- Acropolis of Athens

- White houses blending in with the turquoise blue of the sky

- Mediterranean cuisine

- Greek hospitality

- Marine blue

- Democratic governance

- Olympics

- Philosophy, poetry and drama.

Greece is situated in the subtropical Mediterranean climate zone, to the west of the wet variety, and in turn to the east of the dry variety. Hot, dry weather during the six summer months and wet, mild winters characterize the Mediterranean climate of Greece.
Average monthly air temperature is as appropriate:

- 4 ° C in January and July at 25 ° C - North

- January 10 ° C, and July 27 ° C - the coast and islands

The annual amount of precipitation varies from 1,400 mm in the west to 400 mm in Athens.

Best time to visit that country in spring and autumn. It is then quite warm and little falls. Then also do not have too many tourists and Greeks have more time to deal with their guests. A good idea is to travel to the Graces during the Easter holidays, which celebrate the very solemnly.

But remember, the Catholic holiday dates do not coincide with the Orthodox, so let us check it before. Avoid August, when a huge influx of tourists, hotels are bursting at the seams, even the temperature is 40 degrees, which is particularly troublesome during their visit to Athens. In the winter it rains often, and even the temperature drops below 10 degrees. The upside is that it does not come across numbers of tourists.

Culture of Ancient Greece is known throughout the world, and ancient art - poetry, drama, sculpture - still shining example of contemporary artists from around the world.

Modern Greek literature in the world is quite well known. Greece can boast two Nobel Prize winners, are the two Greek poets Giorgos Seferis (1963) and Odysseus Elytis (1979). Other well-known poets is Constantine Cavafy (1863-1933) and Yiannis Ritsos (1909-1990). The novel by Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957), such as. 'Zorba the Greek' and 'The Last Temptation of Christ' has been translated into many languages and still enjoy great popularity among readers around the world.

Over 90% of the population of Greece is the followers of the Greek Orthodox autocephalous Church, headed by the Archbishop of Athens and all Hellas. The Church is divided administratively in the 81 dioceses in which there are 9,000 churches and 300 monasteries (not counting St.. Mount Athos). The remaining 10% are mainly atheists and followers of marginally isalmu. Judaism and Christianity.

In Greece we do not find public toilets. But one can go to any bars, and simply use the toilet.

Remember sjeście force here, which means that shops and offices are open on a bit odd times: in the morning from 9 to 13 and then from 15 to 17 (ew. 20). Clubs and bars also work at night, and good coffee at a cafe owners welcome from 6 or 7 am.

An important note for women is the fact that it is not on the beach sunbathing topless or nude, unless they are naturist beaches. Threatens to jail for it! One should not drive the car in a swimsuit.

Characteristic of the Greeks is their belief in their superiority over other nations. That's why almost everywhere they seek the Greek roots. They love their country. Above all, people are attaching great importance to their own history and religious affairs. They are very religious. Large attachment to tradition.

Children, in turn, is treated here with great respect, so I do not pay attention to them too loudly in public places, and certainly not krzyczmy them.

It is worth recalling that in the buses, giving place to the elderly liczmy with the fact that they prefer to sit on a child before they sit down.

Greeks love to dine at a long table. Liczmy with that in the event of visits to the Greeks in the collection. They are extremely roztańczonym nation, play at almost every opportunity.

It should not be refused acceptance of gifts from the Greeks, their insults.

The Greeks are people extremely loud. They like the elbow, to speak. They are at the same argumentative, szastający money.

Remember that one can easily be accused of theft, and who showed that in situations of seemingly pure kindness, such as. improve things.

Feature of the Greeks is their sincerity, but also prone to fraud. Men is a terrible womanizer, most men have mistresses, which are accepted by the wife.

Over the Greeks love long discussions, which rarely turn into action

When you accept a man, treat him like your family. For tourists Greeks are always warm and good attitude.

The Greek family is a multigenerational. Not made up her only husband, wife and children but also grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. In areas wczęsto grandparents live with their grandchildren under one roof. When children grow up and move out, on the occasion of Christmas and other major events back to the family home.

Also, much of the social life takes place in a close family and friends. Greeks often meet, eat together, drink, play different games, listen to music, dance and discuss. It is known here the term 'kefi', which is a tool to achieve these meetings, that is achieving a sense of relaxation, which comes at a time spent in the happy company. In addition, alcohol is present, the fact that drunkenness is treated shamefully.

