General Information

Greece consists of mainland Greece (Attica, Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly, Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace) and the islands. Geographically it belongs to Europe since it forms the most southern extremity of the Balkan Peninsula but it also has a special link with Europe through the small entity of the Ionian Islands (Cephalonia, Corfu, Ithaca, Lefkada, Paxi and Zakinthos), which form a chain off Greece°s western shores in the Ionian Sea.

In contrast, there are the numerous Greek islands of the Aegean Sea, some isolated like Crete to the south, Ikaria, Chios and Lesbos to the east and Thassos and Samothrace to the north. Others form groups, such as the Cyclades, the Sporades and the Dodecanese. The largest are Crete and Evia.   

The Cyclades consist of 39 islands, of which 24 are inhabited. The more important ones are Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, los, Kea, Kimolos, Folegandros, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini (also called Thira), Serifos, Sikinos, Sifnos, Syros and Tinos.

The Sporades, consisting of Alonissos, Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros, lie off the eastern shores of mainland Greece and retain their genuine island characteristics and unchanged local traditions.

The Dodecanese group consists of 12 islands: Astipalea, Kalimnos, Karpathos, Kassos, Kastelorizo, Cos, Lipsos, Leros, Nissiros, Patmos, Rhodes, Simi and a number of smaller islands, each with its distinctive features and unique characteristics.

Finally, the Saronic Gulf which is the stretch of sea linking the shores of Attica to those of the Peloponnese, contains another group of small islands (Salamis, Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses) which adds its variety to the general surroundings. 

Variety is, in fact, the hallmark of the Greek landscape. There are high mountains and entire mountain ranges such as the Pindos range and Mount Olympus (with its summit, the Pantheon, being the highest peak in Greece at an altitude of 2,917 meters). The mountains of Macedonia and Thrace are intersected by a few valleys through which relatively small rivers flow. On the other hand, the endless lace work of the coastline produces a series of scenic surprises. It is these heavily indented shores, which give Greece rare beauty, quite unique in the Mediterranean.

Please be aware of travel advice.  For the latest travel advice regarding travel to Greece please refer to www.dfat.gov.au. 

Health regulations
Whilst to our knowledge no vaccinations are currently required for entry to Greece, it is always recommended to check with your local family doctor or The Travel Clinic for further information. The Travel Clinic which has 20 locations throughout Australia are a national group of medical practitioners committed to supplying quality health services to travellers. Contact your closest Travel Clinic on 1300 369 359 for more detailed information.

Passport & Visa requirements
Australian passport holders do not require a visa for travel to Greece. For all other passport holders, please advise your travel agent and they can check your specific requirements.

Currency
Euro. Major credit cards are accepted in most tourist hotels, restaurants and major stores. 

Language

Greek is the official language of Greece. English is spoken in hotels, most restaurants, department stores and by the ¿Tourist Policeî, who wear a badge on their lapel depicting the English or American flags. In the educational system of Greece, English is the second language studied.

Business & Shopping
Official retail trading hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Saturday - 9am-3pm

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 9am-2pm & 5:30pm-8:30pm

Banks: 

Monday to Thursday: 8am-2pm

Friday: 8am-1:30pm

Post Offices:

Monday to Friday 7:30am-2pm

Voltage
Mainly 220 AC. Plugs are usually the two-prong European style.

Time
Greek time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, an hour ahead of Central European Time and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Along with the rest of continental Europe, the clock is advanced one hour during summer - from the end of March to the end of October. 

Tipping
Is not general practice as a service charge in usually added into prices, however it is customary to leave a small tip for good service.  Most tour guides and driver would appreciate to be tipped - a general guideline is US$3 per day for the guide and around US$1 per day for the driver.

Public holidays for 2006
January 01 New Year's Day

January 06 Epiphany

March 14 Ash Monday

March 25 Greek Independence Day

April 29 Good Friday

May 01 Easter Sunday

May 01 Labour Day

June 20 Holy Spirit Monday

August 15 Feast of the Assumption

October 28 Ochi Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 St Stephen's Day

NB: All banks, shops, most museums and ancient sites are generally closed on public holidays.

Climate
The country°s geographical location is responsible for its climactic range with mild winters and warm summers cooled by a system of seasonal breezes popularly called ¿meltemiaî.

The following chart is based on average temperatures throughout the year in Degrees Celsius. 

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend travel insurance. Our recommended supplier is Covermore Travel Insurance. Ask us for more details.