Independent travel around Greece. Where to begin
The famous saying about almost does not exaggerate the number of its advantages - in a country familiar to everyone from the history lessons of the Ancient World, there really is absolutely everything for a vacation to leave a pleasant mark. We are talking not only about a perfect tan, but also about a sea of new experiences that await each of her guests during the trip.
Important points
- Obtaining a Schengen visa to Greece, according to experienced travelers and travel companies, is much easier than to other EU countries.
- The birthplace of Odysseus is a popular destination for a beach holiday, and therefore tours, air tickets and accommodation in Greek hotels should be booked in advance.
- The weather in Greece is shaped by the Mediterranean climate, but the swimming season on its beaches does not begin at the same time and depends on the geographical location of the resort.
- Don’t forget to fill out a special form for purchases over 120 euros in stores that support the Tax Free system. You can return from 16% to 21% of the tax paid upon departure at the airport.
- There are ski resorts in Greece.
- Women are not allowed to enter Holy Athos, but they can see the monastic republic from aboard a cruise ship.
- You can and should rent a car in Greece. Many sights are much more comfortable to explore on your own, and the prices for renting a car will not make an independent excursion more expensive than an organized one. Especially if you are traveling with family or company.
Choosing wings
Many airlines connect Russia and Greece and directly from you you can get to several cities and resorts:
- Aegean Airlines, Ellinair, S7 and Aeroflot fly directly to popular destinations among tourists. The ticket price starts at 300 euros during the season, and the flight lasts just over 3 hours.
- Connecting flights are traditionally cheaper and with a transfer in, for example, you can get to the Greek beaches near Thessaloniki for only 200 euros.
- Both Aeroflot and Greek airlines regularly send their aircraft to. The flight time is 3.5 hours, and the ticket price starts from 320 euros. With the same connection you can get to the Greek capital for 200 euros. Transferring on board domestic airlines will allow you to get to almost any Greek island or resort.
- Charter flights to Greek beaches in the summer are carried out by many airlines, and flights begin not only in, but also in St. Petersburg and other cities.
Hotel or apartment
Hotels in Greece have their own classification system and the deluxe category corresponds to the generally accepted five stars, C is equivalent to a two-star rating, B is equivalent to a three-star rating, and by checking into a class A hotel, you will receive the amenities of a 4* hotel. To be sure of your choice, you should study the reviews of previous guests.
A room in an Athens 3* hotel near a metro station and with free parking for guests will cost 35-40 euros. A hotel of the same category during the beach season will cost from 30 to 45 euros. In addition to standard amenities in the room, guests will have the opportunity to use the swimming pool, the Internet, and the road to the beach will only take a few minutes.
Greeks willingly rent out their own apartments and rooms in them for tourists. On specialized websites you can find enough advertisements and offers. An apartment for two in resorts, for example, will cost from 20-30 euros per night, a separate house with a swimming pool - from 70, and for a room in an apartment with the owner the guest will be asked from 10 to 15 euros.
Transport details
Traveling to Greece starts from the airport, and this type of transport is well developed and very convenient. Air routes connect the country's capital with all resorts, and many islands connect with each other. The only negative is that ticket prices are not the most affordable, but if your main goal is to save time, then aviation will make your vacation optimal from a logistics point of view.
Ferry crossings are another popular form of transport in Greece. Ferry ticket prices are very affordable and you can get from one island to another for 10–20 euros. Ferries also take buses on board, and therefore it is sometimes convenient to travel from the mainland to the islands using this type of transport.
In cities, the same buses and taxis serve as public transport. The capital has metro and trams. The price of one trip in Athens is 1.5 euros.
Greek taxi is an inexpensive and fairly common form of transport. However, at night the rates double. It is better to agree on the price of the trip during boarding, or insist on turning on the meter so that there are no misunderstandings.
Nightingales are not fed fables
Tourists who have traveled to Greece note that the prices for food in its restaurants and taverns are very affordable, and the portions are large, so one salad or hot dish can be safely shared between two. A dinner with a meat main course, Greek salad, wine and dessert in a restaurant will cost about 35-40 euros for a couple. Breakfasts with freshly squeezed juices and delicious fresh pastries can be found in any cafe for no more than 8-10 euros per person.
Many taverns offer a “lunch of the day”, which includes salad, main course and dessert. This pleasure costs about 15 euros, but you will have to pay extra for drinks.
If you rent an apartment, you can buy vegetables, fruits, cheeses and other products at the market. In this case, you are guaranteed fresh food from ingredients of ideal quality and significant savings.
Best trip to Greece
The beach season in the south of the Balkan Peninsula starts in late April, but the most comfortable conditions for relaxation still arrive a little later - in early May. On the island of Crete, the most impatient people jump into the sea already in mid-April, when the water on its southern coast warms up to +23°C.
