The Ultimate Guide to Greece: Insider Tips and Must-See Attractions

Hello friends!

This summer has been a real treat - my partner and I managed to visit four countries in just three months: Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Armenia!

Welcome to Greece! This beautiful country has something for everyone - stunning scenery, turquoise waters of the Aegean and Ionian seas, mouth-watering Greek cuisine, ancient landmarks, architectural masterpieces, and so much more!

Greece is a country in Southern Europe, located on the Balkan Peninsula and thousands of islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. It's the birthplace of ancient Greece, which is considered the cradle of Western civilization. The capital city, Athens, is famous for its Acropolis, built in the 5th century BC, and the Parthenon. Tourists love the black sand beaches of Santorini, the resorts of Mykonos, and other summer hotspots.

Travel experts say Greece has it all - and they're absolutely right!

Hands down, Greece has something for everyone - stunning scenery, turquoise waters of the Aegean and Ionian seas, mouth-watering Greek cuisine, ancient landmarks, architectural masterpieces, and so much more!

GREEK COAST PANORAMASo, Athens or Rhodes?

Definitely Athens for us! We loved it, and it's mainly because of their beaches, which I'll get to in a bit. Everyone says they're dirty, and yeah, they are, but where isn't nowadays? We just came from Rome, and let's just say it's dirtier than Athens! So, we're Team Athens, Rhodes was great too, but it had its downsides, which I'll cover in my Rhodes review!

Greece Visa:

We bought a package tour, and the visa was included, but getting a Greek visa on your own is a breeze - the required documents are minimal, and the visa fee is just 35 euros. Easy peasy!

Best paid and free beaches in Athens:

With over 3 million residents, Athens isn't exactly the place to soak up the sun or hit the beach.

For a more comfortable beach experience, head to the ones a few kilometers outside the city.

The most famous beach resort within the Greater Athens area is Glyfada, known for its upscale hotels, marinas for luxury yachts, and restaurants.

The beaches are sandy, and most of them receive the Blue Flag award for cleanliness and eco-friendliness every year.

In the suburbs of Athens, Vouliagmeni has sandy beaches equipped with umbrellas and sunbeds, mostly owned by local hotels – entrance fees apply, and the cost of a ticket along with sunbed rental can reach up to 5 euros.

There are also more expensive beaches in the area, featuring spas, restaurants, and pools, and each hotel beach has a kids' play area and animators to keep the little ones entertained.

Alteia Beach - 40 km from Athens, a secluded cove on a sandy shore, no infrastructure;Cape Beach - 60 km from Athens in the direction of Cape Sounion, crystal-clear waters, and the added bonus of ancient ruins of the Temple of Poseidon nearby;Nudists prefer the rugged Dikastika Beach on the Marathon coast - a rocky cove where you'll have to bask on the stones;Hands down, our favorite beach was the wild Dikastika - we fell in love with it!

Renting a car in Greece:

We were blown away by the sheer number of companies offering car rentals! Prices were surprisingly reasonable too. We went with Auto Europe, and I'd highly recommend them - they're super affordable and have an amazing selection of vehicles. Of course, you'll need an international driving permit for this. There's something special about cruising through Greece in a car, taking in the stunning views of olive groves and orange orchards lining the roads, the fig trees, the watermelon fields, and the colorful bushes... it's like having a screensaver come to life!

Locals:

We really enjoyed the Greeks - they're a friendly, open, and warm people, but we noticed they're a bit like the Italians, loud, emotional, and very boisterous, though their rich body language made it easy for us to get by without a dictionary! And these hot-blooded southern folks are just as passionate and emotional behind the wheel, so we'd recommend buckling up and driving at a safe speed in Greece - the traffic rules might exist, but the Greeks seem to be driving as if they'd never heard of them! And, of course, they're quite the talkers when it comes to road rage!

What to see in Greece:

Greece has it all - and that's the truth!

Greece is a country where historic landmarks, breathtaking ruins, and ancient wonders surround you from the moment you step off the plane!

And here are our top 10 must-see attractions in Greece!

