Packing list for Greece, travel insurance for Greece, and taking your belongings

What to bring to Greece: highlighted

Highlighted items:

• Documents: passport or European ID card that is valid for at least 6 months upon arrival. An online and/or offline copy of your passport or ID is always useful.
• Money: cash euros are useful on the small islands and in the villages. And bring your debit card!
• Care: sunscreen and aftersun. This is not readily (cheaply) available on all islands.
• Outdoor and conveniences: cap or hat and sunglasses.
• Clothing: light clothing. In winter, an extra layer can also be sensible. If you are going into the mountains, bring something warmer.
• Shoes: flip-flops for the beach and good shoes for walking in the city or through the mountains.
• Medicines and travel pharmacy: your favourite menstrual products, because not everything is available everywhere.

What else can you bring:

• Towel or shawl for the beach.
• Driving licence if you want to rent a car. Water shoes for the pebbly and rocky beaches.
• Covering clothing for visiting temples and monasteries.
• Mosquito repellent.

What knowledge is useful when you go to Greece?

• The neighborhoods in Athens that you should avoid if you don't want to be pickpocketed.
• A few words of Greek are guaranteed to make people smile!

Are there mosquitoes in Greece?

• Yes, certainly in the summer and especially near water and in the evening.
• They are usually not dangerous, but there have been cases of West Nile virus, so protection is not an unnecessary luxury.

Are there sand flies in Greece?

• They are found in the south and on some islands (such as Crete and Rhodes), especially around dusk.
• They are annoying, but not dangerous.

Can you buy DEET or other mosquito repellents in Greece?

• Yes, at pharmacies and larger supermarkets - but often more expensive brands and sometimes low concentrations.
• So be sure to bring your favorite repellent yourself.

Where can you get your food and drinks in Greece?

• Supermarkets: AB, Lidl, Sklavenitis – good selection, but island prices can be higher.
• Street food: gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita – cheap and fantastic.
• Restaurants: often cheap and good quality. Vegetarians are fine, vegans a little less.

Can you buy a joint or weed in Greece, or take it with you to Greece?

• No. Soft drugs are illegal in Greece. So you can’t take them with you!
• Vaping is legal, but there are places where it’s not allowed.