travel tips | greece (eng.)

GREECE

TRAVEL TIPS

VISÃO GERAL ATRAÇÕESTRANSPORTE COMPRAS ONDE FICAR ONDE COMEROVERVIEW ATTRACTIONSTRANSPORTATION SHOPPINGWHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT

OVERVIEW

Greece, the small European country where Western civilization began about 2,500 years ago offers a vast selection of experiences, landscapes and activities.

Located in Southern Europe, on the southernmost tip of the Balkan peninsula, Greece has extensive coastlines and hundreds of islands in the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas. The country shares borders with Albania, the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Four fifths of Greece consists of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe.

Each year Greece receives millions of visitors drawn to the country’s beaches, its reliable sunny summer weather, its nightlife, historical sites and natural beauty.

In Athens, the country’s capital and largest city, as in many other parts of Greece, magnificent ruins stand as monuments to the nation’s glorious past. However, Greece today is also a vibrant modern European country. It is a land where migrant communities from the Balkans, Africa and Asia, together with communities of EU expatriates and retirees, contribute to the country’s status as one of Europe’s more recent multicultural societies.

Weather-wise, May, June, September and October are the most pleasant months in Greece. July and August are the hottest months when the midday sun tends to get very strong.

During this time of year, most Greeks avoid heavy physical activity outdoors between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.

The visitor to Greece is advised to get in tune with the local way of life by waking up early, doing all sightseeing and errands in the cool morning hours, and then spending the afternoon in the relaxing shade or at the beach.

Temperatures tend to dip to very pleasant levels on summer evenings.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSGREECE

the enormous city of Athens and is perfectly integrated with the remaining metropolitan network; that is, the excellent metro system and the super modern bus and tram service.

METROThe Athens Metro is fast, comfortable and very reliable. It is almost a hundred miles long and provides easy access to historical sites andPiraeus Port.

BUS AND TRAMThere are bus and tram services to all places in Athens and to the suburbs. They start to run at 5:00 a.m. and operate until 12:00 midnight. Tickets can be purchased at most newspapers kiosks. When entering the bus or tram, you must validate your ticket at one of the validation machines and keep the ticket for the whole trip.

TRANSPORT

ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTGreece is proud of its modernEleftherios Venizelos International Airport, which is located 18 miles (30 km) northeast of Athens. The services provided at the airport can be compared to the finest airports of the world. A privately-owned toll motorway, the Attiki Odos, connects the airport to the city of Athens and there is a 24-hour express bus service from the airport to the city centre and to the port of Piraeus.

TRAINThe Proastiakos, a high-speed suburban train also links the international airport to the city centre and Piraeus Port. This high-speed train is of fundamental importance to getting around

TAXISThere are tens of thousands of yellow taxis in Athens, but finding an empty one is almost never easy. If you have travel connections to make, it’s a good idea to reserve a radio taxi.

ON FOOTSince most of what you want to see and do in Athens is in the city centre, it’s easy to do most of your sightseeing on foot. Athens has created pedestrian zones in certain areas of the city, facilitating strolling, window-shopping, and sightseeing.

TRAVELLING OUTSIDE ATHENSBy rail – The Greek Railway Company’s trains connect big cities and small towns within Greece, as well as other Balkan countries and Turkey. From Athens you can easily reach most tourist destinations in Greece by

train. It is a nice way to travel and enjoy the beautiful countryside. There are two Central train stations in Athens. Trains for the south of Greece, leave from the Peloponnesus Station on Sidirodromon Street. Trains for the north, east and west of the country leave from the Larissa Station onDeligianni Street. The Intercity express trains are the quickest way of travelling on the Greek mainland. They run between Athens and the major cities of Larissa, Thessaloniki, Patra and Kalamata.

By ferry – Piraeus Port is one of the largest ports in Europe and the largest one in Greece. Thousands of people use it yearly to commute to the numerous popular Islands during the summer months.