I highly recommend the Lassiti - Cave of Zeus tour, it's a total blast! We got to explore the cave where Zeus was born, and it's seriously cool! And then we visited this secluded, stunning women's monastery in the mountains, it's a real treat!Santorini, yeah, it's the island from all the ads! What's really interesting is the black sand, it's because the island is of volcanic origin, and it's now being washed by the Aegean Sea!The Kiss of the Two Seas is an absolute stunner! Seeing the Aegean and Ionian Seas meet is a real showstopper!Meteora is mind-blowing! The ancient monasteries perched on top of these towering cliffs are just incredible! Worth every euro of the 45-euro ticket price!Acropolis and the Parthenon in the heart of Athens - a must-see!Loutra Pozar Hot Springs are a real treat, with water temperatures reaching 37 degrees Celsius! However, it's a bit of a crowd, but the springs themselves are super relaxing!Museums are a treasure trove of knowledge! Pro tip: many museums are free on Sundays!Scuba diving in Greece is a real thrill ride! The coastline is like it was made for diving! A 40-euro dive is an absolute steal!Taking a boat tour around Mount Athos is a real highlight! The views are simply stunning, and the 45-euro ticket price is a bargain!Nature in Greece is simply breathtaking! Rent a car and explore the countryside, we drove to the outskirts of Athens and were blown away by the Mediterranean landscapes - it's truly something else!(Check out our review of Rhodes for more recommended attractions!)

I love browsing through souvenirs when I'm traveling, and Greece is no exception. What to bring back from Greece:

I've got to rave about the local dessert wine from Santorini – it's absolutely divine, with a flavor profile that's uncannily similar to Madeira! And the Greek bread, traditionally baked in these adorable Greek ovens, is to die for! We also fell in love with the incredible cheeses, many of which stay fresh without refrigeration! And don't even get me started on the tomato sauces, tomato pastes, sun-dried tomatoes, and tomatoes preserved with olives...and the olive soaps? Absolutely luxurious! We brought some of this soap back with us, and I'm completely obsessed – my husband even replaced all his high-end shaving creams with it, saying they're not worth the investment, and for me, it's replaced all my hair gel and shampoo, I wash my hair with it, and it's left my locks looking luscious and my skin feeling like silk. This soap alone is worth a trip to Greece! And let's not forget the bath mats and the incredible cactus jam!

A Taste of Greek Cuisine:

I've already written about Greek cuisine in my review of Rhodes, but I wanted to highlight the top 5 dishes from local Greek cuisine that we loved

Moussaka – a traditional Greek dish that's absolutely incredible, a layered casserole of eggplant, meat, and cheese, topped with a rich béchamel sauce. It's a game-changer!Moussaka is a traditional dish from Greek and Turkish cuisine made with eggplant, meat, and tomatoes, layered and baked under a creamy bechamel sauce

I've gotta say, the Greek salad isn't worth ordering here - Greeks will just scratch their heads! It's because the name 'Greek salad' is used everywhere except in Greece, where it's actually called the 'village salad'! And the ingredients vary depending on what the local farmer has on hand, so it's different in every region.I'm obsessed with the prickly pear jam! Have you tried it? You have to give it a shot! You'll want to take it with you (and you should!)!The rose jam is insane - especially with the local bread! The famous Greek ravani cake is a must-try, especially with a scoop of cold ice cream! It's absolute heaven!Frappe is a refreshing cold coffee that's sweet and perfect for hot days - Greeks drink it morning, noon, and night!The bread from the tandoor oven is, well, speechless! But the anise-flavored ouzo, a traditional Greek drink, didn't quite hit the mark for us - it smells like pectusin!

✿¸.•¨`​✿¸.•¨`​✿¸.•¨` The Sea in Greece:

The swimming season in Greece starts on May 15th, when the water's warmed up to a comfortable 20-22°C, and wraps up by the end of October; the longest swimming season is on Crete. The island warms up sooner than the mainland. The season on Crete starts in April.

Greece is a real gem, located on the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula. The crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea are a sight to behold, and the country's beaches are some of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

I was blown away by the affordability of groceries in Greece. Here are some prices I found at a local supermarket:

Prices in June were super reasonable - bread for 0.5 euros, a liter of milk for 1 euro, a liter of juice for 1.2 euros, a kilo of tomatoes for 1.8 euros, apples for 0.6 euros per kilo, apricots for 5 euros per kilo, a watermelon for 1 euro, a kilo of mandarins for 1 euro, a kilo of strawberries for 2 euros, a kilo of cherries for 5 euros, bananas for 1.8 euros per kilo, and olive oil for 0.5 liters at 9 euros.

