Discover Greece travel guide 

This southern European country is a magnet for tourists.

People flock to Greece to spend time in the sun on the many beautiful islands throughout the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean seas, and history buffs enjoy exploring cities rich in history. Full of outdoor adventures, Greece is a must-do for travellers looking for a lower cost travel option in Europe.

Greece shares a land border with Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Macedonia. Greece runs on Eastern European Time (EET) which is 2 hours ahead of Universal Coordinated Time (UTC+2) during winter and 3 hours ahead during summer.

• Greeks have a proud culture and speak of their country with passion and a sense of belonging. They can however feel a little bit behind the times of some other European countries so there are a few things you should be aware of:
  
  
• Greeks are the heaviest smokers in Europe, so you may find that smoking is hard to avoid — even in restaurants and other indoor spaces.
• A common hand gesture (similar to a wave) usually seen by angry drivers is the moutza, which is an extended hand with five fingers open. This is a rude gesture and should be avoided.
• In general, Greeks are exceptionally friendly and curious, to an extent that can seem intrusive. Don’t be surprised at being asked personal questions, even on short acquaintance, or having your personal space invaded.

• The first Olympics were held in Greece in 776 BC and the oldest surviving Olympic measurements were from Chionis of Sparta who long jumped 7.05m and threw a discus 46.3m.
• Greece was the first country to ban all video games in 2002 to stop illegal gambling, however they quickly amended the law to allow games provided there was no financial gain for the player or any third party.