Home of democracy and philosophy, plate smashing, and gyros, Greece has a long history, whitewashed island towns and a rich cuisine. Our specialists know the country from Athens and the heights of the Acropolis to the traditional villages on the island of Milos, and we can build you a Greece vacation that explores its highlights or delves deep into one facet of its culture.
We can suggest experiences based on your personal interests, including kayaking in the shadow of the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, dining with a local family in their home in Athens, tracing the footsteps of Alexander the Great in Thessaloniki, and hiking among the sky-scraping monasteries in Meteora. Whether you’re looking for a thorough tour of the most significant sites from the classical era or you want to cruise on a private boat around Santorini, we’ll tailor your trip to suit you exactly.
Suggested tours for Greece
Share dinner with an Athenian in their own home, explore the sleepy island of Hydra on foot, and take a private tour of the ruins of Epidavros. Our suggested itineraries are a great starting point as you begin to plan your trip to Greece.
Suggested activities for Greece
Sample local delicacies on a walking food tour of Athens, sip rare wines in the vineyards of Santorini, and explore the Acropolis and its museum on a private tour. Whatever interests you, our specialists will suggest experiences designed to enhance your trip to Greece.
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Santorini private boat trip Santorini private boat trip
SantoriniSantorini private boat trip
Offering a new perspective on the island and its volcanic origins, this private, half-day catamaran tour around Santorini takes in arresting views of the caldera cliffs, hidden coves for swimming and snorkeling, and a sunset dinner on board.
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Santorini wineries Santorini wineries
SantoriniSantorini wineries
With a wine-making tradition that stretches back thousands of years, Santorini is known for producing some of Greece’s finest labels. This private, half-day tour takes in two of the island’s wineries and offers an insight into the island’s unusual production methods.
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Milos cooking class Milos cooking class
MilosMilos cooking class
Learn to cook traditional Greek dishes on the island of Milos where you’ll join a local restaurant chef in choosing ingredients, preparing an array of meze-style dishes, gaining new skills and getting an insider’s guide to Greek cuisine.
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Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Greece, including information about climate, events and festivals.
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Useful information for planning your vacation in Greece
The official language of Greece is Greek, which is written using the Greek alphabet. English is widely spoken in the cities and on the more-visited islands, although in smaller towns and rural areas it’s less common to find English speakers. Street signs, as well as signs in the airports and ferry terminals, are mostly written in Greek and English.
Greece uses the euro (€), which you can buy easily before you travel. You’ll find ATMs in all cities and larger towns and credit cards are widely accepted. In smaller shops or for small purchases, you might be asked to pay in cash. Banks and exchange bureaus are easy to find but only open for limited hours during the day.
In Greece, you should try food such as dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), souvlaki, (grilled skewered meat) and spanakopita (spinach and feta in filo pastry). Greek food ranges from fresh, seasonal salads to rich and hearty dishes such as moussaka (a layered potato or eggplant dish), but it’s common to eat meze — a selection of hot and cold small dishes — to share among your table.
Freshly caught fish is typical on the islands, while lamb and goat are popular meats. You’ll find a wide variety of olives and plenty of fresh dips such as taramasalata (fish roe dip) and tzatziki (yoghurt, cucumber, and garlic dip).
Sticky, flaky, honey-soaked desserts such as baklava at the end of meals complement fiery Greek digestifs like ouzo and tsipouro. While Greece isn’t traditionally known for its wine, the Nemea region of the Peloponnese and the island of Santorini produce some fine wines.
In Greek restaurants, a tip of 10% is the norm, though check to see if a service charge has already been added to your total. It’s common to tip taxi drivers, hotel porters, and guides. Taxi fares can be rounded up and a couple of euro is usual when tipping a hotel porter in the cities, but a little more is appropriate in places like Santorini if porters are carrying bags up many flights of stairs. Your specialist can advise on appropriate amounts to tip guides.
For the latest travel advice for Greece, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the State Department website.
In Greece, you can explore ancient ruins, cruise around idyllic islands, and laze on hidden beaches. It’s a country that goes way beyond its reputation as a beach destination with a history and culture that offers as much out of season as it does in peak summer.
The vestiges of ancient Greece litter the country from the Acropolis in Athens to the sacred sanctuary in Delphi. You can take a guided tour to bring history to life, kayak to the sunken city at Epidavros, or explore Meteora’s monasteries on an e-bike.
Discover contemporary Greek life on a guided walking tour of Athens’ street art or on a hike to the traditional villages of Naxos. Learn more about Greek food culture at a cooking class on Milos or a visit to a Santorini vineyard, or simply enjoy the turquoise, crystalline waters on one of Greece’s many and varied islands.
Greece offers plenty of choice when it comes to places to stay from whitewashed villas overlooking the Aegean to restored mansions in historic towns and boutique hotels in downtown Athens.
On the mainland, you could choose a serene hideaway in the Peloponnese countryside, a traditional inn overlooking the dramatic rock formations at Meteora, or a 19th-century mansion in central Athens. On the islands, your specialist can help you find the right place to stay whether you’re after an indulgent wellness resort in Santorini, a modern, minimalist hotel on Mykonos, or refined elegance in an understated luxury hotel in Hydra.
