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Before Content




greece travel logo

Greece Travel Guide


Athensguide


Greek Island Guide


Lesvos


Hotels of Greece


Turkey


Paris

Sifnos, Greece
Welcome to Matt's Greece Travel Guide

Matt BarrettHi. My name is Matt Barrett. I have been traveling or living in Greece since 1963. In 1995 I began my Greece Travel Website and have been adding information, photos and stories ever since. During this time it has become one of the most popular travel sites on the web with all sorts of free information that you would have to otherwise search for. And unlike most sites I don't have annoying pop-up ads that make so many others such a pain to use. I don't use cookies, and I don't collect e-mail addresses or use spy-ware or bombard people with junk mail. My technical abilities have not progressed much since I began this site, but that can be a good thing. My guides are simple and easy to use, like reading a book or a magazine.

I created my Greece Travel Guides to help you avoid some of the problems people have while traveling and also to share my knowledge of the country. You can follow links to stories and articles I have written on various Greek subjects, from my Guides to the Greek Islands, to my famous Athens Survival Guide and countless pages on hotels, restaurants, beaches, history, Greek food and more. This page can easily serve as your basic guide to Greece and you can follow the links to more information, all of it free. You can also e-mail me with any questions and I usually respond pretty quickly.

Because I don't have the money to compete with the big brand names who pay a fortune to be listed at the top of the search engines, I rely on people sharing my website with friends and other travelers. You can support this site by using the links to hotels and travel agents that I recommend. You can also send a donation through Paypal or venmo.com/Matt-Barrett-Greece

This index will give you an idea of what sections are on each of the main Greece pages. If you are a first time visitor the best way is to skip this index for now and scroll down so you don't miss something important. First read my article: Why Greece?

Introduction
to Greece


General
Greece Info


Athens


Greek Islands


Mainland Greece


Preparation
Introduction: My Greece Websites
Athens Survival Guide

Acropolis, Athens, Greece Athens is a Wonderful City when you get to know it. But most guidebooks are as confusing as Athens seems to be for those unfamiliar with it. Not my Athens Survival Guide. My Athens Guide makes the city and surrounding areas simple and enjoyable by following my steps and just doing what I do. It includes restaurant reviews, hotels (including areas to stay and areas to avoid), archaeology sites, beaches, Photo Tours that will help you understand the city, reliable travel agencies, day-trips, shopping, nightlife, and hundreds of other subjects, all in beautiful Technicolor. You can print out the whole thing and take it to Greece or use it on your iphone or whatever media device you bringing with you. It is the only Guidebook you will need and it is free and easy to use. Recommended by Travel Guru Rick Steves and even used by Athenians themselves.
Visit my Athens Survival Guide BEFORE you visit Athens
Greek Island Guides

Greek Island GuideI have written a brief review on all the islands and turned it into a web page that links to more detailed Greek island information including recommended hotels, beaches, restaurant reviews, archaeological sites, history, nightlife and museums and whatever else there is to do on the islands, plus which islands are easy to get to from which other islands, an important thing to know when you make up your itinerary. If you don't know much about the Greek Islands this will give you some idea of what each has to offer. Visit my Greek Island Synopsis which has a paragraph about each island and then a link to my guide for that island. Or you can just go to my Greek Island Guide which lists the islands by group with a photo and a link to the page for each island. If you know which island you want to visit, then you may find that page easier to use. If like many travelers to Greece you are just trying to find information about Mykonos and Santorini you can just click on those links. But you may be missing out if you think that these are the only islands worth visiting in Greece.

Many people use the Greek Island Guide to research their trip before going to my Create-an-itinerary page where they can fill in a form that tells which islands, how many days, category of hotel, tours and so on and an agent comes back with a price for that trip. It's a pretty creative way to plan your holiday and you are under no obligation to buy so at least you will know what it is gonna cost and which islands you can get to without too much hassle.

Read my step by step approach on " How to go to a Greek Island " which will tell you how to do everything from the moment you leave your hotel, to buying metro tickets, ferry tickets, finding your boat, going to an island and getting home by dinner.

