Greece (including Kefalonia Island)

NOTE: Top-10 List – Practical Travelling Tips at bottom of page

June 2026

(Note: trip expenses broken out at bottom of blog)

Day 1

The adventure begins! 2 weeks, 2 days in Greece and Croatia. Jenna (daughter), Catharine (wife) and myself. Things began smoothly – one of our sons drove us to the airport for our 3pm flight and then we were soon heading into the clouds. Within hours we’d be flying over Greenland and then, later on, Scotland, before touching down in Amsterdam for a brief stop-over. Aside from the guy snoring next to me, not much to report on the flight. I was a bit restless – I can rarely sleep on planes, even during red-eyes. Just not in my wiring. The only issue worth mentioning at this point was the EES (Entry/Exit System for Non-EU travelers) that had been implemented in October, 2025. It wasn’t really a big deal – you get into the lineup then once you’re at security, you scan your fingerprints and passport with a facial picture to boot. That’s it… then we were on our way to the gate. After the 5-hour layover in Amsterdam (Jenna and I could barely keep awake we were so tired), we took off for the remaining 3-hour flight to Athens. A shorter flight but by the time we landed in Greece at 4:30pm, the sun was coming up in Calgary… and I hadn’t slept a wink! But the adrenaline was pumping as we walked into the Mediterranean heat. How lovely! Cabs were everywhere – we hailed one and jumped in. About $50 Euros and a 30-40 minute drive into downtown Athens to Plaka district where our Airbnb was located. The cabbie was talkative… the dry humor oozed out of him and he had no problem offering up historical perspectives on Greece. But he was a bit racist at times, commenting on Jewish immigration issues and so forth making things a little bit uncomfortable. And his cab reeked of cigarette smoke. We’d soon learn that smoking was still quite prevalent in Greece… cigarette butts everywhere, walking through the cigarette smoke everywhere. No big deal – part of the experience and culture. The driver was pressuring us (slightly) to pay him $200 Euros for a 5-6 hour city tour. We thought about doing it but realized later (after some chats with locals) we could do such tours for less ($). The Cabbie was also quite blunt and took things personally quite easily during our chatter (mostly with me as I was sitting in the front seat while the girls in the back were resting). We’d come to realize that people in these parts seemed to get a wee bit agitated much easier than us laid-back Canadians. No disrespect to the Greeks – they’re a passionate people and from a historical perspective, they’ve been through alot over the centuries. He dropped us off in Plaka and our Airbnb was only about 500 meters from the Acropolis (ruins), so we were definitely at ground zero with the touristy stuff. Cafes, restaurants, and shops were everywhere, up and down endless narrow cobblestone passageways… Very cool. We were quick to settle into the Airbnb before dressing up and getting out into the area for dinner. Such beautiful foliage and colors all around with the animated Greeks… a very engaging culture. And the food was delish! The Greeks don’t hold back when it comes to a hearty dinner experience. And the cats – they were lounging about in many areas, aimlessly walking the cobblestones. Afterward we walked back to our Airbnb and literally crashed into bed (at that point I hadn’t slept in over 30 hours). The apartment wasn’t fancy, but it was clean, functional, ideally located and had a great host. These were important criteria for us for all our stays – in addition to WIFI and AC, of course. You needed the AC with the 30+ heat down here, daily. That was our saving grace for recharging during our nightly sleeps with all the walking and touring we’d be doing.