What's funny is, in Greece, all the supermarkets have these trolleys connected in a chain, and to get one, you need to put in a 2-euro coin, then bring it back and get your 2 euros back! It's actually pretty convenient, right? So, we took a trolley, bought everything we needed, came back, and... it spat out 10 Russian rubles instead!

Prices in Greek cafes:

Not cheap, but reasonable, and the portions are huge! You can easily eat one portion between two people, which is what we often did when we went to lunch or dinner at some amazing restaurants!

Salads - 5-8€Second courses - 8-15€Vegetable stew - 5-8€Moussaka - 4-7€Dzadziki - 3-5€Grilled carp - 7-11€Salted tuna - 5-7€Coffee - 2-3€Wine - from 3€It's customary to leave a tip of up to 10% of the total bill.You can see for yourself - prices are pretty reasonable!! As for the prices in our hotel:

Along the coast, there's a plethora of cafes serving fresh seafood. I'm talking about the likes of prawns and squid - absolute heaven, but octopus is a total no-go...

By the way, a packed lunch for two will set you back a mere 10-15 euros, and trust me, it's a seriously filling meal! My husband and I had a lunch for two and stuffed ourselves silly for 10 euros - the plates were enormous, and we still had leftovers to take home!

✿¸.•¨`​✿¸.•¨`​✿¸.•¨`The total cost of our Greek getaway:

I wrote a detailed review about the cost of our trip to the island of Rhodes - check it out!

✿¸.•¨`​✿¸.•¨`​✿¸.•¨` Accommodation:

We spent 2 days in Athens and rented an apartment for a whopping 25 euros a night - it's hands down the best accommodation option! Our apartment came with breakfast included, plus a super convenient kitchen where we could whip up our own Greek dishes using local ingredients.

✿¸.•¨`​✿¸.•¨`​✿¸.•¨` Greek Property:

If you're as smitten with Greece as we are - and trust me, we fell head over heels for this little slice of heaven - you'll find yourself eyeing those tempting property deals on the Greek coast every now and then. I mean, who wouldn't want to own a villa in paradise?

\u2705\u2218\u23f0\u2218\u23f0\u2218\u23f0 Practically speaking, shopping enthusiasts:

Just like in many European countries, Greece has two major sales seasons where you can snag some amazing deals. The winter sales kick off after Christmas and last for five weeks. Summer sales start in July and run until September.

As for VAT in Greece, it ranges from 13 to 23%. You can get a VAT refund if your total purchases from tax-free stores exceed 175€. These stores will give you a special receipt that you need to show at customs to get your VAT refund.

Hands down, the best sales and biggest discounts in Greece happen in September! You can score an entire wardrobe for 100€! Of course, you won't find designer items for 3€ here – that's a trip to Italy for you! But you can find plenty of tops and t-shirts for 1€, jeans and trousers for 2€, bags and shoes for 3€. The prices during sales season in Greece are super sweet!

\u2705\u2218\u23f0\u2218\u23f0\u2218\u23f0 Downsides of Greece:

If all the positives I mentioned earlier are a given, then I'll talk about the downsides, which are pretty common, and the first one is the dirt – Athens, the capital of Greece, really needs to work on its waste management system! (although Rome seemed even dirtier to me!) The heat's another issue, and while I love the sun, Greece's sun is scorching, making it a real challenge to venture out without a wide-brimmed hat and a ton of sunscreen, especially with temperatures often reaching +40 degrees Celsius! The prices of food, especially fruits, are steep, which is weird since they grow everywhere there, and the prices are just as crazy as in Sochi! Be on your guard, too, as the locals often try to scam you with small change, like what happened to us once when we were buying food at a beach cafe – they gave us change in coins that looked similar but were worth much less! So, be careful! And, to be honest, the Greeks can be pretty loud, impatient, and shouty, which can get annoying at times.

However, as I was leaving Greece and looking down at this stunning piece of paradise between the seas, I felt a strong urge to come back here again.

✿¸.•¨`​✿¸.•¨`​✿¸.•¨`

We highly recommend visiting Greece – it's a must-see destination, at least for its incredible sun, wild beaches, warm-hearted people, delicious bread, cheese, and an abundance of the world's best olive oil soap, which transports us back to the sun-kissed, flower-filled, and citrus-scented Greece!

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