For those who know there is more to Greece than the islands have a look at my Greek Mainland Guide.
Index of My Greece Websites

Greece Travel Guide logoI am continually adding and updating this page and the hundreds of other Greece pages to which it is linked. There were over 5000 pages of information last time I counted, so for easy navigation there is an index at www.greecetravel.com which has all my pages, or most of them anyway. It is the best way to find your way around my site. Many people use it as their home page when they are researching their trip to Greece. If you have a moment click on the logo and then save it to your favorite places or as your homepage. Yes I know it is confusing that there is a Greecetravel.com and a Greektravel.com but the site grew organically and by the time I discovered that this was not the way things are done, there was too much info to change so I just left it. By the way, I do all my pages individually, by hand and there are no pop-up ads, cookies, or tricks to make you click on something you don't want to. I am a real person who goes to Greece regularly, not a computer program designed to promote Greece, or some guy who visited once for a week and wrote the ultimate guide.
Using Travel Agents in Greece

Travel agent Litsa from Fantasy TravelI definitely recommend using a Greek travel agency for your trip to Greece despite the appearance that booking on your own seems to be so easy. The fact is that the booking is easy. It is only after you get to Greece that you may discover that there is more to booking hotels and ferries than booking hotels and ferries. Every hotel in Greece has their own website these days and the quality of the web design does not always reflect that of the hotel. Unless you are back-packing and prepared to sleep anywhere, a trip to Greece is a lot easier if you work with a travel agent who knows what they are doing. They can organize ferries, flights, transportation to and from airports and ports, find the right hotel for you, deal with any unforeseen circumstances, answer all your questions and in the end save you time, money and your sanity. You can choose from dozens of itineraries or you can create your own and by using my website you should have a pretty good idea of what you would like to do. Read more about using Greek travel agencies and meet the ones I recommend. I also suggest you try my Create-an-itinerary page where you can choose islands and tours and click submit and get a price back from the travel agency with no obligation to buy.
Greece Hotel Search and Automated Booking

Hotel in Molyvos, GreeceFor those who have been wondering if I was ever going to get an automated hotel booking site in my guide for people who don't want to go through a travel agency you can stop wondering. I still strongly urge travelers to use reliable Greek travel agencies but if you want to do your own hotel arrangements at least you now have that option and the prices are as low as you will find anywhere and many of the hotels you can cancel with no cancellation fee. Plus they donate to my site whenever someone books. So if you appreciate the work that went into this website please book using the links to my recommended travel agents. If you want to get a second and third opinion save the hotel page and come back to it after you are satisfied that this is where you want to stay.

You can also use my hotel directory at www.hotelsofgreece.com which I completely redid in 2021 while I was waiting for travel to begin again. More on that below. And in 2022 I completed my Book Hotels in Greece Directly page for those who want to avoid a middleman and book directly with hotel and villa owners.

Villas and Houses

I resisted for years but I could not fight it any longer and I hope my friends in the hotel business will forgive me but I have put together a page of Villas, Holiday Homes, Self-catering Apartments and Air BnB type accommodations. Yes I get that there are good reasons for staying in a house or apartment instead of a hotel, especially if you are a family, and you are not just being anti-social. Yes, I know that some people may not want to go out for dinner every night like I do when I am in Greece and may want to have a meal or two at home, or at least breakfast. I get it. And because of that I have created Matt's Villas Page.

Important Note: There is a lot of information on my website and it is all free to anyone whether you booked through the travel agents, the hotels or Air BnB. But it is the commissions I get from hotel bookings on my Greece Hotel Site that supports this website and enable me to continue doing the work I enjoy. So my request to you is that if you are using other sites to book hotels and apartments and using my websites for everything else and are thankful for the information you have received from it please think about donating whatever you can afford so I can continue to be creative. If you are appreciative of all the free information you get on my websites you can send a donation through Paypal

What's New on Greece Travel for 2025?

Acropolis from LykavettosI had plenty of time to make new pages so there is a lot that is new on the site including pages for Parga, Alexandroupolis and Thrace, Limnos, Kalymnos, Leros, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastelorizo, Nisyros, Tilos, Katerini and the Mount Olympus Riviera, The Beaches of Halkidiki, and a few others. I think I have 3 more islands to do and my Greek Island Synopsis will be complete. I also have a brand new page of Greek Islands Off the Beaten Path for those who feel like Mykonos, Santorini, and the other popular islands may not be for them and want to immerse themselves in traditional culture, inexpensive restaurants and uncrowded beaches.