Day 2

I awoke at 6am, waaaay ahead of the girls. It was so quiet and I just took it all in by lounging on the couch, feeling somewhat refreshed after a solid sleep. With all the sitting during the previous day’s travels and so forth, it was just so nice to lie horizontally and relax with my thoughts for awhile. Before long, though, I jumped onto some online research, checking out the venues we’d be visiting today. And there would be lots of walking – 5 kms in total involving the Acropolis, Agora district, Zeus Temple, and Panathenaic Stadium areas. And then, in mid-research, the apt’s WIFI crapped out. It would stay off for pretty much the rest of our 3-night stay at that Airbnb. We would contact the host who was helpful enough but it turned into a glitch with the provider so it was out of the host’s hands. The girls (not me) did have international data plans on their phones so we weren’t off the grid, but sometimes I just like using my computer for online stuff. After they woke up around 9am, we got dressed and filled up the water bottles for the impending trek. It was turning into a hot one! 31 degrees and sunny. Not that we were complaining after leaving the cool, crisp mountain air of Calgary. We were looking forward to a change of climate! We ventured out and hit a nearby restaurant for a quick brunch first. The restaurants in the Plaka district are everywhere with Greek men standing at the outside front entrances trying to entice the passersby for a bite. There were lots of tourists floating about (as I’m sure there are every day), walking the passageways for food, shopping or just roaming about for the heck of it. So many people from all corners of the earth, their fashions stretching off in all directions. anything goes here when it comes to fashions! Pretty cool. Soon after the brunch we took off for the Acropolis, about a 5 minutes’ walk away. We had already paid our tickets online fearing big lineups, but when we got there, no lineups! At least not at that time. We walked up the pathway toward the ruins high above – a bit of a climb but not too tiring for the legs. Still hot. We ended up spending about 2 hours here as there were so many temples and stone structures to take in. Pretty cool looking at all this ancient history (they were all built around 330 BC, give or take). Once we had our fill, we walked onward toward the Agora district nearby which is like Plaka but much more authentic to Greek culture and looking a bit weathered with respect to the shops, markets, ruins, old architecture and so forth. But that was Agora’s charm and we enjoyed it a little more than Plaka, I think, with respect to the authenticity. Our legs were getting stiff, though! Lots of walking. After awhile, we returned back to our Airbnb and conked out for an hour or two with some naps. Still no internet. Frustrating! Later on in the early evening we ventured back out into the streets and made our way to a really cool restaurant with a rooftop view – and this restaurant was basically built on a steep hill so it had alot of stairs. When we sat down at our table, we had a wonderful view of the Acropolis heights behind and above us. After we filled our bellies, we walked around Plaka again, getting lost in the endless passageways until we decided to walk around the main walkway promenade encircling the Acropolis. It was busy! Lots of people out and about enjoying the evening. We ended the night off with a gelato (similar to ice cream). Wouldn’t be our last gelato on the trip! (would have many… they are yum. I fell in love with gelatos a few years ago when our son, Ryan, and I were in Italy for a volleyball tourney)

