Greece
Phone Code
+30
Capital
Athens
Population
10.4 Million
Native Name
Ελλάδα
Region
Europe
Southern Europe
Timezone
Eastern European Time
UTC+02:00
On This Page
Greece is a southeastern European country and EU/Schengen/Eurozone member, known as the cradle of Western civilization, democracy, and philosophy. Famous for ancient ruins, stunning islands, Mediterranean cuisine, and warm hospitality. Athens, the capital, features the Acropolis, Parthenon, and vibrant neighborhoods. Visitors are drawn to Athens' ancient sites, Santorini's whitewashed villages and sunsets, Mykonos nightlife and beaches, Crete's Minoan palaces, Rhodes medieval old town, Meteora monasteries, Delphi archaeological site, Greek islands (6,000+ total), Greek cuisine (moussaka, souvlaki, feta), and crystal-clear Aegean and Ionian seas. Greece offers history, island hopping, beaches, and Mediterranean lifestyle.
Visa Requirements for Greece
As a Schengen Area member, Greece follows standard Schengen visa policies. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can enter with just a valid ID card or passport for unlimited stays and can work freely. Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and many other countries can enter visa-free for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area. Those requiring Schengen visas should apply through Greek consulates or embassies, submitting completed application forms, passport photographs, travel itinerary, proof of accommodation, travel insurance (minimum €30,000 coverage), and proof of financial means. Greece receives over 30 million tourists annually, especially during summer months. Processing typically takes 15 calendar days.
Common Visa Types
Visa-Free Entry (Schengen)
For tourism, business, conferences, visiting friends/family for US, UK, Australia, Canada, and other eligible nationalities.
EU/EEA/Swiss Entry
For EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens for tourism, work, residence, or any purpose without restrictions.
Schengen Visa (Type C)
For short-term stays including tourism, business, cultural events, conferences for nationalities requiring Schengen visa.
National Visa (Type D)
For stays exceeding 90 days including work, study, family reunification, or residence in Greece.
Important Travel Information
Travel Guide
Greece delivers on its mythical reputation — and then surprises you with how much more there is beyond the postcards. Athens is where 2,500 years of history sit alongside a vibrant modern city: the Acropolis and Parthenon presiding over a metropolis of rooftop bars, street art, and a food scene that has exploded in the last decade (Karamanlidika, Diporto Agoras, Varoulko Seaside). But most visitors come for the islands, and for good reason. Santorini's whitewashed villages clinging to volcanic caldera cliffs, sunsets from Oia that need no filter, and black-sand beaches are genuinely as spectacular as the photos suggest. Mykonos delivers beaches by day (Paradise, Super Paradise, Elia) and relentless nightlife after dark. Crete — Greece's largest island — is a country within a country: the Minoan palace of Knossos (Europe's oldest civilization), the 18-km Samaria Gorge hike, pink-sand Elafonissi beach, Chania's Venetian harbour, and a cuisine widely considered the healthiest in the Mediterranean (olive oil, dakos, snails, raki). Rhodes has a medieval Old Town that is a living, inhabited UNESCO site. Milos offers Sarakiniko — a lunar landscape of white volcanic rock meeting turquoise sea — and dozens of hidden coves. The Meteora monasteries in Thessaly perch impossibly atop 300-metre sandstone pillars. Delphi was the navel of the ancient world. Epidaurus has an ancient theatre with acoustics so perfect you can hear a coin drop from the back row. Island-hopping by ferry is the quintessential Greek experience — Cyclades, Dodecanese, Ionian, Sporades, each chain with its own character. Greek food is simple, seasonal, and superb: grilled octopus, fresh feta, village salad (horiatiki), souvlaki for EUR 3, moussaka, and pastitsio. Ouzo with meze at a harbourside taverna as the sun goes down is Greece distilled. Over 6,000 islands, 227 inhabited, 300+ days of sunshine a year, and Schengen-zone convenience make Greece one of Europe's most accessible and rewarding destinations.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Greece has over 6,000 islands (227 inhabited) connected by an extensive ferry network — island-hopping is the quintessential Greek experience. The Cyclades (Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Milos) offer whitewashed architecture and Aegean blue. The Dodecanese (Rhodes, Kos, Patmos) blend medieval history with Turkish influences. The Ionian Islands (Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos) are greener with Venetian heritage. Crete stands alone as Greece's largest island with Minoan ruins, dramatic gorges and its own proud culture. Ferries run from Piraeus (Athens' port) — Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways are the main operators. Book weeks ahead in July-August peak season.
The Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens (the defining monument of Western civilization), the Agora where Socrates debated, Delphi's oracle site on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the theatre of Epidaurus with its legendary acoustics, the Lion Gate of Mycenae, Olympia — birthplace of the Olympic Games, the Minoan palace of Knossos on Crete (Europe's oldest civilization, 3,000+ years old), and the sacred island of Delos. Greece is a walkable 5,000-year history lesson. The Athens combined ticket (EUR 30) covers the Acropolis and five surrounding sites for five days.
