Here we give you some tips to prepare your trip to Greece.
In this article, we would like to mention some of our partners, whose services we have tested and appreciated (we are perfectly transparent about our commercial policy, to know more, you can read this article).
Moreover, we regularly use these partners on a personal basis for our stays in Greece. By going through our website to book, you don’t pay more and you give us a helping hand to cover our costs (maintenance and hosting of the website in particular). This allows us to continue to exist.
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1. Find the right time and destination for your trip to Greece
Greece is a popular destination because it has many interests: close, with a mild weather, a diversity of very preserved landscapes (sea and mountain) and a strong cultural heritage.
You can visit Greece almost all year round. In the summer, we will certainly enjoy its
islands
. Spring and autumn are also fantastic for exploring the countryside, ancient sites and cities. Even in winter, you can enjoy a city break in Athens and enjoy the museums and cultural life of the capital. And even skiing in Greece!
In addition, Greece has many facets:
- Urbaine avec Athènes : idéal pour un city-break de 3 ou 4 jours
- Idyllic with its islands that are so different from each other.
- Wild with a very preserved nature that you can find on the Greek mainland and some islands.
- Historical with absolutely exceptional sites. Our favorites: Meteora, Acropolis, Epidaurus, Nafplio and Monemvasia.
If you are looking for inspiration, we give you plenty of ideas in our article The best destinations for a trip to Greece.
Nos conseils : Amusez-vous à surfer sur les pages du site pour vous inspirer et notamment l’article sur Bien choisir son île, Une semaine dans le Péloponnèse ou bien Visiter Athènes en 2 jours ou plus.
2. Book your transportation for your trip to Greece
Airplane
There are several airlines that fly to Greece from France.
- Vous trouverez beaucoup de liaisons par Aegean qui est la compagnie nationale grecque. Elle dessert les îles et la plupart des capitales européennes. Les prix sont souvent intéressants et le service est très bon.
- AirFrance is obviously a must for those who travel from France. New lines have opened from the Province, some only from May to October. They are very practical.
- Finally, some low cost companies also offer flights. And in high season the most important islands are also served by charter flights.
Personally we use Ulysse, it is a flight comparator. Thus, we find the best prices and companies. The after-sales service is serious. Even during the Coronavirus crisis, we had no problem getting our tickets moved.
Ferry
If you want to spend a vacation in Greece, it is very important to check the possible crossings before booking your accommodation. Indeed, some islands are not very accessible. And the inter-island connections are sometimes complex. It is therefore better to choose islands close to each other if you are planning an itinerant trip. Boat reservations are usually open between 3 and 6 months before your departure. We give you more advice on our article
How to book your ferry ?
.
Our advice: Check the website
Greek Travel Pages
the existing connections then book by
Ferry Hopper
. This online booking platform is serious and lists a good number of shipping companies. Reservations and payment are made online and it’s not more expensive than at the port! And if you have complicated routes, contact
the agency Leonidakos Travel and Tours
who can make reservations for you and give you good advice.
Car
It is often indispensable for families on a trip to Greece. But the vehicles are taken by storm in the summer. It is therefore necessary to book well in advance. There are many rental companies in Athens and on the islands. If you are leaving from Athens airport, it is sometimes as easy to rent a car at the airport. This way you can go to the port and then take the car on the boat and optimize the transfers and avoid wasting time.
Our advice: We like to go through
Rental Cars
which compares prices and ensures low prices. The comparator refers both international players and local players, often less expensive.
And if you only need a simple transfer (for example from Athens airport to Piraeus port), then we advise you to book with
Welcome PickUps
a really serious Greek start-up that offers an excellent service. The driver will be waiting for you in the airport with a sign with your name on it, you will have received his photo beforehand to recognize him easily, he will help you carry your luggage and will take you directly to your destination.
3. Choosing your accommodation
As far as accommodation is concerned, the offer in Greece is quite vast.
- On the islands, you will find on
Booking
mainly small hotels (studios or rooms), often run by families. There are also villas for rent, most of which you can find on Airbnb or in specialized agencies. On our
articles dedicated to the islands
you will also find some addresses that we ourselves have appreciated. - In Athens, you will also find rentals by individuals who leave the capital during the summer. As with any major city, rentals on
Booking
go from From the big hotel complex to the small boutique hotel, without forgetting theyouth hostel, but also more and more entire accommodations through Airbnb . We suggest you discover the neighborhoods and our recommendations in our article Where to sleep in Athens.
Our advice :
Booking
is a good way to get an idea and to book in a simple and worry-free way. However, be careful with the notations. They are generous, prefer notes above 9. More and more individuals are also offering accommodation on
Airbnb
. Call prices are sometimes misleading, beware of hidden costs (service, cleaning…).
4. What about a solution without constraints?
A circuit in continental Greece
For a short stay, practical with a very good quality/price ratio: a flight, a hotel, no constraint! Here are 8 proposals and for the readers of VIVRE ATHENES, you benefit from a discount of 70 euros ! The little extra: the tour guide is in French. The discount code is LIVE.
A stay in Athens
Here are 6 proposals (between us, avoid the Novotel, it is very badly placed). 4 days in Athens at very competitive prices without worrying about flights and hotels!
5. Organize the visits of your vacations in Greece
If you come to Athens, you may want to visit the must-see places or go off the beaten track. You can also discover our
favorite itineraries and addresses
compiled in our guide. Here again, don’t delay in making a reservation because French-speaking guides are few and far between and in high demand during the school vacations.
Classic guided tours: The must-see places in Athens take on a whole new dimension with a guide. Individually or in small groups, nothing beats the explanation of a guide to bring the old stones to life and understand the richness of Greek culture. We suggest you
some guides that we particularly appreciate in this article
.
Guided tours through the city: Again, in groups or tailor-made, the visits made by Athenians allow to discover the city in a different way. We love the guided tours of
Katherina
(funny and generous), as well as the gastronomic
Alternative Athens’ gastronomic tours
. Other ideas for visits in French on the site of
welink
.
Fun tours: Other ways of discovering the city exist, fun and even sporty: in
Segway,
or by
electric bike
. For the children, we recommend you the games of track of Céline, in the
Acropolis museum
or in the
walk in the center
of Athens. We recommend them, they are truly unique experiences.
Laure and Sophie’s visits (that’s us!): we offer you to accompany you virtually on your smartphone, from
Plaka to the Acropolis
but also in the districts of
Monastiraki and the market
. We talk to you about history, mythology and the little addresses we like, as we would with family or friends.
Once on site
You are finally there! Once there, feel free to use :
- our
map of the best addresses
to find restaurants, stores, spas…. - mais aussi notre agenda pour vous tenir au courant des choses à faire
- and finally, take our guides
Visit Athens in a few days
and
Our Tops
– restaurants, bars, cafes,
the guide to the Acropolis
in electronic format that will follow you everywhere.
We wish you an excellent trip to Greece.
Laure and Sophie