Day 3

I woke up and felt very lethargic… was I still jet-legged? I’ve heard the tale in the past where it can really hit a person on the second or third day after a long-haul flight. Maybe it was happening to me. The girls were upbeat about more tours (we had missed the Zeus Temple and Stadium yesterday so they were going to walk there today) but I just couldn’t summon the energy. They headed out the door without me while I relaxed in bed moving in and out of sleep until almost noon. They arrived back around then and enjoyed the morning’s exploring – so much history to visit around these parts! After lunch my energy bubbled back up and we all headed out and toured around Plaka again, taking in the various shops and sights. It’s a great place to people watch. Then it was off to our next event – a bus tour to the Temple of Poseidon. These ruins were located 45 minutes southeast of Athens on the coast. We had booked the tickets online – about $32 Cdn each and it would start around 3:45pm and last until sunset – the best time to visit Poseidon were at the sunsets we were told. And the sunset time in Athens was currently around 8:45pm. We’d get there in an hour on the bus, have dinner at the restaurant there, spend some time at a nearby beach and then enjoy the temple at sunset before returning back to Athens. Unfortunately, I had gotten the bus pickup location wrong. : ( We had walked 15 minutes to a Plaka location from our Airbnb and arrived around 3:40pm. We waited for the bus and got a little concerned when it didn’t show up. Looking around, it really didn’t look like a bus-pickup kinda place, to be honest. I went through my phone for the booking details and saw the error. My heart sank. We were about 10 minutes away from the actual pickup location! We hoofed it fast, hanging lefts and rights through more streets and arrived at the actual location at about 3:55pm but the bus had already left. Ugh! $100 down the drain. The girls were not happy. Got some glares. We walked back to the Airbnb in silence but then I realized we’d be back in Athens for one night on a layover between our flight from Kefalonia Island and Dubrovnik (Croatia) in a few days’ time. We’d have a 5-hour bracket of time then to pull off another Poseidon adventure. The universe was back in balance. More walking around Plaka again and as usual, lots of cats roaming or lounging about! Very cute. Then we decided to walk the walkway-promenade loop circling the Acropolis heights. I think it took us about an hour to walk it. We also stopped in places for foods, shopping and views. I must say, we always felt safe walking around these areas. Maybe it was because there were always tons of people in the vicinity, mostly tourists. There was never a time where we felt unsafe or threatened. But the Greeks are very unapologetic, blunt and verbal… we saw more than a few angry engagements between Greeks on the streets. Their quick with their reactions, for sure. But, again, very passionate people which was refreshing to see. This was our last night in Athens before flying to Kefalonia Island mid-day tomorrow – and just before we were about to hit the sack that night, lo’ and behold, the internet came to life. At the same time, our Airbnb host knocks on the door and comes in. An elderly gentleman, he was very nice and congenial and even gave us a $30 credit as compensation for the internet hassles. He was certainly a great host overall and the apt was perfect for us. Always pretty quiet and insulated from the busy streets below except for one early morning argument – around 3:30am I think – when I heard two Greeks yelling at each other outside. Not sure what they were talking about but it was pretty heated. It ended as fast as it started. Aside from that, the thing about downtown Athens – the drivers and the narrow roads. The roads curve left and right in every kind of shape you can imagine. No easy checkerboard configuration like Calgary. And the streets, so narrow with bikes and vespas zipping around vehicles all the time with people honking the horns often. Stressful driving in my opinion… I’m glad we didn’t have a rental vehicle here. Most everything is within walking distance amongst the Plaka and Agora districts.

Day 4

Waking up, feeling refreshed, we cleaned up the apartment which didn’t take too long, then packed our clothes and grabbed a cab at 11am. Back to the airport we went! Our flight to Kefalonia Island (Greek island west of the mainland) would only be an hour flight – a short hop which was refreshing after the tiresome 12-hr jaunt from Calgary. There were no major issues during the flight – we landed, got our rental car promptly, a small vehicle but everyone drives small vehicles in Greece it seems! I hadn’t seen one pickup truck in Greece so far. The driving would be an experience! Right from the get-go we had to navigate some crazy narrow roads, hairpin turns and mountainous terrain as we across the width of the island to our destination on the east coast – another Airbnb, this time in the small fishing town of Sami. A white-knuckled drive at times, for sure! But I would get used to the narrow roads here… had no other choice (lol). The drive took about forty-five minutes to an hour. Sami had alot to offer and it was also the setting for many scenes in the 2001 movie, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, from many years back. Beautiful area with gorgeous coastal views and mountainous scenery! The island is full of hills and mountains. Our apt was about a km from the coastline where the main downtown harbour area was located with all the restaurants. After unpacking we quickly made our way to one of these restaurants. We were hungry! And the food was awesome, as usual. Afterward, a grocery run and then we settled into a nice sleep after a day of travel. The apt was lovely – it had been recently renovated with all the modern fixings. The only issue here was the neighbor’s dog. It barked incessantly at times in the evenings – luckily we were usually out trotting about but when we were home, it got a bit annoying at times. It always seemed to stop around 10:30pm. Not sure why, but at least we could sleep.

