Travel advice for Greece
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Greece
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
Describe your
ideal trip
Tailor your trip
with a local expert
Book your personal trip
100% securely with us
Find inspiration and
information for your next trip.
Get a local travel agent to
plan your personalized trip.
Book & travel securely with our money-back
guarantee and local expert assistance.
By far the easiest way to get to Greece is to fly, and there are direct flights to a variety of Greek destinations from all major UK airports. Even if your starting point is North America, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, the most cost-effective way to Greece may well be to get to London – or Amsterdam, Frankfurt or another Northern European hub – and pick up an onward flight from there.
Meet your Greece local travel expert
The Historical and Mythological Cyclades islands
The Cyclades islands include two of the most famous Greek Islands: Mykonos and Santorini. Visit these and some of the smaller, quieter, islands. With white washed houses, narrow cobbled streets, blue domed roofs and stunning beaches, they are what Greece is all about.
customize ⤍A secluded villa stay on Mainland Greece
Stay in a secluded private villa with magnificent views to the sea and explore this beautiful corner of Mainland Greece with your own rental car. Under the impressive Mt Taygetos in Southern Peloponnese, the region of Mani will give you a snapshot of authentic Greece.
customize ⤍Along the Coast of Crete: from Heraklion to Platanias
As Greece's largest island, Crete's culture and atmosphere is distinctly different from mainland Greece. Thousands of years of unique culture and rich history complement the island's untamed natural beauty. Explore Crete at your own pace with this unique self-drive trip!
customize ⤍Cultural and natural sites of Athens and the Peloponnese
Welcome to wonderful Athens for an unforgettable adventure. Enjoy getting lost in this maze of charming streets, where the modern sits beautifully with the ancient. Venture out into the Peloponnese on mainland Greece, and discover historical, cultural and natural wonders the region is blessed with.
customize ⤍An Odyssey Adventure in Ancient Greece
Learn the secrets of Ancient Greek mythology and history visiting the world-renowned site of the Acropolis, explore the unspoiled landscape of Peloponnese, become a true Spartan warrior in Thermopylae and much more - this self drive tour takes you on a real Greek adventure.
customize ⤍Explore Classical Greece: self-drive motorhome trip
This 15-days motorhome road trip will take you to Athens, the city of legends and some of the most fascinating classical sites, such as Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi and the man-made marvels of the Corinth Canal and Byzantine monasteries of Meteora. A perfect tour for history.
customize ⤍Athens: City of the Gods
Welcome to wonderful Athens. Wander this maze of charming streets, where the modern sits beautifully with the ancient; discover the Acropolis and the Parthenon, the crowning architectural achievements of the Classical Age; indulge your sense with delicious Mediterranean food at local tavernas.
customize ⤍Discover Naxos in style
Stay in a secluded private villa and explore Naxos at your own pace in your own rental car. Lasting just above 1 week, this itinerary leaves plenty of room for relaxation and exploration of the amazing island of Naxos, with its authentic mountainous villages and magnificent sea views.
customize ⤍Epirus and Athens: The Ancient Sites
Discover the ancient cities of the Epirus region and Athens. Shrouded in myths and legends of Greek gods and Roman and Byzantine warriors, the sites in the Epirus region of Greece, temples, castles, fortresses and rivers, all have tales to tell.
customize ⤍An exclusive stay in Milos
Get to know the most exotic island in the Aegean by staying in a private luxury villa by the sea. Volcanic rocks paint the beaches red, pink and orange, white rock formations, emerald green waters and caves eroded by the sea, are steeped in stories of pirates. Milos is truly unique.
customize ⤍Greek Island-Hopping Honeymoon
Hop between the islands of Milos, Naxos, and Amorgos on this romantic trip. Drive around stunning coastlines, explore mountain villages, visit ancient sites, and luxuriate on golden beaches as you are transfixed by the allure of the Aegean’s turquoise waters.
customize ⤍Relaxing discovery of classical Greece
Spend a wonderful few days exploring Athens and the ancient sites surrounding the capital on mainland Greece. Blessed with glorious weather, nature and beaches, see sites that rival anything which you may find on the Greek Islands.
customize ⤍Airfares are highest in July, August and during Easter week. But May, June and September are also popular, and since far fewer flights operate through the winter, bargains are rare at any time.
Overland alternatives from the UK or Northern Europe involve at least three days of nonstop travel. If you want to take your time over the journey, then driving or travelling by train can be enjoyable, although invariably more expensive than flying. We've included only brief details of these routes here.
When buying flights it always pays to shop around and bear in mind that many websites don't include charter or budget airlines in their results. Be aware too that a package deal, with accommodation included, can sometimes be as cheap as, or even cheaper than, a flight alone: there's no rule that says you have to use your accommodation every night, or even at all.
Prices for regional flights are generally slightly higher than London to Athens; it may cost less to travel via Athens with a connecting flight.
Fares vary greatly, so it's worth putting in a little time on the internet, or using a good travel agent; book as far ahead as possible to get the best price. The lowest starting point is around US$900 for a restricted, off-season round-trip flight from the east coast, rising to about $1400 for a similar deal in summer; from the west coast, expect to pay ten to twenty percent more. The lower fares are rarely on the most direct flights, so check the routing to avoid lengthy delays or stopovers. Remember too that you may be better off getting a domestic flight to New York or Philadelphia and heading directly to Athens from there, or buying a cheap flight to London (beware of changing airports) or another European city, and onward travel from there.
As with the US, airfares from Canada vary depending on where you start your journey, and whether you take a direct service. Air Canada (aircanada.com) flies to Athens out of Toronto, with a stop in Montreal, from one to four times weekly depending on the time of year. Air Transat (airtransat.com) also have seasonal weekly flights from Toronto and Montreal to Athens. Otherwise you'll have to choose among one- or two-stop itineraries on a variety of European carriers, or perhaps Delta via New York; costs run from Can$900 round-trip in low season from Toronto to more than double that from Vancouver in high season.
Fares from Australia start from around Aus$1800, rising to around Aus$2600 depending on season, routing, validity, number of stopovers, etc. The shortest flights and best fares are generally with airlines like Thai (thaiair.com), Singapore (singaporeair.com), Etihad (etihadairways.com) and Emirates (emirates.com) that can fly you directly to Athens from their Asian or Gulf hubs, though you'll also find offers on Swiss (swiss.com), KLM (klm.com) and other European carriers. From New Zealand, prices are significantly higher: rarely less than NZ$2200, rising to over NZ$3000 for a more flexible high-season flight.
If Greece is only one stop on a longer journey, you might consider buying a Round-the-World (RTW) fare, although Greece never seems to be included in any of the cheaper deals, which means you might have to stump up around Aus$3500/NZ$4000 for one of the fully flexible multi-stop fares from One World or the Star Alliance. At that price, you may be better off with a cheaper deal and a separate ticket to Greece once you get to Europe.
The following companies operate ferries: schedule and booking details for all of them are also available at openseas.gr and viamare.com.
anek.gr. Ancona and Venice to Corfu, Igoumenítsa and Pátra.
minoan.gr. Ancona and Venice to Corfu, Igoumenítsa and Pátra.
superfast.com. Ancona and Bari to Corfu, Igoumenítsa and Pátra.
ventouris.gr. Bari and Brindisi to Corfu, Igoumenítsa, Kefaloniá and Zákynthos.
For more top travel tips about Greece, head here.
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Greece
written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 19.05.2021
Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert
Book securely with money-back guarantee
Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support