Greece is famous for many things, the list could go forever but among the most famous is the incredible Greek landscape, particularly around the Greek islands. The country is known for shaping democracy and giving its people liberty. The incredible cultural heritage of the Greeks heavily influenced Europe and the world giving shape to plays and poetry. Some of the oldest and most astonishing architectural wonders such as the Parthenon or the temple of Artemis which are just two of many others.

Traveling info

Greece as a member of the EU and the Schengen convention allows all citizens of the EU to move freely to Greece for tourist, business, starting a new life or any other purpose without the requirement to obtain any sort of a visa document. The only document required to cross the border is an ID card. There are several countries who are outside of the European Union however they are a part of the Schengen convention. These are Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland. Nationals of countries which are not part of this convention are required to obtain a Schengen visa that will allow them to move freely within the boundaries of the Schengen convention nations. Schengen visa is normally admitted once per half a year for a duration of 90 days. Schengen visa holders can not work or study during their stay within the Schengen boundaries. Tourists who decide to use private or rental vehicles as a means of transport in Greece must always carry their national driving permit, certificate of insurance and vehicle registration documents whilst driving. EU citizens may drive in Greece using their national driving permit, (as long as the permit was issued in one of the EU countries) without the requirement to obtain an IDP or to switch to Greek permit. Tourists who arrive from the outside of the EU and own driving permits which were also issued outside of the EU are required to obtain an IDP as failure to present one during an inspection may result in a fine of 1000 euro. Remember that an IDP is only a translation of the original documents and both must be carried whilst driving. Rental companies in Greece do not require tourists to present an IDP.

Traveling hazards

Greece has the 4th highest accident rate in Europe. Despite this off-putting fact, it is still far below the world average. Generally driving in Greece is safe as there is a highway system connecting all major cities. Driving off of the highways, however, requires more attention. Secondary roads may be sometimes in poor condition, narrow, steep or lack proper guardrails or signage. This, however, is not that common. Certain parts of the country experience heavy traffic, particularly during the summer season when millions of tourist flood the country. Traffic law enforcement and abidance are quite lax meaning tourists should drive defensively almost anywhere in the country and particularly in major cities where traffic gets very congested.

Environmental hazards

Greece has a variety of species inhabiting areas located within the country of which some may be quite dangerous for humans. Bears and wolves inhabit parts of Greece, mainly national parks situated along the northern border. These animals count up to 500 bears and 700 wolves meaning it is extremely unlikely to spot either one of these predatory mammals. These animals also avoid contact with humans. When hiking through national parks in Greece, or anywhere up north it is advised to make as much noise as possible. Loud talking or shouting will make these animals aware of your presence and give them time to leave the area. Beware that surprising any of these animals by suddenly appearing close to them may result in a defensive attack. Encountering any of these with cubs will also most likely result in a defensive attack. When spotting the animal before it has spotted you, it is best to slowly retreat. Running away indicates the animal that you are afraid of it, and is like an invitation to a chase. There is one snake in Greece which is dangerous for humans. The horned viper or as it is commonly known in Greece the Ohia snake is considered the most venomous snake in Europe and is very dangerous particularly for people in remote areas where health services are not immediately available. Anti Venom is distributed throughout clinics and hospitals in Greece. This snake rarely bites unless closely approached or stepped on and even then the snake might have not injected venom. In case of a bite medical help should be sought immediately. Tick are present in most of Europe and Greece is no exception to this. This small parasite carries Lyme disease which attacks human organs, including the brain, nervous system or even joints. The disease is serious and should be treated immediately. If bitten by a tick it is strongly recommended to submit it to a laboratory for Lyme disease testing. The treatment should be precautionarily started as testing takes up to 3 weeks whilst the disease might progress. Lyme disease is curable in the early stages however later stages are very difficult to cure. Untreated the disease kills within 5 years. Greece is extremely popular for its beaches and it doesn’t lack the dangers to go along. There are several marine creatures which may pose a significant threat. Sea urchins for starters are probably the least dangerous but quite nasty. Stepping on a sea urchin will most likely result in a bad stinging. The spikes break off and stay in one’s foot. Trying to remove them usually ends up in the spikes shattering into microscopic pieces with usually an infection following the removal attempt. Removing sea urchin spines usually requires a professed physician. The scorpionfish may be found in the Greek waters and has quite a bad reputation for a reason. Although the fish does not directly attack, stepping on it or touching it will generally result in a very bad sting. Although the sting is rarely life-threatening, there have been fatal cases. There are many species of sharks inhabiting Greek waters however very few are dangerous. Be alert when swimming in the Greek waters however, don’t panic. Basking sharks are far larger and heavier than the infamous great whites however their sheer size and sight might cause swimmers a heart attack. The earlier mentioned great whites rarely do make an appearance and are most likely the cause of the 9 fatalities that happened throughout the 160 year period in Greece. There are rare reports of sightings however there are many other large non-predatory species in around the Greek coastal region. To stay safe in the waters it is advised to avoid swimming after dusk. Sharks are most active around that time however it is unlikely to meet one. To limit the chances of encountering sea urchins and scorpionfish it is also advised to stick to designated beaches with lifeguards which are usually free of these creatures.
Greece suffers from frequent earthquakes which usually reach magnitudes of 5 and occur roughly once every 2 days. There have been much more devastating earthquakes reaching magnitudes of 7.7 in Greek history. Floods and forest fires also cause serious harm and damage to the country. Heatwaves are probably the most common cause of death in Greece. These particularly affect the elderly.

Health hazards

There have been reports of the outbreak of measles in Greece. All travelers are recommended to get their routine vaccines aka MMR which include the measles vaccination. There are no vaccination requirements in order to enter Greece however there are a couple of recommended vaccines. These are the earlier mentioned routine vaccines aka MMR, hepatitis A, and B vaccines and rabies vaccine. Greek healthcare is on a modern European level and provides a high quality of service. Whilst it is free for the Greek citizens, expats are expected to pay for their service. A holder of the European health insurance card has access to services at a reduced cost or free services. Those who are not eligible for an EHIC or are from the outside of the EU should consider purchasing medical insurance that will cover the cost of medical services which come at quite an expense. Private healthcare is an alternative to the public system however private clinics and hospital charge high prices although will provide a higher quality of service. Most public and private facilities in popular tourist spots have English speaking staff.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Greece is generally a safe place. Violent crime is a rare however petty crime like anywhere else is quite common. Petty crime particularly occurs in around popular tourist areas where thieves work in groups often employing a variety of thought out tactics to deceive their victim or go undetected. There are several ways to avoid falling a victim, or greatly minimize the risk. Targets are picked on the perception of their wealth. Wearing overly expensive clothes and jewelry certainly gathers attention. Gadgets like money belts help to discreetly and safely store money or important documents such as IDs. The darker it gets the more dangerous it is. Once the sun dawns it is recommended to stick to popular and crowded tourist spots or to stay in the resort. Getting from point A to B should be done in a rental vehicle or a taxi for safety. Secluded places should be particularly avoided after dusk in parts of major cities. Greek laws do not tolerate drugs however personal consumption is less heavily punished with a maximum sentence of 5 months in jail.

Summary

This cradle of civilization is certainly a spot to visit. Greece will certainly take a special place in the hearts of everyone who once visited it. Many of its incredible islands, and impressive cities and architectural wonders of the past should find a place on everyone’s bucket list. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/greece-visa/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/greece
(EHIC)
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=563&langId=en