Language: Greek is the national official language. It is used by the majority of the population but so is English! I have never had a problem finding and English speaker to help me along the way. English is spoken by most of the population, especially those who are middle-age or below.
Weather: Most of the country has a Mediterranean climate. On my trip this spring I will be visiting Coastal, Mountain and inland locations which will mean being prepared for a variety of temperatures. Traveling in the spring we can expect to see temperatures around 64-72 degrees in Athens and on the Greek Isles. Temperatures may be a bit cooler when we head north into the mountains toward Thessaloniki.
Money: Greece uses the euro as it's currency along with other countries in the European Union. While you may find some establishments who except US dollars they will usually charge a less favorable exchange rate then if you use euro's. So you may be wondering, 'How do I get euro's?". There are several options: a) our guide will assist us in recommending where to have our money exchanged when we arrive in Athens. b) you can use a credit card with a micro tag to withdraw money from an ATM (to find out if your credit card will work in International ATM's check with your bank. Many new credit cards do have the micro chip required overseas, it is a little square gold section on your card, some still only have a magnetic strip reader, the black strip on the back of your card. So check with your card company and ask them these questions: "Does my card have the micro ship needed for International ATM's?" "Will my pin number work in International ATM's?" (Many ATM machines may not accept 5-digit pin numbers; ATM card-users with 5-digit pins are advised to change their pin to 4 digits before leaving home). also ask "How much is the transaction fee for using my card in an ATM?" and lastly, but vitally importantly let your credit card company know you will be traveling so they do not freeze your card.
Recommended Reading: Do you want to dig in and study more about Greece and it's history before we travel?
Here are a few books you may want to check out:
A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey (click for more info)
Easy to use and abundantly illustrated, this unique guide will help visitors to Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus appreciate the rich history, significance, and great wonder of the ancient world of the Bible.
Greece: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Traveler's Literary Companions)
(click for more infor)
If you enjoy literature and want a taste of Greece, this book will give you an overview. Twenty-four stories draw from the long oral and written evolution of the Greek literary tradition. Incorporating myths, the meditative tranquillity of the region, and a past full of struggle and civil war, these stories are arranged by geographical region for the traveler and provide an enriching odyssey through the Greek landscape and mind. Contributors include Elli Alexiou, Melpo Axioti, Odysseus Elytis, Michel Faïs, Eugenia Fakinou, Rhea Galanaki, Marios Hakkas, Dimitris Hatzis, Nikos Kazantzakis, Margarita Karapanou, Alexandra Papadopoulou, George Seferis, Vassilis Vassilikos, Ilias Venezis, Leonidas Zenakos, Yiorgos Chouliaras, Georgios Drosinis, Yorgos Ioannou, Christoforos Milionis, Kostas Ouranis, Thanassis Valtinos, Eva Vlami, and Manolis Xexakis.Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
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