Finding a Greek phone number is free online, and there are several free residential and business phone directories in English. The country calling code of Greece is 30, and every regular Greek telephone number (area code + subscriber number) has ten digits. There are currently two-, three-, and four-digit geographical area codes, so the length of the subscriber’s number varies. The only two-digit Greek phone code is 21 for the Athens. To make an international call from Greece dial 00 + country code and number.

Free telephone number search

The Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A., usually known by its Greek initials OTE, is the former monopoly and still the biggest telecommunications player in Greece. They’re the best way to find a listed residential or business phone number.

The OTE White Pages
(http://www.whitepages.gr/en/) is the free official OTE “11.888″ white pages for people and businesses in Greece. You can do a reverse search with the full ten digit telephone number.

The Greek Yellow Pages
(http://www.xo.gr/default.aspx?la=2) are the Greek yellow pages in English (or just choose language link on top right of the search page). The site has been “beta” for ages. but it’s still effective at finding phone numbers!

Flag of Greece flying over the Acropolis

Greece travel need not be an Olympic marathon. Given Greek history, the most interesting tourist sights naturally tend to be in the more southern areas of mainland Greece rather than the north.

After Athens, most tours concentrate on the major historical sites like Olympia and Delphi and a few other places of interest such as the monasteries at Meteora and the Perama Caves. Unless you have special reasons for spending longer, two weeks is really quite sufficient to cover Athens and the main areas.

Greek island travel however can take as long as you want, and the time you allot usually tends to be too short! There are seven main groups of islands, each island with a slightly different feel. The individual Greek islands all have their own unique beauty and allure, and to no two islands are the same.

Choose the classical Greek style of the Cyclades Islands, or the  Venetian influence on the Ionian Islands, or a quiet and relaxing vacation amid the green scenery of the more laid-back Sporades Islands. Whatever your taste, there’s an island to match…

Of course, ignoring expatriate Greeks visiting relatives, the majority of tourists visiting Greece come on package tours to a single island destination. However, this need not be a disaster, as in many if not most cases these package tourists are isolated in resort hotels and areas. Careful choice of island and hotel (and season) can still give you the Greek holiday you dream of!

A Cruise Alternative

Another alternative is to take a cruise around the Greek Islands, and these ships often slot in a visit to the Turkish coast as well. There are some interesting cruises that take in a few Greek islands and also some Italian destinations which you may find interesting.

Although tending towards the expensive end of the market, a cruise is certainly a relaxed way of seeing the various island destinations, and can often be combined with a land tour for a more comprehensive experience. You may also get to cover a greater selection of islands in a limited time if you’re on a tight schedule.

Of course, it’s best to allow yourself as many lazy days as possible when you’re in the islands, but the main drawback of a cruise option for me is that you usually don’t get to spend the evenings there, so it’s not possible to enjoy a lazy late night dinner in the tavernas.

Book European Cruises : Choose “Greek Isles” when you search.

Our other Greece pages:

Tour Routes in Greece and the Greek islands

When to travel to Greece and the Greek islands

Useful facts, dates and links to help you plan your tour of Greece

Book your sightseeing tours or day-trips in Greece online

Book your hotel in Greece online

TRAVEL TO GREECE WITH US: PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

Map of Greece

Greece travel can really be split into two: mainland travel and island travel.

The only tours to visit the islands, as far as I know, are day-tours and cruises. As the latter always leave at sundown or so as far as I’m concerned they actually miss the best part of the day, eating out in the evening, so I wouldn’t really recommend them. On the other hand, if you’ve a really tight schedule and want to see as many islands as you can, a cruise may be a good option.

Travel between islands is not too difficult and it’s quite easy to get around once you’re there, so why not do it yourself?

But first, let’s deal with the mainland.

A few tours enter Greece from Italy (we did one of these and found it quite enjoyable). However, most begin in Athens so we’ll start there. The suggested route below pretty much covers the major tourist destinations on the mainland.

Obviously you may want to spend longer in different places depending on your interests; it would be easy to spend several days wandering around the Meteora monasteries area if you were so inclined.

The Route

(Note: links to the towns go to photo albums on the Travel Signposts website)

Athens – Corinth – Mycenae – Epidaurus – Nafplion – Arcadia – Olympia – Patras – Nafpatkos – Delphi – Lamla – Trikala (Thessaly) – Metsovo – Perama Caves – Kalambaka (Meteora) – Larisa – Thermopylae – Thebes – Marathon – Athens (Sounion)

The Greek Islands

As far as the islands go, they can be roughly divided into seven groups from the travel aspect:

• The Saronic Gulf islands (Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses);
• The Cyclades (Naxos, Santorini, Mykonos, Delos, Paros/Antiparos, and Ios are the best known)
• The Dodecanese (Rhodes, Karpathos, Kos, Patmos, etc)
• Northeast Aegean islands (Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Samothraki etc)
• The Sporades (Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos, Skyros)
• The Ionian islands (Corfu, Paxi/Antipaxi, Lefkada, Ithaki, Sami)
• and of course, Crete.

