GREECE
I have yet to complete my Greek Travel Guides, but please reach out to me directly if you have any questions or need tips!
Updated COVID-19 Travel Information:
Currency:
The official currency of Greece is the Euro (EUR) (€)
$1 USD = €0.95
Pricing for Leisure Travelers:
Average Hotel Expenses = €109-€122/Night ($130-$145 USD/Night)
Average Food/Drink Expenses = €29-€42/Day ($35-$50 USD/Day)
Pricing for Backpackers:
Average Hostel Expenses = €17-€25/Night ($20-$30 USD/Night)
Average Food/Drink Expenses = €17-€25/Day ($20-$30 USD/Day)
Communication:
The official language of Greece is, of course, Greek. Everyone in tourism will have a good handle on English and most will know some French and Italian as well.
Transportation:
Airplane: Air travel on the mainland or between the mainland and islands is quite common on the country’s two main domestic airlines, Aegean and Olympic Air. If you’re hoping to fly between islands you’ll be disappointed. Interisland connections are nearly non-existent, except for a few routes via Sky Express, a small Cretan airliner. That means almost always you’ll have to connect in Athens, which will take up precious time of your vacation. For interisland travel, ferries are your best friend.
Ferry: The best and most efficient way to travel between islands is via ferry. Ferryhopper has a strong grip on the market; I used them exclusively to travel between the eight Greek islands below and they’re absolutely fantastic!
Bus: Most of the smaller cities in Greece won’t be accessible by plane, so traveling by bus will be your best bet. My go-to website for this is Bookaway.
Taxi/Uber: Outside of Athens, you won’t find Ubers. Once you’re on the islands, taxi is a very common mode of transportation. Best practice is to ensure cabbies run their meter (if they have one). If not, be sure to agree on a price beforehand - and don’t be afraid to barter!
Miscellaneous:
Greece is busy, busy, busy over the summer (June-August). If you’re hoping to avoid the massive crowds, I recommend visiting in May or September. You’ll get the best of both worlds - incredible weather and small crowds! On islands like Santorini and Mykonos though, even visits in May and September will be greeted with many travelers - just not as many as the other months!
Get adventurous and explore some of the less popular islands - especially if you’re hoping for some peace and quiet. Naxos & Paros in May are a dream. There were no lines anywhere and prices were quite low. Ios & Kimolos in June are very, very quiet. I was one of maybe 100 tourists on both islands and that’s no exaggeration!
