosquito bites, and the odd scrape from climbing around the ruins.

Most islands have a clinic of some sort, although hours may be irregular. It’s handy to carry a first-aid kid with basic medicine and bandages.

Thank you for taking the time to read through my Greece tips article, and I hope I have answered all your questions!

For travel vlogs, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel! For group trips and travel discounts, subscribe with your email at the bottom of this page!

And for giveaways, follow my Instagram account!

Love, Tia x

Save This Post For Later

Related Articles on Greece

• Planning a trip to Greece – Everything you need to know about traveling to Greece
• Greece Island Hopping Itinerary – The ultimate guide to visiting multiple islands in Greece
• Greece Packing Guide – A local’s guide on what to pack for Greece
• 20 Greece Photos to Make You Fall in Love – Travelust loading!

Athens

• The most unusual things to do in Athens – Athens off the beaten path
• Where to stay in the center of Athens – Hotel Recommendation

Thessaloniki

• Thessaloniki Food – 11 Amazing Foods To Try In The City

Kefalonia

• Kefalonia Itinerary – The 17 Most Amazing Things to Do in Kefalonia
• The Best Beaches in Kefalonia – 11 incredible beach destinations on the island
• Assos Kefalonia – The 9 best things to do in the picture-perfect village
• Where To Stay In Kefalonia – The best areas to stay on the island and accommodation options

Ithaki – Ithaca

• Ithaca Travel Guide: Everything you need to plan the perfect day trip or holiday to Odysseus Island

Mykonos

• Mykonos Holidays – All you need to know when visiting Mykonos
• Nusret Mykonos review – Is the ”salt bae” worth the hype?
• The best beach bars in Mykonos – Incredible beach bars and beaches
• The best restaurants in Mykonos – Unforgettable culinary experiences
• Where to stay in Mykonos – Hotel Review of the 5* Kouros Hotel

Milos Island

• Milos Island – The best beaches – Some of the best beaches in Greece
• Milos Accommodation – where to stay and why – Accommodation options

Agistri Island

• Visit Aggistri island – the best 8 things to do in Agistri island
• Amazing Agistri beaches – the top 7 beaches in Agistri

Spetses Island

• Spetses Greece: A Traveler’s Guide to Island Adventures
• Beaches in Spetses: A list of 12 unique beaches on the island to visit