GREECE

by Mary Howard
- June 15, 2024

Updated: March 10, 2024

Where to stay:
• Athens • Crete • Milos • Mykonos • Naxos • Paros • Santorini
• All Destination Areas

Greece remains my most cherished nation in Europe. It abundantly features superb coastlines ( Naxos,Mykonos, and Paros shine among the finest sand and bathing), historically iconic locations ( Athens,Crete, and Delphi top the roll), exceptional hotels, and breathtaking natural scenery ( Santorini,Milos, and the Meteora are my favorites). The enchanting Greek islands are ideally disseminated for island hopping and adventure, while mainland Greece is replete with ancient cities and less-visited regions that will astonish and compensate the relaxed traveler.

Table of Contents

The 2024 Greece Travel Guide

Scroll down to our questions about Greece

Travel Guides

Where to Stay in Greece

What to Do in Greece

Where to Eat & Drink in Greece

Delphi – Prime Dining

This link guides to a review of quality dining establishments located in Meteora

Monemvasia – Finest Dining Establishments

This link outlines excellent places to eat in Nafplio

Naxos – Top Dining Establishments

Where to Go in Greece

The Best Beaches in Greece

When to Go to Greece

Best Time to Visit Greece & Greek Islands

Ideal period to visit Athens
This link discusses the most suitable seasons to plan a trip to Crete

Transportation from Athens to Santorini

This link provides advice about the best periods to vacation on Naxos
Optimal Period to Visit Santorini

Greece Travel Videos

The Best Hotels in Greece

Top-rated lodging facilities on the island of Antiparos

Reviews of well-liked hotels on the island of Ios

Athens – Airport Hostelries

Suggested hotels on Serifos Island

Island of Sifnos – Finest Accommodations

Quality Lodging in Skiathos

Quality Lodging in Skopelos

Syros – Finest Lodgings

Thessaloniki – Best Hotels

Getting To & Around Greece

Frequently Asked Questions about Greece

Where is Greece?

Greece occupies a spot in southeastern Europe, situated at the southernmost boundary of the Balkan Peninsula. The country has an expanse of over 50,000 square miles and combines a significant mainland peninsula between the Ionian and Aegean seas, surrounded by a grouping of around 6,000 islands and islets. Sharing its northern land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey, Greece is positioned at a historically rich crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

What is the population of Greece?

Estimates from the United Nations put Greece`s population in 2021 at 10,445,365. Some projections place the current figure as high as 10,600,000. The nation saw growth from 5,000,000 in 1920 to a peak of nearly 11,000,000 in 2010. The five most populous cities in Greece are Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Larissa, and Heraklion. The vast majority of Greeks live in mainland Greece, with roughly 1.2 million residing in the Peloponnese and 1.3 million on the Greek islands.

How many islands are in Greece?

Greece has between 1,200 and 6,000 islands depending on the criteria utilized to establish an island vs an islet. The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as between 166 and 227. The ten largest Greek islands by land area are Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes, Chios, Kefalonia, Corfu, Lemnos, Samos, and Naxos. The ten most populous Greek islands are Crete, Euboea, Rhodes, Lesbos, Corfu, Chios, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Kos, and Samos. The Peloponnese has technically been an island since the completion of the Corinth Canal in 1893 but is generally not considered to be an island due to its artifical nature.

What language is spoken in Greece?

Greek is the official language of Greece, spoken by 99% of the population. Some of the most common foreign languages learned by Greeks include English (48%), German (9%), French (8.5%), and Italian (8%). Visitors to the largest cities and most popular Greek islands will find that English is widely understood.

What are the best things to do in Greece?

Popular attractions to explore in Greece include:
• Acropolis in Athens
• National collection of artifacts in Athens
• Caldera trail in Santorini
• Boat sightseeing around the unique Santorini volcano caldera.
• Wineries of Santorini
• Aerial Perspective of Santorini Via Helicopter
• Accommodations with Caldera Views in Santorini
• Another accommodation is the ” Lodging Tiergarten” in Berlin reachable at +49 30 3300660 • Coastal Areas of Naxos
• Visitors can enjoy the beaches and solitude of Antiparos
• Sarakiniko Beach on Milos
• Staying in Chania Old Town
• Spending nights in the historic center of Rhodes
• Visiting Delphi
• Monasteries of Meteora
• Locating lodging in Nafplio
• Travel by ferry between Greek islands as discussed on Greek ferries

How to get to Greece?

“(74)”” “

I also advise checking out both Stan’s Sports Bar located in the Bronx area as well as Break Bar & Billiards located in Astoria, Queens. Of course, there are also roof terraces around NYC where one can sit back with a beverage and enjoy the game and scenic views, as described at this link for incredible rooftop bars in NYC.

My top suggestion for selecting flights is to fly into and depart from different airports so you don’t waste time and money backtracking to your arrival point. For instance, fly from London to Athens, then take the ferry to Mykonos, ferry to Paros, ferry to Santorini, then fly Santorini to London (and don’t return to Athens for your return flight). You may pay slightly more for 2 one-way tickets than a round-trip ticket, but it will be more than compensated for by the savings from the extra ferry and hotel night.