Marriage is considered a normal and universal condition of adulthood. Almost all the lay people of Greece are the spouses of. The average age of marriage for women is a few years before thirty, and for men - a few years after. Divorce rates among the lowest in Europe.

Outside tourist areas outside the Greek Ježek no we do not need it.

1% of the population, not counting the strictly tourist areas.

96%

Worth the wyjazem to Greece to learn the alphabet - it is really easy and will help us zrozumiać all signs, road signs and other inscriptions in Greece.

In a typical tourist place Nei Pori time that we meet during the summer, many Poles and two, that the Polish language is there really familiar people, so you can keep trying to dogadywać Polish.

The only travel document required for Polish proof of identity.

For stays not exceeding three months, EU citizens gain the right to stay, as innuch EU countries, without any conditions and formalities out of the need to hold a valid identity card or passport. The right of free movement and residence of a family member becomes an EU citizen does not have an EU citizenship, regardless of nationality.

For stays over 90 days right of residence to obtain an EU citizen who:

- Are employed or do business in the host Member State;

- Possession of a sufficient livelihood for themselves and their family members not to become a burden during his stay for the social assistance system of the host Member State, and with pełne health insurance;

- Came to Greece to study, including vocational training, and with full health insurance and financial resources for their livelihood.

In the event of such a stay (after 30 April 2006), Member States, including Greece, may require only EU citizens to register with the office responsible for the stay and to obtain proof of registration to. If you want to stay in Greece more than three months, you must submit an application for a permit.

Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in Warsaw

st. Upper Silesia 35, 00-432 Warsaw

tel. (0-22) 622 94 60, 622 1994 1961

fax (0-22) 622 94 64

E-mail: gremb.war [at] mfa.gr

www.greece.pl

Consular Section:

tel. (0-22) 622 94 62, fax (0-22) 622 94 63

E-mail: grcon.war [at] mfa.gr

Polish Embassy in Athens

Chryssanthemon 22, 154-52 Paleo Psychico

Athens, Greece

Tel.: (00-30210) 679 77 00

Fax: (00-30210) 679 77 11

www.ateny.polemb.net

E-mail: ateny.amb.sekretariat [at] msz.gov.pl

Consular Section

Kamelion 21, 154-52 Paleo Psychico

Athens, Greece

Tel.: (00-30210) 679 77 35, 679 77 37

Fax: (00-30210) 679 77 22

No obligation meldunkowego.

Just as when entering the country.

Transportation of goods subject to quantitative restrictions on the principles of the EU.

Medical care is readily available. You can use the medical services in hospitals, both public and private. The cost of a standard visit to the state hospital from 1960 to 1990 amounts to euro in private - from 90 to 105 euros. The cost of one day at a state hospital in Greece is about 60 euros, and private-150-300 euros (without special treatments). Arriving in Greece does not require any vaccination. Members of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are entitled to free emergency medical treatment, provided that they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (IKA clinics and state hospitals).

People who pay contributions to the NHF, living in Greece are entitled to medical care in the insurance. By going to the doctor, provide evidence of insurance.

Network pharmacies in Greece is very complex, opening hours are as shops, some pharmacies on duty at night and holidays. The vast majority of medicines, including antibiotics, can be bought without a prescription. Fees for medicines prescribed by a physician with the IKA is 25 percent of the market price. In addition to the mandatory vaccination for children (such as in Poland) there are no other requirements.

Polish insurance are accepted in Greece.

Brak zalecanych i obowiązkowych szczepień.

The holder of the European Health Insurance Card for medical treatment in Greece should ask the following medical facilities: a health center IKA Hospital IKA IKA GP. Tourists forced to use the medical assistance out of hours healthcare IKA (usually adopt from 7.00 - 18.00 on weekdays) or on day off should be reported to the hospitals and clinics on duty or IKA esy. If you stay in the vicinity of the branch does not have IKA and sick in the exercises with a personal emergency treatment, must pay all costs. After presenting a detailed account IKA may return part of the cost at the rate applicable in the public health service. Request for reimbursement should be directed to the IKA branch in your location or the relevant insurance companies after returning to the country, presenting bills for treatment.

