Greece Travel Guide - Going Out

Restaurant and taverna food tends to be very simple, rarely involving sauces but with full use of local olive oil and charcoal grills. However, Athens and some of the more fashionable islands such as Santorini and Mykonos have seen the arrival of fusion cuisine and so-called modern taverna fare. All restaurants have a standard menu which includes the availability and price of each dish. A good proportion of the restaurants will serve international dishes. Hours are normally 1200-1500 for lunch and 2000-2400 for dinner. Opening hours vary according to the region and local laws. Waiter service is usual.

National specialities:
• Dolmades (stuffed vine leaves).
• Moussaka (aubergine casserole with minced lamb, cinnamon, red wine and olive oil).
• Squid (kalamari) or octopus (htapodia).
• Souvlaki (spit-roasted meat, generally pork or chicken).
• Horiatiki (Greek salad: feta cheese, tomato, cucumber and fresh olive oil).

National drinks:
• Retsina (wine made with pine-needle resin).
• Ouzo (an aniseed-based clear spirit to which water is added).
• Raki (a sharp and fiery spirit made from distilled grapes).
• Greek coffee (thick and strong, and sugared according to taste).
• Greek beer is a light Pilsner type. 

Legal drinking age: 16.

Tipping: 12 to 15% is usual.

This is centred in main towns and resorts with late-night bars, dance clubs and live concerts. Athens' nightlife is among the best in Europe, with many local tavernas, particularly in the Plaka area, and ouzeris (typical Greek bars), plus a plethora of bars and small clubs in the fashionable night-time districts of Psirri and Gazi. Note that in summer many of the big clubs move out of the centre to the beaches at Voula, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza. Regular concerts and evening shows are held at the second-century Odeion of Herodes in Athens, below the Acropolis, during the Hellenic Festival (Jun-Sep). Nightclubs featuring live Greek bouzouki music are extremely popular. Through summer, the islands of Mykonos and Santorini are also noted for their exceptionally vibrant nightlife. There are some casinos in Greece, such as the Mount Parnes Casino in Athens, the Corfu Casino in Corfu and the Casino at the Grand Hotel Astir in Rhodes.

Special purchases include lace, jewellery, metalwork, pottery, garments and knitwear,  rugs, leather goods, local wines and spirits. Athens is the centre for luxury goods and local handicrafts. The Sunday morning flea market in Monastiraki, below the Acropolis, is crowded in high season. Regional specialities include silver from Ioannina, ceramics from Sifnos and Skopelos, embroidery and lace from Crete, the Ionian Islands, Rhodes and Skiros, alabaster from Crete and flokati rugs from the Epirus region.

Shopping hours: These vary according to the season, location and type of shop, but a rough guide follows: Mon, Wed, and Sat 0900-1430, Tues, Thurs and Fri 0900-1430 and 1730-2030. Most holiday resort shops stay open late in the evening.

Note: (a) Visitors should be aware that many ‘antiques' sold to tourists are fake; it is illegal to export any item of real antiquity without a special permit from the Export Department of the Ministry of Culture. (b) Non-EU citizens can get a refund on Greek VAT (4% on books and 18% on nearly everything else); the process is fairly complex, but well worth it. Non-EU visitors may buy goods from certain shops bearing the sign ‘Member of the Tax-Free Club' and have the VAT refunded, in cash, at special refund points at the airport. Ask store owners and tourist information offices for details.