Greece: Sun, Ruins, and Islands That Ruin You for Everywhere Else
Ancient history, impossible blue water, and food you’ll be dreaming about for months. Here’s how to plan it.
Greece is one of those places that’s almost annoyingly good at everything. The islands look photoshopped. The ruins make you feel small in the best way. And the food? You’ll eat a €3 gyro on some random backstreet in Athens and genuinely question every meal you’ve ever had before it.
The mainland is where the history lives. The Acropolis, Delphi, Meteora’s cliff-top monasteries. But most people come for the islands, and honestly, fair enough. Santorini gets all the Instagram love, but Crete, Naxos, and Milos are where the real magic happens if you’re willing to go slightly off-script.
This guide covers all of it. Costs, transport, island-hopping logistics, city guides, and the stuff nobody tells you until you’re already there.
3.5-4 hrs
From the UK
Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct
Best time
Greek
Main language
EUR (€)
Currency
Best Time To Visit
The best time to travel to Greece is between April and June (16-25°C). The weather is perfect for outdoor adventures, not too hot, definitely not cold, and you’ll have the place pretty much to yourself before the summer crowds arrive.
If you plan to travel in the summer, expect lots of people and temperatures upwards of 35°C but averages around 29°C . It’s an incredibly busy time in the country and hotels are often booked up a few weeks in advance.
If you’re traveling Greece on a budget, the winter months are the best time to visit. The top attractions will have little tourists, and you won’t have a problem finding cheap flights or hotels.
For a month by month guide, click here
What To Expect
15°C
- Temperature
Capital: Athens
Language: The official language in Greece is Greek.. ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank You’ in German: “γεια” for hello (pronounced “geia”) and “σας ευχαριστώ” for thank you (pronounced sas efcharistó)
Currency: The official currency of Greece is the Euro (EUR). £1 GBP is equivalent to 1.18 EUR. 1 USD is equivalent to about 0.85 EUR. Check the latest rates here
Credit Cards & ATMs: You can find ATMs (cash machines) all over Greece. Every town and city will have a couple, and all the smaller islands will have at least one. You will be able to use your credit card to pay for most purchases at shops and hotels, but you might come across a few bars and restaurants that are behind the times. Always have cash on your person.
Plugs: For Greece there are two associated plug types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Greece operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter
Safety: Greece is a very safe country to visit. Tourists are unlikely to experience any crime or violence. The only concern is petty crime on the streets, but if you keep an eye on your belongings etc, your trip should go smoothly. Ranked 39th on the ranking of world’s safest countries, it is very welcoming towards its tourists.
Random useful tip: Always have Bottled Water! You can drink water from the tap in virtually any city in mainland Greece (I don’t recommend though), definitely don’t drink from the tap on the smaller islands, it’s best to stick to bottled water. The majority of Greek islands do not have sufficient water, and the little that they do have is used for hygienic purposes and laundry.
Greece Travel Guides
Island guides, city breaks, historical deep-dives, and the practical stuff that actually saves you money.
City Guides
Itineraries + Maps (coming soon)
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else
How Much Does Greece Cost?
Greece is one of Europe’s better-value destinations. Here’s a realistic breakdown so you’re not guessing.
