Greece Travel Blog

What to see

There are a wide variety of attractions to see in Greece, including national parks, historic sites or ancient ruins and museums. However, if you’re looking for those elusive hidden gems, get to know the area where you are staying and ask the residents to point out buildings or sites of interest. Take to the streets on foot to take in the scenery and atmosphere. The locals know where to find the beaches that aren’t crowded with tourists, but expect Sundays to be the busiest day. Not all beaches are sandy, so make sure you find one that suits your preferences.

When they travel, the locals always look for churches and monasteries at their destination. The strong religious character of the country is embodied in its religious buildings, some of which date as far back as the 4-6th centuries. Many are designated historical sites while others are operating churches. The interior is as interesting as the architecture, and may feature mosaics and paintings. Churches were often built at the site of important events, so there’s a lot of history and culture to be seen. There is a lot to see and experience in “everyday” settings.

A little research can also help you save money at popular tourist places and find interesting local events. For example, many museums are free to visit on Sundays. Admission to the Acropolis is free on national holidays as well as for other important events, such as International Museums Day (May 18) and International Tourism Day (September 27). Open-air cinemas pop up in major cities and tourist areas during the summer with shows starting after 9:00 pm. Arts and cultural festivals are held throughout the summer months.

Ancient ruins, islands, beaches and mountains — Greece has it all. Whether you want to walk the same streets as ancient philosophers, explore the mountains or vacation by the sea, this country is well worth the time to get to know it better. Want to get off the beaten path?

When to go and where to book

Peak tourist season runs from about June 20 to August 20. The end of May, early June and late August is ideal for lower prices outside the tourist season — and it will still be warm enough to go to the beach. Most Greeks take their vacation between the end of July and August 16 so there will be a shortage of accommodations and costs typically rise. The August 15 holiday, the Dormition (Assumption) of the Virgin, is the second biggest feast of the year. Everything will be closed, but large celebrations will take place across the country. After the holidays, the locals are back to school and work.

Guest rooms, apartments and villas are an inexpensive alternative to hotels and can be booked through local travel agencies or Tourist Police stations — often upon arrival. There are also over 340 camping sites, many of which offer caravans or small houses. For more information see the Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT) website.

The daily routine

Living like a local in Greece may require a change to your daily routine due to the extended break in the middle of the day. Most stores are open from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and then from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. The main meal of the day is from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. After the meal, it’s time to relax or take a nap to escape the hottest part of the day. If you’re outside tourist areas, you’ll want to keep in mind that between 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm is a common silent time. Loud music, noise and disruptions should be avoided.

After work, many people go out with family or friends to enjoy food and drink. Dinner is a light meal, but when eaten out can last two to three hours. Meals aren’t rushed but are eaten leisurely amidst news, gossip and talk of current issues and politics. The company is as important as the food.

Eating out

If you’re on the go, there are many fast food options available where you can grab quick and often healthy foods like sandwiches or pitas, or stop by a bakery for local treat. Greeks aren’t big on breakfast, but if you’re eating out look for mpougatsa (boo-gat-sa), a type of pastry that comes with a variety of fillings: cream, feta cheese, ground beef, or spinach. Another popular food is tiropita, or “cheese pie”. Toast and marmalade are easy to find, but you’ll have to stick to places that cater to tourists if you want bacon and eggs — they’re generally considered too heavy for breakfast.

The choriatiki salata or “village salad” is a staple appetizer — we know it as the traditional Greek Salad with tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, olive oil, olives and feta cheese. Other vegetable dishes you’ll want to try include briam (roasted mixed vegetables that Greeks often eat at home), horta or vleeta (different boiled greens) and yigandes (beans with lemon or olive oil). Fried zucchini with tzatziki sauce is also worth a try, and fried eggplant is popular. Don’t shy away from fried foods. They tend to be lighter in Greece.

Seafood lovers will enjoy local specialties like garides (grilled shrimp), octapodi (octopus), kalamarakia (squid) and sardeles (sardines served fried, from the can or barbequed). Barbounia and tsipoures are expensive but tasty fish. Marides are small fish fried and eaten whole, like French fries.

When it comes to meat skip the chicken and try lamb instead. Psito is a leg of lamb roasted with potatoes, and paidakia is grilled ribs. Lamb or any other meat cooked sta carbona is barbequed over coals. Chicken is always available if you prefer something light. Steak, or brizoles, is always cooked to well done unless specifically requested otherwise. If you like grilled sausage, you’ll want to try loukanika. And you can’t leave Greece without trying the famous souvlakia (shish-cabob).

Naturally, no dining experience would complete without dessert! If you’re looking for traditional desserts, try mpaklava (baklava) or loukoumades, which are balls of dough fried and served warm with honey. Profiterol, a popular dessert combining chocolate mousse and cream-filled balls, is also popular. Glika koutaliou, which is candied fruits like cherries, quince, figs or oranges, makes a great topping for ice cream.

Favourite beverages include ouzo (an anise-flavored liqueur) and Greek coffee (a strong coffee served with a bit of foam on top which is available almost everywhere). Going out for drinks or coffee with friends is a common past time.

A tip about tipping: Even though menu prices say a gratuity has been added to your bill, your waiter often won’t see the money. It’s customary to leave two or three Euros on the table when you leave.

Who to ask for help

If you think you’ve been taken advantage of or need help, call “171″ to reach the Tourist Police. The Tourist Police are an arm of the Greek Police Force that is responsible for enforcing tourist legislation and offering help to visitors — and they have personnel who speak foreign languages. To spot an officer on the street, look for white: white hat band, white gloves and white belt. Their uniform will display the “Tourist Police” insignia as well.

In general the locals are willing to offer help but may be shy about their English skills, warns Kastidou. When in doubt, look for a young person to ask if you need a quick translation.

By Elizabeth Rogers (following Georgia Kastidou’s advices); source: 50plus (edited by Greece Travel Blog)

Related posts (automatic selection)

• A relaxing, quiet and tasty vacation in Crete
• Greeks on vacation
• Beauty, comfort and traditions of Thassos island
• Thirty years is too long to be away from Corfu
• Rhodes: an exotic journey
• Peaceful days of Corfu
• Holiday Home in Greece
• Greek households spend more money on holidays
• Greece for all
• Crete may only be an island, but to me it’s more like a country