Greece is the land of the gods, beautiful sunsets and emerald beaches. Greece is rightfully called the cradle of the West - the first developed civilization appeared here three thousand years before our era. This country is famous not only for its rich history, but also for its impressive cultural heritage. Modern Greece is a destination for beach vacations, but vacations at Greek resorts are good from any angle. It has everything: beautiful nature and wonderful beaches, ancient monuments, delicious local cuisine and, of course, the famous Greek wine.
Greece is located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula and occupies a large part of the islands of the southeastern Mediterranean. The area of Greece is 132,000 square meters. km A fifth of its territory is on islands. Of more than 2,000 islands, less than 200 are inhabited. The largest of them are Crete, Euboea, Rhodes and Lesbos.
Capital: Athens
State language: Greek
Time: UTC (GMT) +2
Telephone country code: + 30
Currency: Euro
Climate
Greece is located in three climatic zones. The average temperature in January is from +4 to + 12 ° C, in July - from + 27 to + 30 ° C. Greece is the southernmost and sunniest country in Europe, the sun shines here 300 days a year. The bathing season here begins in May and lasts until the end of October, and in hot years - until the middle of November.
Language
The official language is Greek. As a rule, both in the village and in the capital, any Greek can speak English quite tolerably on topics that concern tourists - how and where to go, what and how much it costs.
Customs rules and restrictions
The amount of cash exceeds the equivalent of 10,000 Euros and must be declared. It is allowed to import: 200 pcs. cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco; - 2 liters of wine or fruit liqueur or tincture with an ethyl alcohol content of no more than 22%.
Greek wines and "Metaxa" are taken from Greece by half of the tourists, if not more. Alcohol can be exported from Greece within the limits of: 1 liter of strong spirits and 2 liters of wine.
Olive oil, tea, coffee, spices and seasonings, Greek sweets can be carried without restrictions. However, all this must be in accordance with the concept of "for personal consumption".
Kitchen
Greek cuisine is a synthesis of traditional culinary traditions with a noticeable Italian and Turkish influence. Traditional Greek cuisine is a lot of vegetables, cereals and herbs, fish and seafood. One of the main ingredients is olive oil and tomato paste. Any meal is accompanied by bread and wine.
Fault
Wine is the most preferred drink by the Greeks. Other traditional spirits are also popular, such as ouzo and tsikudia (produced in Crete, similar to Italian grappa). Retsina is a "wine with rosin" with a strong characteristic taste that you do not immediately get used to, the aroma comes from pine rosin, which was once used to seal wine containers and bottles. It is drunk diluted.
Coffee
Coffee (Kafes: καφες) is an important part of Greek culture. The country has many cafeterias (kafetéries), which serve as favorite meeting places for Greeks. Traditionally, coffee is prepared so that the grounds remain. This is a less strong version of Turkish coffee, but in Greece it is known only as Greek coffee - "ellinikós kafés", or simply "ellinikós".
During the hot summer months, the most popular coffee in kafetéries is the frappe, an instant coffee whipped up with ice. Frappe is a truly original Greek coffee, which can be refreshed by ordering with or without milk and sugar.
Water
A glass of water is usually served with each drink, no matter what drink is ordered. In some cafes intended for tourists, water is included in the bill, even if it was not ordered, especially if it was served in a bottle. Tap water is drinkable in most places accessible to tourists today; if in doubt, ask the hotel.
Holidays
January 1 - New Year
January 6 - Baptism
March 25 - Independence Day
May 1 - Labor Day
August 15 - Assumption of the Virgin Mary
October 28 - Ohi Day
December 25-26 - Christmas
Religious holidays: Maundy Thursday - 41 days before Easter, Easter, Pentecost - on the 50th day after Easter.
Tip
As a rule, tips are often already included in the bill. If the bill has the column "Υπηρεσία", i.e. "Service", it means that the tip is already included in the amount. In a restaurant, you can leave 10-15% of the bill or simply not take change.
Shopping
Greece is a country that is equally attractive both for lovers of excellent recreation and for fans of shopping, which are often combined in one person. Special mention should be made of the notorious Greek fur coats and leather products, tours of which are still popular.