Greece, a country more secure and so should not be left unattended personal belongings and documents in public places, especially on the beaches. Choosing a ferry from Greece to Italy, you have to remember that there are cases of burglaries to cars and caravans by illegal immigrants trying to cross the border this way. Therefore, be careful not to leave vehicles in places not guarded in the port cities.

We must carefully watch their luggage, money, etc., because the thefts are common in Greece.

It happens that the Greeks cheat tourists. You have to count the rest everywhere, because it is very easy to err in their favor. The waiters in taverns trying to cheat and it happens that just will not give up the rest, because I treat it like a tip. Then you have to assert for it.

In Athens, the Omonii in the city center meets many thieves and drug addicts ..

In Greece, there are often local strikes, and thus harder to move.

In Greece, can often be found flying cockroaches, even kilkunastocentymetrowe.

Greece has many islands, which can be reached by ferry and the trip takes only a few (or several) hours. Winter must be borne in mind that when storms, sometimes you do not get off the island or to get it.

Greece borders with Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Direct flights to Greece are operated by state-owned as well as by low cost. Some possibility of charter flights are sold through travel agents.

The Polish do not run direct trains to Greece. You can go with a change in Budapest and Belgrade (from Warsaw to Lounge around. 32 hrs.)

Buses run regularly from the Polish. In season you can ask about availability for coach travel agencies arranging holidays in Greece.

The journey from Warsaw to Athens takes about 50 hours., Thessaloniki - about 42 hours. Round-trip ticket costs 760 zł, and one 540 zł (in summer 820/580 zł). Tickets can be purchased at most travel agencies.

Recently, travel to Greece overland through the Balkans is becoming popular even among tourists from Western Europe.

Greece can be reached by several routes, which vary in length, popularity, cost and degree of civilizing. The proposed route (from the Polish border crossings) can serve as inspiration for their own development, depending on the place of residence in Poland, and individual interests.

Apart from Italy, Greece also maintains the passenger ferry connections with Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Cyprus. Unfortunately, most of the latter was suspended indefinitely by m.in. unstable political situation in the Middle East.

Ferries sail from the Italian ports of Ancona, Bari and Brindisi to Igoumenitsa and Patras. Most of them call on the way to Corfu and a few - on the other Ionian Islands. On each of these can be no surcharge to get out and spend some time, if only to ask about the selection of such options on the ticket. Out of season flights are part of the suspended. Rarely ferries from Venice to Piraeus, from Trieste to Patras and Corfu Ortony.

There are links between cities and between the islands. However, are relatively expensive.

They are (except buses), the best means of travel in Greece.

Stops are in towns and cities on every street, buses run regularly in principle. These connecting cities and towns also depart from the main railway station. Tickets may be purchased at the kiosk or at the station

Greece has a well developed network of connections, even between villages, so try to use the buses.

Dear well-developed. Watch out for the daring Greek drivers.

Taxis. They are really cheap here. But watch out for scammers, if a request by a taxi driver inflated price is worth it to scare the police.

The hotels we will find access to the Internet. They work well as lounges.

Post offices are open from Monday to Friday 7.30 - 14.00. Letters have been sent to the mainland by air arrive at their destinations in Europe in a week. For the islands have to accept the principle that the larger island, the faster the service letter. On a postcard or letter to the European country pay 0.60 euros for coffee ok. 3 euros. Best to send parcels at post offices in larger towns. In Greece, the stamps on the letter or postcard or buy in kiosks. Their owners, however, have the right to 10-percent commission, but we never know how much currently is the charge for stamps abroad.

Mailboxes are located in almost every town. Greek mailboxes are bright yellow and Express boxes - dark red. The best throw of the consignment to the boxes located at post offices, situated as it further are not emptied very often. The unloading shipments at the general delivery (post office), especially in larger cities, there is no problem. Please pick them up within a month, possess a passport.

Generally, phone calls are expensive here. However, we find a lot of places, known as call center, which will call for a small outlay. Reminiscent of cafes, lead them to the Arabs. Over the nearly ubiquitous telephone booths are. We use them with the card, which will purchase at the kiosk.

Euro (EUR) = 100 cents

Money can be exchanged in all banks and exchange offices.

Credit and ATM cards are widely accepted (albeit to a lesser extent, at petrol stations).

Traveler's checks are also accepted.

