The summer is inviting you to put on your traveling shoes and go for an adventure. Have you figured out where you want to go? Many tourists say that Greece is always a good idea, as the country has a lot of gorgeous places to visit. But what about backpackers? Would you travel to Greece? Are you looking for a place to put your tent and a way to spend your trip on a budget? Even if you didn’t think of going to this magnificent country soon, you should take a look at the following backpacker’s tips and start planning a trip to “Ellada.”
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Useful tips for backpacking Greece
This spectacular country is located in southeastern Europe. Greece consists of two peninsulas and a lot of islands spread throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. It’s the perfect place to be if you’re looking for some mind-blowing landscapes and pleasant swim in the deep blue salty sea. But no matter how much you think you know the country, you have to prepare for a trip to Greece. Luckily, we provide you with some tips on how to do that:
Traveling on budget: Low-cost airlines
No matter on which continent you live, Greece has great airline connections with many countries in the world; you only have to do a thorough research and check for the best solutions. Backpackers would usually go with something cheap like a low-cost airline that gets you close to the wanted destination. Luckily, Greece has good low-cost airlines operating throughout the whole country, and all you have to do is look for the best route. Even if you arrive in the major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, there’s a great connection with the other cities where you can easily get by train, bus or boat.
Hitchhiking in Greece
An inexpensive way to get from one place to other, backpackers seem to love hitchhiking. And even though they share the Balkan spirit, hitchhikers say that it is not so easy to hitch a ride on the motorways of Greece. The main problem seems to be that the Greeks, although quite warm and friendly, are somewhat scared of picking up hitchhikers on their way from one place to another. It is assumed that this comes as a consequence of the past events of immigrants fleeing into their country. But this doesn’t mean that it is impossible to catch a ride on the motorways or the gas stations.
However, have in mind that even if you go for it, that it might take a little bit of time until you succeed. Anyways, make sure to put on a hat, and some sun cream since the sun in Greece might threaten your skin.
Camping in Greece
As a backpacker, we suppose you would prefer settling for the wild camps, as a cheaper and more adventurous option. However, this is something you have to be cautious about, as wild camping in Greece is considered to be illegal. That means that once you put your tent on someone’s territory, you might need to have a long talk with the police. Nevertheless, experience shows that it is not impossible to practice wild camping, even though it’s a risk you have to take.
Wild beaches and mountains are usually a good solution for wild camping. On the other hand, if you want a safer option then take a look at the organized camps at the destinations you want to visit. The camps in Greece are not expensive, and yet they are in marvelous condition. You can also meet a lot of pleasant people camping there that can help you explore the surroundings even better.
Eat and drink on a budget
If you want to stick to buying food and drinks while not weighing too much on your overall budget, then we don’t recommend that you visit the fancy restaurants, ones usually located near the sea. However, many small, fast food restaurants offer cheap and insanely delicious food specialties. Once you go to Greece, you need to try their special dish called “gyros” and a glass of cold “ouzo.” Other than that, food and drinks are cheap in supermarkets. So we suggest you buy something to cook or grab a bite at the local bakeries. Also, have in mind that the water in this country is not drinkable. So you should buy bottles of water from the stores.
Do some island hopping
It’s natural for backpackers always to look for more places to visit and not just settle for a single destination. For this reason, Greece is an excellent destination for backpackers. Because you can easily visit many parts of the country and island hopping does this. What we mean is that you can quickly make a plan on catching cheap ferries that lead you from one point of the peninsula to an island. Or otherwise, from one island to another, a strategy that helps you get to know the country better. However, remember to check the types of the ferries, as not all of them offer the service for the same price. Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Zakynthos, Skiathos, Ios, these are all just a part of the Greek paradise that awaits.
Experience the country
The weather in Greece is quite warm, and so are the people living there. Don’t be shy and try to make some friends along the way, as the locals are eager to meet new people and offer you their hospitality. With just a little effort you can learn a few Greek words and phrases, or learn something about their culture. You can also taste delicious food specialties and find out which are the best places to visit. The locals are kind when it comes to tourists, even though not all of them speak English. And while you’re discussing which places to visit with the locals you have met, have in mind to take notes not only of the best beaches in town but also on the national parks and scenic mountains that you can climb nearby.
Greece is an incredible country to visit, especially if you are seeking an adventure. So prepare your backpack and share these tips with your friends, help their journey become an extraordinary and memorable experience.
