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COUNTRY PROFILE
Greece in Numbers
*Data Source: World Resources Institute
Did you know?
Greece is the fifth Schengen country with the most visa applications received
USEFUL INFO
Travel
With 45 airports (15 international) and 16 international seaports at your doorstep, Greece is your stepping-stone to an infinity of domestic and worldwide travel destinations.
Easy travel and freedom of movement. Choose from nearly 50 major cities within a 3-hour flight.
6 non-stop routes between Athens and the United States.
Athens International Airport statistics for October 2021
Climate
Greece is renowned for its 300 days of Mediterranean sunshine a year. But its vast expanse and physical diversity means it also has four distinct seasons. The locals can enjoy weekend breaks in one of 25 ski resorts across the mainland, as well as soak up the sun on a silky sand beach eight months a year. Sometimes even on the same day.
Locals
In Greece there is a strong sense of community. A proud nation that emphasizes family and tradition. Genuinely goodhearted, caring, and cheerful folk, whose hospitality never ceases to amaze.
“I knew that no matter what door you knock on in a Cretan village, it will be opened for you. A meal will be served in your honor, and you will sleep between the best sheets in the house. In Crete, the stranger is still the unknown god. Before him, all doors and all hearts are opened.” – Nikos Kazantzakis, 20th century Greek writer.
Language
Greek is the official language, of course. But Greece ranks high for its number of speakers of a second language. English is the most widely spoken of these, estimated at above 80% of the population.
English is part of the standard school curriculum, which is the reason most Greeks have a good command of the language.
Street signs in the cities are typically bilingual.
Safety and Security
Greece is rarely under a travel alert. Unquestionably one of the safest countries in Europe.
According to the HSBC Expat Explorer 2021 survey, Greece offers a sense of security to 57%, compared to 49% globally. Say no more.
Healthcare
Enjoy access to an advanced public healthcare system. Your residence permit is your passport to the National Health System (ESY).
The National Health System (ESY) provides free – or low cost – equitable access to healthcare for all residents. It is made up of public and private health service providers.
Almost 300 hospitals – public and private – and an oversupply of beds.
Numerous clinics with top-notch facilities and superb value for money are known for inviting medical tourism. Two good examples are IVF treatment and dentistry: highly experienced doctors, state-of-the-art equipment, and no waiting lists.
Option to buy high-quality healthcare at surprisingly affordable prices.
Did you know?
*Data Source: World Bank
*Data Source: Pharmaceutical Group of the EU
*Date Source: United Nations – World Population Prospects 2021
Emergency health care in Greece is free for all residents and non-residents of all nationalities.
Education
All international schools in Greece meet high standards and offer extracurricular activities. Thirteen of them offer an International Baccalaureate degree making it easier for graduates to move on to universities abroad. Several languages of instruction are offered, including English, French, German and Italian.
History & Culture
Greece has a unique cultural heritage. The birthplace of democracy and the cradle of Western civilization is steeped in history.
Riddled with ancient monuments, and more archaeological museums than any other country in the world, there’s a wealth of awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage sites and monuments.
The Parthenon, on the Athenian Acropolis, is arguably the single most important monument in the world.
There is Ancient Delphi, the religious sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Parnassus dedicated to the god Apollo. The surreal monasteries at Meteora on the Thessaly Plain, perched atop immense natural rock pillars formed eleven million years ago. Ancient Olympia in the Peloponnese, site of the original Olympic Games, and the fortified medieval town of Mystras, a former flourishing Byzantine capital. The list goes on.
Athens, the city where theater was born, boasts the most theatrical stages in the world – more than London’s West End and New York’s Broadway.
Over 300 intriguing museums nationwide – 70 in Athens alone – and uncounted galleries.
Cuisine
The Mediterranean diet needs no introduction. It’s a global brand, and the key to longevity. Seasonal produce is at the heart of the diet, and nowhere else will you find a richer variety of ultra-local ingredients than in Greece. It’s the food-lover’s paradise.
There aren’t a lot of mild, bland recipes in the Greek household. Greece is a country that loves color and flavour, and the country is brimming with atmospheric restaurants and tavernas. Your chef will utilise all sorts of staples to satisfy every foodie; artisan cheeses, whole grains and nuts, herbs and spices, fruits, vegetables, and legumes …
There’s a recipe for every appetite. Indulge in a classic Greek dish of sauteed shrimps in a fresh tomato-based sauce, traditionally glazed with anise-flavoured ouzo and topped with crumbled feta cheese. Or take to a warm and hearty Avgolemono (Greek lemon chicken soup) with herbs and spices on a cold winter’s night.
If you can’t help yourself, relish in an authentic Greek moussaka with its luscious layers of beef or lamb mince. Then, wash it down with a glass of specialty red Greek wine, and take delight in a Karydopita (walnut cake) full of nutty goodness and aromatic spices.
Ah, the gastronomic perk of Mediterranean living.