Ferryphobia

This year I got so many e-mails from people nervous about taking a ferry to the islands that I made a page of islands with bridges, islands with very short ferry rides, and places on the mainland that are just like being on the islands. See Greek Islands for Ferry-phobics.

My Guide to the Peloponnesos has been rewritten and new photos added with several new towns and a lot more wineries. Matt's Greek Archaeology Page is where I have gathered every page that has anything to do with archaeological sites, museums, history, licensed guides and historical and archaeological tours. Also close to the same topic I have a new index of Licensed Tour Guides and why you should use them. I have also revisited and updated my Santorini Guide, re-wrote and added new photos to my Pelion Guide. If you are a gay or lesbian wondering what the scene is in Athens and the islands the news is all good and you can read about it on Alexia Amvrazi's Gay-Athens/Gay-Greece. Alexia also recently contributed Healing Arts in Athens: Yoga, Pilates, Accupuncture, Shiatsu and more. And with the help of Diana Farr Louis who wrote about Southern Evia and the Joys of Karystos, I finally have a somewhat completed Guide to Evia. Am I forgetting anything? Oh yeah, I added some stuff to Marc Dubin's Guide to Ipiros and I wrote a page about Metsovo which was probably my favorite place of 2018. See Matt's Metsovo Page. And finally... I got together with some of the ladies in my Greece Travel Facebook Group and did a page called Is Greece Safe for Women which focuses on women traveling alone in Greece. And when I discovered that I had somehow become a senior citizen while I was not paying attention I took lemons and made lemonade with Greece Travel for Seniors. For those who are interested in adventure, eco-tourism, hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, food tours and more, see Trekking, Hiking, Adventure, Cultural and Alternative Travel in Greece which is a work in progress. Finally, for those who are going to Paris on the way to or from Greece I have rewritten and added new photos and a new look to Matt's Paris Guide. Like my Greece pages it is also free of obnoxious pop-up ads and has no spy-ware or cookies.

Fantasy Travel Greek Easter Programs: Easter in Greece brings with it a plethora of traditions and these vacation packages ensure that you will participate in all of them. Immerse yourself in a part of Greece that is both spiritual and joyful, taste unique Easter-related delicacies that cannot be found at any other time of the year and partake in celebrations alongside locals throughout the Holy Week. See Fantasy Travel's Greek Easter Programs

Mamma Mia Here We Go Again
For those who are looking for a Mama Mia themed experience check out Fantasy Travel's Mamma Mia What A Trip! This vacation package gives you the chance to take a trip to the settings of the iconic musical, with a visit to Skiathos and Skopelos. The two islands became well known worldwide from the hit film Mamma Mia but their immense natural beauty is significant enough to attract any visitor!

Fantasy Travel's PELOPONNESE ADVENTURE
Hit the road and explore every corner of Peloponnese with a carefully crafted itinerary meant to take you away from swarming crowds and expose you to a different aspects of one of the most charming regions of Greece. See Fantasy Travel's Peloponnesian Adventure

New Hope for the Solo Traveler
Most packages are for couples and families and the solo traveler often feels left behind to fend for himself and paying more for rooms because he is only one person and most rooms have at least 2 beds. If you are a solo travelers have a look at Fantasy Travel's Cycladic Solo Adventure and Athinian Solo Adventure

Santorini Hotel

Matt's Best Hotels in Greece

My biggest project of 2020-21 was the facelift and reorganizing I did to Matt's Greek Hotel Guide which I am quite proud of. I basically went through every hotel on every island, village, town and city in Greece, and picked out the best ones, in all categories, with a representative photo (thousands of them) which link to more photos, descriptions, guest reviews, maps and booking information. Some of these can be booked through the travel agents or directly with the hotels, but the vast majority go through my Booking.com affiliate pages. Not only were their prices the best, but in 2020 when Covid caused thousands of cancellations, the people who had booked through these pages had no problems getting refunds because their cards were never charged. (Credit cards are used to save reservations. You actually pay at the hotel.) So please have a look at HotelsofGreece.com and if you are planning on not using a travel agency consider using this site to find and book hotels. Not only will you be getting the best deals at the best hotels but you will also be supporting this website. Remember to save it to your favorite places.

At the end of 2021 I completed my Book Hotels in Greece Directly page made up of hotels, villas, apartments and holiday homes that can be booked directly with the hotels themselves. If you don't want to use a Greek travel agent or you have discovered that many hotels on Booking.com don't have availability, then you can use this page to go directly to the hotel's booking system.

