Vacation to Greece – A Detailed Guide

For those that loves history dating back to Antiquity, Greece is the place for you. This country is one of the most beautiful in not just Europe but the whole world. Some of the highlights of Greece are the next to non historical sites, beaches, island hopping and the perfect place for an adventure vacation. If you are planning a visit to Greece, these are my top five places you should consider visiting.

Best time to visit 

Well, the obvious answer to this question is the summer season.

Before booking a vacation to Greece, one thing you should have at the back of your mind is that Greece is a very popular vacation destination, and so, if you are someone that loves the crowd, then Greece is the place for you with its picturesque scenery, wonderful beaches and historical setting. Between June and August, Greece tourism is at its peak, you should expect a big crowd at this time.. So, even though the weather would be great, you will have to deal with people everywhere.  However, if you are someone who wants to have a quiet experience so that you can truly experience everything that this country has to offer, summertime might not be right for you. Instead, you should visit during spring or early autumn. 

Places to visit

1. Cape Sounion

For those that have watched the classic movie Clash of the Titans, you will be aware of Poseidon the god of the sea. Cape Sounion is the city that host the ruins of the temple of Poseidon. The city is located right at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula. If you love Greek mythology, then you should love this city and a visit to this grand temple ruins is a must see, as you can watch the sunset over the Aegean sea from this spot. So if you are visiting Greece, consider a visit to Sounion. the experience will be second to just a few.

2. Acropolis

This city has got a lot of history dating back to 400 BC. From the Parthenon temple of the goddess Athena, this temple was originally made of 58 columns that supports a roof and was decorated with a frieze and ornate pediments. to the temple of the Olympian Zeus, which is one of the biggest of the historic temples in Greece, the Kerameikos which is the cemetery of ancient Athens, the Roman Forum built with funds giving to the city by Julius Caesar, and the ancient Agora are all in Acropolis. So this City has a lot of things to see and a must place to go to in Greece

3. Meteora

In the 14th century when hermit monks were fleeing persecution, they built monasteries that are perched on the summits of very high pillars of rock. to get to the top, they use rope ladders. To see these spectacle, you have to get to Meteora. They built a total of 24 Monasteries, and 6 of these are open to the public. however, you should not that there are no steps to get to the top, and so if you are a rock climber, this stone forest will be a good place for you to visit. After visiting Meteora, I can assure you that you will be left speechless.

5. Thessaloniki

This is the cultural capital of Greece, where the old meets the new, Antiquity meets Modernity. This is the second largest city in Greece after Athens. Thessaloniki has a lot of new and old attractions for you. things you can see here are The white Tower, Turkish baths, Byzantine walls, art galleries, lively festivals, museums and also the colourful food markets. The night life here is bubbling and will keep you awake all night. From night clubs to small taverns, Thessaloniki can match any other place fun for fun.

Food and Drink

Calamari and octopus, fresh Greek salads combined with local cheese or feta, Bougatsa, Dolmadakia are some of the local Greek delicacies you can look forward to when in Greece. As part of a Greek culture, you will be offered with a glass of water and a spoonful of Cherry jam or apricot when you arrive in your hotel, so be ready to quench your taste . Also, you should try the honey-soaked Greek pastries like Kataifi or baklava with coffee when you visit a café. . Greece is a country full of culture and love, which is showcased in its food as well. There are a lot of must-have dishes that you have to try.

Days you should spend in Greece

The ideal number of days for your vacation in Greece will depend on your personal situation. It is a big country that has countless attractions and experiences waiting for you. So, even if you spend a month there, there will be things that you miss out on. However, since not everyone can afford to spend all that money and time, you should opt for a week-long vacation so that you are able to cover at least 2 to 4 destinations. This way, you will have enough time to explore those places and won’t be hurrying up to reach your next destination.

However, if it’s possible, you should stay longer. Greece is a beautiful country and the longer you stay, the better experience you will have. There are some people who choose to stay there for a while in order to get the true, local, and authentic Greek experience. Also, you will not only be able to explore popular destinations but hidden treasures as well. There are tons of activities for you to do in Greece. Trust me, you will be bored and find something that you would love to try. However, you should also note that this might increase the cost of your vacation.

Cost

The first thing that you have to know is the exchange rate. Greece uses the Euro (EUR) and the current exchange rate is 1 USD = 0.85 EUR. This rate will fluctuate, so make sure that you do your research. 

One of the most expensive parts of your vacation will be flights. Depending on where you are flying from, the average cost will be somewhere around $120 – $1730 USD. The next major expense is accommodation. Again, this depends on what type of vacation you are going for. If you want a relaxing environment at a resort, your budget will go up. If you go backpacking, you can live in hostels and save a lot of money. Either way, you should keep your estimated accommodation expenses between $15-$45 USD per night.

The next cost that you have to add in is travel. Greece has a great public transport network so going from one location to another. You can travel by train, bus, metro, rideshares, taxis, suburban railway, etc. However, if you rent a car, this cost might go exponentially up. Either way, your travel costs will be in the range of $0 – $50 USD per day.

When it comes to food, the cost will depend on where you are dining. You should set aside $11-$55 USD per day for food. If you like drinking alcohol, you should add $20 to the everyday budget as well.

The cost of traveling through the country and visiting the attractions might cost you as well. There is an entrance fee for some locations. If you plan to visit these, you have to set aside up to $34 every day. 

Apart from these, there might be some other expenses as well, including souvenirs, luggage storage, shopping, etc. If you don’t want to mess up your finances, make sure that you set some money aside for this. A general rule of thumb is 10% of the budget. 

Conclusion

So, this is a guide you can use to vacation in Greece. Greece is a beautiful country that offers something for everyone. If you are planning to visit it, make sure that you do your research and make suitable preparations so that you can have a relaxing vacation and an amazing experience.