TRAVEL TIPS
GREECE
OVERVIEW VISÃO GERAL TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTE ATTRACTIONS ATRAÇÕES WHERE COMPRAS TO STAY ONDE WHERE FICAR TO EAT ONDE SHOPPING COMER
OVERVIEW Greece, the small European country where
During this time of year, most Greeks avoid
Western civilization began about 2,500 years
heavy physical activity outdoors between 1:00
ago offers a vast selection of experiences,
and 5:00 p.m.
landscapes and activities. The visitor to Greece is advised to get in Located in Southern Europe, on the
tune with the local way of life by waking up
southernmost tip of the Balkan peninsula,
early, doing all sightseeing and errands in the
Greece has extensive coastlines and
cool morning hours, and then spending the
hundreds of islands in the Aegean, Ionian,
afternoon in the relaxing shade or at the beach.
and Mediterranean Seas. The country shares borders with Albania, the Former Yugoslavian
Temperatures tend to dip to very pleasant
Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
levels on summer evenings.
Four fifths of Greece consists of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe. Each year Greece receives millions of visitors drawn to the country’s beaches, its reliable sunny summer weather, its nightlife, historical sites and natural beauty. In Athens, the country’s capital and largest city, as in many other parts of Greece, magnificent ruins stand as monuments to the nation’s glorious past. However, Greece today is also a vibrant modern European country. It is a land where migrant communities from the Balkans, Africa and Asia, together with communities of EU expatriates and retirees, contribute to the country’s status as one of Europe’s more recent multicultural societies. Weather-wise, May, June, September and October are the most pleasant months in Greece. July and August are the hottest months when the midday sun tends to get very strong.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS GREECE
TRANSPORT ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
the enormous city of Athens and is perfectly integrated with the remaining metropolitan network; that is, the excellent metro system and the super modern bus and tram service.
Greece is proud of its modernEleftherios
METRO
Venizelos International Airport, which is located
The Athens Metro is fast, comfortable and
18 miles (30 km) northeast of Athens. The
very reliable. It is almost a hundred miles long
services provided at the airport can be compared
and provides easy access to historical sites
to the finest airports of the world. A privately-
andPiraeus Port.
owned toll motorway, the Attiki Odos, connects the airport to the city of Athens and there is a 24-hour express bus service from the airport to the city centre and to the port of Piraeus.
TRAIN The Proastiakos, a high-speed suburban train also links the international airport to the city centre and Piraeus Port. This high-speed train is of fundamental importance to getting around
BUS AND TRAM There are bus and tram services to all places in Athens and to the suburbs. They start to run at 5:00 a.m. and operate until 12:00 midnight. Tickets can be purchased at most newspapers kiosks. When entering the bus or tram, you must validate your ticket at one of the validation machines and keep the ticket for the whole trip.
TAXIS
train. It is a nice way to travel and enjoy the
There are tens of thousands of yellow taxis in
beautiful countryside. There are two Central
Athens, but finding an empty one is almost
train stations in Athens. Trains for the south of
never easy. If you have travel connections to
Greece, leave from the Peloponnesus Station
make, it’s a good idea to reserve a radio taxi.
on Sidirodromon Street. Trains for the north,
ON FOOT
east and west of the country leave from the Larissa Station onDeligianni Street. The
Since most of what you want to see and do
Intercity express trains are the quickest way
in Athens is in the city centre, it’s easy to
of travelling on the Greek mainland. They
do most of your sightseeing on foot. Athens
run between Athens and the major cities of
has created pedestrian zones in certain areas
Larissa, Thessaloniki, Patra and Kalamata.
of the city, facilitating strolling, windowshopping, and sightseeing.
TRAVELLING OUTSIDE ATHENS
By ferry – Piraeus Port is one of the largest ports in Europe and the largest one in Greece. Thousands of people use it yearly to commute
By rail – The Greek Railway Company’s trains
to the numerous popular Islands during the
connect big cities and small towns within
summer months.