Day 5

Woke up around 9am, ready for another excursion. We had things planned for every day of our Greece/Croatia trip so it was important for us to keep the snacks and meals generally healthy. We needed our energy levels to remain relatively high. And good sleeps were always on the radar too! Nightly recharging was so important for the mind, body and soul. The plan for that morning was the Drogoli Caves followed by the Melassani underground cave/lake. Both were only a few kilometers from Sami. One of the reasons why i had picked Sami as our base camp on the island was its proximity to many of the Island’s charms and must-see areas. Both our Drogoli and Melassani visits would be enjoyable – they were quick visits as it only took about 20 minutes to tour each of them. Very magical experiences with the colors and the surrounding ecological environments. We drove back to our Airbnb for brunch at which point we saw peacocks lounging about in the brush outside… we had no idea peacocks roamed free here. Cool. We packed up again and headed out to Assos Village, a quiet rustic fishing village about 30-40 minutes away. More hairpin turns, windy roads, hilly scenery… and goats! Peacocks aren’t the only animals roaming free around here. We were actually warned about the goats when we landed – they can jump out onto the road in a flash. Assos was a very picturesque ocean-side area where the body of water, like an emerald bay, was surrounded by land on most parts like a horseshoe. A few beachside restaurants serviced the tourists, but it wasn’t too busy that day. Certainly not like Athens. Athens was on a whole other level. Water was turquoise and beautiful with many people enjoying it to escape the heat. On the other side of the horseshoe was a pine-forested walkway that meandered upward about 1000m (not a steep incline) before it reached a Venetian fort built in the 16th century. We had to take a look! The stroll took about 30-40 mins with stops to enjoy the impressive views. We spent some time walking amongst the ruins before returning back to the village below. Jenna and Catharine decided to take a dip into the bay. Refreshing! Lots of pics were taken, per usual, and then we drove back to Sami for some showers and a dinner… our first homemade dinner since we had arrived in Greece. We planned on making more dinners in our Airbnb’s but it’s just too easy to get lazy and head out to a nearby restaurant. Can’t work too hard on the holidays : ). Especially in the heat. Although it wasn’t an intense day, it was a full day so we were back in bed by 10pm. We needed a good rest before another day of activities.

Day 6

Another morning in paradise! We were going to head up to the highest peak on the island today – Mount Ainos in Ainos National Park. 1,627 meters in elevation. But first, another hearty breakfast. We generally made our own meals for breakfast and lunch with groceries from nearby markets. Lots of fresh, organic vegetables and fruits in these parts! Today I made a yogurt / fruit / granola bowl (involving strawberries and cherries) and then some scrambled eggs on the side followed by a protein drink. We had this meal often in the mornings as it was easy and healthy – plus we needed something quick as we usually had to be on the road early in the mornings to avoid trekking too much in the afternoon heat. Ainos National Park was 12 kms from Sami toward the southwest – about a 20-min drive to the entrance. But then you’d need to add another 20-30 mins for the drive to the top along a well-paved, but narrow road (par for the course!). We hit the road and arrived at the entrance to the park but took a wrong turn down a dirt road. We got mixed up on the directions (Google) and as we cruised along, it was becoming more and more rugged – stones getting bigger to maneuver around, more gaps in the soil, road becoming more narrow. After about 15 minutes, I realized I couldn’t take the vehicle any farther – was getting too rough and dangerous. We were borderline back-roading at this point and I didn’t want to return a severely damaged vehicle to the rental company (lol). So we did a 180 which took some time – the car precariously close to the edge of a steep hill on one side. But we did it… no damage to the car yet. Backtracking, we made it back to the fork in the road near the park’s entrance and followed the other road. We were on the right path now! And tons of goats in nearby pastures. The ride up the mountain had breathtaking, amazing views… for the girls, at least, as I had to keep my eyes peeled on the road for oncoming traffic with a cliff always to the right of me. A long way down! We reached the top and parked the car in the parking lot. Getting out, no more +32 heat! It felt like crisp, Calgary mountain air at this elevation – loved it. A nice break from the Mediterranean heat. And there was the smell of the large fir trees all around us, everywhere. We still weren’t technically at the top of the mountain yet – you had to hike the remaining 1.6 kms to get there which we were motivated to do. After reaching the top, we had glorious views of the north side of the island, but there was quite a bit of clouds blowing through at that height which limited our southern view. Kinda like the Gorillas in the Mist movie. Very strange, though – looking south, things were somewhat engulfed in mist, but looking north, a pristine view. We took lots of panoramic shots with our cameras and then walked back down to the car about 30 minutes later. Driving back to Sami, we bought a few more groceries (a few chocolate snacks too… needed some sugary vitamin C) had a mid-afternoon lunch and then took off to Myrtos Beach about 30 minutes away. That beach was about as close to paradise as you could get – ice blue water, white sand, white cliffs on either side, just gorgeous! The Greeks say it’s the most photographed beach in Greece. And because we didn’t arrive until about 4:00pm, it wasn’t busy with tourists. All the busloads were pretty much gone. Still sunny, no clouds and +30 heat. Water was warm. After about 90 minutes we returned home, had some showers and took off to Agroktima Georgios Nkiafis restaurant (a mouthful!) where they serve plentiful portions and is a meat-eater’s dream. All the meat is sourced from their farm and the locals love the place. Service was great and we filled ourselves up. The only issue here, about 100 goats were lounging on the road, tying up traffic. A minor delay until they moved off into a nearby field.

