Greece Travel: An Online Odyssey
Greece is known not only for its capital city, Athens, home to the Acropolis, but for its 2000-plus islands, about a hundred of which are popular destinations for tourists. Each island exemplifies Greece's cultural legacy: whitewashed houses dotting the landscape, rugged hills, unspoiled beaches, great cuisine, and everywhere reminders of the country's ancient roots in art, religion and mythology. This guide will give potential travelers to Greece the online resources to book a vacation, find places to stay, things to do, and get tips and advice for the journey.
Expand All Guide SectionsGreece Travel Basics
Greek culture is steeped in tradition, so any vacationer will want to take advantage of the architectural and religious marvels, the cuisine, and any festivals the mainland or islands celebrate. The sites below will give you the resources and background to plan your sightseeing itinerary and get some ideas courtesy of experienced travelers and the Greeks themselves.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The travel booking site Sidestep has a great section just on sightseeing. Click on "Travel Guides," then enter your destination in Greece into the search bar. You'll see your options on the left-hand side of the page. The categories include "Day Trips," "Nightlife," "Tours," and more.
- Visit the sites of Greek newspapers in English for a rundown of local events, whether musical, theatrical, or artistic. Newspapers cater mostly to residents, so you'll find activities the guidebooks might not tell you about. The site Online Newspapers has an adequate listing of links to newspapers based in Greece, specifying which are in English and what areas of the country they cover.
- Greeka, the "Greek Island specialist" site also mentioned in the "How do I get to Greece" section of this guide, has a listing of events around Greece that overlaps with some of the listings in What's On When and with our other picks below.
Dulcinea's Picks
The Greek National Tourism Organization
is a valuable general resource pre-arrival in Greece, and its event guide is a feature of note. Use the navigation on the right side of the page to learn about open-air theaters, sporting events, customs, heritage, and more. Because this is the official site of tourism in Greece, it's likely the most reliable and is updated frequently.
What's On When
is an international event-finder with an entire section on Greece, featuring listings of festivals, carnivals, and other highlights of the country that aren't time-sensitive, like architectural spots and restaurants. Visit this site to plan your itinerary and learn about potential hotspots you might not otherwise know about.
British Airways
' site has a lengthy list of events around the Greek islands and mainland, organized by date. View a capsule listing or click through to learn more about the event. The site provides information and cost, where applicable, and also rates the events.
Athens News
is an English-language newspaper based in the capital city that can guide you through local events and teach you more about the culture of the country. Often there are interesting travel articles in this newspaper about more obscure Greek islands.
Travel Requirements for Greece
Many different options for travel and accommodation while in Greece make it important to research the country before you plan and book your journey. This section covers sites that will better inform you about Greek culture and customs, and points you in the direction of advice and tips before you leave.
Dulcinea's Insight
- If you're looking for a more relaxing vacation, it's worth exploring the off-season for a quieter experience: the weather in September is particularly enjoyable, and by this time schools are back in session. Select Global Hotel Net's "When to Go" article from the left side bar for more on timing your vacation.
- Consult the advice of an experienced traveler like Matt Barrett, whose site devoted to Greek travel is mentioned in the section below. Read his "Tips" section for dozens of important nuggets of advice on booking your trip and what to do when you're in Greece. Check out his "Greek Islands" page to see which islands he suggests visiting.
- Read articles from Focus Greece, a vacation booking site mentioned in our hotel section below. It offers insightful pieces about many Greek islands, covering history, places to stay, and things to do.
Dulcinea's Picks
For an orientation ...
Global Hotel Net
is a text-heavy resource with a lot of information about Greece, including what differentiates the island groups, even those that aren't habitable, and what's special about the mainland. Choose the areas that interest you from the "Explore Greece" index, and check out other links on the left-hand side of the page for information on culture, eating and drinking, visas, health matters, gay travel, and more.
For country history ...
A History of Greece
was created by Matt Barrett, an experienced traveler to Greece who also owns the site GreeceTravel.com (see below). This site outlines some of the fundamental periods and figures behind the ancient country, mentioning wars, revolutions, and books of note.
For general information ...
Kasbah
is a travel site providing country and city guides, links to useful sites on a variety of travel issues, and booking options. Start with their Greece travel guide for an overview of places to go and other inspiration for your visit.
Greek Landscapes
provides beautiful pictures of several islands and areas on the mainland, as well as written information about what differentiates some of these islands. The site also has a very useful "Travel Guide" section, which outlines things to know before you go, tips on currency and pricing, what to pack, a list of best beaches, and much more.
For travel tips ...
Greece Travel
asks "Why Greece?" in its first section, and site creator Matt Barrett responds with an experienced traveler's myriad reasons for exploring the mainland and its islands. From there, explore the rest of his site for sage advice on accommodation, transport, Greek history, as well as island guides and an "Athens Survival Guide". Parents will be happy to know Barrett's daughter also created her own site, Greece 4 Kids, with insight into the country from a younger person's perspective.
Around Greece
gives a brief overview of the Greek Islands, explaining which islands are included in which groups, which are popular and less known with tourists, and what the islands have on offer for travelers. You'll note here that the Cyclades group is considered the most popular and includes Mykonos, Santorini, and Naxos.