For those who are interested in staying outside of Athens I have added a new section in my Athens Survival Guide about the coastal suburbs or what some people call the Athenian Riviera so you can stay at the beach instead of in the center of the city. See my Athens Coast page and if you want to stay in the leafy cool suburbs in a beautiful old classical hotel see my Kifissia page. Hotels for both these areas can be found in my Hotels of Greece Athens Coast and Suburbs Page
New Economical Greece Packages

Santorini, GreeceFantasy Travel has put together a number of packages that offer quality hotels for economical prices. Most packages that seem too good to be true are actually not as good as they seem, often using hotels that are in areas you really don't want to stay in, to keep the price down. But Fantasy's economy packages feature hotels in and around the Plaka, within walking distance to all the archaeological sites, museums, shops and restaurants in Athens and are all excellent quality hotels. I recommend Fantasy Travel's program The Pursuit of Pleasure which is 8 days and 7 nights in Athens, Naxos and Santorini or the Pursuit of Pleasure 2 which is 12 Days and 11 nights in Athens, Mykonos and Santorini including hotels, ferries, transfers, tours, admission to archaeological sites and breakfast. You can't beat the price for these hotels and these itineraries. For these and more visit Fantasy Travel's Special Offers Page which they frequently update with prices changing depending on availability. I encourage you to visit that page and keep checking back for bargains. They also have early booking discounts which can save you a lot.Aso be sure to see their Athens-Mykonos-Santorini Budget Program which is always a bargain.

Easy Greece Travel for Seniors
Fantasy Travel's Seniors Winter Special features Athens, Meteora, Delphi, Myceneae, Epidavros, Nafplion, Olympia and the Saronic Islands in a program designed specially for retirees and senior citizens. If you have mobility issues or you are that age where you just want to take it easy and enjoy Greece without climbing stairs and mountains this is a good choice for you. They have also put out a Seniors Summer Program which features Sifnos and Santorini.
Aegean Blue: Athens-Naxos-Santorini

Naxos, GreeceThis Special offer 10-Day program features 3 of the best hotels in Greece and many extras at the best value for money price.
It Includes:
2 nights in Athens in 4-star Herodion Hotel
3 nights in Naxos in 4-star Iria Beach Hotel
4 nights in Santorini in 4-star Tholos Resort (Volcano-caldera sea view room)
9 Breakfasts
Ferry tickets Athens – Naxos –Santorini
Air Tickets Santorini – Athens
Transfers roundtrip, Athens Airport – Hotel
Transfers roundtrip, Naxos port – Hotel
Transfers in Santorini Port-Hotel, Hotel–Santorini Airport
Caldera Sunset Sailing cruise
Athens Private Walking Tour (with professional guide, 4.5 hours duration)

See Fantasy Travel's Aegean Blue for more information

Economical Cruise Packages

Mykonos, Fantasy TravelI admit that I am not a big fan of cruises. Not that I have ever been on one. But in my opinion visiting a bunch of Greek islands for a few hours each is not that way to do it, no matter what your travel agent tells you or what you read in a travel magazine. I think you need at least 2 or 3 nights on an island if you want to really experience it. On a cruise you are just sort of looking at it. But Fantasy Travel's Smart 7 cruise allows you to spend 3 nights in Mykonos at the beginning of your cruise and 3 nights in Santorini at the end of your cruise. The cruise is 4 days and includes Kusadasi, Turkey, Patmos, Rhodes and Crete which would be impossible to see in such a short period of time otherwise. Plus you can add on extra islands or tours of the mainland with Fantasy's low rates. Take a look at Fantasy Travel's Smart 7 Program and also have a look at the other cruises on Fantasy Travel's Cruise Page.
Cabin Charter Cruises of the Greek Islands

Sailing in GreeceIn my opinion this is a great way to go. Yes it is a cruise except there are only from 5 to 25 cabins meaning there are only 10 to 40 people on your boat instead of hundreds or thousands. They are mostly old style wooden sailboats though they mostly travel using the engines. And unlike a cruise where you wait in line to get on and off the ships and sometimes have to use smaller boats to get to shore because they are too big for the harbor, these boats pull up to the dock and you get on and off as you like. They also stop in quiet coves and beaches for swimming, fishing and lunch. The famous Captain Alexander Matsakis does cruises of the Cyclades, Sporades and the Ionian Islands and is something of a legend. Besides his weekly scheduled cruises his boats can be chartered as well. See Greece Sail Cruises and Charters.
Matt's Greece Travel Blog and Facebook Group