Day 7

Another adventure awaited – Fiskardo. It was another picturesque village (everywhere you went was picturesque) to the north with it’s big claim to fame as the only village on the island to survive a devastating 1953 earthquake completely intact. As a result, it had retained its authentic, Venetian-style architecture. But before taking in Fiskardo, we had to get some washing done. Our clean clothes were running out (we only travelled with carry-on) so we ran a few loads in the very small washer. After hanging up the clothes, we took off around noon and drove along the twisty, windy, hilly roads yet again, but the gorgeous coastline views were always worth it. Breathtaking. Arriving 50 minutes later, there wouldn’t be any major walks or hikes today – just a 1.6 km loop taking us to a lighthouse and back again toward the harbour village where it was bustling with all kinds of boats as well as tourists meandering about the restaurants and shops. Ferries were coming and going – with so many Greek islands (6,000 islands, albeit, only about 200 are inhabited), the marine industry is huge! We toured around for a few hours which included a lunch and then we had our fill. We drove back to Sami. But about 5 kms from Sami we stopped into a roadside beach with alot of tree coverage and just vegged for about 2 hours. So relaxing. Zen-mode, for sure. I loved just looking out over the waters (Ionian Sea). So peaceful. Just something about the water, mesmerizing, hypnotizing in ways. Later that evening, after some refreshing showers, we headed down to the Sami harbourfront and took in another dinner. It was busy but another enjoyable restaurant experience was had. The Greeks sure put alot of energy into their delicious foods and dinner experiences. But an interesting observation – the Greeks rarely ask for tips nor do their machines request tip options.