Hours of work
Stores work according to a special schedule. Mondays and Wednesdays are non-trading days: most shops are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in winter and until 2:00 p.m. in summer. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are trading days: shops are open from morning until 2:00 p.m., and then open again at 5:00 p.m. and trade until 8:00 p.m. in winter and until 9:00 p.m. in summer.
On Saturday, trade runs from morning to 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Recently, more and more stores are abandoning this scheme in favor of longer working hours. In the resort areas, in the high season, shops are open practically without days off and until late.
Tax Free in Greece
When shopping in Greek stores, non-EU citizens have the opportunity to return the VAT paid when purchasing goods. VAT can be refunded in the amount of up to 23%, while the minimum purchase price in one store must not be less than 120 euros. For a further VAT refund, you must request a Tax Free check at the cash desk, in which all the necessary items must be filled in: name, surname, country of residence, home address, passport number and the amount of VAT to be refunded. This check must be attached to the cashier's check.
Vacation in Greece is considered one of the most popular destinations among tourists in the summer season. And there is nothing surprising here - it is a country of three seas and many beautiful beaches. However, tours to Greece are actively booked not only in summer. After all, she will definitely be able to leave unforgettable emotions about herself regardless of the weather.
In order to decide when it is better to go to the "land of the ancient Greek gods", you should answer the question: what kind of vacation do you want to get as a result. If you are going to book hot tours to Greece, it is time to decide on the type of vacation.
Beach vacation in Greece
If the goal of the vacation is a beach vacation and swimming in the warm sea, then it should be taken into account that the high season in Greece begins in June and lasts until September. During this period, there is a large number of tourists. Therefore, you should be prepared for crowded excursions and slightly inflated prices. People who cannot stand the heat well should also remember that the highest temperature in Greece occurs in July-August.
It will be especially comfortable to rest near the sea in late May - early June, as well as in September. The heat is not too hot, there are not many other tourists, and the prices are lower than in the height of the high season.
How to choose a resort in extremely picturesque Greece? Of course, vacationers themselves will decide, but to make the choice a little easier, we present a few recommendations:
Every corner of Greece will find something to surprise and conquer the hearts of tourists. Incredible nature, historical sights at every turn and the desired beach vacation will be the main components of an ideal vacation. If you are interested in a tour to Greece, its price and what is included in the price, use the request form on our website or contact the representatives of the "Alf" tour operator for help.
What will interest you in Greece in winter?
What to do if tourists are not in the mood for a beach vacation? Or is it not possible to postpone the trip to warmer periods of the year? Greece offers many spa resorts, where you can restore strength and energy, heal your body and soul. Museums will be interesting and educational for everyone who loves history.
In addition, between November and April, the country offers luxury ski resorts, which are located mainly in the north and in the center of Greece. This type of recreation is not yet very popular among visitors to Greece, which means there is no large influx of skiers. Parnassos and Karpenisi in the central part of the country can be singled out among such resorts. Much more resorts are known in the north. For example, Seli, Elatohori, Pygadya and many others. Depending on the location relative to the mountains, the resorts may have easy or difficult trails. Therefore, when choosing a place for a skiing vacation, you need to take into account the level of your training as a skier.
For tourists who want to see as much as possible in one trip, a bus tour to Greece is perfect. Such a program is designed for several days, each of which can be in a new city. There is an opportunity to get to know Athens, the ancient city of Delphi, visit the Acropolis, the Temple of Poseidon and the Peloponnese peninsula, as well as many other historical monuments. The price includes travel from Kyiv - Athens - Kyiv, accommodation in hotels of the selected category, excursion programs, meals and medical insurance.
If you are interested in tours to Greece from Kyiv, you will be helped by Alf - a tour operator that is in the top 9 in terms of the number of tourists sent. Let's create your memories together!
Embassy of Ukraine in Athens:
Greece, Athens 152 37, Filoti,
St. Stefan Delta 2-4
Phone: +30 210 68.00.230, 68.56.171
Fax: +30 210 68.54.154, 68.20.894
