- Important points
- Choosing wings
- Hotel or apartment
- Transport subtleties
- Nightingales are not fed with fables
- Best travel to Greece
The famous saying about Greece almost does not exaggerate the number of its merits - in a country familiar to everyone from the lessons of the history of the Ancient World, there really is absolutely everything to leave a pleasant trace. It is not only about the perfect tan, but also about the sea of new impressions that await each of its guests during a trip to Greece.
Important points
- Getting a Schengen visa to Greece, according to experienced travelers and travel companies, is much easier than to other EU countries.
- Homeland of Odysseus is a popular beach destination, and therefore tours, flights and accommodation in Greek hotels should be booked well in advance.
- The weather in Greece is formed by the Mediterranean climate, but the swimming season on its beaches does not start at the same time and depends on the geographical location of the resort.
- Do not forget to fill out a special form for purchases over 120 euros in shops that support the Tax Free system. You will be able to get a refund on departure at the airport from 16% to 21% of the tax paid.
- There are ski resorts in Greece.
- Women are not allowed to enter Saint Athos, but they can see the monastic republic from a cruise ship.
- It is possible and necessary to rent a car in Greece. Many attractions are much more comfortable to explore on your own, and car rental prices will not make an independent excursion more expensive than an organized one. Especially if you are traveling with your family or company.
Choosing wings
Russia and Greece are connected by many airlines and you can get directly from Moscow to several cities and resorts:
- Aegean Airlines, Ellinair, S7 and Aeroflot fly to Thessaloniki, popular with tourists, directly from Moscow. The ticket price starts from 300 euros in the season, and the flight will take just over 3 hours.
- Connecting flights are traditionally cheaper and with a transfer in Belgrade, for example, you can get to Greek beaches near Thessaloniki for only 200 euros.
- Both Aeroflot and Greek airlines regularly send their aircraft to Athens. The flight time is 3.5 hours, and the ticket price is from 320 euros. With a connection in Belgrade, you can get to the Greek capital for 200 euros. A change in Athens on board domestic flights will allow you to reach almost any Greek island or resort.
- Many airlines carry out charter flights to Greek beaches in the summer, and flights begin not only in Moscow, but also in St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Kazan, Perm and other cities of Russia.
Hotel or apartment
Hotels in Greece have their own classification system and the deluxe category corresponds to the generally accepted in Europe five stars, C is equivalent to a two-star, B is a three-ruble note, and by checking into a class A hotel, you will get the convenience of a 4 * hotel. To be sure in your choice, you should study the reviews of previous guests.
A room in a 3 * Athens hotel near the metro station and with free parking for guests will cost 35-40 euros. A hotel of the same category in Crete during the beach season will cost from 30 to 45 euros. In addition to the standard amenities in the room, guests will have the opportunity to use the pool, the Internet, and the road to the beach will take only a few minutes.
Greeks willingly rent out their own apartments and rooms for tourists. On specialized sites, you can find enough ads and offers. An apartment for two in the resorts of Crete, for example, will cost from 20-30 euros per night, a separate house with a swimming pool - from 70, and for a room in an apartment with the owner, the guest will be asked from 10 to 15 euros.
Transport subtleties
Travel to Greece begins at the airport, and this mode of transport is well developed and very convenient here. Air routes connect the capital of the country with all resorts, and many islands with each other. The only drawback is not the most affordable ticket prices, but if your main goal is to save time, then aviation will make your vacation optimal in terms of logistics.
Ferries are another popular form of transport in Greece. Ferry ticket prices are very affordable and you can get from one island to another for 10–20 euros. Ferries are also accepted on board by buses, and therefore it is sometimes convenient to move from the mainland to the islands by this type of transport.
In cities, the same buses and taxis act as public transport. The capital has metro and trams. The price of one trip to Athens is 1.5 euros.
Greek taxi is an inexpensive and fairly common form of transport. However, at night the rates are doubled. It is better to negotiate the price of the trip at the time of boarding, or insist on turning on the meter so that there are no misunderstandings.
Nightingales are not fed with fables
Tourists who have traveled to Greece note that the prices for food in its restaurants and taverns are very democratic, and the portions are large, so one salad or hot dish can be safely divided into two. A dinner with a meat main course, Greek salad, wine and dessert in the restaurant will cost about 35-40 euros for a couple. Breakfasts with fresh juices and delicious fresh pastries can be found in any cafe for no more than 8-10 euros per person.
Many taverns practice a "lunch of the day," which includes salad, mains and dessert. This pleasure costs about 15 euros, but you will have to pay extra for drinks.
If you have rented an apartment, you can buy vegetables, fruits, cheeses and other products from the market. In this case, you are guaranteed fresh food from ingredients that are ideal in terms of quality and significant savings.
Best travel to Greece
The beach season in the south of the Balkan Peninsula starts in the last days of April, but the most comfortable conditions for relaxation come a little later - in early May. On the island of Crete, the most impatient jump into the sea in mid-April, when the water on its southern coast warms up to + 23 ° C.
The islands of Greece are the perfect summer destination. Even in the height of the season, the heat does not bother their guests, thanks to the freshness brought by the sea breezes.
It is better to plan an excursion and educational trip to Greece in early spring or late autumn. At this time, the sun is not too hot, precipitation is minimal and sightseeing will not seem tiresome.
The ski season in the resorts of Greece begins in November and ends in mid-spring. Modern equipment guarantees athletes a stable and stable artificial snow cover during the entire skiing period.