Greece Travel Facebook Group photoFor the latest on what is happening with me in Greece read my Greece Travel blog or else go to Matt Barrett's Greece Travel Guides Group on Facebook for comments, photos and other fun stuff where you can interact with other travelers and people who live in Greece or go there regularly. But the answer to the question that many people are asking is " Yes people are traveling to Greece. " The numbers for Americans traveling seem to be down but that has as much to do with the American economy as it does with Greece. Europeans, Australians, Indians, Chinese, Canadians, Brazilians and of course Greek-Americans continue to spend their summer holiday in the Greek islands and tourism is one of the bright spots in the Greek economy. If you have any questions about personal safety, refugees, terrorism, the economy or whatever you have read in the news that might make you not want to go to Greece you can e-mail me or go to Matt Barrett's Greece Travel Guides Group on Facebook where there are other knowledgeable people sharing information, some of whom are living in Greece.

Matt Barrett on Tiplr!
I am now featured on Tiplr which is a platform for travel tips all over the world for those who like their information in bite-sized pieces. It is an excellent source of travel info especially for people who prefer a hand-held computer to a laptop or larger. So go and download the app.
New or Updated Greece Travel Information

Matt BarrettWhat kind of person are you? Are you the type that knows they want to go to Greece, don't know exactly where they want to go or what they want to do, but don't want to spend hours or days or weeks trying to decide? Well for you I have created a page that will make it easy for you. It is my Suggested Itineraries Page and it will make planning your trip to Greece a lot easier. If you are the type who knows what you want to do but just needs help putting it together in a sensible way that suits your budget then I have a page for you too. It is my Create-an-itinerary Page which is to travel as multiple choice is to tests. Try it out and see what I mean. It is fun and you are under no obligation to buy and unlike forms on other websites I don't use it to collect information about you or keep your e-mail address so I can bug you later.
Support the People of Lesvos: Visit Lesvos

Amarandi in Sigri, LesvosYou have read about the flow of refugees coming to Greece, many of them landing on the island of Lesvos. The people of Lesvos have been helping the refugees, rescuing many at sea, giving them warm clothes and food as soon as they come ashore, and assisting them on getting to the administration centers in Mytilini so they can be registered and continue their long journey to the rest of Europe. The refugees are no longer coming in the large numbers of the past and after 10 years the government is more competent at dealing with those who do arrive. But fir many people the island is still synonomous with refugees which is silly. You can support the people of Lesvos and visit what I think is the most beautiful island in Greece. Lesvos is as beautiful and enjoyable as ever and the people of Lesvos don't deserve to suffer economic hardship because they have chosen to assist refugees instead of turning a blind eye. So consider Lesvos as the island to visit this summer and support the people who are actually helping the refugees. See my guide Lesvos: More Than Just Another Greek Island.
Winter in Greece

Chania, Crete in the winterDespite what you have read about the Greek islands closing for the winter, as if Greece is some kind of seasonal theme-park, there are people like me who think that the winter-season, which goes from late October to the end of March, is one of the best times to go to Greece. No crowds, generally good weather and many days when you can swim. There can be periods of cold or rain and even snow in the mountains. (You can ski in Arahova near Delphi and then go swim in the Corinthean Gulf the same day). But even when it is cold it is not the brutal cold that anyone in the northern US experiences in the winter. The most amazing thing is that everything is green! The dusty archaeological sites that are parched and dry in the summer are alive with grass and wild plants and if you go in March or April, millions of wildflowers. If you want to see the real Greece, including islands that have returned to their quiet winter-ways after the summer tourists have left, and take advantage of low season rates and cheap airfare then winter is the time to go. And as I have written elsewhere Athens is the best city in the world from November to May with more restaurants, music, and shopping than most people get in a lifetime. For more information on off-season travel see my article on Winter in Greece and also the new Off-Season Travel in Greece which has some winter itineraries and links to more info. Oh yes, and be sure to read about Skiing in Greece. Many people have discovered that the Christmas holidays in Greece is a great time to be there, with low rates on hotels and the weather is usually a lot nicer than wherever it is they have come from. Many days it is warm enough to dine outdoors. It is a great time to be in Athens and visit the archaeological sites and nearby islands and Athens nightlife in my opinion is among the best in the world. Read about my Christmas in Greece.
Easter and other Important Holidays in Greece

