If you are anything like me, Greece would have been on your top-five-destinations list since you were in your teens. Delving into the recesses of your memory, you will find stories from their mythology that fascinated you as a child, or the history lessons on Greek civilisation and the treasure of literature, architecture, art and philosophy that enlightened and enchanted so many generations.
That would probably be your biggest motivating factor when you pick Greece as a destination. But you would also expect the glorious Mediterranean islands to cast their spell on you with their scenic beauty and sandy beaches .Be prepared to be overwhelmed by their warm hospitality, laidback lifestyles and an infectious joie de vivre. Whatever the reasons that take you there, you will never come back quite the same. Greece will change some part of you significantly, if you succumb to its overtures.
The best time to visit Greece, if you are on a budget, is off-season, of course! When it is warm — April to early June is the best time to go. The tourist season takes off in July and August so you need to be out by then!!
GETTING THERE
The first step, is to get a tourist visa and scout for a good, cheap airline (they are not mutually exclusive). I found Gulf Air (great service, new aircrafts) to be the cheapest at the time. Approximately, INR 26000/ all inclusive. I believe Qatar is also good, in terms of pricing. The stopover is also a short one, as compared to the European carriers.
FUNDAMENTALS
Now that you have the ticket, you can start the real preparation (if you haven’t done so already). Most people feel comfortable with a lonely planet guide. A better idea would be to visit a book store or research online for books on Greece—3 categories. History, travelogues and general books. They make for a perfect companion, if you love reading that is.
The next step is to get some maps and get familiar. You will need maps of Greece, Athens, any other places in mainland Greece you plan to visit, and a map of the islands ( to know where they are). You will get all this online.
THINGS YOU NEED TO CARRY
A good pair of walking shoes and beach sandals
A light jacket for windy evenings—especially on the islands
Sun block lotion and sunglasses
Beachwear and summer clothes
Unless you have a digicam, carry lots of film rolls—they are expensive!!
STAYING CONNECTED
Don’t travel with an international number. You can buy local sim cards for Greece right here in India; it’s cheap and a huge convenience when travelling within the country. Internet access is fairly cheap and easily available in all parts of Greece, so you don’t need to carry your laptop.
CURRENCY
The Euro is the commonly accepted currency. You can withdraw cash from any ATM or change your dollars at a local bank. Keep coins handy. You need them a lot, especially on local transport.
TRANSPORTATION
In Athens, the most important map you will need is a metro map. You can get one there, but better to get comfortable with the places and the connections before you land there. It is fairly simple. There are only 3 lines and you cannot possibly get lost. There are metro lines and an ISAP suburban railway line .You will find a map on www.ametro.gr There is a coastal tram and a convenient bus service in Athens.
Buses are the best way to get around mainland Greece. Fairly inexpensive, and a good network. There are 2 terminals in Athens, which service different regions of the country. There is also a good train network that connects the main cities. Two train stations—one for the west and one for the north.
The ferries to the islands would blow a considerable hole on the pocket, even if you take the slow ones. Schedules are fairly reliable so you need to check at a travel agent or head down to Piraeus and book tickets. You don’t really need to take a taxi except when you venture out at night. Public transport makes most places quite accessible. On the islands you could rent the motorbikes for a day and that’s the best way to discover the place. The Greeks drive pretty much like the Indians do, so be careful
ACCOMODATION
Off-season you would get double rooms in a hotel/motel or pension for about 30 euros. Ideally you should explore a few options, book a night in one and then find the rest when you get there. It takes a bit if an effort, but there are lots of lovely Greek grandmas who run pensions/motels at relatively low prices that you would never find in cyber-space!! A lot depends on how light you travel. But if you find a good deal online, even better. Saves you the effort. For three weeks you should be looking at about INR 20000 at least, per head, for stay, which is possibly the best you can hope to get.
SIGHTSEEING
There is much to see and do in Greece. If you do your research right, you can manage almost all of it on a shoe-string budget, and without a tour. Apart from the historical, there is a lot else that would be interesting from the point of view of exploring their culture, traditions and day-to-day life. Greeks are incredibly warm and hospitable, and go out of their way to make you feel at home. You just have to take the first step. Language barrier is not much of a problem in most places and where it is, use sign language Generally, the country is very tourist-friendly.
FOOD
Drink Frappe and eat souvlakis !!! The Greek substitute for Coke and a burger– You can also try the various kinds of Greek salad. It’s a starter in almost every restaurant. If you want to indulge the Greek gastronome gene, try the mezedes which allows you to savour various kinds of dishes. There are a lot of options varying from the limited vegetarian to meat and fish.Traditional sweet dishes are an absolute must-especially in Thessaloniki. Most people drink beer or wine, but you could perhaps try out their traditional drink—ouzo. It is an acquired taste, and not for everyone –but definitely worth a try. Yamas !
NIGHTLIFE
Greece is a safe country. Athens and some of the islands also have a nightlife that can leave you little time to sleep. There are clubs of all kinds, catering to various tastes and music. For traditional music you must visit a Rembetika club. There are also lots of tavernas with live music.
A three week itinerary –Athens, the Islands and Mainland Greece—for the adventurous traveller. For those who want to take it slow—combine Athens either with the islands or mainland Greece.
Arrival in Athens
Athens
By bus to Nafplio and Epidavros
Return to Athens
Day trip to Delphi.
Athens
Take a bus to Meteora
Meteora
Take another bus to Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Head back to Athens by train
Ferry to Mykonos
Mykonos
Mykonos
Ferry to Santorini
Santorini
Santorini
Head back to Athens
Athens
Day trip Hydra
Athens