There are other smaller islands, but these are really the main ones.

According to one classification (Greek Island Postcards), the islands can be put into the following categories:

• Popular: Corfu, Crete, Kefalonia, Kos, Lefkas, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Skiathos, Zante;
• Peaceful: Aegina, Andros, Ios, Kalymnos, Lesvos, Naxos, Paros, Samos, Thassos;
• Sleepy: Alonissos, Leros, Lipsi, Patmos, Paxos, Skopelos, Symi;
• Offbeat: Angistri, Hydra, Ikaria, Ithaca, Skyros.

Well, you might agree or disagree, but that may give you a few clues to encourage further investigation!

GREECE TRAVEL WITH US: PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

Our other Greece pages:

Travel to Greece for a Europe Tour that’s a Gold Medal Experience!

When to travel to Greece for your tour: weather and seasons

Useful facts, dates and links to help you plan your tour of Greece

Book your sightseeing tours or day-trips in Greece online

Book your hotel in Greece online

• Festivals
• Public Holidays
• Visas
• Health
• Time
• Electricity
• Weights & Measures
• Money, Banks etc.
• Useful Telephone Numbers

Festivals

The most significant festival in Greece is of course, Easter (Greek Easter traditions). The Greek Orthodox Church traditionally stresses Christ’s Resurrection rather than the Crucifixion, so it is regarded as a happy celebration, with candle-lit processions, feasting and displays of fireworks. There
are also numerous summer festivals across the country, the most famous being the Hellenic Festival (mid-June to late September), which hosts drama and music in ancient theatres across the country.

Greek Public Holidays

Visas:

Nationals of Australia, Canada, Cyprus, EU countries, the European principalities of Monaco and San Marino, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the USA and most South American countries are allowed to stay in Greece for up to three months without a visa; most others can enter Greece for up to two months without a visa; Greece will refuse entry to anyone whose passport indicates that, since November 1983, they have visited North Cyprus.

Health risks:

sunburn, Typhus (rural areas from April to September), Lyme disease, Rabies; codeine, which is commonly found in headache preparations, is banned in Greece and you may face prosecution if you bring it into the country.

Time:

GMT/UTC +2; +3 during daylight saving time

Current Greek time

Electricity:

220V, 50Hz, 2-pin (round) plug

Weights & measures:

Metric (same as France)

Metric Weights and Measures and their equivalents

Clothing and shoe sizes conversion: US, UK, Europe

Money:

The Euro (€)

• As of January 1, 2002, the euro (€) replaced the national currency of 12 countries within the European Union, including Greece. You can exchange currency at any bank branch (hours are listed below). Automatic cash machines can be found in most commercial centres.
• Bank Opening Hours Each bank in Greece fixes its own opening hours, but usually Mon-Thu from 0800 – 1400 and Fri from 0800-1330, although there are some banks in central locations in Athens (Omonia, Syntagma) open in the afternoon. If you do your banking in the mornings, all of them are certain to be open.
• Bureaux de change There are many Bureaus de Change throughout the country open from morning until late evening. You can also exchange money at banks (commission varies).

Check out the current Euro exchange rate with your currency here (close the new window to return): TRAVEL SIGNPOSTS CURRENCY CONVERTER

Useful telephone numbers :

• Police 100
• Tourist Police 171 (Athens: 210 922 7777)
• Fire Brigade 199
• Hospitals 106
• 24 Hr Pharmacies 107
• National Directory Enquiries 11888
• International Directory Enquiries 139
• For KTEL Bus schedules 14505
• Rail information (+30) 210 529 7777, 1110 (recorded messages)
• Greek National Tourist Organisation 210 331 0437

Public telephones Most public telephones do not coins. You need a telephone card. In some cases you may be able to use your credit card.

Lost Credit Cards/Travellers’ Cheques

• American Express: Mon-Fri.:08:30-16:00, Sat.: 08:30-13:30 3244975-9
  24 hour service: (00-441273) 526840.
• Diner’s Club 01-9290200
• Euro/Mastercard 01-9503673
• VISA 01-9503673

Other Greece pages:

Travel to Greece for a Europe Tour that’s a Gold Medal Experience!

Tour Routes in Greece

When to travel to Greece: weather and seasons

Book your sightseeing tours or day-trips in Greece online

Book your hotel in Greece online

TRAVEL TO GREECE WITH US: PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS