Greece / Ελληνική Δημοκρατία – Let’s explore here
Greece is located at the south end of the Balkans and consists of many mountains and thousands of islands, the largest being Crete. The highest point is Mount Olympus, home of the ancient Greek gods, at 9,573ft (2,919m). Greece’s neighbours include Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Turkey.
Greece is an absolutely fantastic country, with such a rich history, endless amazing sights, a wide variety of landscapes – both on the mainland and on the islands, year round sun, beautiful coastlines and amazing food. You can even apply to stay and work for an extended time as a digital nomad. I liked it so much when I visited many years ago that I stayed and lived in Agia Galini in Crete.
Living on the islands in Greece is simply incredible. The pace of life, the endless sun, availability of gorgeous unknowns beaches that are off the beaten track is simply amazing. One thing that I was unaware of though was just how seasonal some of the town and villages are. As when all the tourists return home, many of the restaurants and hotel shut up shop completely and return to the cities – which can quickly leave you without income.
That said, there is always so much to explore, you’ll never be bored. This is especially true when you consider that Greece is the cradle of western civilisation. It’s the birthplace of democracy, philosophy and literature, many scientific and mathematical discoveries and theatre.
Current travels
This time around we travelled from Turkey, through the hills of Greece to Alexandroupoli and Kavala before travelling back up through Bulgaria on our way back to the UK for Christmas. This really improved our knowledge of northern Greece, and enabled us to meet some interesting people.
On arriving in Greece, a blanket of snow covered central Europe, causing all major roads in Southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland to be closed for several days. Having experienced excessively dangerous weather in eastern Turkey, we bought some snow chains for the car, kept a keen eye on weather maps and re- routed our journey through warmer climes .
Our route from Turkey through Greece to Bulgaria took us via Alexandroupoli – Kavala – Drama – Exochi
Our best places in Greece
Athens – αθήνα
You should also definitely visit Athens, as it’s simply awesome! The way that all of the ancient monuments are being preserved enables you to easily imagine yourself back in ancient Greece – just incredible! Being a capital city, it can get very busy, especially during the summer months. Last time we visited we went in February when it’s warming up and accommodation is plentiful. In fact the last time we were there was immediately before the lockdowns all across Europe due to the pandemic. There were a handful of people wearing masks that looked kind of bizarre at the time lol!
This bronze statue of a horse and young jockey is from about 140 BC. It was retrieved in pieces from the shipwreck off Cape Artemision in Euboea. It was reassembled in 1971, with the financial support of an American lady and the Psichas Foundation.
Crete – κρήτη
If you’ve never been to Crete, I highly recommend it, as there really is something for everyone there. And you should definitely visit the Samaria Gorge at least once in your lifetime. It’s the longest gorge in Europe, stretching across a distance of 9.9 miles (16 km) while the entrance to the park adds another 1.24 miles (2 km).
Finding accommodation in the smaller town and villages in Crete is simply a matter of asking around in the restaurants and café’s – you’ll soon be pointed in the right direction. People are incredibly friendly and helpful from my experience. I used to live about 2 minutes walk from the beach and the bustling restaurants. Outside my window was a small greek taverna that played traditional music late into the evening. It was opposite a small bakery, where at half past four each morning, the smell of freshly baked bread would wake you up. At half past two one morning after a beach party I was introduced to Greek chips with parmesan melted on top – highly recommended!
The Samaria Gorge, Crete
The Samaria Gorge lies inside the Samaria National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located in the White Mountains of Crete. It’s named after an old village located inside the park, which was abandoned in 1962, when the area was declared a National Park. Outside of tourism its main purpose is as a refuge for the endangered Capra Aegagrus Cretica, also known as Kri Kri or Cretan goat.
The starting point is at Xyloskalo at an altitude of 4000ft (1250m), ending up the the coastal village of Agia Roumeli. The most famous part of the hike is the place called the “gates” or “Iron gates”. where the two sides of the gorge are 13ft (4m) apart with a height of 1650ft (500m).
The gorge’s length is approximately 8 miles (13km) plus 2 miles (3 km) to the beach where you end up in Agia Roumeli. It takes around 5 – 5 ½ hours at a slow pace.
Rhodes – ρόδος
Why do all of these bars keep assuming that when I ask for a large beer, that I’d like to drink out of a giant glass boot? This kind of sums up Rhodes main town if you look like a gullible looking tourist – funny as it is! There is however a lot more to Rhodes that its crowded tourist bar areas.
Alexandroupoli
Alexandroupoli is the largest city in Greek Thrace, with a population of around 70,000 (2021). Due to the current conflict inUkraine, it has become an important port for the flow of U.S. military supplies, which has angered both Russia and Turkey. Consequently, the price of accommodation and the flow of cash through the town has increased greatly.
Kavala
Kavala is a small city of around 65,000 people (2021) near Thessaloniki. The magnificent Aqueduct of Kavala is one of the city’s landmarks. It’s originally of Roman origin, back in the 1st to 6th centuries AD, and was reconstructed In the 16th century by the Ottomans.
What’s it like to drive in Greece?
Driving in Greece is pleasant in the main. Roads are not too busy and there is little aggression. This is particularly true on the islands, where life is generally a lot slower paced than in the mainland big cities. Road conditions are mainly fine, and a vast improvement over twenty years ago. This is even true of the roads to villages in general. All of the said, it’s always worth watching out for people on mopeds, as often they may not be wearing the most hard of clothes.
We’ve also created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which you might find helpful 🙂
What currency do they use in Greece?
In Greece they use the Euro. The use of credit / debit cards is now widespread, although not guaranteed – have some cash just in case, particularly in café’s and restaurants. Traveller’s cheques are accepted. There are lots of ATMs.
You should make yourself aware of the amount that your bank charges you for using credit and debit cards abroad. Often credit cards are cheaper for purchasing items directly, and for withdrawing cash from ATMs.
What language do they speak in Greece?
They speak Greek in Greece, although almost half the population also speaks English.
What time zone is Greece in?
Remember, when you’re planning your next trip to take a look at what time zone it’s in.
Do I need a visa to visit Greece?
We’ve created a dedicated, more comprehensive page on visas, which you should find helpful. Check it out!
Is wild camping legal in Greece?
No, wild camping is illegal in Greece, although it is well tolerated so long as you’re away from tourist areas.
Is it safe to drink water in Greece?
Yes, it is generally safe to drink tap water in Greece, although caution should be exercised in some of the less touristy islands. Bottled water is also readily available across the country.
If you’ve got some awesome pictures, or some useful info that you’d like to share, let us know!
And don’t forget to check out all the other pictures!