Greece
Holidays
Greece is best for...
Couples: With stunning scenery, charming fishing towns, great seafood, local wine, and refreshing ocean air, every island has its personality, attraction, history, and beauty. Santorini is as romantic as they come and shaped like a croissant thanks to a volcanic eruption in the 16th century - its stunning sunsets are honeymoon heaven.
Families: Greece as a whole is an excellent destination for family-filled fun holidays, particularly the Greek islands. With magnificent beaches, warm oceans, an abundance of family activities and a rich heritage dating back thousands of years, it's not hard to see why Greece is one of the world's most popular holiday hotspots.
Night owls: Greece, known for its unique and active nightlife, is a great holiday location for individuals who want to forget about their troubles, let their hair down, and have a good time. With some of the best nightlife in the Mediterranean, the Greek kefi is bound to provide you with unforgettable experiences. Although it is possible to have a fantastic evening anywhere, the Greeks are famous for their impromptu gatherings, providing a huge selection of possibilities.
Getting around Greece
By bus: The KTEL buses are green and link Athens to other locations on the mainland. Itineraries are consistent, and tickets may be purchased right before the trip. It is the most common mode of transportation on the Greek mainland.
By train: While not as popular as the buses, train tickets offer a more affordable means of transport. The Athens-Thessaloniki railway is quite functional and the most popular railway routes. It also serves northern and central Greece as well.
By ferry: Ferries are the most common and convenient mode of transportation between Athens and the Greek islands. You will also find ferry services running from Italy to Greece's western ports and from Turkey to Greek islands in the Dodecanese and Eastern Aegean.
By car hire: Cars are the best and the most secure mode of transportation. Car rental firms can be found in the most popular areas of Greece and the Greek islands.
Fast facts for Greece
Language: Greek. Other popular languages include English, German, French and Italian, especially in more tourist-oriented areas. If you are considering heading off the usual visitor trails, make sure you pack a phrasebook or download a translation app.
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Local time: GMT+2
Fly to: All Greek islands have their own airport, including mainland Greece.
Flight time from the UK: It takes around 4 and a half hours of flight from the UK.
Tourist Information: For more information on all Greece locations, please visit the official tourism website here.
Visa/health: If you are a UK citizen and have a valid passport, you do not need a visa for Greek holiday visits for up to 90 days. Visit the official UK travels website for restrictions, travel advice, visa requirements and health advice here.
More travel guides: Curious for more? We have a range of travel guides and holiday destinations from all over the world! Here are a few: Cyprus | Maldives | Turkey | Canary Islands | Spain
Your Guide to Greece holidays
- Food & Drinks
- Beaches
- We Love
- At a Glance
Food & Drinks
Whether you're eating seafood at a seaside table or enjoying modern Greek cuisine beneath the floodlit Acropolis, dining out in Greece is much more than simply the food. Follow the locals' lead and go right to the source, to beach fishing communities for fresh seafood or mountain villages for local meat.
Look out for tavernas growing their vegetables, wine, and oil, and where the fried potatoes are hand-cut, and recipes are handed down from generation to generation. When it comes to traditional food taramasalata, dolmades, mousakka and kolokythokeftedes would be excellent choices for an authentic Greek experience.
Beaches
A country filled with wonders, ancient landmarks, and delicious food; Greece's best characteristic is unquestionably its beaches. With the Mediterranean boasting hundreds of beaches and secret hideaways scattered across many of the Greek islands to discover, you certainly can't go wrong with any of the Greek beaches. With that said, there are a couple that shine a little brighter than the others.
- The island of Zakynthos is noted for its calmer atmosphere, ideal for admiring magnificent locations like Navagio Beach. Navagio Beach (also known as Shipwreck Beach) is a stunning tiny cove bordered by limestone cliffs and filled with white sand. Furthermore, as the name suggests, it comes with the skeletal remnants of an old shipwreck that is still strewn across the shore.
- Do you want to add some colour to your life? On the Greek island of Crete, make sure you take a visit to Elafonissi Beach. Filled with soft, pastel-pink sands against clear blue waters, it provides the most picturesque setting. As it is part of a designated natural reserve, there are minimal amenities on site, however, you are truly here for the breathtaking views.
We Love
Greece has always been people's favourite and it is not difficult to understand why. Boasting a staggering 18 UNESCO World Heritage sites, several of which are archaeological structures, Greece is the perfect spot for history lovers and myth-seekers. In the land of gods and legends, you’ll get to visit the Acropolis or the open-air museums of Dolos, Parthenon and the Temple of Olympian.
- Along with its vast history, Greece is full of stunning beaches and islands with crystal blue waters, silky sands and tavernas. The Greek islands are simply breathtaking, with each island being unique. You will also find a variety of activities such as diving, surfing, and hiring boats/yachts to enhance your experience.
- Apart from the beaches and the Greek islands for which Greece is famous, other sites in Greece offer breathtaking scenery. Greece boasts the longest coastline in Europe with many mountains, forests, and lovely villages that add to the country's beauty. If hiking and trekking are your preferred modes of transportation, these mountain settlements will undoubtedly be a lot of fun.
At a Glance
- The average flight time from the UK to Greece is 4 and a half hours.
- You can fly from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted directly to Athens.
- Greece offers warm weather all year.
travel advice
Get advice about travelling abroad, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings on the
FCDO website.