Greece travel advice

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Greece travel advice

The Peloponnese, please!

Nikos Kritsinelias from our supplier Land Life highlights the pleasures of delving into genuine mainland life in his Greece travel advice: “The Peloponnese is an emerging destination and we know its secrets and traditions better than anyone. Our aim is to create strong emotions and memories through participation in the way of living of our country: distinctive gastronomic experiences such as wine roads and olive roads; cultural activities like religious tourism or learning traditional Greek dances! Our guests will live a unique travel experience, by participating actively as locals and not just one more member of a group. We're sure all our visitors will return different from their journey in Greece, filled with memories and richer in knowledge.”

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Bearing north

Chantel Kyriakopoulou-Beuvink from our supplier Natural Greece talks about paying attention to the bear necessities in her Greece travel advice:
“Brown bear tracking in Northern Greece is a unique experience where you walk amazing trails in a truly unspoilt and little known paradise. Contrary to popular belief, you will not be putting your life at risk! The Eurasian Brown Bear is shy and will try to avoid humans. But you will get an adrenaline rush nevertheless when spotting fresh bear signs like scratch and hair markings on trees, plus little, big and huge footprints! Because no bait is being used it diminishes the chances of actually seeing bears - but this is the responsible way of doing things: without disturbing the bears' natural behaviour.”

A sea of possibilities

Annie Antonatou from our supplier Mystic Blue offers Greece travel advice on the joys of sailing off-the-beaten wave: “We take guests to smaller, unspoilt islands of the Aegean to show the real Greece – to mingle with locals, experience delicious food grown on the doorstep. Sailing to remote islands is a unique way to discover local producers - fresh fish from the fisherman, olive oil from a small grove or locally produced cheese. You'll experience a Greek feast with traditional island music and dancing. And discover unique Aegean wildlife. Dolphins, seals and Loggerhead turtle will be sailing companions, plus land species like the Skyros’ Wall Lizard and Milos Viper - the Aegean's unique natural wealth.”

Small Gods in Crete

Giorgos Maltezakis from our supplier Cretan Paths puts engaging with the locals at the heart of his Greece travel advice: “Our effort is to bring people closer to how local people live and interact, whether the experience involves a cooking class, olive oil or wine tasting, or a simple meal in a village square. We visit rural villages where the locals greet their guests – in the words of Nikos Kazantzakis – like 'small gods'! We visit establishments that put all their love and knowledge into the creation of traditional flavours that highlight Cretan Cuisine – and its health benefits! We get to know Crete through trekking or walking the beautiful island landscape too. Crete is a place with spirit we urge people to explore and get acquainted with.”

Health & safety in Greece

HEALTH

Summer temperatures can be searing, especially in July and August. If planning anything active be sure to have plenty of water or take a break between 12-4pm to avoid the risk of sunstroke and dehydration. Although medical training is excellent in Greece, the public health service has been badly hit by chronic underfunding in the past few years due to countrywide financial crisis, leaving public hospitals in a poor state. Private hospitals are far better – but their expense means good travel health insurance is essential. If you need to call an ambulance the number is 166. Greece is home to some dangerous snakes, including the viper, coral snakes and adders. To minimise bite risks always wear boots, socks and long trousers if walking through undergrowth in rural areas. Mosquitoes (especially in mountain areas) can carry serious diseases, including Eastern equine encephalitis. Most bites occur during the daytime, and the use of protective sprays or lotion is highly recommended, along with repellents (applied or electric) at night. Tap water is generally drinkable in much of Greece but not always in rural villages and on some islands. If in any doubt, ask locals or drink boiled or bought water. Greece has strict drug laws which make no distinction between possession and selling. Having even small amounts of marijuana could land you in prison.

SAFETY

Cyclists in particular should be careful on roads as Greek drivers often like to drive fast and not always in the lane you might expect. Take special care on narrow roads and corners. Much of Greece is remote – let someone know where you are headed and when you expect to be back before embarking on treks, bike rides or other wild forays.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Greece or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Greece tips from our travellers

At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.

We have selected some of the most useful Greece travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.

Take the bicycle option for a couple of days in the Peloponnese to just relax and take in the beautiful scenery.