🎒
Backpacker
~€40-60 / £35-52 / $43-66 per day
- Hostel dorms from €15-30 / £13-26 / $16-33 per night
- Gyros, street food, and self-catering
- Local buses and slow ferries
- Free beaches, ruins with no entry fee, hiking
🍜
Mid-Range
~€90-130 / £78-113 / $99-143 per day
- Budget hotels, private Airbnbs with a view
- Taverna lunches, seafood dinners, wine with meals
- Mix of ferries, taxis, maybe a rental car on Crete
- Guided tours, Acropolis entry, boat trip
🏨
Upscale
~€200+ / £174+ / $220+ per day
- Boutique cave hotels in Santorini, luxury villas
- Fine dining, rooftop cocktails, private wine tastings
- Private transfers, domestic flights, yacht charters
- Private Acropolis tour, helicopter over the caldera
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Budget
- Hostel dorm: €15-30 / £13-26 / $16-33 per night
- Campsite: €10-20 / £9-17 / $11-22 per night
- Budget hotel: €50-90 / £44-78 / $54-99 per night
Mid–Luxury
- Airbnb apartment: €60+ / £52+ / $66+ per night
- Boutique hotel: €100-200 / £87-174 / $110-220 per night
- Luxury villa/cave hotel: €300+ / £261+ / $330+ per night
City Travel
- Bus/metro single: €1.20-1.60 / £1-1.40 / $1.30-1.75
- Athens day pass: €4.10 / £3.55 / $4.50
- Taxi short trip: €5-10 / £4.35-8.70 / $5.50-11
Long Distance
- Intercity KTEL bus: €10-25 / £8.70-21.75 / $11-27.50
- Standard ferry: €20-60 / £17-52 / $22-66
- Domestic flight: €40-100 / £35-87 / $44-110
Eat Cheap
- Gyro/souvlaki wrap: €3-5 / £2.60-4.35 / $3.30-5.50
- Bakery pie (spanakopita): €2-3 / £1.75-2.60 / $2.20-3.30
- Coffee (freddo): €2-3 / £1.75-2.60 / $2.20-3.30
Eating Out
- Taverna meal: €12-20 / £10.45-17.40 / $13.20-22
- Seafood by the harbour: €25-50 / £21.75-43.50 / $27.50-55
- Beer/wine with dinner: €4-7 / £3.50-6.10 / $4.40-7.70
Budget Fun
- Acropolis entry: €20 / £17.40 / $22 (full) or €10 / £8.70 / $11 (reduced)
- Museum entry: €6-15 / £5.20-13 / $6.60-16.50
- Beach (most are free): €0
Big Experiences
- Santorini catamaran cruise: €100-200 / £87-174 / $110-220
- Delphi guided day trip: €60-120 / £52-104 / $66-132
- Meteora monasteries tour: €50-90 / £43.50-78 / $55-99
Tips for Saving Money in Greece
🥙 Eat gyros and bakery pies for lunch. You’ll spend €3-5 and honestly eat better than most sit-down places
💧 Tap water is safe on the mainland. Bring a reusable bottle and skip the €1.50 tourist-trap water bottles
🍷 Order house wine at tavernas. It’s often local, decent, and half the price of anything on the main list
🛒 Hit a supermarket for breakfast supplies. Greek yoghurt, honey, and fruit from a local shop costs almost nothing
🍽️ Eat where the locals eat. If the menu’s only in English and there’s a guy waving you in from the street, keep walking
⛴️ Book slow ferries instead of high-speed ones. They take longer but cost half as much (and the deck views are better)
🚌 Use KTEL buses between cities. Athens to Thessaloniki is around €25 vs €80+ for a last-minute flight
🏛️ Visit museums on free days. First Sunday of the month (Nov-Mar) = free entry to most state-run museums and sites
📅 Travel shoulder season (April-May or September-October). Prices drop, crowds thin out, and the weather’s still great
🚶 Walk everywhere in cities. Athens, Chania, and Rhodes Old Town are compact. You’ll save money and see more
Getting Around Greece
Greece has 6,000+ islands (only about 230 are inhabited, don’t worry). Here’s how to actually get between them.
Domestic Flights
Best for Athens to far-flung islands like Crete or Rhodes. Saves hours compared to ferries.
✅ Fast, frequent in summer
✅ Budget flights from €40 / £35 / $44
❌ Limited routes in winter
Car Rental
Best for Crete, the Peloponnese, or anywhere the bus doesn’t go. Total freedom.
✅ Access remote beaches and villages
✅ From €30 / £26 / $33 per day
❌ Island roads can be narrow and interesting
Ferries
The classic way to island-hop. Slow ferries are cheap and scenic, high-speed ones cut journey times in half.
✅ The main way between islands
✅ Standard ferries from €20 / £17 / $22
❌ High-speed ferries add up fast
Athens Metro
Clean, modern, and connects the airport to the city centre and Piraeus port. Your best friend in Athens.
✅ €1.20 single, €4.10 day pass
✅ Airport to city centre in 40 minutes
❌ Only useful within Athens
KTEL Intercity Buses
Cheap and reliable on the mainland. Connects Athens to Thessaloniki, Delphi, Meteora, and the Peloponnese.
✅ Cheapest mainland transport
✅ Athens to Delphi from €16 / £14 / $17.50
❌ Can be slow on winding mountain roads
Scooter or ATV
The island classic. Perfect for zipping between beaches on Mykonos, Naxos, or Milos.
✅ Cheap, from €15 / £13 / $16.50 per day
✅ Easier to park than a car on small islands
❌ Check insurance carefully. Seriously.
Which Is Right For You?
Exploring Athens
Metro + walking. Done.