Day 8

Sadly we were packing up this morning to leave the island. It treated us well! So much to see and enjoy in this little place. It was back to Athens for a one-night layover as you can’t fly directly to Croatia from Kefalonia. But this worked out great because as mentioned before, it provided for another opportunity to visit the Psoiden Temple along the coast south of Athens. Our second and last chance. We landed back in Athens around mid-afternoon after an hour flight. We had booked an Airbnb for the one night near the airport (about 2-3 kms away) as our flight the next day to Dubrovnik, Croatia, was at 8:30am, so, we’d need to wake up early and head to the airport by 6:30am. Having a place to sleep near the airport would afford us a little extra sleeping time. Any little amount of extra sleep was helpful. And this place offered free shuttle service both ways too. Convenient. After settling in, we went out for a bite to eat and decided to book a 6:45pm Uber for the drive to the coast. The reason for that time – it would take about 45 mins to get there according to Google, and then the entry into the temple area closes at 8pm. But once you’re in, you’re in to enjoy the ruins and the sunset which was around 8:48pm. Then we’d get an Uber back to the Airbnb after the sun had set. Redemption! After screwing up the original Psoiden Temple visit days ago, I’d make it right today. But then, a wrench in the gears. The host of our Airbnb had ordered the Uber to arrive at 6:40pm. 6:40pm, no Uber. 6:45pm, no Uber. The Host, then, told us the Uber had cancelled. Ugh! And then, after a quick Google, Jenna said the drive to the temple was actually 55 mins, not 45 mins. What? Maybe it was taking into account some rush hour traffic. I was starting to sweat because we didn’t have a backup plan and it was looking like our second attempt was gonna be another bust. The host ordered up another Uber promptly and one was available for 6:55pm. We were cutting it close! And would this guy actually pull through? Sure enough, he arrived on time and we all piled in. “Psoiden Temple! Pronto! We only got an hour before the gate closes!” I said. He replied, “I’ll try but it depends on the traffic. Can be busy in the evenings.” What are the odds we’d (I) mess up a second attempt… anyway, we drove along and the minutes ticked. Quickly. Onward, tick tock, driving through traffic and then we see the coast off in the distance. Almost there! I looked at my watch. “Gonna be tight!” At 7:55pm, the Uber dropped us off at the entrance (Uber cost = $60 Euros). We ran up and got in line. About 5 people ahead of us. A security lady was pacing about at the gate. When is she gonna close it? At 7:58pm we make it to the booth and pay for tickets ($20 Euros per person). We did it! And minutes later, the booth closes down. Wow… minutes to spare. A close call but we did it. We’d spend about 90 minutes there – very ethereal feeling with the sunset, the golden glow upon the ruins, the history, the peaceful ocean below… a very spiritual vibe, to be honest. Was a beautiful sunset too! Hardly a cloud in the sky. Once the sun had set we Uber’d it home and flopped into bed around 10pm… we needed a good sleep before our alarms would kick in at 6am.

(Click on “Croatia” back on the home page for a continuation of this trip)

Expenses

Because our trip involved both Greece and Croatia, I’ve combined both below. For 3 people, we were between $14K-$15K. Some things to take into consideration: (1) we didn’t include groceries because we’d also be buying groceries if we were in Calgary (a wash), (2) one’s budget can go up or down a little bit based on the purchase of seat adjustments on the airplanes (can add up when you consider it’s about $25/seat on average x 3 people x 4 flights Calgary-Amsterday-Greece/Croatia… not including the intra-Greece and Greece-Croatia flights) (3) take into account the currency exchange, of course (4) our average / night for accommodations = $290/night (Cdn $) (5) watch out for car rental overbillings. When our visa bill arrived after returning to Calgary, we saw that both car rentals overbilled us. Not an uncommon practice against tourists when travelling abroad. The car rental charges below do not include these “extra” charges as I’m currently battling the car rental agencies on this (6) we would generally eat breakfast and lunch from groceries we bought at the markets. Dinners were usually at restaurants except for 2 nights. So the meals amount ($) below is basically our dinners expense

Picture 1: After a nice seafood dinner up north at Campbell River. Andrew & Linnea trying to avoid the water!

Picture 2: A bit rainy! Our family on the boat up around the northerly tip of Cortes Island checking out this beautiful bay and waterfall

Picture 3: All of us backroadin’ on an old Ford pickup. We needed it to get us to the Medicine Bowls (set of waterfalls/swimming holes) in the backwoods near Courtney

Picture 4: Jumping into the Medicine Bowls… stunning place

Picture 5: Ryan pointing to the signs at Refuge Cove on West Redonda Island. Very cool outpost in the middle of nowhere (accessible only by bushplane or boat). Lots of rain that day but it added to the mystique of the place. Loved it

Picture 6: Visiting Parksville and the international sandcastle competition. Personally I thought this one shoulda won (The King!)

