Greece Infinite under-the-radar isles, Acropolis-like hotels and sizzling food scenes

The Euro (EUR) is the currency, and ATMs are widely available in Athens and the main island towns, so there’s little need to arrange currency before you travel. Contactless card payment is standard for most transactions, though smaller island tavernas and shops sometimes still prefer cash.

Greek is the national language, and English is spoken confidently across tourism-heavy islands and Athens, though it becomes noticeably less common in smaller, less-visited villages. Guides and hotel staff throughout the main tourist areas operate comfortably in English regardless of specific island.

Greece operates on Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2) in winter and Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, UTC+3) in summer, a full hour ahead of much of Western Europe including France and Italy. This is worth checking specifically if your itinerary combines Greece with a Western European leg.

This depends genuinely on which island, since Athens and some larger islands have treated water safe to drink, while many smaller islands rely on desalination or limited freshwater supplies and bottled water is the standard, recommended default. Checking with your specific hotel on arrival, rather than assuming island tap water is universally safe or unsafe, is the more accurate approach.

Cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and larger shops across Athens and the main islands, but smaller family-run tavernas, beach bars and market stalls often expect cash. Euros in small denominations are worth carrying, particularly on quieter islands where card machines can be unreliable.

Tipping isn’t obligatory, but rounding up a bill or leaving small change for good service is genuinely appreciated and common practice across restaurants and tavernas. It’s a more relaxed expectation than some destinations, closer to a thank-you gesture than a required part of the transaction.

Greece uses Type C and Type F sockets, the standard European two-pin design, running at 230V. This is a widely recognised shape covered by virtually any universal travel adapter.

Many smaller shops and businesses, particularly outside Athens and on the islands, close for several hours in the early afternoon during the hottest part of the day and reopen in the early evening, a long-standing rhythm suited to Greek summer heat. Planning shopping or errands for the morning or evening, rather than assuming everything stays open continuously through the afternoon, avoids arriving to find doors shut.

The meltemi, a strong seasonal wind that picks up particularly in July and August, can suspend ferry services between islands with little advance notice, especially on smaller or faster vessels more affected by rough water. Building a buffer day into any multi-island itinerary during peak meltemi season, rather than scheduling back-to-back island transfers, protects against a genuinely common and unpredictable disruption.

Hydrofoils and high-speed catamarans cut journey time considerably compared with a conventional ferry, but they’re more susceptible to cancellation in rough weather and generally more exposed to a bumpier ride on choppy days. For a shorter transfer in calm conditions the speed is a genuine advantage, but a conventional ferry is often the steadier, more reliable choice during windier stretches of the season.