Hitting multiple islands
Ferries between, flights for long hops
Road-tripping the mainland
Rent a car for Peloponnese or Crete
Tight budget, many islands
Slow ferries + KTEL buses on mainland
Quick Tips
📅
Book Ferries Early
Popular routes (Athens-Santorini, Mykonos-Naxos) sell out in July/August
🚗
Get an IDP for Car Rental
Non-EU drivers need an International Driving Permit. Takes 5 minutes to sort
📍
Piraeus is Your Hub
Almost all island ferries leave from Piraeus port in Athens. Metro Line 1 goes straight there
⏰
Use Ferryhopper for Routes
Best app for comparing ferry times, prices, and booking. Way better than individual ferry company sites
Book Tours & Tickets
Related Resources
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Greece?
If you’re from the UK, US, Canada, or Australia, you don’t need a visa for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Greece is part of the Schengen Area, so your 90 days covers all Schengen countries combined. That catches people out. If you spent two weeks in Spain and a week in Italy, those count towards your Greece allowance too. EU/EEA citizens can enter freely with an ID card. Always double-check requirements for your specific passport before travelling.
Is Greece safe for tourists?
Yes. Greece is generally very safe for tourists. Violent crime targeting visitors is rare. The main thing to watch is petty theft in busy tourist areas, especially around Athens’ Monastiraki and Syntagma squares, and on crowded ferries. Keep your valuables close, don’t leave bags unattended on beaches, and you’ll be fine. The islands feel even safer. Most people leave their doors unlocked.
How long do I need in Greece?
That depends entirely on what you want to do. For Athens and a couple of islands (say Santorini and one more), 10 days works well. For island-hopping across the Cyclades properly, budget 2 weeks. Add the mainland (Delphi, Meteora, Peloponnese) and you’re looking at 3 weeks minimum. Here’s the honest truth: most people underestimate how much time ferries eat up. Build in more days than you think you need.
When is the best time to visit Greece?
April to June and September to October. You get warm weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices than the July/August peak. Summer is hot (35°C+), packed, and expensive. Winter (November to March) is quiet and cheap but many island businesses shut down and ferry services drop to bare minimums. For a full month-by-month breakdown, check our best time to visit Greece guide.
Is Greece expensive?
Not by Western European standards. It’s significantly cheaper than France, Italy, or the UK. Budget travellers can manage on €40-60 / £35-52 / $43-66 per day. Mid-range is around €90-130 / £78-113 / $99-143 per day with comfortable hotels and taverna meals. Santorini and Mykonos are the pricey outliers. Go literally anywhere else and your money stretches much further.
How do ferries work in Greece?
Ferries are the backbone of island-hopping. Most leave from Piraeus port in Athens (Metro Line 1 goes straight there). You can book through Ferryhopper, which compares routes, times, and prices. Standard ferries are cheaper but slower. High-speed ones cost roughly double but halve the journey time. In peak summer, book popular routes (Athens-Santorini, Mykonos-Naxos) at least a few days in advance. In shoulder season you can usually walk up and buy a ticket.
Can I drink the tap water?
On the mainland and in Athens, yes. The water is safe. On the islands it gets more complicated. Many smaller islands have limited freshwater supplies and the tap water tastes awful even when it’s technically safe. Locals on most islands drink bottled water. Bring a reusable bottle with a filter and you’re sorted either way.
Do I need travel insurance for Greece?
Yes. UK visitors lost EHIC/GHIC reciprocal coverage for comprehensive care, and while it covers some emergency treatment, it won’t cover repatriation, trip cancellations, or lost belongings. US visitors have no reciprocal healthcare in Greece at all. A hospital visit without insurance can cost thousands. It’s not worth the gamble. Compare policies on our travel insurance page.
What about tipping in Greece?
Tipping isn’t mandatory but it’s appreciated. At restaurants, leaving 5-10% is standard if the service was good. Round up taxi fares. For tour guides, €5-10 per person is a nice gesture. Nobody will be offended if you don’t tip, but small amounts go a long way with staff, especially on the islands where wages are seasonal.
Is island-hopping complicated to plan?
It’s less complicated than it looks. Pick a starting island (usually one with a direct ferry from Athens), then work outwards in a loop. The Cyclades are the easiest to chain together because ferry connections are frequent. Don’t try to do too many islands. Three or four in two weeks is plenty. The biggest mistake people make is booking too many islands and spending half their trip on boats. For a full route breakdown, check our island-hopping guide.
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