Easter in GreeceFlights are usually cheaper than in the summer and there are several Easter packages which enable you to experience the week of Easter with Greek families, seeing the ceremonies and in the end roasting a lamb and celebrating the resurrection. Even if you are not religious it is a festive time to be here with beautiful candlelight ceremonies and everybody is in a state of increased happiness and hope no matter how miserable they were feeling before. It is my favorite time to be in Greece. See my Easter in Greece page and also Fantasy Travel's Greek Easter Programs

Apokreas is a two week Carnival Season just like New Orleans and Rio that comes to an end with Clean Monday and Lent 40 days before Easter Sunday. This is a great time to be in Greece too with parties and parades and lots of eating and drinking in Athens, Patras, Skyros and just about every island with a decent winter population. 40 days after Orthodox Easter is the Agios Pnevmatos Holiday, similar to our Memorial Day weekend but this is celebrating the Holy Spirit. The hotels and ferries to the islands are usually full that weekend, going there on Friday and returning on Monday or Tuesday. In August everyone leaves Athens for the villages and the islands and on August 15th it is the Celebration of the Panagia (Virgin Mary) and finding hotels or space on the ferries during this period is almost impossible if you wait too long. Many people stay in Athens during this period because even though it is hot, it is practically empty, by Athens standards at least. See also Holidays in Greece
Traveling with Children in Greece

Greece with ChildrenI have a daughter and have taken her to Greece every year since before she was born and she is now 28 years old (and still travels with us to Greece). Greece is a great country for kids, especially the Greek islands. It is safe and the Greek people love children. There are also lots of children around which is a key ingredient for your child having a good time while traveling with his parents. Trust me. I know. If you are traveling to Greece with small children, you may want to learn the secrets of " Strollering Through Athens'or take a look at my guide for Traveling to Greece with Children which has lots of cute baby photos and information that will be of use to you whether you are traveling with an infant, toddler, or even a teenager. And even better my daughter Amarandi when she was 8 put together a page for her fellow kids to read about how to deal with their parents in Greece called Greece4kids. Also be sure to see the link to Fantasy Travel's Percy Jackson Tours further down this page.
Getting Married or Honeymooning in Greece

Santorini honeymoonThe Greek islands have always been one of the most popular destinations for Honeymooners. In the last few years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people who want to get married there too. Why not? You combine the wedding with the honeymoon. Now there are all sorts of wedding packages available of all sizes and prices. Before you make your decision, whether you are doing a full-blown wedding or a simple exchange of vows, or just a renewal of vows see my Greek Weddings page. For those who are already married but just see Honeymoon in Greece and speaking of which..... Before you commit to anything (besides each other of course) take a peak at Fantasy's Honeymoon Packages . Most Honeymooners go to Santorini. Personally if I were going to get married I would go somewhere more quiet and traditional like Sifnos. But with a good travel agent helping you it is possible to do both.
Greek Ferry Boats

Ferry and Flying DolphinMost ferries going to the Aegean islands leave from Pireaus which you can get to in 15 minutes by metro or taxi from central Athens. Others leave from Rafina and Lavrion which are both about an hour from Athens. The ferries to the Ionian Islands leave mostly from Kilini, Patras and a couple other towns in western Greece. There are modern high-speed ferries that cut travel time in half and cost twice as much as the regular ferries. The fleet of Flying Dolphins, which are small high-speeds, serve mostly the Saronic Islands where the sea is rarely rough. There are also the Blue Star ferries which are not as fast as a high-speed but fast enough and big and modern. You may have read that ferries are unreliable but that information is dated. The newer Greek ferries are large and state-of-the-art and go to the popular islands. Occasionally one may be delayed because of weather or mechanical problems but cancellations are rare. But to avoid any anxiety about your trip home because of a fear of a ferry delay I suggest saving Athens for the end of your trip. A good plan is to arrive and spend the first night in Athens and see as much as you can that day and leave for the islands the next day. Give yourself 2 or 3 days at the end of your trip to experience Athens and the mainland. You can read more on my Athens Guide Greek Ferry Boat pages