Greece is an ideal place for a summer holiday. Even at the height of the season, the heat does not bother their guests, thanks to the freshness brought by the sea breezes.
It is better to plan an excursion and educational trip to Greece in early spring or late autumn. At this time, the sun is not too hot, precipitation is minimal and sightseeing will not seem tiresome.
The ski season in Greek resorts begins in November and ends in mid-spring. Modern equipment guarantees athletes a stable and stable artificial snow cover throughout the entire skiing period.
She made an invaluable contribution to European culture. Literature, architecture, philosophy, history, other sciences, state system, laws, art and myths of ancient Greece laid the foundation of modern European civilization. Greek gods known all over the world.
Greece today
Modern Greece little known to most of our compatriots. The country is located at the junction of West and East, connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. The length of the coastline is 15,000 km (including islands)! Our map will help you find a unique corner or island, which I haven’t been to yet. We offer daily feed news. In addition, for many years we have been collecting photo And reviews.Holidays in Greece
Acquaintance with the ancient Greeks in absentia will not only enrich you with the understanding that everything new is well-forgotten old, but will also encourage you to go to the homeland of gods and heroes. Where, behind the ruins of temples and the debris of history, our contemporaries live with the same joys and problems as their distant ancestors thousands of years ago. An unforgettable experience awaits you rest, thanks to the most modern infrastructure surrounded by pristine nature. On the site you will find tours to Greece, resorts And hotels, weather. In addition, here you will learn how and where to register visa and you will find Consulate in your country or greek visa center.Real estate in Greece
The country is open to foreigners wishing to purchase real estate. Any foreigner has the right to this. Only in border areas do non-EU citizens need to obtain a purchase permit. However, finding legitimate houses, villas, townhouses, apartments, correct execution of the transaction, and subsequent maintenance is a difficult task that our team has been solving for many years.Russian Greece
Subject immigration remains relevant not only for ethnic Greeks living outside their historical homeland. The immigrant forum discusses how legal issues, as well as the problems of adaptation in the Greek world and, at the same time, the preservation and popularization of Russian culture. Russian Greece is heterogeneous and unites all immigrants who speak Russian. At the same time, in recent years the country has not met the economic expectations of immigrants from the countries of the former USSR, and therefore we are seeing a reverse migration of peoples.To have a cheap vacation, you need to travel on your own. This does not apply to all resorts in the world, but to Greece for sure! She shared with us all the details about her vacation as a “savage” in the land of legends and myths about the gods of Olympus. Anastasia Shatkevich, editor-in-chief of the travel portal Traveling.by.
It is better to study reviews, but at the same time understand that each person has a different perception. For example, when we often communicate with travel agencies, we noticed that tours to noisy resorts are bought more often by tourists from small provincial towns - people need movement. But tourists from big cities want to sleep in silence, hear the surf and preferably with fewer people around.
— How many euros did you spend per day and what did you eat at the resort?
Our apartment had a small kitchen with all the necessary utensils, so almost every day in the morning we went to the fish store and bought fresh fish for lunch. Such stores are usually open only until 11-12 am. For two people we paid about 2-3 euros for the fish.
We bought vegetables and fruits in stores. The most common dish on our table was baked fish, Greek salad and fruit. As an addition, we bought olives and sun-dried tomatoes. This lunch cost about 4 euros for two. If you eat in a cafe or restaurant, the amount will be higher - from 8 euros per person.
When it comes to inexpensive street food, Greece has amazing gyros. This is an analogue of shawarma, only it is wrapped in a flatbread and French fries are added to the filling. Very tasty and, of course, filling and high in calories. But it is very difficult to resist. Cost 2.5 euros. Often gyros replaced a full meal for us.
Prices are practically no different from Belarusian ones. Some are cheaper, some are more expensive. If you eat on your own, you won’t feel much difference in the daily budget in Greece and Belarus. But the quality of the products will definitely be higher.
By the way, in Greek cafes the portions are simply huge; you can safely order one for two. Just ask for two clean plates when ordering. If you can't handle dinner, there's nothing wrong with telling you to take the rest with you. This is the norm here.
— How much money do you need for a holiday in Greece?
Again, it depends. Searching for and booking apartments on your own can cost 200 euros for 14 days if desired. Self-catering - about 10 euros per person per day. Not on your own - 20-30 euros. Travel, car rental for a couple of days to explore nearby attractions - another 100 for the entire period. This is if we talk about the minimum. I can’t answer for the maximum; you may not see the ceiling here.
— Do I need to rent a car in Greece and what should I use to drive around the resort?
