Welcome to Athens – the capital of Greece and powerful centre of the ancient world. Our friendly English-speaking tour guide meets us at the airport and we drive together to our chic 4-star hotel in the Corinth area. We stay here comfortably for the whole week.
Passing Corinth we reach the world-famous castle of Mycenae (admission included). The archaeological site of Mycenae has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Mycenae was one of Greece‘s most important cities in pre-classical times. Heinrich Schliemann, one of the most famous German archaeologists, discovered the gold mask of Agamemnon here. We visit the royal tombs, the impressive Lion‘s Gate and the museum with finds from the Treasury of Atreas (admission included). Afterwards we visit the harbour town of Nafplio with its beautiful old town. During a joint tour we discover, among other things, the Old Parliament and the first school in Greece. We stroll through the picturesque alleys of the old town. The journey then continues to Epidauros. Nestled in a wonderful hilly landscape is the well-preserved theatre of Epidauros (UNESCO World Heritage Site, admission included). On a guided tour of this incredible amphitheatre, we marvel at the unique acoustics. Modern and classical dramas are still performed here today.
After a hearty breakfast, we can enjoy the amenities of our beach hotel today. Or join us for a unique, optional full-day excursion to Olympia. Along the Gulf of Corinth and past the impressive cable bridge of Patras we reach ancient Olympia (admission included). At the famous venue of the ancient Olympic Games, the world-famous flame is still lit at the opening ceremony. Together we explore the Olympic Stadium, the Palaestra and the sacred grove with the Temple of Hera and the once imposing Temple of Zeus. Afterwards we visit the museum for a varied guided tour (admission included). There we see, for example, the wonderfully crafted pediment sculptures of the temple of Zeus, and the statue of Hermes by Praxiteles and the statue of Nike by Paionios are also exceptional.
After breakfast we drive along the slopes of Mount Parnassus to the unique Oracle of Delphi, another spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site (admission included). We will explore the ancient “navel of the world“ in detail. Up until the 4th century A.D., people came here to hear prophecies. In Delphi we visit the ruins of the sanctuary of Apollo with its temple, ancient theatre, the stadium and the Athenian treasury (admission included). In the adjacent archaeological museum (admission included) we can admire extraordinary finds, such as the sculptures of the Temple of Apollo, the sphinx and the famous bull.
Relax extensively by the sea in our modern 4-star hotel – today is the right day for that! If you like, you can take a walk along the beach or simply relax in the well-kept wellness area of our hotel. The surrounding area also invites you to explore extensively: For example, the fascinating canal on the Gulf of Corinth – it separates the Peloponnese peninsula from the Greek mainland. It is also wonderful to experience ancient Corinth with its excavations, which are well worth a visit.
Today you will experience Mystras and Sparta as part of a fascinating, optional full-day excursion. After a wonderful drive along the vineyards and olive groves of the Peloponnese, we first reach the spectacular ruined city of Mystras (admission included). It lies at the foot of the mighty Taygetos Mountains. The late Byzantine buildings of Mystras have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989. From here we have a beautiful view over the laconic plain. Here, according to Goethe‘s stories, Faust reached for the beautiful Helen and grasped nothing but her shadow. We see the imposing palace of Mystras and the frescoed churches, including the Metropolis Church. We visit one of the many religious buildings in the area: the Pantanassa Convent, where nuns still live today. Afterwards we experience the present-day city of Sparta, situated in the middle of a fertile plain. The legendary ancient Sparta was the strongest military power in ancient Greece for centuries.
The vibrant capital Athens welcomes us today. First, the wonderful Daphni Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site), one of the most important places of worship of the 11th century, awaits us (admission included). The monastery is famous for its unique mosaics, which show scenes from the life and suffering of Jesus Christ. Since 1990, Daphni has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with 2 other places of worship in Attica and Phodika. The subsequent city tour takes us to the Acropolis. This spectacular ancient city fortress became a Greek landmark and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (admission included). Inside the Acropolis is the Temple of Athena – known as the Parthenon – the most famous building. Built in honour of the goddess Athena, it houses a colossal statue made of gold and ivory. Together with our guide we visit this architectural masterpiece from the 5th century B.C. During the onward journey by bus, the best views are offered of the Kallimarmaro Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games of the modern era were opened. Further on we see the parliament building with the guard of honour dressed in traditional costumes (called evzoni), the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian‘s Gate and the Old Parliament Building. If you like, you can then take a leisurely stroll through the old town of Plaka. After returning to our 4-star hotel, we end the evening there in a relaxed atmosphere.
Today we say goodbye to Greece‘s treasures and our new holiday friends. After the transfer to the airport, the flight departs back to the UK. You will be taking back with you wonderful memories of an unforgettable study trip week.
Itinerary change may be possible due to organisational reasons or weather conditions.
The package includes the two fascinating full-day excursions “Olympia (World Heritage)“ and “Sparta & Mystras (World Heritage)“: only £169 per person.
This package includes 7× half-board, i.e. sumptuous buffet every evening with international specialties: only £ 189 per person.
£249 per person (subject to availability)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athen | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 18 | 15 | 10 |
| London | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
Below is an information overview. The conditions of entry, as well as the political and health situation, can change anywhere in the world at any time. We therefore recommend checking before your trip. Please check the website of the Foreign Office (www.gov.uk/) before your departure.
Parliamentary republic; the state president is Katerina Sakellaropoulou (since January 2020) and the head of government is prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (since July 2019).
Greece is a peninsula state, or an island state in South East Europe.