Getting to Greece
Greece is conveniently located in the eastern and central Mediterranean, making it easily accessible by ferry from Italy and very convenient for air travel. In this section, we outline some tips and Web sites that can assist you in booking part or all of your transportation to Greece, whether you are traveling to the mainland, islands, or both.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The main European point of plane departure to Greece is the United Kingdom. Many Web sites are based in the UK simply because Greece is a very popular destination with its residents. Many of these sites accept bookings and payments from other countries.
- Several Greek islands have airports, most of which are accessed by charter airlines departing from Athens. Check the resources on FlightMapping, listed in our picks section below, for a map of all airports in Greece.
- Flight travel from the United States to Greece is best done by taking advantage of deals from bigger airlines, often available in the early fall and late winter, and by using European low-cost airlines. Often using two different airlines can reduce the cost of your trip.
- Ferry travel, while not as luxurious as cruise ship travel, is one of the most popular and enjoyable ways to get to Greece and travel around the Mediterranean, and can be even better if you're traveling with a car or RV. Ports in Italy and Greece, such as Venice and Piraeus (the port of Athens) are a common departure point when visiting the isles.
- Don't forget that Greece is part of the Eurail network, which is especially popular with backpackers looking to hit up multiple destinations and save money.
Dulcinea's Picks
For air travel ...
Greeka specializes
in air travel to the Greek islands, so you will find a large selection of islands available, as well as options like "Island Hopping", hotel listings, car rental, and other extras for your itinerary. Also of note are the "Greek Beaches" and "Reviews" section, both of which have general and specific information from site staff and travelers.
Gate 1 Travel
is a popular package travel agency with the site Budget Travel, which recommends Gate 1 Travel in several of its articles on package tours, including an article called "Greek Island-Hopping". Check out their Greece landing page for a list of deals that include ferry and cruise travel, air travel, and mainland/island packages of varying lengths. The company is a particularly good source for cheap airfare from the U.S., but you will also be able to book other parts of your vacation.
FlightMapping
not only lets you book air travel to Greece from several UK destinations, but also includes tips and information about the types of airlines that fly there and the best times of year to find deals. A map of airports in Greece is on the home page, as well as links to the airports and a listing of the airlines that fly there.
For ferry travel ...
GreekFerries
allows you to book trips from ports like Ancona, Bari, and Venice in Italy, to several Greek destinations on the mainland and dozens of islands. The front page of the site has a color-coded listing of the ferry companies that operate in Greece, making it easy to select an itinerary and learn about ticket types.
Ferries.gr
is a popular site for booking ferry trips to and around the Greek mainland and isles. There are also bookings available here to and from surrounding countries, including Italy and Spain. The text-heavy navigation on this page can be distracting, but scroll down for a more concise listing of the many ferry companies that operate in Greece.
For rail travel ...
Eurail
is the official site for Eurail passes, so it is the most comprehensive, both as a reference tool and source for buying tickets. On offer are single and multiple-country options, open-ended passes, and more, all available for purchase in U.S. dollars or Euros. Visit the "Greece Pass" page to learn about a few options when traveling by rail to and around the country. You will also find links on this site to ferry and hotel discounts, which can be used in conjunction with your passes.
Harry's Greece Travel Guide
is a useful resource for learning about train travel options on the mainland and sights to see along various routes. Similar to Matt Barrett's guide to Greece, this site comes from an insider's perspective and has other valuable sections on ferry travel, the islands, and Greek history. You can also book vacations through this site, which has operated as a travel agency since 1979.
Greece Hotels
There are several types of accommodation in Greece, which all cater to a different set of traveler, whether you're on a budget and want to tour in hostels, go the traditional route of a hotel, enjoy the outdoors at a campground, or rent a villa or apartment. The sites below will guide you through the process of booking your accommodation with a variety of resources to complement some of the general booking sites in the previous section.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Aggregated travel booking sites, which scan hundreds of other sites to find deals, may not specialize in Greece as a destination, but they are still a valuable source for booking hotels, flights and cruises because of the sheer number of options available.
- Take note of the sites below not only for hotel searches and bookings, but also for a database of important resources on Greek travel and opportunities to book other portions of your vacation.
Budget Travel has a great article called "Secret Hotels of the Greek Isles," created by an experienced Greek traveler as part of the publication's "Secret Hotels" feature. The article provides links to useful Web sites that can help you book the hotels mentioned and other parts of your trip.
Dulcinea's Picks
For hotels ...
Greek Tourist Organizer
has listings of over 8,000 hotels in Greece and much more. It can help you plan tours, car rentals, cruises, and dining options. There is no flight booking option on this site, but browse hotels by region, get tips on sightseeing, and also check out their listing of travel agencies, which covers an array of the island regions.
Sidestep
searches over 200 other travel sites for hotel deals, car rental services, cruises, and flights. On the landing page for Greece hotels, you can choose your destination from a list of over a hundred and find comprehensive information about each hotel, including its star rating and amenities available.