There are usually several different vessels that make the journey to each of the major islands. As well as conventional ferries, you can make the journey to some islands on a hydrofoil called a “Flying Dolphin”.

ATTRACTIONS

ATHENS

The Acropolis — A trip to Athens must start with a visit to the Acropolis a flat-topped rock which rises 490 ft (150 m) above sea level in the city of Athens. The site, one of the earliest settlements in Greece and the centre of Greek culture during the Golden Age, never fails to impress. The Acropolis is the site of a collection of beautiful temples, most of them dedicated to the goddess of wisdom, Athena. Visitors enter the site through the monumental entranceway,


the Propylaia. To the right of the entrance is the tiny temple of Athena Nike, which has been reconstructed and restored. Then there’s the Parthenon built of Pentelic marble quarried from the distant mountains, which form the backdrop to the magnificent view of Athens from the Acropolis. Alongside the Parthenon is another temple, the Erechtheion.

The New Acropolis Museum, which contains the portable objects removed from the site of the Acropolis is located in the historical Makriyanni Street, south-east of the Acropolis.

Agora — Below the Acropolis is the remains of the Agora, ancient Athens’ commercial and civic centre, where the great philosophers

Socrates andPlato once circulated. The area is littered with the ruins of numerous ancient buildings, including the Dionysos Theatre, the world’s oldest theatre. One building that has been restored is the 200 BC Stoa of Attalos, a long, low roofed promenade which served as a combination law court, municipal office and shopping arcade in ancient Greece.

The National Museum of Athens, the largest and most popular of Athens’ many museums, houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety of archaeological locations around Greece. Its vast collection includes a staggering array of sculpture including the earliest known Greek figurines dating from around 2,000 BC.


The Plaka is the picturesque old historical neighbourhood of Athens situated below the Acropolis. It is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists around the year particularly in the warm Athens evenings. Motor vehicles are not allowed in the neighbourhood and strolling the narrow streets of the Plaka flanked by ancient monuments, Byzantine churches and mosques, stately mansions, and inviting tavernas, can be a very pleasant experience.

Syntagma Square, at the heart of modern Athens, is home to theParliament Building, built in 1840 as a royal palace. Tourists flock to photograph the skirted and pom-pommed clad guards at the palace. The square is a central point of access to all the major attractions of Athens, particularly ‘museum mile’ which runs from Syntagma Square alongVassilissis Sophias Avenue and hosts most of the Athens Museums.

OUTSIDE ATHENSThe Peloponnesus, a peninsula forming the southern part of Greece south of the Gulf

of Corinth, is known both for its picturesque scenery and rich history. While in the Peloponnesus, be sure to check the fascinating cities of Corinth and Mycenae.

Central Greece, you have the magnificent Meteora monasteries, monasteries perched on top of enormous rocks. The mountainous terrain of this part of Greece is ideal for trekking, while Mt. Parnassus near Delphioffers opportunities for skiing.

Northern Greece – In the north, lies the region of Macedonia with Greece’s second biggest city, Thessaloniki. The city is steeped in more than 2300 years of history; it was founded by the king Cassander of Macedonia, and named after the sister of Alexander the Great. There are numerous monuments from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman times. The archaeological museum in Thessaloniki displays various treasures from the ancient kingdom of Macedonia.


The Greek Islands – The islands of Greece such as Crete, Rhodes, and the Cyclades are also noted for their picturesque scenery and rich histories.Santorini is also quite impressive, with its capital Thira on the edge of a large cliff and its black sand beaches. Mykonos island is also great fun, with over 20 sandy beaches and countless great bars to enjoy till the early hours. Then there is the sacred island of Delos, birthplace of the god Apollo, which is only a short boat ride from Mykonos.

Not to be missed are the Ionian Islands, located in the Ionian Sea, off the west coast of Greece. Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada, Ithaca,Paxos and Kythira, the islands are well known for their beautiful sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, charming villages and stunning scenic countryside.

WHERE TO STAY

Visitors to Greece will find a huge selection of hotels and accommodation available including hotels of all categories, rooms, studios and apartments to let, as well as other accommodation such as villas and traditional mansions.

Greek hotel rooms usually have air conditioning nowadays. If this is important to you, ask before booking. Some rooms in old traditional buildings with thick stone walls may not need it. If you’re concerned about noise, it makes sense to choose your hotel’s location carefully. In small towns or villages, the quietest ones are likely to be in an old part of the town or village accessible only by stairs.

It should be noted that in Greece hotels, especially in the islands, but also even in Athens and other big cities, tend to be simple establishments. Rooms are typically small, and bathrooms smaller. Standards of cleanliness are good, even in the simpler places. Those who want more luxurious accommodation can usually find it in cities and on the more popular islands.

If you enjoy the local traditions and charm, unhurried rhythm of living, small, family-run pensions are the best way to enrich your Greek holiday. Owners and personnel are friendly and open-minded.

In addition to hotels, almost every popular Greek destination offers self-catering accommodations called studios or sometimes apartments—the terms are pretty much interchangeable. Often these are run by hotels: a hotel may include some self-catering units. Though not listed very often in travel guides, these studios are most certainly a viable option for many travellers. They don’t have a front desk, there is no breakfast or other food

service, and there may be maid service only once every two or three days. Studios For those who don’t require the full services of a hotel, studios can be an attractive alternative.

If you have a bigger budget, renting a villa is a luxurious and splendid idea. Villas are normally near or on the beach and provide plenty of space and a great view.

DINING OUT

Greek cuisine is often cited as an example of the healthy Mediterranean diet.

BREAKFASTFor breakfast, head to a local bakery (fourno) and try freshtiropita, cheese pie; spanakopita, spinach pie; or bougatsa, a custard filled pie. Another option is horiatiko psomi, a traditional,

crusty village type bread that is a household staple, and very tasty on its own too. All are delicious and popular among Greeks for quick breakfast eats. Each bakery does its own rendition, and you are never disappointed. Have this with aGreek frappe, a drink made with instant coffee, water, sugar, and sometimes milk, frothed and served over ice.

MAIN DISHESHere are some interesting Greek dishes to consider tasting while in Greece: moussaka, a rich oven-baked dish of eggplant, minced meat, tomato and white sauce; pastitsio, a variety of lasagne; stifado, pieces of meat and onion in a wine and cinnamon stew; spetzofai, braised sausage with pepper and tomatoes, a hearty dish originally from the Mt. Pelion region; saganaki, fried semi-hard cheese; paidakia, grilled lamb chops. With its extensive coastline and islands, Greece has excellent seafood. Try the grilled octopus and the achinosalata (sea-urchin eggs in lemon and olive oil).

GREEK SALADGreek salad is a mix of tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese and onion – all sliced – plus some olives, and occasionally green bell pepper or other vegetables, and usually garnished with oregano. Traditionally it is dressed only with olive oil.

DESSERTSFor dessert, ask for baklava, tissue-thin layers of pastry with honey and chopped nuts; or galaktobouriko, a custard pie similar to mille feuille. Other pastries are also worth tasting. Another must-try is yogurt with honey: yogurts in Greece are really different from industrialized yogurts most people are familiar with.

SEASONINGOlive oil is added to almost every dish, and Greek cuisine uses some flavourings more often

than other Mediterranean cuisines do: oregano, mint, garlic, onion, dill, bay laurel leaves, basil, thyme and fennel seed are all widely used. Many Greek recipes, especially in the northern parts of the country, use sweet spices in combination with meat, for example cinnamon and cloves in stews.