Renting a car in Greece is a quite popular service. The reason is the low cost of small subcompact cars. For example, if you want to travel around the area around your resort or go to another city, a rental car will be much more convenient (read about punctuality and public transport schedules above). In terms of price, a small Chevrolet Aveo cost us about 40 euros per day, excluding gasoline.
Since the four of us went to neighboring cities, the trip cost just a penny. There are international companies, and there are private local ones. We rented a car in a small office - in the end we didn’t leave any deposits or passports, and no one really inspected the car upon arrival.
Tips for flying on low-cost airlines: There is one caveat when traveling with low-cost airlines. As a rule, their departure time is not very convenient and often does not connect with public transport, or the arrival/departure airport is located far away. In our situation, the plane departed from Thessaloniki very early and there was no way to get to the airport. We rented a car, only with a driver. The price is about 80 euros for 4 people. In general, to travel cheaply, look for like-minded people - this can sometimes save significant amounts.
— Should you take luggage on vacation to Greece if you fly low-cost?
Two weeks, which is exactly how long we spent in Greece, is a period during which we don’t need a lot of things. A swimsuit, a couple of T-shirts, shorts and a summer dress are quite enough. We flew with one backpack per person in the literal sense of the word. Nothing extra.
Another thing is that you want to bring souvenirs from there, take something tasty with you. This already requires space. We, anticipating our future purchases, simply flew there with a half-empty backpack. Many people have problems on the way back. Still, if we talk specifically about budget travel, in my opinion, there is no need to take luggage.
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As A.P. wrote. Chekhov, “Greece has everything,” with which it is difficult to disagree - visitors will find an azure sea, high mountains with green slopes, charming picturesque islands and beautiful beaches, ancient monuments of ancient civilization and unique museums, as well as excellent local wines and national cuisine.
The main part of the country's territory (80%) is occupied by mountains and plateaus, and vegetation in the form of forests and shrubs covers 44% of its area.
The three main geographical areas are:
1) mainland (from Central Greece in the south to Thrace in the north);
2) the Peloponnese Peninsula (connected to the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth);
3) about 6,000 large and small islands in the Aegean, Mediterranean and Ionian seas (most are included in the island group called the Greek archipelago; Crete, Rhodes, Dodecanese, Cyclades).
A huge cultural heritage combined with a wonderful natural component has ensured the pilgrimage of millions of tourists both to the mainland and to the island (mainly beach holidays), but at the same time there are still quite a lot of wonderful untouched corners. In addition to tourism, which is the main way to make a profit, agriculture is also developed - growing cereals, vegetables and fruits, and winemaking traditions have long been strong (fertile climate and soil contribute to the production of an excellent product). Greece is the cradle of many things that are still actively used and developed throughout the world - theater, the Olympic Games, as well as ancient sciences.
The culture of winemaking also did not go unnoticed in the development of tourist routes - “wine routes” pass through picturesque places with the opportunity to visit wineries and taste the product. It is especially pleasant to make such forays in the prefectures of Drama, Imathia and Kilkis.
The network of hiking trails is also well developed, especially in certain areas of the country, and lovers of long walks and hikes can always use one of the trails. For example, the Greek part of the international walking route E6 or E4 (more information at http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/touring/on_foot), as well as paths in Argolis, Attica, Corfu, Cyclades (Naxos, Syros, Ios ), in Kefalonia, Lefkada, Rethymno, Thessaloniki and Zakynthos.
We must not forget about the wide range of water activities. Swimming, diving, water skiing, yachting are just part of what the local sea offers. The beaches of Paros offer excellent conditions for sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, fishing, as well as beach football and volleyball. In Santorini, try diving to explore the depths of the sea. In Mykonos, everything related to sails is good, thanks to the winds. And on land you can play golf or tennis. Small but picturesque Dodecanese Kalymnos is one of the most popular places for rock climbing fans. And you can practice your mountain climbing skills by climbing Olympus itself or crawling along the forested slopes of Taygetos.
Trekking enthusiasts will find the Valia Kalda National Park. Nearby, in Grevena, you can book a wonderful jeep safari.
There are also several airlines that will quickly and comfortably take you from point A to point B: Olympic Air (www.olympicair.com), Aegean Airlines (www.aegeanair.com), Athens Airways (www.athensairways.com).
A traveler can travel longer, but at the same time romantic and, of course, interesting, by sea transport. The main port of Greece - Piraeus - provides a huge amount of traffic between the islands and the mainland. The general website through which you can book and purchase tickets for the desired ferry in the desired direction is www.ferries.gr, and the main companies are Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, Nel Lines, Superfast Ferries, Anek lines and Minoan Lines. On the above-mentioned site you can also purchase tickets for international crossings - for example, to Italy, Albania, Turkey or Bulgaria, as well as schedule a cruise.
