Summer 2023 and 2024 were the years we visited Greece. Summer 2023 was our first time, and it was truly a dream come true! One that had been about 15 years in the making!
There was something about Greece that felt so magnetic to my soul, and visiting this special place just made this so much stronger. But when we finally booked tickets and it was official we were going, a sense of paralysis came over me. It was as if it was something I wanted for so long, that planning it felt like a task I could not bring myself to conceptualize or approach.
Because of that, our first experience involved a lot of learning through trial and error. In a way though, I think that was a gift. We didn’t have rigid expectations of how everything needed to be, so we let Greece happen to us.
Going back the second time we had more insight on what would be helpful to think of ahead and what was not really necessary and would actually create more stress if we held onto logistical expectations tightly.
Here are some timeless Greece travel tips that could apply no matter when you will be visiting this special place:
Packing:
– Sunblock: The sun in Greece is no joke! Usually, during the summer months, I have a hard time getting tan and keeping it. But after just a few short days in Greece, I was the tannest I had ever been in my life! From my research, I knew that sunblock would be essential so I made sure to prioritize this. My husband thought he was in the clear, because he’s a pretty brown man but the Greek sun humbled him and he got sunburned! So truly, no one is above sunblock in Greece
– Portable fan: Looking back this would have been such a helpful gadget to carry. Especially, for areas that were not getting that sea breeze — thinking of the urban streets of Athens, Greeece…
We arrived at Athens and stayed there for a couple of days. Of course, we wanted to do the iconic cultural and historic things so we visited the Parthenon and walked the beautiful old streets. A portable fan would have felt like a balm on a burn. So learn from us and be sure to pick one up! We’ve recently purchased a rechargeable one that is small enough to put in your bag.
Finance:
– Credit cards: Contactless pay is widely used in Greece, especially in more popular areas. Before your trip, it’s worth looking into a credit card that does not charge international transaction fees. Bonus points if it allows you to collect travel points or rewards!!!
– Cash: On the other side of the coin, cash is still important to have…Cash can still be King! We wanted to be prepared and ready in case of an emergency where a location or person only accepted cash. The first time we went, we were not aware of how widely credit card payments were used. So the second time, we only brought part of our budget in cash instead of feeling like we needed to carry too much.
– Currency Exchange: To avoid paying more fees than necessary, we exchanged our U.S. Dollars for euros at our local bank before leaving. This gave us a better rate and removed the hassle of having to figure it out once we arrived.
It was one less thing to think about, which meant we could land in Greece and go straight into enjoying our time there!
Logistics:
– Renting a car: This was definitely worth it! Espeicially on the islands where we wanted to go beach hopping! Having this extra accomodation and flexibility made such a difference because we weren’t tied to one specific area or schedule.
– Explore and enjoy Athens: Definitely stay in Athens at least a couple days in order to soak in Greece’s history and culture. It’s a great opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the beautiful and rich foundation of this beautiful place’s culture.
Athens can feel hot, busy, and not what you might first picture when you think of Greece and its island beauty, but it holds so much beauty and depth…I’m so glad we gave ourselves time there and walked on ancient ruins…so transformative and such a great start to the rest of our trip!
– Island hopping: If island hopping, determine your itinerary ahead of time. Having a general plan will help you figure out ferry schedules, travel times, and ticket prices.
You don’t need to go over-plan every single moment, but knowing which islands you want to visit and in what order can save you a lot of stress! (Trust us! haha)
– Ferry experience: The onboarding/offboarding is down to an efficient science in Greece. Be prepared to make a fairly quick entrance and exit onto the ferry boat. They will not wait until everyone is seated to take off, as long as everyone’s on the boat, things get moving!
Accommodation:
– Cast your net wide: When looking for where you’ll stay, cast your net wide. Review options on Google maps; don’t only search on AirBnB! As we walked the Greek streets, we realized that there was so much more to choose from and Google maps gives a good quick glimpse to this. Sometimes smaller hotels, boutique stays, or local accomodations show up there and may not appear on the more conventional sites. It’s worth a review!
Lastly, this doesn’t fit neatly into any one of the categories above, but I think it’s worth mentioning.
Since we were visiting Greece for the first time and didn’t do a ton of research ahead of time, we were suprised by how widely English was spoken, especially in the more popular areas.
That being said, like with any country you visit, learning a few basic words goes a long way! Even simple greetings or thank yous can create a small but meaningful interaction with local people, even if you’re just passing by!
It’s a simple way to show respect and be more present in the culture ♥️
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Every trip is filled lessons and they can be practical like learning what makes the most sense for you to pack — what are your needs truly vs. what other people suggest you pack. Other times, the lessons are softer but yet strong and profound, like learning to release expectations, stay flexible, and let a place unfold in its own way ♥️
These are some of the fundamental lessons that shaped our travel experience in Greece, and they have also helped us approach other beautiful parts of the world with more ease, openness and gratitude!
Greece will always feel special to us. It was a dream that took years to come true, and somehow, even with the heat, the planning mistakes, and the trial and error, it gave us exactly what we needed ♥️
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