Greece has long been high on many lists of places to visit. In addition, the country has long been considered the cradle of civilization and has an incredibly rich cultural heritage. The islands such as Kos, Crete and Rhodes have attracted large numbers of tourists for decades and the capital Athens with its ancient temples, should definitely be seen at least once in a lifetime. If you have still not been there or need a little update about the situation in Greece and some valuable tips before the trip, then you should continue reading.
Climate
According to top-engineering-schools, Southern Greece has a typical Mediterranean climate with short, dry winters and sunny summers. If you go here, you are guaranteed sun and the northern part can get more frost and also some snow during the winter, while the country has very hot summers.
Some earthquakes can occur in Greece, both on the mainland and along the coasts. the country is located in a seismically active zone that is affected by earthquakes from time to time.
Currency
Greece has the Euro as its current currency. Paying by card is not as common in Greece, so you should always make sure to bring a certain amount in cash if you travel here.
Electrical outlet
Electricity in Greece is the same as in Sweden, which means that you do not have adapters.
Security in Greece
Just as in the rest of Europe, you should be on your guard at larger crowds and the like, as there may be terrorist attacks. However, Greece is a relatively safe destination if one sometimes ignores demonstrations in Athens and Thessaloniki, where peaceful demonstrations can sometimes degenerate. Tourists are therefore encouraged to avoid these and also sign up for the Swedish list at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that they can be easily reached if crisis situations arise.
In case of illness
Greek hospitals may not be known for being Europe’s best, but they are at least up to the mark until you can go home again. As Greece is an EU country, you as an EU citizen can take the European insurance card with you, which you order for free from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. You should make sure to bring a valid travel insurance or a home insurance that also covers travel protection in the event of a personal injury or serious illness. Normally you do not need to be vaccinated against anything if you are going to be in the cities or at one of the popular seaside resorts, but if you are staying in the countryside, a vaccination against hepatitis A or B can be good.
Drinking water in Greece
You can drink the water in Greece even if you are asked to buy it in a bottle. Certainly it is not as dangerous as drinking the water in India or Asia, for example, but it does not taste very good, as it often has a bad taste of chlorine. If you want to be completely safe, you should buy water bottles to take out.
Handicap friendly or not
In Greece, access to beaches and other places is not particularly suitable for the disabled. If you travel with a tour operator, you as a disabled person can tell before departure and also preferably before booking that you require extra help, but if you travel on your own, this can cause problems.
Rental car
There are many accidents in Greece, as people like to drive anyway. Often scooters are involved so it is important to be careful when you are out on the roads. At the airports or in the larger cities as well as on the islands, it is possible to rent a car. Many car rental companies have an age limit, which only allows people between 21-70 years to rent. Different rules apply to different companies.