Athens (population approx. 665,000)
Around 97 % of the population is orthodox (state religion). 0.2 % of Greeks consider themselves to be atheists and 1.7 % consider themselves non-denominational.
Modern Greek
A Mediterranean climate is prevalent in Greece with hot, dry summers and mild, humid winters. In the inland mountainous regions, snow is to be expected in the winter months.
Greece is two hours ahead of UK time, all year round.
230V alternating current, and 110V DC in some areas. An adapter is necessary.
The country code for Greece is 0030 with the zero cancelled before the area code. If you are calling the UK from Greece, please dial 0044 and the area code without the zero.
If you are planning to travel to an EU country you must meet the Schengen area rules. Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through Greece as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit. Nationals of other countries are advised to enquire at the Greek Embassy about the entry requirements applicable to them. Customers are reminded that it is their sole responsibility to make sure that passport and visa entry requirements for the country or countries that they are visiting are satisfied and we can not be responsible for any problems encountered (whether at any point of entry or elsewhere) in the event that passport and visa requirements are not satisfied. Regulations in respect of passport and visa requirements for Greece are the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whose Website is https://www.mfa.gr/en/index.html. If you hold a different type of British nationality (BN(O), British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person or British Subject), check visa requirements with the Greek Embassy before you travel. However, passport and visa requirements change from time to time and are also dependent on the purpose of your visit and your nationality. Whilst we endeavour to provide guidance where necessary. For up-to-date information on entry requirements, please visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/. By the end of 2023, the EU is aiming to bring in a new visa waiver system, called ETIAS, which will be valid for three years. Once introduced, British passport holders travelling to the EU will need to apply and pay for an ETIAS, via an online system.
Your expert tour guides will be able to provide you with detailed information about the country, people, history, culture, etc., and offer advice and assistance for organising your trip. They can also help with room allocation and look forward to welcoming you with initial information. Here you will find out all you need to know and useful information about the trip. We have put together a varied programme including numerous highlights, enabling you to experience the culture and diversity of landscape that Greece has to offer, and learn all about the country and its people.
Although your trip already includes a comprehensive package, you also have the option of choosing added extras. We recommend booking the following packages:
Gourmet package: This package includes 7× half-board, i.e. sumptuous buffet every evening with international specialties: only £ 189 per person.
Explorer package: The package includes the two fascinating full-day excursions “Olympia (World Heritage)“ and “Sparta & Mystras (World Heritage)“: only £ 169* per person.
* Package prices may vary when booking on site.
In Greece, a room tax is charged for tourists at a rate of up to 3 € (£ 2.60) per room/per night (as of September 2023).
Greece is a member of the EU. The currency is the Euro. Exchange rate (as at September 2023): 1 GBP = 1.16 Euro; 1 Euro = 0.87 GBP. Bank opening times are Monday – Thursday 08:00 – 14:00, Friday 08:00 – 13:30. In major cities opening hours are sometimes longer. Popular credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted almost everywhere. A debit card and PIN number can be used to withdraw cash from cash machines for a fee. Cards bearing the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are also accepted as means of payment. Caution: When paying with debit or credit cards, we recommend vigilance against fraudsters who will secretly try to copy tourists‘ bank cards and spy out the associated PIN so that they can then withdraw cash from cash machines using a cloned card. Travellers are therefore advised when paying by card to always keep their card in sight and to conceal the PIN when entering it. Caution is advised when using debit and credit cards with a PIN in currency exchanges.
There are a number of products which have entry or exit limitations in Greece from outside the European Union. These include cultural goods, wild fauna and flora and products derived from these, vegetables and plant products, weapons and ammunition, medicines, tobacco and alcoholic beverages (please note the alcohol and cigarette allowances). You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. In terms of medications, only those necessary for personal use are allowed, and they must be accompanied by a copy of the prescription or medical report.
Important: If you are travelling to Great Britain from outside the UK, your personal allowances mean you can bring in a certain amount of goods without paying tax or duty. If you go over your allowances you must declare all your goods and pay tax and duty on all the goods in that category. Please inform yourself about the current customs regulations: www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain.
In Greece, the acquisition, possession and export of “cultural and natural goods“ is severely punished since these are regarded as state property. Violations can mean several months of custody and high bails (currently around 9,000 €) even for tourists, even if the antiquities or oldlooking objects are of apparently little monetary value. It is therefore expressly advised not to buy antiques, old coins, fossils, etc. from dealers or to take any such objects away from sites you may visit. The acquisition, possession, import or export of drugs (even in small quantities) is severely punished. Do not carry defence sprays with you either. Their possession and use is banned in Greece and is a prosecutable offence. Photographing military installations and important civilian facilities (airports / ports) is prohibited due to the risk of spying. Violations will be prosecuted. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/foreigntravel-advice/greece/local-laws-and-customs.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC – https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad.
Anyone entitled to free healthcare in the UK is also entitled to treatment in Greece – if it is urgently required – from doctors, dentists, hospitals, and so on that are approved by the foreign statutory health insurance company. You should get a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. If you already have an EHIC it will still be valid as long as it remains in date. You can also contact your health insurance company for information on current regulations. Nonetheless, you are urgently recommended to take out travel health insurance for the duration of your holiday which covers risks not assumed by the statutory health insurance companies (e.g. repatriation to the UK in the event of illness, treatment by private doctors or in private hospitals). Such policies usually also offer benefits not covered by state health insurance companies, e.g. the costs of repatriation.
The customer must establish for himself that his physical and mental state is compatible with the selected journey. He is obliged to obtain information about the degrees of physical mobility and mental autonomy required for this journey.
All information is subject to change/Last updated: September 2023
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