Greece travel guide

The most common Greece trip sees the ancient sites of Athens, then continues to Santorini.

The emergency number is 112; police 100, ambulance 166 and fire 199. Foreign visitors can call the English-speaking tourist police on 1571.

In Athens, you enter the Acropolis with a timed booking; on Santorini, Fira and Oia are linked by bus and cable car.

Travel to the island varies by date, so check official timetables before booking.

Visa and entry requirements for Greece

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

This country is in the Schengen Area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) registers non-EU travelers at the external border, and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is scheduled to apply to visa-exempt travelers; check the official EU site for who needs it, the start date and the fee. For visa-exempt travelers, Schengen stays are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries, and your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date.

• Visas for foreigners traveling to Greece (Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) (European Union)
• EES (Entry/Exit System) (European Union)

Athens is a city where the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora and the lanes of Plaka fit into one day. You book the Acropolis online for a set time slot. On Santorini, you spend your time going between Fira and Oia.

UNESCO inscribed the Acropolis of Athens as a World Heritage site in 1987, recognizing it, including the Parthenon, as the outstanding monument of ancient Greek architecture. Linking the two works best with four nights or more.

Based on official information and UNESCO.

For visa-exempt travelers, Schengen stays are limited to 90 days within the 180 days before your last departure. If you travel between Greece, Italy and Spain, your days in all of them are added together. Visa-free entry covers tourist stays without gainful or paid activity.

Check your passport's expiry date before buying flights.

Greece's all-purpose emergency number is 112. Police 100, ambulance 166 and fire 199, and the tourist police for foreigners who need English is 1571. Save your own embassy's numbers too. If you lose your passport, you may need a police report, so note where and when you lost it.

Athens and Santorini are linked by plane or boat. Times and fares change by date, so check the operator's official timetable before booking.

Keep plans light after arrival on travel days. Match your hotel check-in time to your travel time, and on days with a lot of luggage ask whether your hotel can store it.

First check that your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure. The Acropolis requires an online booking for a time slot, and prices and opening hours vary by season. Santorini's bus and cable car fares and times are updated, so check the dates on the official sites. Save local emergency numbers and your embassy's number in a note you can read offline, and keep a screenshot of your Acropolis booking.

Pre-departure checklist

• Check your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure
• Check the EES and ETIAS information
• Confirm your Acropolis time-slot booking
• Check Santorini bus and cable car timetables
• Save the emergency number 112 and your embassy's number

• For ancient sites: book your Acropolis time slot in Athens first.
• For island scenery: walk Fira and Oia on Santorini separately.
• For both: four nights or more; check travel times first.