And finally, one of the most comfortable ways of transportation, independent of others, is. The roads here are of quite decent quality, they drive adequately (especially in comparison with St. Petersburg or Moscow), so if you have an international license, you can organize interesting outings or trips with stops in different places.
Greek cuisine
The main components of national Greek dishes are high-quality local ingredients, the right combination of spices and seasonings, the famous Greek olive oil and simplicity of execution. Indeed, almost no Greek dish can do without oil. Olives are also popular. All kinds of fish, squid, crabs, shrimp, octopus, mussels, oysters - all seafood is actively used by the Greeks for cooking in various forms. The main dishes from less popular meat are paidaki (grilled lamb ribs), moussakas (vegetables baked with minced meat in bechamel sauce), stifado (beef stewed with onions and wine). Fruits and vegetables are a frequent component of many recipes - eggplants and artichokes are very popular here, which, when wrapped in grape leaves along with peppers, onions, tomatoes and beans or rice, are transformed into the familiar dolma. One of the classic salads here, of course, is Greek - generously broken pieces of soft white cheese, again onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, cucumbers, and on top - of course, olive oil. The popular tzatziki sauce is made from natural yogurt with the addition of garlic and grated fresh cucumber and is often served with meat dishes or simply spread on bread. For dessert, you can choose from a variety of sweets - mainly pies and cookies (karidopita with walnuts, kataifi stuffed with almonds, vanilla syrup and lemon juice, etc.). You can wash it down with a cup of excellent Greek coffee or frappe (a cold version of coffee). Also an excellent addition to a hearty meal would be a bottle of excellent local wine, cool retsina (wine with a tar flavor), or a stronger aniseed vodka (ouzo), diluted, as is customary, with water, or rakia (moonshine made from grapes).Shopping in Greece
The first thing you should take with you from Greece is local products. Greek honey, coffee, alcohol, olives, olive oil, spices - everyone can choose a souvenir to their taste that will delight you and your family upon arrival. In addition to gastronomic joys, a piece of Athens - skillful products made from local ceramics, bronze or clay - will also be a good gift. You will also be pleased with woven summer sandals made of thin leather in the Greek style. In the center of Athens, as well as in Kastoria, you can buy high-quality fur products, as well as jewelry. An original souvenir can be a fabric bag with a print, a copy of an antique sculpture, a rug, wickerwork and lace items, and many will appreciate beautiful icons from holy places.Visa
To visit Greece, Russian citizens need a Schengen visa. The necessary information about the conditions for obtaining a visa, the processing time and other issues can be found on the official website of the Greek Visa Service Center at the link: http://www.greecevac-ru.com/russia/index.aspxGreece is part of the European Union, its visa is Schengen. If you already have a Schengen visa from any country, this issue is closed for you. If you don’t have a visa, you need to get one. The requirements for Schengen visas are standard, these are an application form, financial documents, booking tickets and hotels. In recent years, a positive trend can be noted in the issuance of visas by Greece: it has become much more willing to issue multiple visas to Russians, whereas previously it gave mainly single-entry visas.
Buying air tickets and booking hotels
Quite a lot of planes fly to Greece from Russia; you can find a suitable option no matter where you fly from. The offers of some companies are quite budget-friendly. In general, if you buy tickets no later than a month before departure, you can confidently expect a price of about 100-130 euros for a one-way ticket from Moscow. Airlines often run promotions that allow you to find cheaper options. It is convenient to search for tickets on sites such as skyscanner.com.
If you are flying to the islands in Greece, then pay attention to flights with transfers, usually in Athens. This option is often much cheaper.
With hotels in Greece, not everything is so simple. During the high season, summer, room rates become quite high. This is a reason to book in advance. The sooner you start planning your trip, the cheaper it will cost you. An excellent period for traveling to Greece would be early autumn: September or early October. Prices are already low, and the sea is still warm. It is convenient to search for hotels on services such as booking.com.
Where and when to go
If you have the opportunity to travel during the low season, this is the most profitable and enjoyable option. The high season lasts from late spring to early autumn. On the other hand, a holiday in Greece is good because of the warm sea and good weather on the islands, so in the off-season you will not experience such pleasure.
The nature of Greece is very diverse, everyone can find something to their liking. In addition, wherever you go, you will not be bored: many excursions and interesting places can be found anywhere in Greece. The most well-equipped holiday destinations in Greece are: Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Peloponnese. Halkidiki, Kos. Santorini and Mykonos are places that deserve a separate discussion. Incredibly beautiful, they are also associated with many legends. But the prices for holidays here are higher. If you want to relax in solitude and feel more peace, it is recommended to choose other islands.
The sea and beaches are good anywhere in Greece, and healthy Mediterranean food will delight you wherever you are.