Greece, as well as other Balkan countries and Turkey. From Athens you can easily
There are usually several different vessels that
reach most tourist destinations in Greece by
make the journey to each of the major islands. As well as conventional ferries, you can make the journey to some islands on a hydrofoil called a “Flying Dolphin”.
ATTRACTIONS ATHENS The Acropolis — A trip to Athens must start with a visit to the Acropolis a flat-topped rock which rises 490 ft (150 m) above sea level in the city of Athens. The site, one of the earliest settlements in Greece and the centre of Greek culture during the Golden Age, never fails to impress. The Acropolis is the site of a collection of beautiful temples, most of them dedicated to the goddess of wisdom, Athena. Visitors enter the site through the monumental entranceway,
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS GREECE
the Propylaia. To the right of the entrance is the
Socrates andPlato once circulated. The area
tiny temple of Athena Nike, which has been
is littered with the ruins of numerous ancient
reconstructed and restored. Then there’s the
buildings, including the Dionysos Theatre, the
Parthenon built of Pentelic marble quarried from
world’s oldest theatre. One building that has
the distant mountains, which form the backdrop
been restored is the 200 BC Stoa of Attalos, a
to the magnificent view of Athens from the
long, low roofed promenade which served as
Acropolis. Alongside the Parthenon is another
a combination law court, municipal office and
temple, the Erechtheion.
shopping arcade in ancient Greece.
The New Acropolis Museum, which contains
The National Museum of Athens, the largest
the portable objects removed from the site
and most popular of Athens’ many museums,
of the Acropolis is located in the historical
houses some of the most important artifacts
Makriyanni Street, south-east of the Acropolis.
from a variety of archaeological locations around Greece. Its vast collection includes a
Agora — Below the Acropolis is the remains
staggering array of sculpture including the
of the Agora, ancient Athens’ commercial and
earliest known Greek figurines dating from
civic centre, where the great philosophers
around 2,000 BC.
The Plaka is the picturesque old historical
of Corinth, is known both for its picturesque
neighbourhood of Athens situated below the
scenery and rich history. While in the
Acropolis. It is visited by hundreds of thousands
Peloponnesus, be sure to check the fascinating
of tourists around the year particularly in the
cities of Corinth and Mycenae.
warm Athens evenings. Motor vehicles are not allowed in the neighbourhood and strolling the
Central Greece, you have the magnificent
narrow streets of the Plaka flanked by ancient
Meteora monasteries, monasteries perched
monuments, Byzantine churches and mosques,
on top of enormous rocks. The mountainous
stately mansions, and inviting tavernas, can be
terrain of this part of Greece is ideal for
a very pleasant experience.
trekking, while Mt. Parnassus near Delphioffers opportunities for skiing.
Syntagma Square, at the heart of modern Athens, is home to theParliament Building, built in 1840
Northern Greece – In the north, lies the
as a royal palace. Tourists flock to photograph
region of Macedonia with Greece’s second
the skirted and pom-pommed clad guards at the
biggest city, Thessaloniki. The city is steeped
palace. The square is a central point of access to
in more than 2300 years of history; it was
all the major attractions of Athens, particularly
founded by the king Cassander of Macedonia,
‘museum mile’ which runs from Syntagma
and named after the sister of Alexander the
Square alongVassilissis Sophias Avenue and hosts
Great. There are numerous monuments from
most of the Athens Museums.
the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman times.
OUTSIDE ATHENS The Peloponnesus, a peninsula forming the southern part of Greece south of the Gulf
The archaeological museum in Thessaloniki displays various treasures from the ancient kingdom of Macedonia.
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The Greek Islands – The islands of Greece such
It should be noted that in Greece hotels,
as Crete, Rhodes, and the Cyclades are also
especially in the islands, but also even in
noted for their picturesque scenery and rich
Athens and other big cities, tend to be simple
histories.Santorini is also quite impressive, with
establishments. Rooms are typically small, and
its capital Thira on the edge of a large cliff
bathrooms smaller. Standards of cleanliness are
and its black sand beaches. Mykonos island
good, even in the simpler places. Those who
is also great fun, with over 20 sandy beaches
want more luxurious accommodation can usually
and countless great bars to enjoy till the early
find it in cities and on the more popular islands.
hours. Then there is the sacred island of Delos, birthplace of the god Apollo, which is only a
If you enjoy the local traditions and charm,
short boat ride from Mykonos.
unhurried rhythm of living, small, family-run pensions are the best way to enrich your
Not to be missed are the Ionian Islands,
Greek holiday. Owners and personnel are
located in the Ionian Sea, off the west coast of
friendly and open-minded.
