Greece is a truly unique location. Despite its small size, the country enjoys a particularly pristine and diverse natural environment that offers everything from scenic island getaways to cozy mountain retreats. The country’s stunning topography provides the backdrop for an unequalled array of recreational opportunities. This, combined with a spirited lifestyle that blends the Mediterranean’s ancient and modern culture, makes Greece a simply extraordinary place to be—and a wonderful place to call home.

History & Culture

As the birthplace of Western civilisation, Greece’s cultural legacy lives on in the modern Greek society. While countless archeological sites and museums—including the new Acropolis Museum—offer visitors a chance to experience Greek history up close and personal, the country’s deep heritage is also felt in the spectacular concert halls, in the summertime open-air theaters, and in the bustling neighbourhood art galleries throughout Athens. Greece is today, as it has been for thousands of years, an inspiring place to be.

Greece offers the visitor and resident unlimited opportunities to explore the very roots of Western civilisation. Throughout the country, there are hundreds of museums, archaeological sites, and monuments that detail the rise of art, architecture, crafts, design, ideas and thought.

For an introduction to Greek culture and an extensive guide to events, exhibitions, museums, and venues, please visit http://www.culture.gr/

More information
More detailed information on museums, archaeological sites and Greek monuments is also available at the “Odysseus” website of the Ministry of Culture.

Gastronomy

The Mediterranean diet is a global brand that needs no introduction. There is nowhere on earth better suited for healthy, wholesome eating than Greece. Greece offers a bountiful array of raw ingredients and traditional products that will satisfy every foodie, and thrill every cook (a trip to a Greek farmers market is a joy for the senses).

It doesn’t matter if you’re eating at a neighbourhood “taverna”, a traditional “ouzerie”, or in a Michelin-starred restaurant. From the freshest seafood to aromatic ground coffee, specialty olive oils to artisan cheeses, tempting patisseries to sumptuous yoghurts, eating and drinking well is not only one of the pleasures of living in Greece, it is also a pre-requisite. And, of course, whether they are harvested from the volcanic slopes of Santorini or the rich soils of Nemea, Greece’s globally celebrated wines are just one more gastronomic perk of the Hellenic life.

Lifestyle

With 300+ days of sunshine per year, the climate in Greece makes living in this Mediterranean destination a year-round joy. Take a swim in the crystal clear Aegean before work. Play 18 holes at one of the nearby golf clubs in the afternoon. Or, if you need to escape it all, dash off to a luxurious spa for a little rest and relaxation.

If that’s not enough, take advantage of other nearby options like yoga, tennis, hiking, sailing, skiing, rafting, biking, kite surfing and rock climbing—just to name a few. Afterhours, an endless array of restaurants, bars, clubs, entertainment centers and cultural venues all contribute to a vibrant nightlife that is bursting with Mediterranean zeal, yet is uniquely Greek. And with a modern tourism infrastructure at your disposal, weekend getaways to some of the world’s most beautiful locales are a snap. Whatever you choose to do, healthy, joyful living is part and parcel of the Greek lifestyle.

Education

Greece offers a wide variety of international educational options for expatriates, from pre-schools to universities—especially for students seeking studies in English, French, and German. Many high schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme and have a good track record in placing students in prestigious universities, both in Greece and abroad.

At the same time, many international universities offer unique educational programmes in Greece for undergraduates and graduates alike.

More information

You can find a full list of international schools in Greece on the Ministry of Education website

Health Care

Greece offers a very modern healthcare infrastructure and highly skilled physicians and specialists that have been trained in the world’s finest medical facilities. Many healthcare specialists speak English and are accustomed to treat foreign residents and visitors.

Health care in Greece is provided by the National Healthcare Service and by the private sector. Workers in Greece must be insured through one of the national insurance funds and can also choose complementary private coverage.

Transportation

Greece boasts a robust and modern transportation network that seamlessly connects air, land and sea. By plane, ship, train or car, traveling to Greece, and moving through the country, is simple and quick. Almost the entire country is covered by public transport, making travel simple within Greece.

Air

The most important entry point by air into Greece is Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens. It is situated 33 km southeast of Athens and easily accessible by highway (private vehicle or taxi), bus, train, and metro service. (www.aia.gr)

Other Greek airports also handle direct international flights from certain foreign countries, by regular and special airlines (especially during the summer months), as well as charter flights. Many of the larger islands and Greek cities also have domestic airports.

Sea

Greece offers a highly developed port and ferry network that connects all of the country’s islands as well as ports in other countries—predominantly in Italy. There are daily routes from Patras and Igoumenitsa to Italy, from the ports of Ancona, Bari, Brindizi, Venice and Trieste.

Rail

Greece’s railway network is approximately 2,500 km long, covering the greater part of the mainland and linking the country to Central Europe and Turkey. Intercity express trains allow for easy city-hopping.

Urban Transport

Athens boasts a highly sophisticated public transportation network, comprised of buses, suburban railways, and a state-of-the-art metro. Thessaloniki and other cities in Greece also have integrated public transport networks.

Road

Greece’s road network covers 117,000 kilometres. Following years of upgrades and modernisation, driving via the national highway network is now one of the easiest and most efficient ways to traverse the country. Intercity bus lines make it simple to get from point to point.

The border crossing points for entering Greece by road from the neighbouring Balkan countries are Exochi Drama for Bulgaria, Evzones Kilkis for FYROM, Kakavia in the Ioannina Prefecture for Albania and Kipoi Evrou for Turkey.

Public Holidays

• New Year’s Day: January 1st
• Epiphany: January 6th
• Ash Monday: 41 days before Easter. Lent begins.
• Independence Day and the Feast of the Annunciation: March 25th, military parade
• Anastasi (Resurrection): celebrated with fireworks and candles at midnight, on the eve of Pascha (Easter)
• Pascha (Easter)
• Labour Day: May 1st
• White Monday: 50 days after Easter
• Dormition (Assumption) of The Virgin: August 15th
• October 28th: ‘Oxi’ day, rejection of the Italian ultimatum in 1940, military parade
• Christmas: December 25th-26th