Astounding archaeological sites, islands of extreme beauty, bucolic villages and some of the tastiest bites in the world – Greece has it all.

For hundreds of years, Greece has given the world some amazing gifts. From epic poems and fantastical myths to some of the greatest thinkers in philosophy, math and science, this charismatic nation continues to grace us with all of the good things in life. Discover picturesque Greek islands on a sailing boat and party the night away in the Mediterranean, marvel at incredible historic monuments like the Acropolis in Athens and the White Tower in Thessaloniki, and enjoy the slower pace of smaller islands such as Syros. And then there’s the savoury souvlaki, sticky baklava and the feta cheese that Greece is known for. Wash it down with a cloudy glass of ouzo and you’ll be saying ‘opa!’ in no time.

Top Greece travel deals

Departing Days From USD
8 Apr 2023
Crete Family Holiday
7 2485
1864
9 Apr 2023
Highlights of Crete
7 1915
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29 Apr 2023
Mainland Greece Discovery
8 2240
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6 May 2023
Sail Greece: Santorini to Mykonos
8 1771
1276
6 May 2023
Greece Sailing Adventure: Cyclades Islands
10 2403
2176
13 May 2023
Sail Greece: Mykonos to Santorini
8 1831
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Cruising the Islands of Greece & Turkey
9 5605
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15 3560
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Greece tour reviews

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Articles on Greece

Greece travel highlights

Transport in Greece

Intrepid believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Intrepid uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport - which usually carry less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are heaps more fun.

Depending on which trip you're on while in Greece, you may find yourself travelling by:

Local bus in Greece

Bus

Live like a local resident by hopping on a local bus. Cheap, efficient and fast, it’s a great way to get around Greece’s busy cities.

Ferry in Greece

Ferry

Some of Greece’s most postcard-worthy scenery is best viewed from the water. Take in awesome views of quaint fishing villages, gorgeous beaches and the turquoise Aegean Sea as you hop between Greece’s famed islands aboard a ferry.

Greece holiday information

At a glance
Best time to visit Greece
Culture and customs
Food and drink
Geography and environment
History and government
Shopping
Festivals and Events in Greece
Health and Safety
Further reading

Greece travel FAQs

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy

Greece is best experienced outside of winter for most travellers. The best time of year depends on what kind of holiday you’re after – whether you’re more interested in soaking up the island sun or ancient history.

Read our regional breakdown

Greece has historically been a very safe place to visit though petty crime, like pickpocketing, can be an issue in well-touristed areas. Travellers should remain alert when visiting crowded places and keep an eye on their belongings.

Greece is a member of the Schengen Convention, which means that if you travel to an EU member country or countries, like Greece, for a total of less than 90 days, a visa is not required. Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, the UK and other member countries of the EU and Schengen area are included under this arrangement. Other countries do require a visa to visit Greece.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your nationality. Check the Essential Trip Information section of the itinerary for more information.

Read about travel visas for Greece

There is not a strong tradition of tipping in Greece, particularly among the locals, but it’s become expected that tourists leave small tips while travelling through the country.

Read more about tipping in Greece

You’ll be able to find wi-fi at most hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants throughout the well-touristed areas of Greece. Alternatively, you can pick up a local SIM card with a data package for continued access.

Read about internet in Greece

If you wish to use your mobile/cell phone while in Greece and you are not from an EU country, you’ll need to either pick up a local SIM card or activate global roaming before you leave home.

Read more about phones in Greece

Flushable, Western-style toilets are the norm in Greece. You may need to pay a small fee to use public toilets in some areas. Keep in mind that the Greek plumbing system isn’t the greatest and you may be asked to put toilet paper in the bin rather than flushing it.

Greece’s unit of currency is the euro. Prices here are approximate and shown in US dollars for ease of comparison.

  • A takeaway souvlaki or gyros = USD 4–5
  • Bottle of wine from the supermarket = USD 5–7
  • Meal in a local cafe = USD 10
  • Meal in a nice restaurant = USD 20­–30
  • Ticket for the Acropolis (including other ancient sites) = USD 22
  • Domestic beer (Mythos or similar) at local bar = USD 5
  • Espresso coffee = USD 2

Drinking the water in Athens and Thessaloniki is safe unless otherwise marked. On the islands, however, the water may not be suitable to drink.

For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water instead.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Greece, particularly in the tourist areas. It’s actually a legal requirement, as a response to the financial crisis, that working Greek citizens aged below 65 have a credit card so most hotels, shops, cafes and restaurants should offer the option of paying by credit card.

Read more about money in Greece

ATMs can be easily found in cities and towns across Greece, including on the Greek Islands.

Greece’s coast and islands enjoy a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and windy, rainy winters, while the inland regions have a more continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. In the northern mountains, close to the Bulgarian border, the winters are cold with heavy snowfall, while the summers are relatively mild.

Read more about the weather in Greece

Read more about snowfall in Greece

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their tour. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

  • 1 Jan New Year’s Day
  • 6 Jan Epiphany
  • Feb/Mar Clean Monday
  • 25 Mar 25th of March
  • Mar/Apr Good Friday/Easter Monday
  • 1 May Labour Day
  • June Orthodox Holy Spirit Monday
  • 15 Aug Dormition of the Holy Virgin
  • 28 Oct The Oxi Day
  • 25 Dec Christmas Day
  • 26 Dec Synaxis of the Mother of God

For a current list of public holidays in X, including the movable dates noted above, go to: 

timeanddate.com/holidays/greece

Greece is one of the most popular LGBTQIA+ holiday destinations in the world, with a long history of same-sex relationships dating back to Sappho, the Greek poet, whose home island of Lesvos has become a pilgrimage site for lesbians. Though same-sex marriage is not legal, marriages performed in the EU have been recognised since 2018 and discrimination against sexual orientation or gender identity is banned by law.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel.

If you are travelling solo on an Intrepid group tour, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travellers who do not wish to share a room.

Read more about LGBT Greece

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Though access to sights and hotels has improved in Athens over recent years, Greece is a difficult destination for travellers with disabilities. It’s a hilly, rocky place covered in cobblestones, particularly on the islands, and the economic situation has meant that there are minimal public funds to improve the situation.

If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.

Read more about Accessible Travel

What you’ll pack for your Greece tour will depend on where you are going and what time of year you decide to visit.

Read about packing for Greece

Greek is a very difficult language to learn, however, it's easy enough to master a couple of common words such as 'hello' (Yah-soo) and 'please' (para-kah-LOE). Not only will this help you communicate with the locals but it'll also allow you to form a deeper connection to the places you're visiting and the people you're meeting along the way. 

Read about other common Greek phrases to learn

There are between 1,200 and 6,000 islands in Greece with around 200 of them populated and able to be visited. Each island offers spectacular views of the surrounding seas, golden beaches to lie out on, and ancient old towns full of a fascinating history only ever read about in books. 

Read more about the Greek Islands

Responsible Travel

Intrepid is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behaviour, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while travelling.

Traveller meeting local restaurant owner in Santorini, Greece

How we're giving back

In Greece, we stay in locally run accommodation including guesthouses, smaller-scale hotels and homestays in an effort to support the local economies. We also visit locally-run restaurants and markets where travellers will have opportunities to support local businesses and purchase handicrafts created by local artisans.