Food in Greece is one of the cheapest within the European Community, but is still more expensive than in Poland, with the exception of fruits and vegetables, olive or chałwy. Athens is the most expensive and most popular islands.. Sample prices of basic foodstuffs:

bread - € 0.40,

mineral water (1.5 l) - 0,40-1,50 €,

cube of butter - 1.50 €,

milk (1 l) - € 1,

gyros or souvlaki in the street fast foodzie - 1,80-2 €

wine cost from 0.80 €

2 € ouzo, Metaxa ***** 9 €,

beer ok. € 0.80.

soft drinks a Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite - 0.50 €.

The best on market. There is cheaper and there is a possibility of breakage rates with the retailer.

Stones from the beach, especially on Mykonos and jewelry. Strangely bent branches and black sand beach on Santorini. And to buy a delicious wine and feta cheese.

Gifts made for tourists are the same as everywhere, is on the whole kitsch. In Athens, you can go on the hunt for the bazaar Monastyrakach. Amazing experience and a lot of great stuff for dog money brick.

Especially in Athens, the closer the center, the less favorable exchange rate. It is worth finding the nearest exchange office away from the center.

Hotels in major tourist destinations are often rented for the entire season by foreign travel agencies, but sometimes (especially in spring and autumn) to get them free rooms for individual tourists.

Hotels are divided into categories from deluxe to the rare E. Prices of hotel rooms in all such facilities (except the best) are centrally controlled. It has been said for some time to replace the category of the international system of spelling stars, but right now, nothing in this direction does. Theoretically, the higher the rating, the standard should be better. In reality, the categories are determined based on the location of the hotel and under the influence of "pressure" from the tourist authorities.

Non-Cat. D should have a bathroom, which, together with a bar or dining area located in each room cat. C. Category B means that you can count on a pool / tennis courts. All hotels offer a category A bar, a restaurant and a wide access to sports facilities and leisure activities. Like the deluxe category hotels (mostly self-recreational complexes), many of them are located on the beach.

Hotels in cities of the land, accustomed to business travelers, almost always deter dearness because they apply the same prices throughout the year, regardless of the clientele. In ski resorts, and where tourism flourishes from October to April (eg. Galaksídi, Nafplio, and the top Pilion), prices are rising at weekends and in winter, when the bill be added the cost of heating. The only exception to this rule is Peloponnesus (and to some extent, Athens), where crowds of foreign tourists at hotels stimulate healthy competition.

As for catering, in hotels of category C can count only on a very modest breakfast, not included in the price. All hotels of category B at the top offer for Swedish table breakfast, mostly consisting of cheese, ham, sausages, eggs, etc.

Youth hostels (xenon neótitos) is a little truth in Greece, but they usually also do not apply them as strict rules, such as. Northern Europe. However, they are usually very neglected and dirty. Competition from "student hostels and cheap accommodation means that their operation is often counterproductive.

The only serious shortcoming is the silence of night shelters, in general, in force from 23.00 or 24.00. In addition, many shelters are open only in spring and summer.

Hostels are located on a peninsula of Athens, Mycenae, Olympia, Patras and Thessaloniki. On the island are open only to Thirza (3), Rhodes (1) and Crete (4). Not all are members of the HI (Hostelling International).

In Athens, there are several low-cost active, reminding students dormitories shelters, which despite the name not only offer accommodation for students. Conditions are generally unsophisticated, but for the lonely tourist is the cheapest accommodation in town.

Conditions in the various official campsites are very different from a makeshift campsites on the islands after a well-organized (but often without the charm) complexes are subject to pre-EOT (Greek National Tourist Organization). In most campsites prices rarely exceed € 4.50 per person per day and a bit less for a tent. Place the caravan costs € 7.50. In the case of expensive camping, it happens that the two people and a tent you have to pay almost as much as private accommodation.

Private accommodation

The resorts on the islands and most are offered accommodation in private homes (domátia), dividing into three categories (A to C). Their prices also are determined arbitrarily (usually are slightly lower than in hotels), almost always the rooms are spotlessly clean. This type of accommodation is usually located in the new, specially built for low-rise buildings, but occasionally found in ordinary residential houses, where you can meet with a disarming hospitality of the hosts.

As above.

In Greek cuisine, we find the mass of fine fragrances, various vegetables, seafood and cheese. Famous for its great that at the local, hot climates can often suffice for the whole meal.

The combination of traditional Greek cuisine and foreign influences led to the creation of a myriad of dining options, among which you can easily pick a. The basis of every meal is a Greek bread.