Greece. Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada, Ithaca,Paxos and Kythira, the islands are well
In addition to hotels, almost every popular
known for their beautiful sandy beaches,
Greek destination offers self-catering
crystal clear waters, charming villages and
accommodations called studios or sometimes
stunning scenic countryside.
apartments—the terms are pretty much interchangeable. Often these are run by hotels:
WHERE TO STAY
a hotel may include some self-catering units. Though not listed very often in travel guides, these studios are most certainly a viable option for many travellers. They don’t have a
Visitors to Greece will find a huge selection of hotels and accommodation available including hotels of all categories, rooms, studios and apartments to let, as well as other accommodation such as villas and traditional mansions. Greek hotel rooms usually have air conditioning nowadays. If this is important to you, ask before booking. Some rooms in old traditional buildings with thick stone walls may not need it. If you’re concerned about noise, it makes sense to choose your hotel’s location carefully. In small towns or villages, the quietest ones are likely to be in an old part of the town or village accessible only by stairs.
front desk, there is no breakfast or other food
service, and there may be maid service only
crusty village type bread that is a household
once every two or three days. Studios For
staple, and very tasty on its own too. All are
those who don’t require the full services of a
delicious and popular among Greeks for quick
hotel, studios can be an attractive alternative.
breakfast eats. Each bakery does its own rendition, and you are never disappointed.
If you have a bigger budget, renting a villa is a
Have this with aGreek frappe, a drink
luxurious and splendid idea. Villas are normally
made with instant coffee, water, sugar, and
near or on the beach and provide plenty of
sometimes milk, frothed and served over ice.
space and a great view.
MAIN DISHES Here are some interesting Greek dishes to
DINING OUT
consider tasting while in Greece: moussaka, a rich oven-baked dish of eggplant, minced meat, tomato and white sauce; pastitsio, a variety of lasagne; stifado, pieces of meat and onion in
Greek cuisine is often cited as an example of
a wine and cinnamon stew; spetzofai, braised
the healthy Mediterranean diet.
sausage with pepper and tomatoes, a hearty
BREAKFAST
dish originally from the Mt. Pelion region; saganaki, fried semi-hard cheese; paidakia,
For breakfast, head to a local bakery (fourno)
grilled lamb chops. With its extensive coastline
and try freshtiropita, cheese pie; spanakopita,
and islands, Greece has excellent seafood.
spinach pie; or bougatsa, a custard filled pie.
Try the grilled octopus and the achinosalata
Another option is horiatiko psomi, a traditional,
(sea-urchin eggs in lemon and olive oil).
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GREEK SALAD
than other Mediterranean cuisines do: oregano,
Greek salad is a mix of tomatoes, cucumber, feta
mint, garlic, onion, dill, bay laurel leaves, basil,
cheese and onion – all sliced – plus some olives,
thyme and fennel seed are all widely used.
and occasionally green bell pepper or other
Many Greek recipes, especially in the northern
vegetables, and usually garnished with oregano.
parts of the country, use sweet spices in
Traditionally it is dressed only with olive oil.
combination with meat, for example cinnamon
DESSERTS
and cloves in stews.
