Kaliméra (Καλημέρα)
kah-lee-MEH-rah
Good morning
Greeting someone in the morning
Travel guide
Learn Greece before you go
Ancient temples, whitewashed islands and a sea that is never far away, in the country that gave the world democracy and the Olympic Games.
CapitalAthens
CurrencyEuro (€)
Official languageGreek
Drives on theRight
Calling code+30
10 phrases to learn
In Greek. Capital letters show the stressed part. Tap the heart to practise a phrase later.
Kalispéra (Καλησπέρα)
kah-lee-SPEH-rah
Good evening
Greeting someone from late afternoon on
Kalinýchta (Καληνύχτα)
kah-lee-NEEKH-tah
Good night
Saying goodbye late in the evening or going to bed
Geia sas (Γεια σας)
YAH-sahs
Hello, or goodbye (polite)
Greeting or leaving a stranger, an older person or a group
Geia sou (Γεια σου)
YAH-soo
Hi, or bye (informal)
Greeting or leaving a friend or a child
Chaíro polý (Χαίρω πολύ)
HEH-roh poh-LEE
Nice to meet you
Meeting someone for the first time
Ti kánete? (Τι κάνετε;)
tee KAH-neh-teh
How are you? (polite)
Asking a stranger or an older person how they are
Kalá, efcharistó (Καλά, ευχαριστώ)
kah-LAH ef-hah-ree-STOH
Fine, thank you
Answering 'How are you?'
Me synchoreíte (Με συγχωρείτε)
meh seen-hoh-REE-teh
Excuse me
Getting someone's attention politely or passing through a crowd
Miláte angliká? (Μιλάτε αγγλικά;)
mee-LAH-teh ahn-glee-KAH
Do you speak English?
Before asking for help
At the table
- Many dishes, especially meze, are put in the middle of the table and everyone shares.
- Before eating, people wish each other 'Kalí órexi' (good appetite), and they say 'Stin ygeiá mas' (to our health) when they raise their glasses.
- Ouzo is usually drunk slowly with water or ice and a little food, not on its own.
- Many Greeks follow Orthodox fasts, so tavernas often offer 'fasting' versions of dishes without meat, eggs or cheese, especially during Lent.
- On Clean Monday, the first day of Lent, families eat taramosalata, bread and other fasting foods, often outdoors.
Local tips
'Nai' means yes
The Greek word for yes, 'nai', sounds like 'nay'. For no, many Greeks give a small upward nod with raised eyebrows, sometimes with a 'tsk' click of the tongue.
Keep your palm to yourself
Pushing an open palm with spread fingers towards someone's face, the 'moutza', is an old and strong insult in Greece. Even when showing the number five, Greeks take care not to push their palm towards someone.
Validate your ticket in Athens
On buses, trolleybuses and trams, validate your ticket or card once when you board. On the metro, tap it at the gates when you enter and when you leave. The fine for travelling without a valid ticket is 100 euros.
Dress for monasteries
At Meteora and other monasteries, visitors are expected to dress modestly: shoulders covered, long trousers for men and a skirt below the knee for women. Wrap-around skirts are sometimes lent at the entrance, but do not count on it.
Beat the summer heat
Summers are very hot. During heatwaves the Acropolis has closed in the afternoon, so visit ancient sites early in the morning, wear a hat and carry water.
Be careful with fire
Wildfires are a serious risk from spring to autumn. Never light fires outdoors or throw away cigarettes: causing a fire is a criminal offence in Greece, even by accident.
Carry your passport
Carry your passport with you, as the police may ask for identification and may not accept a copy.
Ask for an itemised bill
By law, restaurants must give you an itemised bill. Check it before paying, especially at busy tourist spots.
Dishes to try
- Moussaka (Mousakás (μουσακάς)): Layers of fried or baked aubergine and a tomato and minced meat sauce, topped with a thick béchamel sauce and baked until golden.
- Greek village salad (Choriátiki saláta (χωριάτικη σαλάτα)): Chunks of tomato, cucumber and onion with olives and a slab of feta, dressed with olive oil and dried oregano. A true Greek salad has no lettuce.
- Tzatziki (Tzatzíki (τζατζίκι)): A cool dip of strained yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil and a little vinegar or lemon, often with dill or mint. It is served as a meze and as a sauce for souvlaki and gyros.
- Fasolada (Fasoláda (φασολάδα)): A thick soup of dried white beans simmered with tomato, carrot, celery, onion and plenty of olive oil. It is sometimes called the national food of the Greeks.
- Dakos (Ntákos (ντάκος)): A hard barley rusk softened with water or olive oil and topped with grated tomato, crumbled feta or mizithra cheese, oregano and olive oil.
- Spanakopita (Spanakópita (σπανακόπιτα)): A pie of crisp filo pastry filled with spinach, usually with feta and egg. A version without cheese and eggs is eaten during religious fasts.
- Souvlaki (Souvláki (σουβλάκι)): Small pieces of meat, usually pork in Greece, grilled on a skewer and eaten straight off the stick or wrapped in pita with tomato, onion and tzatziki.
- Gyros (Gýros (γύρος)): Meat, traditionally pork in Greece, roasted on a turning vertical spit, sliced thin and wrapped in pita with tomato, onion, chips and tzatziki.
Cities to see
- Athens (capital): The Acropolis and the Parthenon, The National Archaeological Museum, The Panathenaic Stadium of the 1896 Olympics.
- Thessaloniki: The White Tower, Byzantine churches, Bougatsa for breakfast.
- Patras: One of Europe's largest carnivals, The Rio-Antirrio bridge, Saint Andrew, the city's patron saint.
- Heraklion: Knossos, Venetian walls and harbour fortress, Its archaeological museum.
- Chania: The Venetian harbour, The old town, The Samaria Gorge nearby.
- Ioannina: Lake Pamvotis, Its castle and Ali Pasha, The stone villages of Zagori nearby.