Dominant role in Greek cuisine also play olives and olive oil. Greece is one of the largest exporters of oil in the world (there grows the most varieties of oil in the world). Olives are preserved here in many ways used for thousands of years: in brine, salt, oil or water. Writing about Greek cuisine is not to mention the wine, which since ancient times is an integral part of everyday life of Greeks.

- Bread baked by the village bakers with raisins, herbs or cheese

- Of course, Greek salad

- Gyros or souvlaki in the street for fast-foodzie

Certainly worth a try wines, such as:

Mavrodaphne - fortified dessert wine produced in Patras,

Asprolithi - white and dry. Both species are very good.

For the traditional Greek drinks include:

Tsipouro distilled from the stalks, pips and skins left after pressing grapes

Retsina flavored with pine resin (really delicious, especially with sprite drink!)

Ouzo - strong liquor flavored anyżkowym.

Eating in restaurants is something natural. Prices are more affordable. plenty of solid dinner instiled homemade wine costs € 9-13. Become increasingly prevalent, however, (especially in tourist resorts), easy to prepare, but not very original dishes such as pizza, spaghetti and pork chops. There were also numerous restaurants, the Greeks called by the same culture as artsy outlets mix of Greek cuisine at exorbitant prices (18-24 €).

A good sign is the sight of a waiter bringing to the table with a carafe of cold water, worse, when he recommends bottled water.

A full breakfast is not popular in Greece, while lunch is eaten late in the afternoon. About the eleventh hour often zajadają the Greeks called tyropitta cake, filled with hot liquid with feta cheese. Lunch is eaten in Greece between 14 and 18. The main meal of the day is dinner, usually eaten in restaurants or taverns for about an hour or even 22.00 23.00. Dinner in Greece is eaten late and they are very abundant. Evening carries on a long time and no one assumes that the morning you get up for work, you do not bother playing with children until late August. It is yet warm night, someone sings and plays the bouzouki, and the air solutioning smell of rosemary and jasmine.

Cities: Athens, Patra, Thessaloniki, Larissa, Piraeus, Heraklion, Crete.

Islands and any other lot. The most popular is Santorini, Crete, Rhodes and Mykonos and other islands in the Cyclades. The most beautiful is Kos, Crete, Corfu, Zakynthos, Hydra.

Villages - they are truly amazing, as if separated in time and space.

Monastery of Meteora

Mycenae - East of the road from Corinth to Argos is, squeezed between the hills, fortified citadel of Agamemnon of Mycenae (Mykínes)

In Epidaurus (Epidavros) - is one of the most important monuments of ancient Greece - a magnificent ancient theater, built in the late IV. BC. Polykleitos the Younger.

Olympia - The historical significance and repercussions name of Olympia (Olympia, Olymbía) - the place where over a thousand years held the most important Panhellenic games - can only be equal to Delphi and Mycenae. It belongs to the largest and most beautiful historical sites in Greece. »

Delphi - Temple of old

Knossos - The largest of the Minoan palaces, about 5 km southeast of Heraklion.

Worth a visit Monastyraki and Plaka in Athens and rustic numerous bazaars.

Must try to see the restoration of ancient Greek art.

The day national and religious holidays everything is closed, they are:

January 1
January 6
March 25 (national holiday)
May 1
August 15
October 28
December 25-26

Besides - Good Friday and Easter, but they are movable feasts.

Festival & Epidavrou Athinon (Hellenic Festival) - lasts all summer, from June to September, www.greekfestival.gr. Very interesting, interdisciplinary festival takes place in the see from July to September.

In Thessaloniki in November is International Film Festival, which has grown into one of the most important of its kind in Europe.

Renowned music festivals held in summer on the islands, m.in. the Samotrace (world music), Ithaca, Kos, Samos, Simi.

In Greece, we meet such clubs, which is played exclusively Greek music, and beyond the normal disco. Greeks rather not dance anything other than their own dances, parties spend so leaning wall.

It should go to the disco on the beach (tourist sites), they are outdoors and last until dawn.

The so-called. Bouzukia live performances by local celebrities have. We all eat, drink, dance and throw flowers. It is also a lot of concerts, not just the Greek stars.

- Cotton Clothing

- Hat, like a hat

- Creams with filter

- Sunglasses