I will admit that I should have been carrying it in one of those under the shirt holders and in the future, that is what I will do. Do drink the tap water in Athens and the Greek mainland, but bottled water on the islands. Driving in Athens, and Greece in general, can be a little hair raising! If they’re not actually eating a meal, then there’ll almost always be some small snack accompanying the alcoholic drink ordered. Thanks! It’s made from instant Nescafe, sugar and water and is drunk cold with lots of froth and ice cubes. A power bank is especially useful when you need to charge your phone on the go; it can be a life saver at times! I love using it. You have to come back soon! Gain insight into Greek culture and learn the best tips and suggestions for a memorable stay in Greece from those who know best: the locals! If you find yourself a bit lost while traveling around, feel free to kindly ask a local about directions. I would do a mama Mia style go on holiday and never come back if I didn’t have young children…. Your ferry could suffer mechanical problems, or be delayed due to the weather or another work stoppage. Interesting observation Sarah. Yes, there are lots of pick pockets on the metro – as with any big city. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Do learn the language. Do get an Athens City Pass, which is a good way to save money on transportation and seeing the major attractions! For more info check our. Great info!! It might be inconvenient but public transport in the city does go on strike at times for hours at a time. Although there is no norm for tipping in Greece unlike in North American culture, it is still a good practice to tip and reward good service. Are knee length dresses acceptable to wear in churches as long as arms are covered, or should I bring a maxi dress? When one travels, one gets used to being aware of surroundings, etc. They’re lovely to walk into and you don’t need to be necessarily religious to appreciate the architecture inside and out. My wife and I love sitting at a cafe and people watching. It’s not funny, it doesn’t show you’ve had a good time and worse still, you’re a bad ‘Ambassador’ for your country. I generally do not like carrying a large amount of cash with me so having a credit card is a must. Greece, including the vibrant city of Athens is actually one of the most safe areas for women traveling alone. It is not the intention that you should delve too deeply. Try going to some off beat places and restaurants for authentic Greek cuisine; If you’re in Athens and want to try authentic Greek food and consider yourself a foodie, join our "Get a Taste of Athens food tour" for a chance to get acquainted with the amazing Greek cuisine with a local expert! Alonzo Osche 4 years ago . What a great article! Don’t get into taxis without asking how much they will charge you. Do be aware that stores usually close mid-day around 2-3 pm as Greek shop owners have their “siesta” which might be inconvenient for some, but yet it is a nice tradition. Download my latest App for Android or Apple: Greece’s Best. I mean it’s nice to know a countries preferences but when your economy relies mostly on tourism, just suck it up. ? I’m glad you loved the country, like I do. Greeks are very hospitable to foreign visitors. Greece tends to be a little humid as it’s by the coast, especially the islands so bring trousers and a long sleeved cardigan. I like to think so! For a more comprehensive guide on public transport in Athens, read this article! Yes, if you read the piece I think I mention that the person was not of Greek descent. Be prepared to pay an extra withdrawal fee from your bank however; my bank in Canada charges $5 every time I withdraw cash from an ATM. Athens is one of these cities always featuring in every to go list. Talking of clothing: I am not going to just single women out. Greece Do’s & Don’ts. Do you walk around topless (males) in your home city in the summer? Do accept a greeting with two kisses on the cheek. Let us know in the comments below! It’s sunny, you will need jumpers though as it gets windy on the islands – maybe a windproof jacket too? Do you have any tips for traveling with kids 10 and 8? In cafes and restaurants, a 10-15% gratuity is fine. Thanks for your message Virginia. It is an acceptable practice in Greece to bargain but many stores have fixed prices. How on earth can you NOT chug a frappe?? Uhm, you are very wrong. Very good information! They do this to get an impression. Do’s and Don’ts – Customs and Etiquette in Greece – Clothing. Food and Drink. It will be fun and you will be amazed with how many words in English language derive from Greek! Not only will you be expected to eat everything off your plate, but you should also compliment the