Fresh Holidays
is a travel booking site specializing in Greece, and while not many locations are listed here, you will find great hotel information for the places that are (Kos, Rhodes, Santorini, Crete, and Thessalon’ki). Listings feature top-quality images and complete information. The site is best for hotel search, as flights to smaller islands are not often feasible.
Booking
is also a wise choice for a hotel search because it includes more than 850 hotels in Greece in its results. You are likely to find hotels on many of the islands listed here. Plus, the site is well organized and includes helpful information like user ratings, star ratings, amenities, and hotel policies.
For hostels ...
Hostel World
has one of the most complete listings for hostels in Greece, covering more than fifty islands and several areas on the mainland. Listings include pictures, amenities, starred ratings, and booking options. The site also has a section for booking tours, and you can find activities and plan your itinerary in the InfoZone section.
BootsnAll
is a general travel resource that also allows you to book your hostel or hotel accommodation and transportation to Greece. Read the "Hostels in Greece" page for an outline of what to expect from hostels in Greece, and browse the listed hostels, located on nearly 70 islands.
For camping ...
EuroCampings
is a UK-based site with one of the most complete listings of campsites around the Greek mainland and isles. Search by region, such as Ionian or Peloponnese to see images of the campgrounds, find out about amenities, how many pitches exist at the site, and average price for a stay. Click on any campsite's name to get a map of the area and contact information.
Greece Travel
has a comprehensive directory of campgrounds around Greece with address and telephone number. You won't find pictures of the campsites in this listing, but where applicable, the manager of the campsite and open months are listed.
For house and apartment rental ...
RentVillas
has hundreds of listings for villa rental in Greece, organizing the results by region and summarizing what those regions have to offer. Each villa's individual page has an in-depth description of what the property features, how many people it can sleep, where it is located, pricing, and contact information for booking a stay. The company also rates the properties on several scales including location, peace and quiet, and outside areas.
Owners Direct
has extensive property rentals through villa and apartment owners around Greece. Choose the size of the accommodation you are looking for and narrow your search by island or town. Most listings have multiple large photos and detailed information, including pricing at different times of the year, contact information for the owner, and other details of note like proximity of beaches, deposit requirements, and amenities.
Getting Around in Greece
Greece is a rugged place, where walking requires comfortable hiking shoes or sneakers, a sturdy vehicle, a moped, or a mountain bike. Island-hopping by ferry or yacht is another common mode of transportation that allows you to admire the landscape for a higher fee. In this section are sites and tips to help you find ways to get around the country, whether you're looking for luxury, a great deal, or something in between.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Car and moped rental on the Greek islands is not always feasible on the Internet; you're best off consulting travel agents and locals to find out where to rent a moped or car on the island.
- Off-road vehicles are a common option, as the terrain of the islands is often rugged and unpaved, and of course, this allows you to drive as close to the beach as you want.
- If you are eager to book your car or moped in advance and haven't found your island(s) offered on any of the sites below, try entering "[island name] car rental" into a search engine. Smaller companies are often affiliated with bigger names like Hertz and will have a Web site where, at the very least, you can get contact information for the island's office.
- Public buses on the Greek islands and mainland are usually a last resort. You will find some bus services available to tourist destinations, notable monuments, and popular beaches and towns, but often car, moped, bike, or taxi transportation is much more comfortable and not much more expensive.
- When cycling, remember that the terrain in Greece is very hilly and the temperatures can reach up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. Always bring lots of fluids and food on a bike trip.
- Moped and bike rental is typically run by local businesses, and very few have Web sites. These services are affordable and accommodate the walk-in traveler, so booking beforehand is not necessary. Be advised that Greeks drive on the left side of the road and are known for fast, sometimes reckless driving.
- Island-hopping via ferry is a great, affordable way to see the islands. Consult the sites in our "How do I get there?" section and below for sites specializing in ferry booking.
Dulcinea's Picks
For car rental ...
Pangosmia
is a car rental company that has offices on dozens of islands, and there are over 20 types of cars available for rental. Explore their home page to see which islands are included and scroll to the very bottom to book your rental.
Antena Car Hire
offers rental bookings for more than 20 Greek islands and Athens, and rents a variety of subcompacts. There is not an extensive variety of four-wheel drive vehicles available, however.
For yacht and cruise charters ...
Sailing Issues
is a good site to begin with if you're thinking about going on a yacht or cruise around the Greek islands and surrounding areas. This site discusses the rules, options, and perks of this form of travel, and guides prospective boating enthusiasts through the process, noting important factors like weather. Visit the "Yacht Charters" page to contact the people running the site, who can recommend the best charter companies in Greece.
Fyly
is an Athens-based yacht charter company that offers bare-boat, skippered, and full-crew yachts. There are dozens of itineraries available. Typical full-crew charters spend their time in a particular region, such as the Cyclades, and include one day on each island with a total length of up to 15 days.
Viking Yacht Cruises
operates chartered cruises on yachts and cruise liners around the Greek islands, mainland, and Turkey. The length of cruises on offer varies from three days to 14, and cruise options include themed land & sea tours for those interested in meditation, unique tour routes, and popular landmarks. Most information is available on the Web site, but further details and booking requires contacting the company via phone or e-mail.
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