Facts for the Traveler
Area: 131,940 sq km
Population: 10.66 million
Capital City: Athens
People: The government does not recognise any ethnicity other than
Greek. However, a foreign population does exist.
Language: Greek
Religion: 98% Greek Orthodox, 1.3% Muslim, 0.7% other
Time Zone: GMT/UTC
+2 (Eastern European Time)
Dialling Code: 30
Electricity: 220V ,50 Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Visas: Nationals of Australia, Canada, Cyprus, EU countries, the
European principalities of Monaco and San Marino, Iceland, Israel, Japan,
Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the USA and most South American
countries are allowed to stay in Greece for up to three months without a
visa; most others can enter Greece for up to two months without a visa;
Greece will refuse entry to anyone whose passport indicates that, since
November 1983, they have visited North Cyprus.
When to Go
Conditions are perfect between Easter and mid-June - beaches and ancient
sites are relatively uncrowded; public transport operates on close to full
schedules; and accommodation is cheaper and easier to find than in the
mid-June to end of August high season. Conditions are once more ideal from
the end of August until mid-October, as the season winds down. Winter is
pretty much a dead loss outside the major cities as most of the tourist
infrastructure goes into hibernation from the middle of October till the
beginning of April. This is slowly changing, however; on the most touristy
islands, a few restaurants, hotels and bars remain open year-round.
Events
Kathara Deftera or Clean Monday
The first day of Lent (Lent is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. The forty days represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, where according to the Bible he endured temptation by Satan.), known as Kathara ...
The Greek year is a succession of festivals and events, some of which
are religious, some cultural, others an excuse for a good knees-up.
Gynaikratia on 8 January is a day of role reversal in villages in
northern Greece. Women spend the day in kafeneia (cafes) and other
social centres where men usually congregate, while the men stay at home to
do housework. The Greek carnival season runs through February-March
over the three weeks before the beginning of Lent, and features fancy dress,
feasting, traditional dancing and general merrymaking. Easter is the
most significant festival in Greece, with candle-lit processions, feasting
and fireworks displays. Emphasis is placed on the Resurrection rather than
on the Crucifixion, so it is a joyous occasion. There are numerous summer
festivals across the country, the most famous being the Hellenic Festival
(mid-June to late September), which hosts drama and music in ancient
theatres. |