For more ideas, take a look at our collection of places to stay in Greece.
Greece has so many appealing destinations, it can be difficult to choose where to go, but most visitors tend to head to Athens, Delphi, Mykonos, and Santorini. Athens is crowned by the Acropolis and its renowned Parthenon, which lord over city streets lined with Byzantine churches and Ottoman mansions.
You can dive into Greek mythology at Delphi, explore monasteries that teeter on pinnacles of rock in Meteora, or discover the neo-classical mansions of wealthy sea captains in historic Galaxidi.
The Greek Islands each have their own character and attractions from volcanic Santorini with its plush hotels and excellent restaurants to cosmopolitan Mykonos, or sleepy, traditional Hydra. Speak to your specialist about your interests and they can advise on where’s best to go.
In summer in Greece, you should wear light clothing in natural fabrics, and bring plenty of sun protection. In winter, it can be chilly and damp, so you’ll want something warmer. Whenever you visit, it’s important to dress respectfully if you’re visiting religious sites such as the Meteora monasteries. Both men and women will be expected to wear clothes that cover their shoulders and legs. Women arriving in shorts will be given a long wrap skirt to wear on entry.
The best way to get around in Greece is by car and public ferry. On the mainland and on larger islands, renting a car gives you the freedom to explore as you wish. We can also arrange for a private car and driver if you’d prefer not to drive.
If you’re visiting the Greek Islands, you can fly in, or take a ferry to travel between islands. Ferries can be delayed due to bad weather and sea conditions, so a ferry tracking app comes in useful when planning.
It takes around nine hours to fly from the East Coast of the US to Athens in Greece, and around 14 and a half hours from the West Coast.
The time zone in Greece is UTC+2 hours. Daylight Savings Time is observed from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October.
US citizens don’t require a visa for travel to Greece for stays of up to 90 days.
Your doctor can provide you with immunization advice for Greece, but also check you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations at home. You can check the suggested vaccinations on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Check that your passport is valid for at least six months after your departure from Greece and has two blank pages.
Greece in pictures
Our expert guides to traveling in Greece
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Greece. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Greece at its best.
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Greece with Audley Travel
Visit the stately Parthenon overlooking Athens, sail the deep-blue waters of the Aegean, pick olives from gnarled trees and stay in the whitewashed villages of Santorini on your tailor-made trip to Greece.
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12 best places to visit in Greece 12 best places to visit in Greece
12 best places to visit in Greece
From the classical rising columns of the Parthenon in Athens to the lunar-like landscapes of Milos and otherworldly clifftop monasteries of Meteora, Greece offers wonders at every turn. Here are our top places to visit in Greece.
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Santorini to Nafplio: The best Greek islands, beaches, and coastal towns Santorini to Nafplio: The best Greek islands, beaches, and coastal towns
Santorini to Nafplio: The best Greek islands, beaches, and coastal towns
Greece’s many islands and seaside towns offer a plethora of options for you to choose from: hiking, sailing, kayaking, exploring ancient excavations or just lolling on a glamorous beach under the Aegean sun. Greece specialist Laura explores five sunny, coastal destinations.
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Top 8 trips to Greece Top 8 trips to Greece
Top 8 trips to Greece
Classical ruins, volcanic craters, or cove-riddled coastlines, how do you want to experience Greece? Our specialists reveal their top tour ideas for this do-it-all destination.
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Top 13 trips to Europe Top 13 trips to Europe
Top 13 trips to Europe
From the wintry wilds of Iceland’s shores to the sun-drenched islands of Greece, Europe’s vast diversity means it can be hard to decide where to visit on the continent. Here, we’ve ranked our top tours of Europe to help you make up your mind.
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Exploring classical Greece: Five essential destinations Exploring classical Greece: Five essential destinations
Exploring classical Greece: Five essential destinations
Explore the cradle of European culture with Greece specialist Abbey on this tour of five classical destinations, from the sun-bleached Parthenon in Athens to the sacred island of Delos, which the ancients believed to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.
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6 reasons to visit Europe in autumn 6 reasons to visit Europe in autumn
6 reasons to visit Europe in autumn
From hiking among the heather in the Highlands of Scotland to truffle hunting in Greece to French wine harvest fêtes, Europe is really at its best in autumn. Here are six reasons to visit after the summer crowds have gone.
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Top 5 museums in Athens Top 5 museums in Athens
Top 5 museums in Athens
As the cradle of Western culture, Greece has a special place in the history of art and architecture. Audley specialist and art history enthusiast Shannon visits bronze sculptures, marble friezes and Byzantine mosaics at five of Athens’ best museums.
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Highlights of the Peloponnese Highlights of the Peloponnese
Highlights of the Peloponnese
Rural, mountainous and remote, the Peloponnese was considered a mythic and mysterious land by the ancient Greeks. Greece specialist Abby demystifies the region and discusses its wineries, classical ruins and opportunities for outdoor adventures.
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