- Andrew Douglas

“Be prepared for some long mornings visiting sites; but there is time in the afternoon/evenings to relax.” - Paul Beckett

“Travel light. Come armed with questions.” - Trish Ahlin

“Greeks eat their evening meals at 9pm or later and lunch is sometimes a mid-afternoon affair.” - Julian Grubb

“Take less stuff! Yachts don't have much space! Be prepared to share - buying supplies, washing dishes, raising sails, clearing litter on beaches.” - Andy Jennings

“Familiarise yourself with the Greek alphabet, learn some basic phrases, and particularly try to learn some restaurant menu items.” - John Hird

Think in advance if there is anything you want to do e.g. learn how to sail/scuba etc. It is nice to be able to contribute to the planning of the week and an objective would help.

- Sarah Kendal

More about Greece

Best time to visit Greece

Check out our temperature & rainfall chart which features Crete and Athens alongside a month by month guide to help you discover the best time to visit Greece. Particularly useful if you’re interested in festival & events will be our recommendations on what happens when in Greece.

Greece travel guide

Our Greece travel guide is as smooth as olive oil, as appealing as a deserted Cycadean island in May, and, dare we say it, as interesting as a tour around the classical sites of the Peloponnese.

Greece Map & highlights

Learn where to go and make the most of your time as you pore over our Greece map & itineraries which will take you from Thessaloniki & Mt Olympus in the north to the Peloponnese, the Cyclades and Crete, further south.

Travelling in Greece with kids

Find out what Responsible Travel recommend for travelling in Greece with kids, including Minotaurs, the Med and magic mountains that should never be far from any family-friendly itinerary.

Things to do in Greece

Discover our recommended things to do in Greece ranging from sublime sailing sites and Byzantine island churches to walking in the sandal steps of Ulysses, or paddling the pristine coastlines of Mediterranean island idylls.

Archaeology Holidays in Greece

If you’re interested in the myths and legends of the ancient world, the Greek mainland, including the Peloponnese, is certain to sate your curiosity.

Greece walking holidays

Greece walking holidays take you along mountain trails and coastal paths with plenty of ancient sites and natural wonders to keep an eye out for along the way.

Self drive holidays in Greece

Greece self drive holidays put you in full control of how your holiday unfolds, whether you want to hike mountains or visit little out-of-the-way beaches for an authentic take on Greek life.

Sailing in Greece

Discover the benefits of a Greece sailing holiday as you contemplate life in the Cyclades, and beyond, from an on board perspective that’s bound to be as relaxing as it will be exhilarating.

Small ship cruising in Greece

Small ship cruising in Greece is about experiencing island life at a relaxed pace, not about being bombarded by entertainment on a floating hotel.

Yoga holidays in Greece

Take yourself off for a week in Greece as you discover the delights of yoga holidays where the sun always shines and the food is just as fresh as the breeze skimming off the Aegean.

Greek Island holidays

With between 1,200 and 6,000 islands, from tiny uninhabited specks to large rocky land masses, Greece is without parallel when it comes to island variety.

Things to see & do in the Cyclades

Rightfully popular and wildly beautiful, the Cyclades archipelago holds over 200 islands, which are largely mountainous and mostly uninhabited.

Things to see & do in the Peloponnese

At just an hour and a half from Athens, the charms of the Peloponnese are well known to locals, but for international travellers, this peninsula lags far behind the Greek Islands in popularity.

Athens and the Acropolis

While many people concentrate on the Greek islands, it’s well worth spending some time in the capital.

Wellness holidays in Greece

Wellness holidays in Greece connect you with the therapeutic powers of Mediterranean sea and sunshine – and its healing herbs and plants, which have sustained and revived since the time of the Gods.

Volunteering holidays in Greece

Volunteering holidays in Greece give you the chance to work with animal charities that, thanks to the economic crisis, need all hands on deck.

Multi activity holidays in Greece

Multi activity holidays in Greece are like an epic: you’ll sail the Aegean, battle your way through white water rapids, hike Olympic mountains, and swim in seas with ancient sea creatures.

Responsible tourism in Greece

Everyone should want to find out how to travel right in Greece, which is why our responsible tourism in Greece page is devoted to helping you preserve the wildlife & environment of this gorgeous part of southern Europe.

All our Greece guides

From idyllic island-hopping to hiking between fascinating archaeological sites and sublime cycling, find your perfect holiday, and stacks of information on what to see and do, with all our Greece guides in one place.