Country guide

Greece

A tomato that tastes like something, and the taverna that only cooks what it bought that morning.

6Guides published3Cities coveredMay–JunBest season

Where we have beenCounted from the guides themselves — nothing here is typed by hand.

01Athens4 of the guides here are about Athens.4 guides 02Crete1 of the guides here are about Crete.1 guide 03Santorini1 of the guides here are about Santorini.1 guide

Every guide

All 6, newest first.

Everything we have written about Greece. The list fills itself as we publish.

Newest first, straight from the Greece tag.

Know before you go

The practical bits, answered.

Six things to know, then the questions people write in and ask.

VisaSchengen areaMany nationalities enter visa-free for 90 days in any 180. Check whether ETIAS applies to you before booking.

CurrencyEuroCards are accepted almost everywhere, but carry a little cash for markets and the smaller places.

Best seasonMay–JunMay to June and September. July and August are hot, crowded and at their most expensive.

FerriesBook ahead in high season and allow for delays. Wind cancels boats more often than you expect.

Fish pricingUsually sold by the kilo. Ask the price before it is cooked, every time.

TippingRound up, or leave five to ten percent for good service. Not obligatory.

When is the best time to visit Greece?+

May to June and September. The sea is warm enough by late May, the islands are open, and you avoid the July and August crush.

Is Santorini worth it?+

Visually, yes — it is genuinely extraordinary. It is also the most crowded and expensive island in Greece. Go in shoulder season, stay away from the cruise-ship hours, and it is worth the flight.

How many days do you need in Greece?+

Ten days: three in Athens and a week across one or two islands. Island-hopping more than that in a fortnight means spending your holiday on ferries.

Which Greek island should you pick?+

Crete for food, size and variety. Santorini for the view. Naxos or Paros if you want somewhere that still feels lived in.

Is Greece expensive?+

Athens is good value; the popular islands in August are not. Eating is cheap almost everywhere if you choose tavernas over anything with a sea view and a laminated menu.

Where should you go after Athens?+

Give Athens two or three days rather than the single night most itineraries allow. It has become a genuinely good food city and the ruins are only part of the reason to be there.

Then the islands. Santorini is spectacular and extremely busy; Crete is big enough to absorb its visitors and eats better than anywhere else in the country.

What should you eat first in Greece?+

A proper Greek salad — no lettuce, good oil, a slab of feta on top. Then grilled fish, and whatever vegetable dish the taverna made that morning.

Order like a Greek table: several small plates in the middle rather than a main each. It costs less and you eat better.

Greece

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