Europe
Backpacking Greece Need To Know
Basics
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Places To Visit
Zakynthos
Zakynthos is a large island with a wide appeal for all types of visitors.
There are many beauty spots including the Blue Caves, the surely recognisable Navagio Bay, and of course plenty of beaches. Next…
Entry
Greece is a member of the borderless Schengen Zone, meaning you can freely move to other member states without the need for multiple visa applications and passport controls.
Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland don’t need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone, and can generally stay for as long as they wish.
A vast amount of passport holders from other countries can also enter the Schengen Zone visa-free for up to 90 days including; Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
Citizens of visa-exempt nations need only produce a passport which is valid for the entirety of their stay, but other nationals require a Schengen visa and must have a passport which has at least 3 months’ validity beyond their period of stay.
For official information visit mfa.gr or your home government travel bureau.
Getting Around
Official Europe wide rail passes can be obtained through Rail Europe
More details are to come in this section, but you can read about general advice regarding Getting Around When You Get There
Accommodation
Greece has a wide variety of hostels and you should never have any problem finding one.
The average price of a hostel is €10-25 a night.
All hostels in Greece will provide linen and bathroom facilities. Usually there will be cooking and internet facilities as well as common and laundry rooms.
Read more about Accommodation When You Get There and Living in Hostels
Food And Health
The standard of food safety and hygiene is good, and there are many places to eat out cheaply, if you do not wish to cook.
Water is generally safe to drink from all kitchen taps in Greece, unless stated. If in doubt, stick to bottled water.
Medical facilities are good, but make sure you have adequate travel insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment and repatriation.
EU and EEA citizens should get a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving home. The EHIC isn’t a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but it entitles you to state provided medical treatment that may become necessary during your trip.
Other nationalities may also have reciprocal health care agreements, find out from your government travel bureau.
Always contact your GP around 8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Visit here for Recommended Vaccinations and read here for more about Travelling Health In General
Weather & Time To Go
With the exception of mountainous areas, Greece has a Mediterranean climate, with hot and dry weather generally from April until November. The remainder of the year is relatively cold and rainy.
Communications
Internet and wifi is widespread and accessible in most hostels. Local pay-as-you-go SIM cards for your mobile phone and international calling cards are cheaply available.
Dangers And Considerations
Protests and strikes are common, you should avoid all public gatherings and mass demonstrations, as they can sometimes turn violent.
Crime levels in Greece are generally low, but take sensible precautions to avoid mugging, bag snatching and pick pocketing.
Alcohol served in bars in Greece is often stronger than those in other countries as measurements are rarely used.
Forest fires occur frequently in Greece during the summer months, so take care when visiting woodland areas. Make sure cigarette ends are properly extinguished, don’t light barbecues and don’t leave empty bottles behind.
Dangers constantly change. Always check with your foreign office (British Foreign Office webpage) or travel advice bureau for the latest information regarding your destinations safety.
Read more about Safety And Security here
Respecting Culture
Although geographically in Eastern Europe, do not refer to it as that; Greece is and always has been an openly pro-Western country and is widely considered to be the birthplace of Western civilization and democracy. Greeks prefer Greece to be referred to as Southern Europe.
Discussions about Macedonia and Turkey are best avoided.
Greeks swear by putting their hand, palm open, five fingers extended out (like signalling someone to stop); so be careful when refusing something or waving.
Be aware that there is a smoking ban in public places, which many Greeks choose to ignore – always respect laws over local customs in foreign countries.