Picture 7: We rented a place (view out toward the water) for part of our trip on a 0.6 square kilometer island called Protection Island. Was so peaceful and relaxing

Picture 8: Jenna, Andrew, Linnea & Ryan enjoying the last night of holidays

Picture 9: Kayaking around Protection Island. The seals were keeping an eye on us in areas! Cute animals

TOP TEN LIST – PRACTICAL TRAVELLING TIPS

Here’s a practical Top-10 list of travelling tips for a one-week trip to Greece from Canada:

Check Entry Requirements and EES Canadians can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (across the entire Schengen Area). Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from Greece/Schengen. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is active — expect biometric registration (photo + fingerprints) on arrival, which can cause delays at borders/airports. Plan extra time for connections.
Book Flights and Internal Transport Early Direct flights from Toronto or Montreal to Athens take about 9–10 hours. For islands, use ferries (book in advance via Ferryhopper, especially in peak season) or short domestic flights. For a week-long trip, limit yourself to Athens + 1–2 islands to avoid rushing.
Pack for Heat, Sun, and Walking Greece in summer is hot (often 30–35°C+). Bring lightweight clothing, a wide-brim hat, high-SPF sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes (cobblestones and stairs everywhere), and a reusable water bottle. Pack a European Type C/F plug adapter (230V). Layers are useful for evenings or air-conditioned sites.
Manage Money Wisely Greece uses the Euro (€). Cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, but carry cash (small bills) for tavernas, markets, taxis, and smaller islands where ATMs can run out or go offline. Withdraw from bank ATMs and avoid tourist-trap exchanges. Tipping 5–10% in cash is appreciated.
Get Travel Insurance Comprehensive insurance is essential — covering medical emergencies, trip delays/cancellations, and baggage. Greece has good healthcare, but private clinics and evacuations (e.g., from islands) can be expensive. Include coverage for adventure activities if planned.
Stay Hydrated and Mind Food/Water Safety Tap water is generally safe in Athens but tastes better bottled on many islands. Buy large bottles from supermarkets (much cheaper than kiosks). Eat fresh, hot food; be cautious with seafood if not near the coast. Routine vaccines (MMR, etc.) are recommended; consider Hepatitis A.
Respect Local Customs and Siesta Culture Greeks are friendly but appreciate basic phrases (Yassas = hello, Efharisto = thank you). Dress modestly at churches/monasteries (cover shoulders/knees). Many shops/restaurants close for siesta (afternoon) in summer. Be patient with service — it’s relaxed, not rude.
Be Street-Smart in Crowded Areas Athens and popular islands are generally safe, but watch for pickpockets in tourist spots (Acropolis, metro, beaches). Use hotel safes for passports. Avoid unofficial taxis at the airport (use the official queue or apps like Beat). Decline unsolicited invitations from strangers.
Plan Your Itinerary Realistically For one week: 2–3 days in Athens (Acropolis, Plaka, museums), then fly/ferry to 1–2 islands (e.g., Santorini or Mykonos for iconic views, or a quieter one). Don’t try to “see everything.” Book popular sites (Acropolis) early in the day to beat heat and crowds.
Download Useful Apps and Check Government Advice Use Google Translate (with offline Greek), Ferryhopper or Rome2Rio for transport, and maps apps with offline downloads. Register with the Canadian government’s travel app or check travel.gc.ca for updates. Know emergency numbers: 112 (general), 1571 (tourist police).

Bonus Tip: Shoulder seasons (May–June or September) are ideal for fewer crowds, lower prices, and pleasant weather compared to peak July–August. Enjoy the food, hospitality, and incredible scenery — Greece rewards a relaxed pace! Safe travels!