Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Greece

A photograph of Greece
Photograph · George E. Koronaios · CC BY-SA 4.0

Greece has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean and somewhere between 1,200 and 6,000 islands depending on how an island is counted, of which 227 are inhabited. That figure is the whole planning problem. Around 10 million people live in the country's nine regions, and the three largest cities - Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras - are all on the mainland, while the 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are spread across mainland and islands alike. Most trips split accordingly: the mainland for antiquity and the mountains that fill the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, the islands for the sea, with Crete, the largest of them, big enough to fill a week on its own.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Greek
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+30
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers the mainland and all islands

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Aleka
    02 2 hours

    Aleka

    Αλέκα

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  2. Anesis Cinema
    03 2 hours

    Anesis Cinema

    Σινέ Άνεσις (Θερινός)

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  3. Artemis
    04 2 hours

    Artemis

    Άρτεμις

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  4. Astor
    05 2 hours

    Astor

    Άστορ

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  5. Asty Cinema
    06 2 hours

    Asty Cinema

    Άστυ

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  6. Athenée
    07 2 hours

    Athenée

    Ατενέ

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  7. Athinaion
    08 2 hours

    Athinaion

    Αθήναιον

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  8. Avana
    09 2 hours

    Avana

    Αβάνα

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  9. Cine Lila
    11 2 hours

    Cine Lila

    Σινέ Λιλά

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  10. Cinema 'Palace'
    12 2 hours

    Cinema 'Palace'

    Κινηματογράφος Παλάς

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  11. Cinemarian
    13 2 hours

    Cinemarian

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  12. Cine Thision Cine Thision
    15 2 hours

    Cine Thision

    Cine Θησείον

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  13. Flery
    22 2 hours

    Flery

    Φλερύ

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  14. Mikrokosmos
    23 2 hours

    Mikrokosmos

    Μικρόκοσμος

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  15. Newman Cinema
    24 2 hours

    Newman Cinema

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  16. Old School
    27 2 hours

    Old School

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  17. Panathinea
    28 2 hours

    Panathinea

    Παναθήναια

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  18. Riviera
    29 2 hours

    Riviera

    Ριβιέρα

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  19. Stella
    30 2 hours

    Stella

    Στέλλα

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  20. Trianon
    33 2 hours

    Trianon

    Τριανόν

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  21. WestCity
    35 2 hours

    WestCity

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  22. Zefiros
    36 2 hours

    Zefiros

    Ζέφυρος

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  23. Αιολία
    39 2 hours

    Αιολία

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  24. ΒΟΞ
    44 2 hours

    ΒΟΞ

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  25. Δαναός
    46 2 hours

    Δαναός

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  26. Εκράν
    49 2 hours

    Εκράν

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  27. Ελιζέ
    50 2 hours

    Ελιζέ

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  28. Έλλη
    51 2 hours

    Έλλη

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  29. Ίρις Ίρις
    54 2 hours

    Ίρις

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  30. Λαΐς
    55 2 hours

    Λαΐς

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  31. Λάουρα
    56 2 hours

    Λάουρα

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  32. Όασις
    59 2 hours

    Όασις

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens
  33. Φοίβος
    68 2 hours

    Φοίβος

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Athens

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Greece be?

Eight to twelve days can cover Athens, one mainland archaeological route and one island group. Every ferry leg consumes real itinerary time, so collecting ports across several island chains is poor use of a first visit.

What entry documents are needed for Greece?

Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides the visa framework for entry. Passport nationality, stay length and the wider Schengen route determine whether an application is needed and where it must be lodged.

What is the best way to travel around Greece?

Athens is the main gateway, while ferries and domestic flights connect island groups and regional airports. Mainland buses and limited rail corridors require route-specific planning; ferry schedules should be rechecked close to travel.

When is a practical time to visit Greece?

April to June and September to October suit many archaeological and island itineraries without peak midsummer heat. Ferry exposure, island seasonality and mountain weather still vary by destination.

What money and payment basics apply in Greece?

Greece prices transactions in euros (EUR). National card-acceptance and fee details are Not recorded in this bundle; confirm payment expectations with small accommodations, boat operators and remote businesses.

What practical safety details should I save for Greece?

Greece uses 112 for emergency assistance and 230 V Type C and F sockets. A single nationwide tap-water recommendation is Not recorded, so use the relevant island or municipal guidance.