Navagio (Shipwreck Beach) on Zakynthos — accessible only by boat, one of the world's most photographed beaches. Elafonissi and Balos on Crete with their pink-tinged sand and Caribbean-clear water. Red Beach and Perissa's black volcanic sand on Santorini. Sarakiniko on Milos — a lunar landscape of white volcanic rock sculpted by wind and waves. Lalaria on Skiathos, reachable only by sea. Myrtos on Kefalonia. Greece offers everything from organised sun-lounger beaches with bars to hidden coves only reachable by kayak or hiking trail — over 16,000 km of coastline with some of the cleanest water in Europe.
The Samaria Gorge on Crete (18 km, Europe's longest gorge — a full-day hike through towering canyon walls to the Libyan Sea). The Meteora monasteries perched atop 300-metre sandstone pillars — a UNESCO site combining natural wonder with Byzantine spirituality. Vikos Gorge in Epirus (listed by Guinness as the world's deepest gorge relative to width), surrounded by the stone villages and arched bridges of Zagoria. Mount Olympus — seat of the gods, 2,918 m, climbable in two days. The wild trails of the Mani Peninsula in the Peloponnese. Greece is far more than beaches.
Cretan cuisine is considered the healthiest in the Mediterranean — cold-pressed olive oil, dakos (barley rusk topped with tomato and feta), snails, lamb with stamnagathi greens, and raki to wash it all down. Santorini's volcanic terroir produces Assyrtiko — one of Greece's finest white wines, grown in basket-shaped vines to protect against the wind. Taverna culture runs deep: meze plates (tzatziki, taramasalata, dolmades, grilled octopus), ouzo and tsipouro, village salad (horiatiki) with proper block feta, souvlaki for EUR 3. Olive oil tastings in the Peloponnese, mastic on Chios (the only place in the world it grows), saffron from Kozani. Simple ingredients, extraordinary results.
The Meteora monasteries in Thessaly — six active monasteries balanced on sandstone pillars rising 300 m above the plains, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Greece's most photographed landscapes. Mount Athos, the autonomous monastic republic on the Halkidiki peninsula — 20 monasteries, men only, special permit required, an unbroken 1,000-year tradition of Orthodox monasticism. The Byzantine churches of Mystras in the Peloponnese, the Cave of the Apocalypse on Patmos where St John wrote Revelation, and countless whitewashed chapels dotting the Cycladic hills — Greece breathes Orthodox spirituality alongside its ancient heritage.
Money & Currency
Euro (EUR)
Currency code: EUR
Practical Money Tips
Currency Exchange in Greece
Greece uses the Euro (EUR), so travelers from other Eurozone countries need no exchange at all. For visitors converting from USD, GBP, or other currencies, ATMs offer the best rates. Dedicated exchange offices exist in Athens (Syntagma Square area), Thessaloniki, and major tourist islands but typically charge 2-4% commission. Banks exchange currency but with limited hours and longer waits. Avoid airport and hotel exchanges — rates are significantly worse. On smaller islands, exchange options may be limited to a single ATM, so carry enough euros before island-hopping to remote destinations.
ATM Availability
ATMs (called 'ΑΤΜ' in Greek) are widely available in Athens, Thessaloniki, and all major tourist destinations. Major Greek banks include Alpha Bank, Piraeus Bank, National Bank of Greece, and Eurobank. On popular islands (Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu), ATMs are plentiful in main towns but may run dry during peak August weekends — withdraw early in the day. On smaller, less-visited islands, there may be only one or two ATMs for the entire island. Daily withdrawal limits are typically €400-600. Your home bank may charge €3-5 per international withdrawal; check if your bank has fee-free European ATM agreements.
Card Acceptance
Card payments have expanded dramatically in Greece since the 2015 capital controls, which pushed the country toward digital payments. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, larger shops, supermarkets, and tourist businesses. Contactless payment works widely in cities and resort areas. However, cash remains important for: traditional tavernas on smaller islands, beach vendors, small kiosks (periptera), local bus fares, boat taxis, and rural areas. Many family-run businesses technically accept cards but prefer cash for small amounts. Always carry €50-100 in cash alongside your cards, especially when heading to islands or villages.
Tipping Customs
Tipping in Greece is appreciated but not obligatory — there is no American-style tipping pressure. In sit-down restaurants, leaving 5-10% is standard if no service charge is included; many Greeks simply round up or leave a few euros. Tipping at tavernas is looser — leaving spare change on the table is common. Hotel porters: €1-2 per bag. Taxi: round up to the nearest euro. Tour guides on day trips: €5-10 per person. Boat captains for private tours: €10-20. Housekeeping: €1-2 per day left on the pillow. In cafés, dropping coins from your change into the tip jar is the local norm. Always tip in cash even if you pay the bill by card.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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