Ferryhopper logoUse Ferryhopper to find all direct and indirect ferry routes for the islands of Greece, Spain, Italy & Turkey, compare ferry companies & prices, and book cheap ferry tickets with no hidden fees in one go!
George the Famous Taxi Driver

George the Famous Taxi DriverAthens best Taxi driver is George Kokkotos. Having your own air-conditioned personal taxi in Athens is like having your own chauffeur, translator and guide for a fraction of the cost. George speaks perfect English and knows all there is to know about Athens and the archaeology and history of Greece. It's a great way to see the real Greece. I recommend him for excursions such as Delphi, Meteora, Nafplion,(Epidavros, Corinth and Myceneae), Sounion, Olympia, or anywhere on the mainland. (He says he will go to the nearby islands too.) If you are in a group of three or more people it is cheaper to use George then to go on the guided tour bus, and more fun since he will be more flexible, allowing you to stop at the beach of quiet tavernas, something you can't do on a tour bus. George knows the country and will help you find many bargains and hidden places not on most tourist itineraries. He can also take you on a tour of Athens nightlife. If you are in Athens and need a car at your disposal for business or pleasure, George is at your service. One of the few taxi drivers in Greece who does not smoke. For sightseeing, guided tours, excursions all over Greece, or even a day of golf, call or FAX George. Also for transfers*, he will meet you at the airport when you arrive and take you to your hotel, to and from cruise ships, ferry boats etc. George has a luxury Mercedes and also a limo and a bus for larger groups!
He also provides a car seat for infants. For more about George read his testimonials.
For rates and more info see www.greecetravel.com/taxi or or e-mail georgetaxitours@yahoo.com
Driving in Greece

Before you embark on your journey you may also want to see my sections on Driving in Greece which has lots of tips on driving safely and tells you what to watch out for.

Swift Car rental, Athens Swift-Avanti Rent-a-Car is a small family-run company owned by Elias Manouas who prides himself on specialized personal service. Excellent cars and low prices plus delivery or pick-up to your hotel, the airport or wherever you are in Greece. He can also make arrangements with his affiliates on the Greek islands (or you may want to bring his car on the ferry like a mobile closet for your luggage.) Not only will he give you a 15% discount for mentioning my website but he will also drive you to the outskirts of Athens where the driving is easier. You will never have to experience what the Athens drivers go through every day until you are ready for it. For info on cars and prices visit the Swift-Avanti Website or use this Form to contact them.
Sailing in Greece

Sailboat, Greek islandsA few summers ago I took a 5-day cruise on a sixty-foot sailboat boat with 6 cabins and plenty of room and Captain Billy Joe Leck, a true renaissance man from the UK, skilled in the arts of sailing, story-telling, guitar-playing and baby-sitting who knew more about the islands than I could learn in a lifetime! I am not a sailor so I was a little reluctant to go but when the trip was over I wished I had booked 10 days or a month. We swam in sheltered coves in incredibly clear sea and sailed into ports in the late afternoon for dinner and entertainment. (The boat had AC but we never needed it.) This is the best way to see the islands, (like a cruise but you choose your own itinerary). If you like a particular island you stay longer or even return to it. The captain doubles as a guide/host and knows the best restaurants, bars, beaches and is your private interpreter making ordering in restaurants easy. The surprising thing is that it can actually be cheaper then staying in a hotel and a lot more interesting! Be sure to read my article about my experience sailing in Greece at www.greecetravel.com/sailing

Sailboat charter
Greece Sail Cruises and Charters

The authentic way to sail the Greek islands with Captain Alex and his comfortable traditional wooden sailing yachts on the Aegean and the Ionian Seas. Rent a cabin or the entire boat for you and your family and friends. These beautiful boats are large enough to accommodate 16 passengers comfortably and offer several itineraries that will allow you to visit the different island chains when they each have the best weather. Or you can charter the entire boat and go wherever you want. See their website.
GM Sailboat and Yacht Charters

David Econopouly of GM Yacht Charters has gathered together the best boats and some of the finest and most entertaining skippers in Greece to offer a large number of specialized sailboat or motor-yacht cruises for honeymooners, archaeologists, people traveling with their pets, disabled, students, naturalists, and more. If you have ever wanted to sail the Greek islands (or Turkey) and find your own special beach or make up your own cruise take read Why Charter A yacht with David at GM Charters
Group Discounts

