Greece Travel Guide - Essentials

Safety: Greece is largely a safe country to visit although bomb attacks in Athens in 2004 have since elevated the country’s risk of terrorist activity so visitors are warned to maintain a certain level of vigilance. Aside from this, the greatest threat is probably from petty criminals who are certainly more prevalent during the high season.

Protect yourself at all times and especially in busy crowded places by keeping wallets and purses in hard to reach places and avoiding carrying items of significant value where possible. Bags should be kept close to you at all times. Other dangers while holidaying in Greece include those from the road, with traffic presenting some fairly hazardous conditions on the whole.

When to go: the weather varies from the mainland to the islands but not significantly, so you can plan a trip based on a general consideration of the climate of the country as a whole. The summer season is a popular time for sun worshippers as it sees temperatures hitting highs of around 31°C in the months of July and August.

Some visitors may find this a little too hot, in which case the months of June and September are at least three-degrees cooler and perhaps are better time to visit. For those visitors who prefer things a little cooler still, the months of May and October see average daily highs of 23°C. These are ideal temperatures for either sightseeing or enjoying some lazy time down by the pool.

Language: Greek is the official language of the country and is spoken on both the mainland and the islands with little in the way of dialectical variations. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, but it do;esn’t hurt to make the effort to learn a few basic phrases that you might find useful if you stray off the beaten track.

Emergency: 112

Ambulance: 166

Police: 100

Tourist police emergency hotline: 171

Recommended hospital:
Athens – Alexandra +30 210 7770 5014

It’s normal to use surnames for addressing those that you are not so familiar with, Christian names may be used after a good relationship has been established or at the request of those you are dealing with.

A handshake is the regular form of greeting and parting gesture at business meetings, embraces may be exchanged in more familiar and less formal circumstances. If invited to the home of a Greek business colleague, it’s customary to bring a small gift such as flowers, wine or something typical and traditional from your home country.