Essential Things to Know Before Traveling to Greece

Capital: Athens
Official Language: Greek
Others: Turkish
Religions: Greek Orthodox 97%, other 3% (Muslim, Roman Catholic).
Voltage: 220 volts. Sockets are of the European, two-pronged variety.

Visas
Canadians and Americans are allowed to stay in Greece for up to three months without a visa; most others can enter Greece for up to two months without a visa. For the latest information on your specific visa requirements you should contact the local Greek Embassy or Consulate near your planned date of travel.
All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Passports are required; in addition travelers are advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is sole responsibility of the traveler.

Local Currency
Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2, 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Credit cards:
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and other major credit cards are widely accepted (although less so in petrol stations).

ATM:
ATM’s are widely available in all cities and towns, on the mainland and the islands. They are generally reliable.

Banking hours:
Mon-Thurs 0800-1430, Fri 0800-1400. Banks on the larger islands tend to stay open in the afternoon and some during the evening to offer currency exchange facilities during the tourist season.

Changing Money, Credit Cards & ATMs
Banks and ATMs can be found almost everywhere in Greece. Credit cards are accepted in most shops, restaurants and hotels. We recommend that you take a combination of credit card, ATM card and cash (USD or Euros).

Clothing
As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. In Greece's hot summer months, cotton clothing is much more comfortable than man-made materials like nylon.
Greece has fairly relaxed attitudes about dress and for the most part shorts and short sleeved tops are perfectly acceptable. However, if you intend to visit churches and monasteries it is important to dress more conservatively (i.e. cover shoulders and knees).
Make sure you allow for climate changes and remember that even in the summer, night-time and early morning temperatures can be cold. You will generally find it is better to have several thin layers rather than one thick layer as it gives you more flexibility and warmth. 

Telephone:
The best way to call home is from a call centre or internet café – public telephones are scarce and those that exist tend be on noisy street corners.

Mobile phone:
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent on the mainland and islands, but occasionally disappears when out at sea.

Internet:
Internet cafes are available in the main cities, including Athens, Thessaloniki and the islands of Crete, Kos, Mykonos and Rhodes. More and more hotels and cafes are gradually offering free Wi-Fi too.

Post:
All letters, postcards, newspapers and periodicals will automatically be sent by airmail. Airmail to the rest of Europe takes five days; six to North America; seven to Australia.

Post office hours:
In Athens, the main post office on Syntagma Square is open Mon-Fri 0730-2000, Sat 0730-1400 and Sun 0900-1330. Smaller offices work Mon-Fri 0730-1400 only.

Food:
Eating out is national pastime in Greece. For an informal snack, try an ouzeri, where you can join locals for small platters of savory appetizers and a glass or two of aniseed flavoured ouzo. Visit a mezedopolio to feast on a selection of tasty mezes (similar to Spanish tapas) which you might accompany with a flask of rakija (a potent spirit made from distilled grapes) or a carafe of hima (barrel wine).
For a heartier meal, try a taverna, serving generous portions of traditional Greek favourites, often in a rustic (or pseudo-rustic) setting – the best ones have open log fires and stage occasionally live music. A psarotaverna is a taverna that specializes in fish and seafood. Last but not least, an estiatorio is a full blown restaurant, where service will be a little more formal and the menu will probably include a choice of both Greek and international cuisine, as well as quality bottled wines.
Greek food tends to be very simple, rarely involving sauces but with full use of local seasonal produce, olive oil and charcoal grills – just as people have been eating in outlying villages for many centuries. However, Athens and some of the more fashionable islands such as Santorini and Mykonos have seen the arrival of fusion cuisine and so-called modern taverna fare (involving lighter dishes with subtler flavours and artistic presentation).
Restaurant hours are normally 1200-1500 for lunch and 2000-2400 for dinner. Opening hours vary according to the region and local laws – many establishments in popular holiday destinations stay open all day through the summer. Waiter service is usual.
Those with a sweet tooth should head for a zaharoplasteio (cake shop), where a vast array of syrup-drenched Turkish-inspired goodies such as baklava and slices of chocolate-coated cakes like Black Forest gateaux are displayed behind glass counters. You can choose pieces individually and then have them put in a box to take away – if it’s a gift they’ll tie it with a brightly coloured silk ribbon.

Specialties:

• Dolmades (stuffed vine leaves).
• Gemista (tomatoes, peppers and courgettes, stuffed with rice and oven-baked).
• Gigantes (big butter beans baked in a rich tomato sauce with olive oil).
• Moussaka (aubergine casserole with minced lamb, cinnamon, red wine and olive oil).
• Calamari (deep-fried rings of squid) or htapodia (octopus).
• Souvlaki (spit-roasted meat, generally pork or chicken).
• Stifado (a rich beef stew with caramelised onions, cinnamon and cloves).
• Kokkinisto (a rich stew of either beef, pork or chicken cooked with red wine and tomatoes).
• Horiatiki (Greek salad: feta cheese, tomato, cucumber, green peppers, black Kalamata olives and fresh olive oil).

Regional drinks:

• Krasi (wine - lefko is white, kokkino is red).
• Retsina (wine made with pine-needle resin).
• Ouzo (an aniseed-based clear spirit to which water is added).
• Raki (a sharp and fiery spirit made from distilled grapes).
• Metaxa (a Greek spirit, similar to brandy).
• Greek coffee (thick and strong, and sugared according to taste).
• Frappe (frothy iced coffee made from Nescafe and drunk through a straw).

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:
Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

Weather
The climate in Greece is surprisingly diverse. In winter, many parts of the mainland experience snow, whilst in summer they wilt in the dry heat. On the islands the proximity to the sea ensures cooler temperatures but also, unfortunately, high humidity. The Aegean is famous for its winds, often resulting in high seas and, therefore, disruption to ferry schedules. In this case any itinerary including journeys by ferry may need to be altered.

The following shows average daily max temperatures (in Celsius):

Useful Phrases

• Hello – Gia
• Goodbye – Adhio (Yo sou/ya sas is commonly used on parting/meeting and literally means "health to you”)
• How are you? – Pos ise?
• I'm well, thank you – Ime kala eucharisto
• Good morning – Kali Mera
• Good evening – Kali spera
• Excuse me – Signomi
• Please – Parakalo
• Thank you – Efhartisto
• Yes – Ne
• No – ochi
• How Much? (price) – Poso kani?
• Water – Nero
• Coffee – Kafes
• Tea – tsai
• The bill – ton logariasmo
• I don't understand – Dhen katalaveno

Greek Numbers

• 0 - meda
• 1 - Ena
• 2 - dhoi
• 3 - tria
• 4 - tessera
• 5 - pende
• 6 - eksi
• 7 - efta
• 8 - okhto
• 9 - enya
• 10 - dheka
• 11 - endheka
• 12 - dhodheka
• 20 - ikosi
• 30 - trianda
• 40 - saranda
• 50 - peninda
• 100 - ekato
• 1000 - chilia

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Health plans only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased.