Greece

Greece was the birthplace of European civilisation. The period from 700BC saw the rise of the great city states of Athens, Corinth and Sparta, frequently engaged in long struggles for supremacy, and uniting only when faced with the common threat of invasion by the Persian Empire. The zenith was reached in the fifth century BC when Athens became the cultural and artistic centre of the Mediterranean, producing magnificent works of architecture, sculpture, drama and literature.

Greece today offers the traveller the comforts of modern Europe in close proximity to the stark beauty of the ancient world. There is no denying that the historical and cultural heritage of Greece continues to resonate throughout the modern Western world - in its literature, art, philosophy and politics. Reminders of the country’s glory are all over Greece - from Athens’Parthenon and Delphi’s Temple of Apollo, to the ruins on Crete of the Minóan city of Knossós, a civilisation reaching even further back into history.

Scattered throughout the calm blue waters of the Aegean are Greece’s 1,400 islands, the largest of which is Crete, each with its own special story. The serenity of islands like Skópelos contrasts with the hedonistic party islands such as Mykonos and Páros where the worship of Dionysus, the god of revelry, continues to the beat of garage and house music. Athens’s previous glory in sports was restored when the Olympic Games returned home in 2004.

Since Greece won her independence in 1830 from the Turkish Ottoman Empire, there have been problems in the relationship between the two neighbours. Achieving a political settlement in Cyprus remains a key concern of Greece’s foreign policy. The situation seems to have improved following the accession of Greek-controlled Cyprus to the EU in 2004. Greece has now explicitly backed Turkey’s own EU application.

Author

Juliet Ferguson

Southeast Europe.

Area

131,957 sq km (50,949 sq miles).

Population

11.1 million (National Statistical Service of Greece, 2005).

Population Density

84.1 per sq km.

Capital

Athens. Population: 750,000 (2004 estimate); Greater Athens 3.3 million (2004 estimate).

Government

Republic.

Greece is situated in southeast Europe on the Mediterranean. The mainland consists of the following regions: Central Greece, Peloponnese, Thessaly (east/central), Epirus (west), Macedonia (north/northwest) and Thrace (northeast). Euboea (Evvia) the second-largest of the Greek islands, lying to the east of the central region and connected to it by a bridge, is also considered to be part of the mainland region. The Peloponnese peninsula is separated from the northern mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth. The northern mainland is dissected by high mountains (such as the Pindus) that extend southwards towards a landscape of fertile plains, pine-forested uplands and craggy, scrub-covered foothills. The islands account for one-fifth of the land area of the country. The majority are thickly clustered in the Aegean between the Greek and Turkish coasts. The Ionian Islands are the exception; they are scattered along the west coast in the Ionian Sea. The Aegean archipelago includes the Dodecanese, lying off the Turkish coast, of which Rhodes is the best known; the Northeast Aegean group, including Chios, Ikaria, Lemnos, Lesvos and Samos; the Sporades, off the central mainland; and the Cyclades, comprising 39 islands (of which only 24 are inhabited). Crete, the largest island, is not included in any formal grouping.

Language

Greek (Ellenika). Most people connected with tourism and those of a younger generation will speak some English, French, German or Italian.

Religion

98% Greek Orthodox, with Muslim, Roman Catholic and Jewish minorities.

Time

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Social Conventions

Visitors to Greece will find the Greeks to be well aware of a strong historical and cultural heritage. Traditions and customs differ throughout Greece, but overall a strong sense of unity prevails. The Greek Orthodox Church has a strong traditional influence on the Greek way of life, especially in more rural areas. The throwing back of the head is a negative gesture. Dress is generally casual. Smoking is prohibited on public transport and in public buildings.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are used.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis since 2004.

Head of State

President Karolos Papoulias since 2005.

Passport Note

Greece is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Persons arriving in and departing from Greece on a charter flight risk having the return portion of their ticket invalidated by the authorities if, at any time during their stay, they leave Greece and remain overnight or longer in another country.

Passports

Passport required by all except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Passports must be valid for the following durations:
(a) British and EU (excluding Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia) passports must be valid for length of intended stay.
(b) Australian, Canadian, USA and excluded EU passports must be valid for at least three months beyond length of stay.
 
Note: EU and EEA nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.

Visas

Not required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period;
(b) nationals of Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Romania and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

(a) Greece refuses admission and transit to holders of travel documents issued by the area of Cyprus not controlled by the Government of Cyprus, and holders of UN laissez-passers; (b) Some nationals may have to register with the Aliens Department of the nearest police station within 48 hours of arrival. Contact the nearest embassy/consulate to determine whether this is necessary prior to travel.

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2, 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currency can be exchanged at all banks, savings banks and bureaux de change. Exchange rates can fluctuate from one bank to another.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and other major credit cards are widely accepted (although less so in petrol stations).

Traveller's Cheques

All major currencies are widely accepted and can be exchanged easily at banks. Generally, banks in Greece charge a commission of 2% with a minimum of €0.15 and a maximum of €13.21 on the encashment of traveller’s cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0800-1430, Fri 0800-1400. Banks on the larger islands tend to stay open in the afternoon and some during the evening to offer currency exchange facilities during the tourist season. The Greek National Tourism Organisation bureau in Athens can give full details.

Exchange Rate Indicators

Getting Around By Air

Olympic Airlines (website: www.olympic-airlines.com) and Aegean Airlines (website: www.aegeanair.com) operate flights on many domestic routes. Private charter flights are also available.

Getting Around by Water

It is both cheap and easy to travel around the islands. There are ferry services on many routes, with sailings most frequent during the summer. The main ports in Attica are Piraeus and Rafina, although there are regular sailings to the islands from the smaller ports of Alexandroupolis, Igoumenitsa, Kavala, Kyllini, Patras, Thessaloniki and Volos.

Tickets can be bought from the shipping lines’ offices located around the quaysides. In major ports the larger lines have offices in the city centre. There are two classes of ticket (First Class and Economy Class) which offer varying degrees of comfort; couchette cabins can be booked for the longer voyages or those wishing to avoid the sun. Most ships have restaurant facilities. During high season it is wise to buy tickets in advance, as inter-island travel is very popular.

Routes from Piraeus: Piraeus offers frequent services to most islands in the following groups: Argo-Saronic, Cyclades, Dodacanese and the Northeast Aegean, plus Crete and several other mainland ports.

Check sailing times either with individual lines, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, or in Piraeus upon arrival in Greece. 

Routes from Rafina: There are ferries to nearby Evvia from Rafina, plus to some islands in the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, and the northeast Aegean.

Other routes: Several other routes between the mainland ports and the islands are also covered.

Hydrofoil: A hydrofoil service (also called the Flying Dolphins) offers a fast and efficient service from Piraeus, travelling to many of the nearby islands. Although this is somewhat more expensive than travelling by ferry, journey times are cut drastically. They also serve some other routes. For further information on various ferry and hydrofoil timetables, see the Greek Travel Pages (website: www.gtp.gr). 

Yachts: Numerous types of yachts and sailing vessels can be chartered or hired with or without crews. ‘Flotilla holidays’ are popular, and the Greek National Tourism Organisation (see Contact Addresses) has a full list of companies running this type of holiday.

Getting Around by Rail

The two main railway stations in Athens are Larissa (with trains to northern Greece, Evia and Europe) and Peloponnissos (with trains to the Peloponnese). Train information and tickets are available from the Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) (tel: 1110, within Greece only; website: www.ose.gr). Travelling north, there are regular daily trains from Athens to Thessaloniki, Livadia, Paleofarsala, Larissa, Plati, Edessa, Florina, Seres, Drama, Komotini and Alexandroupolis (connections from Thessaloniki and Larissa). Travelling south, there are regular daily trains from Athens to Kiato, Xylokastra, Diakofto, Patras, Olympia, Argos, Tripoli, Megalopolis and Kalamata.

Rail Passes

InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Greece. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).

Balkan Flexipass: offers five, 10 or 15 days’ unlimited rail travel within one month in Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Rep) and Romania. Available from the Hellenic Railways Organisation Ltd (OSE) (website: www.ose.gr).

Getting Around by Road

Greece has a good road network on the whole, mostly paved. Traffic drives on the right.

Coach: Coaches link Athens and all main towns in Greece. Services on the islands tend to be less reliable, and on some small islands there is no motorised transport at all. Fares are low.

Bus information: There are two long-distance bus terminals in Athens: Terminal A and Terminal B. For information on long-distance buses, run by KTEL (website: www.ktel.org), enquire at Terminal A, 100 Kifissou Street (tel: (210) 512 4910), or Terminal B, 260 Liossion Street.

Car hire: Most major international car hire firms operate throughout Greece.

Regulations: The minimum age for driving is 18. Children under 10 must sit in the back seat. Seat belts must be worn. There are fines for breaking traffic regulations. The maximum speed limit is 120kph (75mph) on motorways, 110kph (60mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (30mph) in built-up areas. It is illegal to carry spare petrol in the vehicle. EU nationals may import a foreign-registered car, caravan, motorcycle, boat or trailer for a maximum of six months. This period may be extended to 15 months for a fee and further paperwork.

Emergency breakdown service:ELPA (Automobile and Touring Club of Greece; tel: (210) 779 1615; website: www.elpa.gr). Emergency breakdown services can be contacted toll-free by dialling 104.

Documentation: A national driving licence is acceptable for EU nationals. EU nationals taking their own cars to Greece are advised to obtain a Green Card. The car registration documents must be carried at all times. Nationals of non-EU countries may need an International Driving Permit and should contact ELPA.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Athens: Athens city centre is well served by frequent buses and trolleybuses. Tickets can be purchased from the Athens Urban Transport Organisation (OASA) at various booths and kiosks situated around the city. Athens has a reliable underground system (ISAP) that consists of three major lines. Line 1 runs north-south between Athens (suburb of Kifissia) and Piraeus daily 0500-0015; Line 2 runs between Aghios Antonios and Aghios Dimitrios and line 3 runs between Monastiraki and the airport. Tickets can be purchased in the stations. The tram system in Athens cuts through the city from Syntagma Square right through to the coast and runs a pleasant route from Peace and Friendship Stadium all the way to the most southern point of Glyfada. Tickets can be booked at all stations and trams connect with the Metro at Neos Kosmos and Neo Faliro. Athens’ large fleet of yellow taxis are extremely cheap by European standards. If you hail a taxi down in the street, it is not unusual to share the ride with other passengers going in a similar direction. Drivers are obliged to run a meter. Prices go up between midnight and 0500.

Thessaloniki: The city centre is well served by frequent buses. Tickets can be purchased from periptera (kiosks). Construction of the long-awaited metro in Thessaloniki finally began in 2006. If building work goes to plan, the single line running east-west will have 13 stations and should be ready for 2012. Taxis in Thessaloniki are dark blue and white. As in Athens, they are cheap and plentiful.

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Athens to other major cities/islands in Greece.
 

Food and Drink

Restaurant and taverna food tends to be very simple, rarely involving sauces but with full use of local olive oil and charcoal grills. However, Athens and some of the more fashionable islands such as Santorini and Mykonos have seen the arrival of fusion cuisine and so-called modern taverna fare. All restaurants have a standard menu which includes the availability and price of each dish. A good proportion of the restaurants will serve international dishes. Hours are normally 1200-1500 for lunch and 2000-2400 for dinner. Opening hours vary according to the region and local laws. Waiter service is usual.

National specialities:
•Dolmades (stuffed vine leaves).
• Moussaka (aubergine casserole with minced lamb, cinnamon, red wine and olive oil).
• Squid (kalamari) or octopus (htapodia).
•Souvlaki (spit-roasted meat, generally pork or chicken).
•Horiatiki (Greek salad: feta cheese, tomato, cucumber and fresh olive oil).

National drinks:
•Retsina (wine made with pine-needle resin).
•Ouzo (an aniseed-based clear spirit to which water is added).
•Raki (a sharp and fiery spirit made from distilled grapes).
• Greek coffee (thick and strong, and sugared according to taste).
• Greek beer is a light Pilsner type. 

Legal drinking age: 16.

Tipping: 12 to 15% is usual.

Nightlife

This is centred in main towns and resorts with late-night bars, dance clubs and live concerts. Athens’ nightlife is among the best in Europe, with many local tavernas, particularly in the Plaka area, and ouzeris (typical Greek bars), plus a plethora of bars and small clubs in the fashionable night-time districts of Psirri and Gazi. Note that in summer many of the big clubs move out of the centre to the beaches at Voula, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza. Regular concerts and evening shows are held at the second-century Odeion of Herodes in Athens, below the Acropolis, during the Hellenic Festival (Jun-Sep). Nightclubs featuring live Greek bouzouki music are extremely popular. Through summer, the islands of Mykonos and Santorini are also noted for their exceptionally vibrant nightlife. There are some casinos in Greece, such as the Mount Parnes Casino in Athens, the Corfu Casino in Corfu and the Casino at the Grand Hotel Astir in Rhodes.

Shopping

Special purchases include lace, jewellery, metalwork, pottery, garments and knitwear,  rugs, leather goods, local wines and spirits. Athens is the centre for luxury goods and local handicrafts. The Sunday morning flea market in Monastiraki, below the Acropolis, is crowded in high season. Regional specialities include silver from Ioannina, ceramics from Sifnos and Skopelos, embroidery and lace from Crete, the Ionian Islands, Rhodes and Skiros, alabaster from Crete and flokatirugs from the Epirus region.

Shopping hours: These vary according to the season, location and type of shop, but a rough guide follows: Mon, Wed, and Sat 0900-1430, Tues, Thurs and Fri 0900-1430 and 1730-2030. Most holiday resort shops stay open late in the evening.

Note: (a) Visitors should be aware that many ‘antiques’ sold to tourists are fake; it is illegal to export any item of real antiquity without a special permit from the Export Department of the Ministry of Culture. (b) Non-EU citizens can get a refund on Greek VAT (4% on books and 18% on nearly everything else); the process is fairly complex, but well worth it. Non-EU visitors may buy goods from certain shops bearing the sign ‘Member of the Tax-Free Club’ and have the VAT refunded, in cash, at special refund points at the airport. Ask store owners and tourist information offices for details.

• Explore Athens. Begin with the Acropolis rock, home to the fifth-century BC Parthenon, then stroll down to the Ancient Agora, once Athens’ civic, political and commercial centre. Do not miss the world class National Archaeological Museum, packed with ancient marble statues, jewellery and ceramics.

• Discover Delphi, believed by the ancients to be the centre of the world. This fascinating pagan religious complex, set on a stunning hillside site, comprises classical temples, a theatre and a stadium. Numerous finds are displayed in the excellent Delphi Archaeological Museum.

• Admire the former city-state of ancient Corinth, once renowned for wealth and elegance, immorality and orgiastic cults. Explore its temples and theatre, then check out the adjoining museum. Also see nearby Acrocorinth, a vast hilltop fortress combining Byzantine, Turkish and Venetian elements.

• Visit the treasure trove that is Mycenae. This hilltop citadel, surrounded by Cyclopean Walls accessed via the splendid Lion Gate, was the powerful Mycenaeans’ capital. Golden treasure, including the ‘Mask of Agamemnon’, was found here.

• Run the original Olympic race track in Olympia, birthplace of the Olympics, which were staged here between the eighth and fourth centuries BC. Explore the site, then see the Archaeological Museum and the nearby Museum of the Olympic Games.

• Discover the unforgettable landscape of the Meteora, with six medieval monasteries built upon bizarre, rocky pinnacles. The monasteries, which once totalled 24, were originally reached using pulley systems, but are now accessible via steps carved into the rocks.

• Do not miss Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city. It is home to the excellent Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum exhibiting ancient marble statues and gold jewellery from the region of Macedonia. Its beautiful Byzantine churches are listed as UNESCO world heritage sites.

• Men should head to the peninsula of Mount Athos, an autonomous monks’ state since 1060. Twenty monasteries house some 1,700 monks. Only male visitors are permitted, and that upon prior request. All visitors can take a boat ride around the peninsular.

• Explore the extensive ruins of Knossos, a 3,000-year-old frescoed Minoan Palace, home to Europe’s earliest civilisation. Finds from the site are displayed in the Archaeological Museum in the nearby Venetian-style port town of Iralkio, on Crete.

• Visit Santorini’s whitewashed towns of Ia and Thira, built on a cliff overlooking the caldera, a circular depression in the sea created when a volcanic eruption blew the centre out of the island around 1600 BC. Expect stunning sunsets, black sand beaches, boutique hotels and gourmet cuisine.

• Lap it up in Mykonos, known for its glamorous, hedonistic nightlife. Attracting jet setters and a notable gay community, tiny Mykonos offers charming white, cubic buildings, typical of the Cyclades, chic restaurants, trendy bars, waterside nightclubs, plus several small luxury hotels.

• Invade Rhodes Town. The compact Old Town lies within an imposing 14th-century stronghold built by the Knights of St John during the Crusades. Visit the gothic Palace of the Grand Masters, plus several mosques and a 16th-century hamam (Turkish baths) added by the Ottomans.

Note: The Hellenic Ministry of Culture (website: www.culture.gr) can provide more details on any of Greece’s state-run museums and archaeological sites.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

• Do not miss the Hellenic Festival (website: www.hellenicfestival.gr; Jun-Sep), with world class music, dance and theatre performances in the second-century AD Odeon of Herodes Atticus, in Athens, as well as classical Greek dramas in the fourth-century BC amphitheatre in Epidaurus.

• Find a beach for every mood. The best include Lalaria, a pristine white pebble beach on Skiathos, and Plaka, a long stretch of unspoilt sand on Naxos. On Mykonos, Paradiso and Super Paradiso offer daytime bathing and hedonistic nightclubs. Alternatively, escape the crowds on unspoilt Koufonissi.

•Sail Greece’s myriad islands. Depending on experience, visitors can go bareboat (chartering just the boat), flotilla (as part of a group of yachts lead by an expert) or skippered. Several UK-based agencies offer all-inclusive sailing holidays in Greece.

• Go windsurfing.The best places for it are Vassiliki on Lefkada, Kefalos on Kos, Kokkari on Samos, Ialisos on Rhodes, Chrisi Akti (Golden Beach) on Paros, and Agios Georgios and Mikri Vigla on Naxos. Hire and instruction are available. 

•Climb Greece’s highest mountain, Mount Olympos (2,917m/ 9,570ft), believed by the ancients to be home of Zeus, or scale Mount Pasnassos (2,457m/8,061ft) near Delphi. 

•Hike the length of the Samaria Gorge (18km/11.2 miles) on Crete, or the Vikos Gorge (14km/8 miles) in Epirus.

• Escape the sun, sand and surf. Surprisingly, Greece is also home to several decent ski resorts. The best equipped is the Parnassos Ski Centre on Mount Parnassos (website: www.parnassos-ski.gr). Alternatively try Helmos on the Peleponnese, or Vermion in Macedonia.

• Get wet. The shallow, fast-flowing rivers of mainland Greece offer excellent facilities for water-based adventure sports such as rafting, kayaking and canoeing. Sea kayaking is also becoming increasingly popular on the islands.

• Go deep. To guard against the pilfering of underwater antiquities, scuba-diving is restricted to certain stretches of the Attica coast, Corfu, Kalamata, Kalymnos, Mykonos, Preveza, Rhodes, Skiathos and Zakynthos, all of which are home to dive centres offering instruction and rental equipment.

• Go underground. Greece is home to some 6,000 karst caves, the majority in Crete. Over 20 show caves are open for guided tours, the largest and most impressive being Perama, filled with stalagmites and stalactites, near Ioannina.

• Get tipsy. Several of the top vineyards open their cellars to the public for wine tasting sessions, and also offer wine for direct purchase. Most of these require visitors to call one day in advance to book your visit.

• Luxuriate. Greece is gifted with numerous springs giving forth thermal and/or mineral waters. Various spas and hydrotherapy centres have developed throughout the country, some of which offer sophisticated wellness centres for pampering.

• Get twitching.There are 11 wetlands of international importance in Greece, and over 190 ‘important bird areas’. The most impressive include the Nestos Delta in Thrace and the Prespa Lakes in Macedonia. Expect to see herons, storks, pelicans and eagles.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Statistics

•GDP: US$236.8 billion (2005).
•Main exports: Food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum, chemicals and textiles.
•Main imports: Machinery, transport equipment, fuels and chemicals.
• Main trade partners: Germany, Italy, UK, Russia and France.

