How to prepare for an independent trip to Greece? What are the prices in the country in 2021? What do you need to know when going on vacation? Useful advice and reviews of tourists.
Visa to Greece
How to independently apply for and obtain a visa to Greece? Regular Schengen is required to enter the country in 2021, and nothing supernatural is needed to obtain it. Just correctly collect the package of documents and submit to the visa center or consulate, as well as pay the visa and service fees. Find out what set of documents you need to apply for a visa to Greece.
Get insurance online at Sravn.ru or Cherehapa - they compare prices from all major insurance companies. You can choose a policy according to the parameters you need and the best price. The cost of the policy is from 300 rubles per week.
How to get to Greece inexpensively
The easiest way, in our opinion, is to get to the country by plane, especially since the tickets are not too expensive. The cheapest way to fly to Greece during the off-season is flights from Moscow to Thessaloniki and Athens cost from 6 thousand rubles round trip. You can fly to Crete, Corfu and Rhodes in low season from 9 thousand rubles. In summer, air tickets are more expensive - from 10-11 thousand rubles. Tickets from St. Petersburg cost from 12-14 thousand rubles.
Where and how to find cheap tickets? They are easily found on the search engines Aviasales and Skyscanner. To find the best price, check both and see tickets for different dates. Read also our detailed instructions on how to find cheap flights correctly.
How to book a hotel for your holidays in Greece
If you have planned an independent vacation in Greece in the summer of 2021, we strongly recommend that you book your hotel in advance so that it does not hurt excruciatingly: good inexpensive rooms are sold out very quickly. It is better to search for a hotel on the Roomguru.ru service, since it compares prices in several booking systems - no need to search manually.
Prices depend on where and when you are going to rest in Greece. A double standard in a 1-3 * hotel will cost 25-45 euros in the low season (at a high price it can be twice as high). 4 and 5 star hotels cost from 70 euros and more. Do you want to save money and are unpretentious in terms of conditions? You can check into a hostel, where a bed costs from 10 to 35 euros.
Did you know, that it is usually cheaper to go on vacation to Greece on a tour, and not on your own? The tour price includes flight, accommodation, transfer, insurance and meals of your choice. Last Minute Tours you can search for the best prices on the services Onlinetours.ru and Level.Travel - they compare the offers of 120 tour operators and therefore are able to find the ideal option. You can buy a ticket online, which is very convenient. Want to save money? Read our 7 rules for buying tours online.
Food Prices in Greece - 2021
The country is famous for its cuisine, and if you are a gourmet and are going on an independent trip to Greece, lay more money on this item of expenses. Prices vary from resort to resort, so we provide an estimate. 20-40 euros - this is how much a dinner with alcohol in a restaurant costs, depending on the level of the establishment. Breakfast in a cafe costs 3-8 euros, lunch - 4-12 euros, dinner - 6-15 euros. You can have a budget snack gyro (in our opinion, shawarma) - they are sold everywhere and cost about 3 euros. If you want to eat on a budget, look for places to eat locals. Find out more about food prices in Greece.
Transport
Public transport is well developed; in large cities you can get to almost any place on it. The most common is the bus and tram; there is a metro in Athens.
Bus carrier - KTEL company. Tickets are inexpensive and depend on the distance (for intercity flights - about 5 euros per 100 km). A trip around the city costs from 1.10 euros, the ticket must be validated. Before stopping, press a special button, and if you want to get on the bus, wave your hand to the driver to stop. Tickets can be purchased from special machines, kiosks and from the driver.
According to tourists' reviews, the schedule often changes, it is better to constantly update it. Arrive early so you can buy your ticket and get a seat (free seating is a common occurrence, even if seats are indicated on the tickets). By the way, buses have an unpleasant habit of leaving a little earlier than the appointed time.
If you are planning to travel actively in Greece on your own, we advise you to take rent a moped or car (only observe traffic rules). You can rent a car online at Rentalcars.com, so you will not be dependent on the Greek intermittent bus schedule.
Look for interesting excursions on the Sputnik and Tripster websites. Individual and group, no crowds of tourists and in Russian.
Trains There are two types: slow and high-speed Intercity (IC). Tourists are advised to buy 1st class tickets for IC trains (and better in advance). Routes are heavily limited by mountainous terrain. You can buy tickets and see routes on the official OSE website.
Taxi driversas elsewhere, they try to cash in on tourists. Cheating schemes are the most common: the "forgotten" counter, the longest path. Do not sit down with private traders, look for official companies. Boarding costs about 3.20 euros, 1 km - about 0.80 euros. You can order a car online at the Kiwi Taxi service (it is also possible to order a transfer between cities or from / to the airport there) - it is convenient, reliable and safe.
Are you planning to move between the islands while on your own vacation in Greece? There is nothing easier, because the country has an extensive network water transport: catamarans, high-speed and regular ferries, hydrofoils, taxi boats. Navigation is carried out from May to October. The schedule is unstable, check Greeceferries.com or Paleologos.gr. The range of prices is large, the cost depends on the type of vessel, distance, carrier, conditions. This type of transport cannot be called cheap: for example, a ferry from Athens to Rhodes costs from 47 euros, from Santorini - from 30 euros. You can save money on ferries by booking your tickets a couple of months in advance. It is also cheaper to cross at night - this way you will save not only on the ticket, but also on the overnight stay.
Reviews and tips for independent holidays in Greece
Here are some helpful tips from seasoned tourists to help you organize your own trip to Greece in 2021.
The roads are not good everywhere, there are steep and narrow serpentines. Local drivers love to dash and overtake, be careful on the road (this also applies to pedestrians).
Schedule and exact timetable of establishments in the country is a vague concept. And if in tourist cities this is at least somehow observed, then in small provincial villages life flows according to its own laws.
In siesta (especially in the provinces) everything freezes, during these hot hours (from 14 to 17) we also advise you to follow the old custom and take a nap. Swimming and excursions are best done in the morning.
Greece is considered safe for independent travel, but you shouldn't lose your guard. Be attentive in crowded places, do not leave things unattended. Place your valuables in the hotel safe. Check the change and the purchased item. Withdraw money carefully from the ATM.
According to the reviews of tourists, it is better not to plan an independent vacation in Greece in the summer (namely in August), since this is the high season - hot, many tourists and exorbitant prices. If you are planning mainly a cultural and excursion program, then the ideal time for this is spring and autumn. Find out how much money to take to Greece.
It is cheaper to relax in unpopular resorts, because prices, for example, in Mykonos and Patmos are comparable to Western European ones. Read also where is the best place to relax in Greece.
A hat, sunscreen, light clothing and comfortable shoes are required.
A properly assembled tourist's first aid kit is a guarantee of a calm and safe independent trip to Greece, especially with children.
Take out insurance online at the convenient Sravn.ru service.