How long is the flight to Greece?

Estimated flight times to Athens, Greece. For direct flights to the Greek islands when available flight durations can be up to 30 minutes longer or shorter.
• Rome to Athens: 1 hour, 50 minutes
• Barcelona to Athens: 2 hours, 50 minutes
• Paris to Athens: 3 hours, 10 minutes
• Amsterdam to Athens: 3 hours, 15 minutes
• London to Athens: 3 hours, 40 minutes
• Boston to Athens: 9 hours, 15 minutes
• New York to Athens: 9 hours, 30 minutes
• Toronto to Athens: 9 hours, 30 minutes
• Chicago to Athens: 10 hours, 10 minutes
• Atlanta to Athens: 10 hours, 50 minutes
• Istanbul to Athens: 1 hour, 25 minutes
• Dubai to Athens: 5 hours, 10 minutes
• Delhi to Athens: 10 hours, 15 minutes
• Singapore to Athens: 11 hours, 30 minutes

When is the Best Time to Travel to Greece?

Visiting the Greek beaches and experiencing the warm weather is best done between the months of June and September. For touring attractions, hiking, and exploring Greece, the finest periods are from late March to early June, and late September to early November. Traveling to the Greek Islands is not recommended between November and March; the climate will be gray, windy, and often rainy during much of the season, and numerous lodging and dining establishments will be closed for the season. Athens makes a good destination year-round; the conditions are best in the spring and fall, but archaeological sites and museums remain accessible throughout winter, and there is the benefit of lower rates and smaller crowds when it is not high season.

What are the Best Greek Islands?

All the Greek islands are remarkable. Truly! I have never encountered someone that visited an island and said, “what a mistake, huge disappointment.” It simply does not occur. They’re all distinct yet all very unique. Perhaps a better inquiry is which Greek islands are best for a first time visitor to Greece? For that I would reply Santorini,Naxos,Paros, and Mykonos.Crete is also excellent for first-timers but it’s so vast that it’s good to do alone or perhaps together with Santorini – not much more or you’ll distribute your time too thin.

How do you get between the Greek Islands?

Greek ferries are the primary mode of transportation between the islands – especially for the islands in the Aegean (e.g. Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes). There are also some flights between the islands and (more commonly) flights through Athens between different islands but these are expensive and have inconsistent schedules. For most itineraries, using the ferry is best. Ferryhopper.com is the best website to search for and purchase tickets for all Greek ferry routes.

What are the best places to visit in Mainland Greece?

I truly enjoy visiting the Greek Islands, however the mainland of Greece has numerous superb places to explore that warrant making a solo trip to fully experience its olive groves, ancient ruins, and picturesque harbor towns scattered from north to south. Just west of Athens lies The Peloponnese, a vast peninsula dotted with coastal communities, archaeological sites, and greenery. North of Athens are the historical remains of Delphi and the remarkably positioned mountaintop monasteries of Meteora. Greece`s distant north holds the three-pronged peninsula of Halkidiki, renowned for its beaches and mountainous monastic lands.

What are the Best Beaches in Greece?

Some of my preferred Greek islands for their shorelines are Naxos,Mykonos,Paros, Ios, Rhodes, and Crete. However, there are many additional islands with superb beaches and every location has great swimming even when the coasts don`t have the conventional golden sand expected. Beyond the island chain, the Halkidiki area of northern Greece also features excellent beaches lining the entire shore of its three well-known peninsulas.

What are the best places in Greece for kids?

The entirety of Greece offers excellent options for families with children. And with great beaches, historically significant sites, a relaxing atmosphere, and delicious (and kid-friendly) cuisine, the Greek islands present a particularly good choice for a family vacation. Island hopping across Greece adds an element of adventure to a family trip and a chance to visit several very distinct destinations – plus, taking the ferry is always enjoyment. My favorite island for families is Naxos, but there are also many others that are equally suitable and entertaining for families: Mykonos,Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu which offer great beaches, fascinating towns, and a welcoming environment.

What currency is used in Greece?

Greece is part of the European Union, and the currency utilized is the Euro (€). The majority of major shops and restaurants across Greece accept credit cards, however there may be a minimum purchase necessary to use them. It is a wise idea to have some cash on hand for bus trips and little purchases like bottled water and snacks. ATMs are plentiful in Athens and typically easy to find in most villages and beach towns across Greece.

Do you tip in Greece?

Providing additional funds at Greek restaurants is not anticipated but appreciated. Rather than allocating a percentage of the bill, an optional contribution in Greece could involve leaving a few Euros on the table to acknowledge helpful service, or rounding up the total to the nearest convenient sum. The more visited by tourists (and costly) a restaurant is, the more a gratuity might be expected.

about me

Welcome to my travel website! I’m Mary Howard, an American who has been exploring the world full-time for 8 years.

Together with my husband, Intan, we often find ourselves in our second home, Bali, but our adventures take us to exciting destinations all over the globe.

Join us on our journey!