Economy

Traditionally agricultural, accession to the EU gave a new impetus to the Greek economy, particularly the industrial sectors of textiles, clothing and shoes, cement, mining and metals, chemicals, steel and processed agricultural products. Nonetheless, 12% of the working population still work the land - a very high proportion by EU standards.

Tourism, the most important service industry, has boomed since the 1980s, with upwards of 14 million tourists now visiting the country annually, providing 15% of the GDP. Shipping is also an important source of income: Greece has one of the largest merchant fleets in the world. The country exports large quantities of wheat, barley, maize, tobacco and fruit to the rest of the EU and elsewhere. 

The Greeks have benefited substantially from transfers of funds within the EU and support for its large public-sector debt. Growth is around 4.1%, with inflation nearly 3%, and unemployment hovering around 8.8% in 2006. Greece’s huge public-sector deficit prevented it from meeting the convergence criteria for the European single currency and the country entered the Euro zone in January 2001. The EU accounts for about 65% of Greek trade.

Business Etiquette

Formal suits are expected. French, German and English are often spoken as well as Greek.

Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Commercial Information

Athens Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI)
7 Akademias Street, 106 71 Athens, Greece
Tel: (210) 360 4815.
Website: www.acci.gr

Conferences & Conventions

Greece has many convention centres and hotels with conference facilities in locations ideal for post-conference tours, such as Athens, Corfu, Crete, Halkidiki, Metsovo (Epirus) and Rhodes. It also has ships equipped for ‘floating conferences’, sailing between the islands. For further enquiries, contact the Greek National Tourism Organisation (see Contact Addresses).

Telephone

Country code: 30, followed by (210) for Athens, (2310) for Thessaloniki and (2810) for Heraklion (all area codes are prefixed with 2 and end with 0).

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent.

Internet

Internet cafes are available in the main cities, including Athens, Thessaloniki and the islands Crete, Kos, Mykonos and Rhodes.

Media

A free press operates in Greece, although material deemed offensive to the president or religious beliefs can lead to the prosecution of editors and publishers. It was only in the late 1980s that the virtual monopoly of state-run broadcasters came to an end, with the introduction of new commercial TV services. Peak-time TV schedules are dominated by news, domestically-made variety programmes, comedies and game shows. The country hosts about 1,700 private radio and TV stations, many of which are unlicensed, since broadcasting in Greece is relatively unregulated by European standards. An attempt made in 2001 to better regulate the FM dial in Athens resulted in a political row.

Post

All letters, postcards, newspapers and periodicals will automatically be sent by airmail. Airmail to Europe takes five days; six to North America; seven to Australia.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1400, Sat 0800-1400.

Press

• There are numerous daily newspapers in Athens including Eleftherotypia, Kathimerini and Ta Nea.
•Athens News is published weekly in English.

Radio

• Publicly-owned ERA operates ERA1 (entertainment), ERA2 (culture), ERA3 (sport and music) and ERA4 (regional).
• Commercial stations include Antenna FM, Skai 100.3 and Sfera 102.2.
• Municipal Athens station Athena 98.4 was one of the first non-state radio stations.

Greece has a warm Mediterranean climate. In summer, dry hot days are often relieved by stiff breezes, especially in the north and coastal areas. Athens can be stiflingly hot, so visitors should allow time to acclimatise. The evenings are cool. Winters are mild in the south but much colder in the north. November to March is the rainy season.

Required Clothing

Lightweight clothes during summer months, including protection from the midday sun. Light sweaters are needed for evenings. Waterproofs are advised for autumn. Winter months can be quite cold, especially in the northern mainland, so normal winter wear will be required.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
19 Feb Orthodox Shrove Monday.
25 Mar Independence Day.
6 Apr Orthodox Good Friday.
9 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
28 May Day of the Holy Spirit.
15 Aug Assumption.
28 Oct Ochi Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
10 Mar Orthodox Shrove Monday.
25 Mar Independence Day.
25 Apr Orthodox Good Friday.
28 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
16 Jun Day of the Holy Spirit.
15 Aug Assumption.
28 Oct Ochi Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.