Country Guide • Greece

Flag of Greece

Greece is situated in southeast Europe on the Mediterranean. The mainland consists of the following regions: Central Greece, Peloponnese, Thessaly (east/central), Epirus (west), Macedonia (north/northwest) and Thrace (northwest). Euboea, the second largest of the Greek islands, lying to the east of the central region, is also considered to be part of the mainland region. The islands account for one-fifth of the land area of the country. There are 1400 Greek islands of which 169 are inhabited.

Official NameHellenic Republic
Area131,940km² (50,942mile²)
Population10,666,000
ContinentEurope
Population per mile²209
Capital CityAthens
ReligionsGreek Orthodox Christianity 98%, Muslims 1.5%
LanguageGreek
GovernmentParliamentary Republic
Member of EUYes
CurrencyEuro
GDP$201.1 billion
GDP per Head$19,000
Natural ResourcesBauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum and marble
Land UseArable Land 22%
AgricultureBarley, corn, wheat, sugar beet, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes, beef and dairy products
IndustryTourism, shipping, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, mining and petroleum products
TourismThere are 1400 Greek islands of which 169 are inhabited plus of course Greece the mainland with all the historic relics in Athens. For most tourists it is the lure of sand, sea and year round of sunshine weather, which is the biggest attraction
Natural HazardsNone
Health RisksTyphus (rural areas from April to September), Lyme disease and Rabies. Please note:Codeine, which is commonly found in headache preparations, is banned in Greece and you may face prosecution if you bring it into the country.
ClimateGreece has a warm Mediterranean climate. In summer, dry hot days are often relieved by stiff breezes, especially in the north and coastal areas. Athens can be stiflingly hot, so visitors should allow time to acclimatise. The evenings are cool. Winters are mild in the south but much colder in the north. November to March is the rainy season
TimeGMT/UTC+2 hours, +3 hours during daylight saving time
National DaysMarch 25
VisasNationals 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. For longer stays, you will need apply to the appropriate office for a residence permit
British EmbassyEmbassy Details

Information Only

The content above is for information purposes only and we have tried to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury as a result of the information above. You should always check and verify any critical information like visas, health and safety and customs with the relevant authorities before you travel since information can change at any time.