Before You Travel

Travelling to Greece by plane, ship, train or car, or even a combination of transportation means, traveling to Greece is relatively simple and quick, even though it is situated at the southernmost corner of Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. Greece has all the facilities of a European country and is concedered to be a very safe country to visit. Everyone is known for their hospitality and in the main arches of the country most of the  people comprehend the English language to a high degree. Apart from the large airports in Athens in Thessaloniki, there are also smaller airports that service trips to and from the other large cities and the more famous islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. The railway and road networks link Greece with the rest of Europe via the neighboring Balkan countries, while the large ports of Piraeus and Igoumenitsa handle the arrival of coastal ships via mainly Italy. Below there are some information for the ways someone could visit Greece.

By Plane:

The most important entry point by air in Greece is "Eleftherios Venizelos" International Airport in Athens. It is situated 33 km southeast of Athens and there is rapid access to the airport via the Attiki Odos, a central road artery connecting Athens with the Mesogeia (Mediterranean) region, as well as through dense scheduling of the Metro and Proastiako Suburban Systems (more info about El. Venizelos Airport. www.aia.gr.
However, other airports also handle direct flights from certain foreign countries, by regular and special airlines (especially during the summer months), as well as from charter flights, such as the Thessaloniki "Macedonia" State Airport, the Heraklion "Nikos Kazantazkis" International Airport, the Alexandroupolis "Dimokritos" International Airport and the Corfu "Ioannis Kapodistrias" Airport, as well as some smaller islands.

By sea:

The main volume of European tourists travelling to Greece by car uses ferries that have been built recently, sailing between Greek ports and ports in neighboring Italy. There are daily routes from Patras and Igoumenitsa to Italy, from the ports of Ancona, Bari, Brindizi, Venice and Trieste.

Passenger Passport ControlWith the application of the terms of the Schengen Agreement in our country, all passenger ships/ferries sailing regular routes from Patras and Igoumenitsa to Italy and back (without visiting any non-Schenken third-country ports) are included in the category of ships executing domestic routes.As a result, passengers travelling in these ships, whose only destinantion is to those ports situated on the sovereign land of the Schenken countries, do not have to undergo passport control.

By train:

Greece's railway network is approximately 2,500 km long, covering the greater part of the mainland and linking the country to Central Europe and Turkey. The transportation of passengers, luggage and driver-accompanied vehicles is carried out through regularly scheduled routes that are amended every year. The routes are carried out by high-quality Intercity-type trains (express and regular) and by regular trains (high-speed), etc). When traveling by train, it is worth looking at the architecture of the old stations along the line, most of which had been built at the end of the 19th C. and are of unique workmanship and symbols of early industrial architecture.

 

By car:

Greece 's road network covers 117,000 kilometres. Following the modernization of the two large national highways, the construction of a major section of the Egnatia Road, etc., driving along most of the national highway network is now easier and without problems. There are numerous gas stations, restaurants and parking areas sited along the length of the road network, allowing drivers and passengers to stop and rest briefly.

The border crossing points for entering Greece by road from the neighboring Balkan countries are Exochi Drama for Bulgaria, Evzones Kilkis for FYROM, Kakavia in the Ioannina Prefecture for Albania and Kipoi Evrou for Turkey.

 

Driving Licenses:

E.U. Member-State citizens may use their own national driving license, while citizens of other countries must have an international driving license together with their own valid national driving license.

Greece is a modern European country with an incredible amount of diversity in the landscape and culture. The large cities like Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, and Heraklion, display a relentless pace that can be hard to get used to at first. It would be best to design a trip that can provide relief from city life by escaping to the country side, or to one of the thousands of islands in the Aegean or Ionian sea.

Before you travel in Greece, it is advisable to bear in mind also the following:

• Depending on your country of origin, you might need a passport and a visa; you could obtain a visa through the Greek consulate nearest to your residence.
• Call your bank or your credit card company to let them know that you will be using it in Greece.
• The Electric Current in Greece is 230V AC (50Hz). Appliances from North America require a transformer and British ones an adaptor.
• In order to have access to necessary health care, tourists from member states of the European Union (EU) wishing to visit Greece must be holders of the European Health Card (EHIC) or any other legal Community document issued by their competent social security agency.
• Tourists from countries other than the member states of the European Union must consult their social security agency for information before travelling.
• Contact your phone company in order to make sure that your can use your mobile phone in Greece.