This part of our guide to holidays in Greece sees us covering the basic information that travelers there need to know…

Greece offers a wide range of experiences, landscapes and activities. It is famous for its natural beauty, historical sites and nightlife, and of course for its reliably sunny summers and the many beautiful beaches on its islands and coastline, which stretches along the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas.

It is one of the world’s top 20 tourist destinations. This southern European country attracts more than 15 million visitors a year, 90% of which come from other parts of Europe (but increasingly, the proportion of visitors from other regions of the world has been growing).

Athens and islands such as Corfu, Crete and Rhodes are the major destinations, but other parts of Greece are also rewarding. Travelers wanting a quieter holiday can escape large-scale tourism in many attractive places.

The great majority of travellers arrive in the summer months – April through October, with the season’s peak being July and August. Outside this period, most of the Greek tourist infrastructure, particularly on the islands, slips into hibernation.

Athens and Thessalonki handle the bulk of scheduled international flights. However, during tourism season, several charter and planned low-budget flights arrive daily from many European cities to many of the islands and smaller cities on the mainland.

A valid passport is required on entry and a visa may also need to obtained by residents of non-EU countries. However, citizens of select non-EU countries (including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States) are allowed a 90-day visa-free stay.

It’s considered a safe country to visit (in terms of occurrences of theft and violence against visitors) and no immunization vaccinations are required or advised prior to traveling there.