MEZETHESThroughout Greece people often enjoy eating from small dishes called mezethes. A meze is not a meal course like an appetizer, but rather a dish, hot or cold, spicy or savoury, often salty, that is served, alone or with other mezethes, as a separate eating experience. The purpose of the meze is to complement the taste of a drink (wines, ouzo, raki, etc.), and to provide the backdrop for a social gathering and some good conversation. There are many dishes


traditionally served as mezethes: tzataiki made of strained yoghurt, olive oil, garlic and finely chopped cucumbers and dill or mint: grilled octopus and small fish; feta cheese; dolmades (rice, currants and pine kernels wrapped in vine leaves); various pulses; and olives. Greek restaurants often have a separate meze section of the menu.

FAST FOODSThe traditional fast foods are gyros, roast pork wrapped in a fried pita bread; souvlaki, grilled meat on a skewer; Greek dips such astzatziki; and skordhalia, a garlic mashed potato dip which is usually served with deep fried salted cod.

Fried potatoes (often listed on menus as chips) are found almost everywhere. They can be very good when freshly made and served hot.Tzatziki is usually a good dip for them, though they are still good on their own.

SHOPPING

Shopping is among the many pleasures to be had during your stay in Greece. From crafts, to food and wine items, to the latest fashions from top designer goods, you will find any number of interesting items buy. Shopping in Athens is like shopping in other big city.

Two of the best neighbourhoods to visit when shopping in Athens are thePlaka and Kolonaki. One of the most famous shopping streets in all of the country can be found at the Plaka. Ermou Street is home to many local shops and international clothes makers. You can also find jewellery stores and wonderful shoes stores on this street. Kolonaki is the other most popular shopping district in Athens. Perhaps the city’s most upscale neighbourhood, among its shops are the most haute couture fashion designers. If you plan on buying jewellery, head to Kolonaki’s Voukourestiou Street. Shopping in Athens caters to every budget and need.

In Thessaloniki you will also find a lot of designer stores. Like in Athens, you will find shoe store upon shoe store in Thessaloniki. The centrally located food market is a good place to find some cheap eats and souvenirs, while for clothing and fashion, head to the city’s Mitropoleos andProxenou Koromila shopping areas, and of course, Tsimiski Street, the most popular avenue for shopping in Thessaloniki.

If you are visiting the islands, you will find some unique shopping opportunities there too.


For example, on Rhodes you can find a lot of good leather shops and handmade lace items. On Crete you will find anything from hand-woven rugs to olive oil soap, and Santorini has local wines with distinct flavours from the volcanic-rich soil found on the island.

Blue Star, the maritime company that operates ferries from Piraeus andPatras harbours to the Greek islands, has several Duty Free shops. There, the passengers can buy local and imported perfumes, cosmetics, liquor, and travel accessories, among other things.

STREET MARKETSNo village, town or city in Greece fails to have its own street market orLaiki, held at least once

a week. In the larger towns the market is set up in a different neighbourhood every day, while the main event with the most goods on show is usually on a Saturday. Traders and farmers set out in the early hours of the morning in order to reach the market area before sunrise to find a good spot for their stalls and set out their wares in an attractive way.

On Sundays, people come from all over to buy and sell at the Monastiraki Flea Market, not far from the Acropolis in downtown Athens. If you are looking for antiques, rugs, scarves or just about anything else, you can get some great deals here. Bargaining is quite acceptable, so don’t settle on the asked-for price.

30176100

or 171199174

COUNTRY CODE

EMERGENCY

POLICE

FIRE STATION

TOURIST INFORMATION

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ATHENS)

21035-30000

CURRENCYThe euro, denoted by the symbol € (or EUR), is the official currency of Greece.

The euro is divided into 100 cents sometimes called euro-cents. All circulating coins have a common side showing the value, and a map in the background. The coins also have a national side showing an image specifically chosen by the country that issued the coin. Euro coins from any European Union (EU) member state may be freely used in any nation which has adopted the euro.

There are €2, €1, 50-cent, 20-cent, 10-cent, 5-cent, 2-cent, and 1-cent coins. The euro banknotes have common designs on both sides and are issued in €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10, €5 notes.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

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