For dessert, ask for baklava, tissue-thin layers
MEZETHES
of pastry with honey and chopped nuts; or
Throughout Greece people often enjoy eating
galaktobouriko, a custard pie similar to mille
from small dishes called mezethes. A meze is
feuille. Other pastries are also worth tasting.
not a meal course like an appetizer, but rather
Another must-try is yogurt with honey: yogurts
a dish, hot or cold, spicy or savoury, often salty,
in Greece are really different from industrialized
that is served, alone or with other mezethes,
yogurts most people are familiar with.
as a separate eating experience. The purpose
SEASONING Olive oil is added to almost every dish, and Greek cuisine uses some flavourings more often
of the meze is to complement the taste of a drink (wines, ouzo, raki, etc.), and to provide the backdrop for a social gathering and some good conversation. There are many dishes
traditionally served as mezethes: tzataiki made of strained yoghurt, olive oil, garlic and finely
SHOPPING
chopped cucumbers and dill or mint: grilled octopus and small fish; feta cheese; dolmades (rice, currants and pine kernels wrapped in vine leaves); various pulses; and olives. Greek restaurants often have a separate meze section of the menu.
FAST FOODS The traditional fast foods are gyros, roast pork wrapped in a fried pita bread; souvlaki, grilled meat on a skewer; Greek dips such astzatziki; and skordhalia, a garlic mashed potato dip which is usually served with deep fried salted cod. Fried potatoes (often listed on menus as chips) are found almost everywhere. They can be very good when freshly made and served hot. Tzatziki is usually a good dip for them, though they are still good on their own.
Shopping is among the many pleasures to be had during your stay in Greece. From crafts, to food and wine items, to the latest fashions from top designer goods, you will find any number of interesting items buy. Shopping in Athens is like shopping in other big city. Two of the best neighbourhoods to visit when shopping in Athens are thePlaka and Kolonaki. One of the most famous shopping streets in all of the country can be found at the Plaka. Ermou Street is home to many local shops and international clothes makers. You can also find jewellery stores and wonderful shoes stores on this street. Kolonaki is the other most popular shopping district in Athens. Perhaps the city’s most upscale neighbourhood, among its shops are the most haute couture fashion designers. If you plan on buying jewellery, head to Kolonaki’s Voukourestiou Street. Shopping in Athens caters to every budget and need. In Thessaloniki you will also find a lot of designer stores. Like in Athens, you will find shoe store upon shoe store in Thessaloniki. The centrally located food market is a good place to find some cheap eats and souvenirs, while for clothing and fashion, head to the city’s Mitropoleos andProxenou Koromila shopping areas, and of course, Tsimiski Street, the most popular avenue for shopping in Thessaloniki. If you are visiting the islands, you will find some unique shopping opportunities there too.
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For example, on Rhodes you can find a lot of
a week. In the larger towns the market is set up
good leather shops and handmade lace items.
in a different neighbourhood every day, while
On Crete you will find anything from hand-
the main event with the most goods on show is
woven rugs to olive oil soap, and Santorini
usually on a Saturday. Traders and farmers set
has local wines with distinct flavours from the
out in the early hours of the morning in order to
volcanic-rich soil found on the island.
reach the market area before sunrise to find a good spot for their stalls and set out their wares
Blue Star, the maritime company that operates
in an attractive way.
ferries from Piraeus andPatras harbours to the Greek islands, has several Duty Free
On Sundays, people come from all over to buy
shops. There, the passengers can buy local
and sell at the Monastiraki Flea Market, not far
and imported perfumes, cosmetics, liquor, and
from the Acropolis in downtown Athens. If you
travel accessories, among other things.
are looking for antiques, rugs, scarves or just
STREET MARKETS No village, town or city in Greece fails to have its own street market orLaiki, held at least once
about anything else, you can get some great deals here. Bargaining is quite acceptable, so don’t settle on the asked-for price.
CURRENCY The euro, denoted by the symbol € (or EUR), is
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
the official currency of Greece. The euro is divided into 100 cents sometimes called euro-cents. All circulating coins have a common side showing the value, and a map in the background. The coins also have a national side showing an image specifically chosen by the country that issued the coin. Euro coins from any European Union (EU) member state may be freely used in any nation which has
30 176 100
COUNTRY CODE EMERGENCY POLICE
or
171 199 174
FIRE STATION TOURIST INFORMATION
adopted the euro. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ATHENS)
There are €2, €1, 50-cent, 20-cent, 10-cent, 5-cent, 2-cent, and 1-cent coins. The euro banknotes have common designs on both sides and are issued in €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10, €5 notes.
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