chef by asking for seconds – even if you're stuffed! The Do's and Don'ts When Traveling in Greece by Truevoyagers. With so many incredible Islands in Greece, it is understandable that you want to “island hop” and see many islands as soon as possible during your time here. I booked my trip for April 2020 not realising that there won’t be boats and a lot of places are closed during the Easter time. You may stay away from some specific areas of the city at night (e.g. The reason for this is that you need the dos and don’ts basically showcase the behavior that is acceptable and not acceptable to the locals of Greece. But I still have questions : I never saw beggars….an extremely weird thing for me….how come? Do go to Meteora monasteries. Just because not obeying social rules in a country wont be dangerous to you (like many muslim countries) that doesnt mean you should respect them any less. Tx this was most informative. I wouldn’t try to climb up to the Acropolis from midday onwards – make sure you aim to do it early morning or later in the early evening, it’s too hot. Really related to what you say about binge drinking; it is not that Greeks don’t want to binge drink but that the “aftermath” is considered embarrassing – so that’s why they mostly don’t do it. I like cities, markets, etc…which smaller places would be good for me to visit? amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Large malls in Athens and other big cities are open usually till 9 pm in the weekdays and till the afternoon on Saturdays, Sundays closed. I went last year with my girlfriend and it was amazing tour. So my collaboration post with other travel writers and bloggers about Cultural faux pas around the world may interest you too. And words of advice from members that live there or members that travel frequently? while in Greece; Learn how to taste the best of Greek culinary scene like locals do! It comes in various packages from “mini” to “complete”, and includes things like 72 hours of unlimited free travel in public transport, and free and priority access to the Acropolis and Archaeological Museum. And it’s such a healthy outlook to life too. Thanks for the tips! I wouldn’t keep everything in one place – and usually travel with a hidden money belt that you can put under your clothes. I hope you’ve enjoyed my brief, what I consider essential etiquette in Greece. Learn a few words of the local language and use them! Frappe. Don’t be alarmed if many people smoke indoors, as Greece has a sizeable population of smokers. I’ll just add one point – when in Greece, don’t just stick to gyros, souvlaki and moussaka. I hope you enjoy ‘Girl Gone Greek’ near Omonoia, Victoria, and Attica metro stations), but at any other time it is very safe. Great advice re: Espresso Freddo. But note: some churches – especially monasteries, don’t like women to show their shoulders, and especially not their legs. Also keep in mind that taxis double their fares at night. Thank you Ismini. I’ve been to Greece twice, found a frappe mixer and brought it home but sadly because of the voltage difference it is not effective here in Canada. Do lock valuables in your hotel/hostel. Just enjoy your drink slowly! My bestie and I are just now planning a 2 week trip there for this September. You know the rule: always pack light! And this is why I love Greek culture. Wear a long loose skirt if you intend to go inside churches – and bring a shawl or scarf to put over your shoulders – better still, wear something with long sleeves. Can you recommend any public gardens that feature plants native to Greece? Greeks tend to kiss on both cheeks starting from the right one when meeting. I think I mentioned it in this post already, but check out Scottavest. It only really gets ‘chilly’ in Greece from end of November to late Feb. And it all depends on where you’re going and what you’re seeing: if you’ll be in the mountains, on an island, in the cities. After all, this is a country that dates back to ancient times. Consider Meteora, with its gorgeous mountain top monasteries, or Delphi, with its rich ancient history and ruins. Here we get killed for a cheap cellphone, sometimes they don’t even take anything, they kill you for fun. A unified ticket grants access to multiple monuments over the span of five (5) days! I’m glad you enjoyed it and can relate. Cash is the preferred method of payment in many shops even if they have a debit/credit machine. If you are a confident driver back home, that still may not qualify you for … They’re lovely to walk into and you don’t need to be necessarily religious to appreciate the architecture inside and out. Thanks so much for the great tips! This sometimes happens once there is a relationship. 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