Travel Insurance for Greece
Greece is the perfect vacation spot for families, partygoers, and adventurers. The warm summer weather, sandy beaches, and the food draws in large crowds each year. If you’re planning your next trip to Greece, here is some travel safety information and top tourist destinations you should know about.
Emergency Contact Information
When travelling to Greece, it’s important to familiarise yourself with all of the emergency service numbers. Call 100 to contact the police, 106 if you need an ambulance, and 199 to be put in touch with the fire brigade. You can call 108 if you need the coast guard and 1591 if there is a forest fire. Alternatively, you can call 112 to be put in touch with all emergency services.
If your passport has been lost or stolen, you should immediately report it to the police, contact your travel insurance provider, then apply for an emergency travel document at the British embassy in Athens, or at one of the vice consulates in Corfu, Crete, Rhodes, and Zakynthos.
Travel Safety Tips
Keep an eye out for thieves and pickpockets when visiting busy tourist attractions and when you’re on the metro. Never leave your bags unattended and avoid travelling with valuables unnecessarily.
Make photocopies of your driving license and passport and keep them in your pocket or bag as you will need to carry a form of ID with you. Try to learn the local laws and customs of each city you travel to and be respectful in public places.
Greece is known to be affected by high temperatures and forest fires. While you’re there, avoid lighting barbeques and put out your cigarettes properly. In the event of an emergency, listen to the authorities and look for updates on the FCDO’S travel advice for Greece.
Places to Visit in Greece
Where you travel to in Greece entirely depends on what you want to see and do. Do you want to try some of the freshest seafood or relax at the beach? Or do you want to learn more about Greece’s history and have fun nights out? If you need some help with deciding on where to head on your next Greek vacation, here are some of Greece’s top cities.
Athens
This history-rich city is the capital of Greece. The first stop on your trip to Athens should be the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. If you want to learn more about it, there’s an Acropolis Museum nearby. If you want to see more ruins, you can easily walk to the Roman Agora and Panathenaic Stadium. Also within a short distance is Hadrian’s Library.
You should consider paying a visit to the National Archaeological Museum and heading to Lycabettus Hill to snap some breathtaking photos. Many visitors like to stop at the parliament building to see the changing of the guard and go to the neighbourhood of Plaka to do a bit of shopping, watch a film at the open-air cinema, and have a traditional Greek dinner.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is in Macedonia and it is the second largest city in Greece. It has many interesting landmarks, including the White Tower and The Castle of Thessaloniki. During your trip, you should spend an afternoon visiting the Roman Forum, the Rotunda of Galerius, and Bey Hamam, a 15th century Turkish bathhouse. There are plenty of museums to stop by, such as the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Byzantine Culture. Tourists can head to Epanomi Beach and go snorkelling to see the Shipwreck Epanomi in the Aegean Sea. Many travellers choose to do the 90-minute drive to Mount Olympus, so they can walk the same paths as the Greek Gods.
Chania
This city is on the island of Crete. The old Venetian harbour is a great place to sit and have a drink, and at the end of the harbour is the 16th century Venetian lighthouse. You can wander down to the Firka Fortress, the entrance of which houses the Maritime Museum of Crete. Another museum you should visit is the Archaeological Museum of Chania. The Municipal Garden of Chania is a popular spot for locals and tourists, and boasts a playground, a water feature, and a café. Wander over to the Old Town, where you’ll find Splantzia Square, St. Nickolas church, the church of San Rocco, and many craft stores and workshops. One of the most interesting places to visit in the Old Town is the ancient ruins of Kydonia.
There are two popular beaches in Chania; Marathi beach, which offers beautiful views, and Chrissi Akti beach, where beachgoers can go surfing, windsurfing, and paddle boarding. You can also hike the Samaria Gorge, where you’ll find natural beauty and an abandoned settlement.
Kavala
Kavala is a port town in Northern Greece. One of the first things you’ll notice is the large 15th century fortress sitting atop the Acropolis of Kavala. Take a a tour and climb the central tower to get amazing views and photos of Kavala and the coast. If you want to see the archaeological site of Philippi, it’s best taking a guided tour so you can learn about its history. The Fortress, the Theatre of Philippi, and several other venues in Kavala are the host of the Philippi Festival every summer.
Patras
Patras is a large city in western Greece. For a closer look at Patras’ history, stop by the Patras Mycenaean Park, the Castle of Patras, the Roman and Medieval aqueducts, and the restored Roman amphitheatre. The Archaeological Museum of Patras is a must-visit. You should consider stopping by the Church of Saint Andrew, the Achaia Clauss Winery, and the Folk Art Museum. Take a day trip from Patras to the ruins of Ancient Olympia to see where the Olympic games originated.
Corfu
Corfu Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the capital of the island of Corfu. Wander down the narrow streets of the old town to Spainada Square, then onto the Casa Parlante Museum and the New and Old fortresses. The Palace of St Michael and St George now houses the Corfu Museum of Asian Art and the Achilleion Palace, once owned by Elizabeth, the Empress of Austria, is also a museum. You can wade through the water of the Adriatic Sea at Faliraki Beach.