Schools, Churches and Groups coming to Greece... Did you know you can get great discounts on hotels, cruises and tours if you come as a group? If you are a school, a wedding party, a company going on a trip, a family reunion, a cultural organization, church or if you are just someone who wants to come to Greece with friends and family or a travel agent check out the Groups page at www.greecetravel.com/groups where you can put together a specialized itinerary for your people and then get a price per-person. And you won't have to negotiate with the hotels one-by-one. Everything is taken care of and all you have to do is make sure everyone gets on the plane.
Suggestions for interesting tours in Greece....

Meteora, GreeceThe most important sites are in the Greek mainland and include Delphi, Meteora, Nafplion, Corinth, Myceneae, Epidavros, Olympia and others. Take a look at Fantasy Travel's mainland tours which are anywhere from a half day to seven days and are very reasonably priced. They can be combined with an island or two or a short cruise. You can take care of your historical needs and then relax on the islands at a very low price. See Fantasy Travel's Mainland Tours page which has dozens of options for exploring the Greek Mainland. If you want to read more about where to go on the Greek mainland visit my Greece Mainland Index which has links to my various guides.
Fantasy Travel's Greek Island Packages

If you can't find something that appeals to you on Fantasy Travel's new website then I don't know what else to say. They have hundreds of possible itineraries and you can even customize them if you can't find something that's perfect for you. I highly recommend their Classic Packages which combine the Greek Islands with Athens and the mainland. Or go to their Island Hopping Packages and find the one that suits you out of the dozens of choices.
Budget Tours

Many people write that they want to go to Greece on a very meager budget, but they are nervous about doing all their hotels, and ferry bookings on their own. They would like to stay in economical hotels but the thought of trying to figure out the metro, buses and taxis scares them a little. So I asked Fantasy Travel to put together a 10-day package for people who think they can't afford to go to Greece. They came up with something pretty special that includes 3 days each in Athens, Mykonos and Santorini, all transfers, breakfast, ferry tickets and a one day tour of Delphi or the one day Saronic cruise for as low as 62 euros a day per person. And everything except lunch and dinner is taken care of. Even entry fees at the archaeological sites are included. See my Budget Travel site and Fantasy Travel's Special Offers Page .
Weekend in Athens

For those lucky enough to live close enough to Greece so you can just pop in for a weekend I have put together a plan that crams as much fun, food and history as any mortal could stand in 3 days. It does not have to be a weekend either. Any 3 days. See my Weekend in Athens Page

Greece Cartoons: While playing with my camera one day, (a Sony Cybershot DSC-HX20V), I discovered that if I combined two settings I came up with a way to make my photos look like comics and my friends look like comic book characters. At first I began posting them as they were, but then I decided that if I could add word balloons my photos really would be like comics. All I needed was to think of something funny to say in each one, which is not as easy as it sounds. Well you can decide whether or not they are funny by going to my Greece Cartoons Page

Also take a one minute spin with my video All My Friends from Greece. It's a commercial I would make if I were the head of the Greek National Tourist Organization. I wrote the song and sing and play it with some of my rock and roll pals.

By the way....Please Help Support My Website!

Greece Travel logoThis website began as a hobby in 1996 and since then it has grown in popularity and size. People have been asking me how they can contribute. First of all you can contribute by using the agencies I recommend. Without their support this site could not exist. Another way to contribute is to help spread the word about my Greece Travel Guides. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell strangers on the travel bulletin boards. If you have your own website or blog make a link. The only way I can compete with the big commercial sites is with your help. Some people use my site to gather all this free information and then go shopping on the web to save a couple euros but if you are thankful for the info you find on my site and the work I have put into it you can support it by using the travel agencies I recommend or if you prefer to book hotels individually by using my Hotel Booking Site. You will find prices as cheap as you will find them anywhere. You can also support it by sharing it on Facebook and whatever travel groups you use. If you are appreciative of all the free information you get on my websites you can send a donation through Paypal Or you can use Venmo at venmo.com/Matt-Barrett-Greece.
If you prefer to send a check you can email me. Thank you for your support!

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Introduction
to Greece


General
Greece Info


Athens


Greek Islands


Mainland Greece


Preparation

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