11 Things You Should Never Say in Greece

• Don't make a snarky comment on the fact Greeks tend to eat from the same plate. ...
• Don't complain about the amount of oil in the food. ...
• Don't ask if they put feta cheese in everything. ...
• Don't ask for ketchup in a taverna. ...
• Don't ask if Greeks still worship ancient gods.

What is considered rude in Greece?

Greeks are very hospitable to foreign visitors. Bring a gift to show your gratitude. Don't thrust the palm of your hand in front of someone's face, it is considered a very rude gesture, so don't attempt to do this even jokingly!

Do and don'ts of Greece?

Follow our insider tips to experience Athens like a local—and avoid the typical rookie mistakes that tourists make for a guaranteed stress-free city break.

• Speak our (body) language. ...
• Pick your restaurant wisely. ...
• Haggling is not cool. ...
• Tread carefully. ...
• Take your time. ...
• What not to wear. ...
• Follow toilet etiquette. ...
• Avoid the clichés.

What should I avoid in Greece?

10 Things Tourists Should Never Do in Greece, Ever

• Show too much skin when visiting a church.
• Rely only on credit cards.
• Take a passive-aggressive attitude with smokers.
• Take photos of military installations.
• Throw paper in the toilet.
• Eat or drink in the metro in Athens.
• Do the moutza.

What are the manners in Greece?

Greek Etiquette & Manners

• Greeks are warm and hospitable.
• When meeting someone for the first time, they shake hands firmly, smile, and maintain direct eye contact.
• Good friends often embrace; they may also kiss each other on each cheek. Male friends often slap each other's arm at the shoulder.

Which Country Do You HATE The Most? | GREECE

What gestures are offensive in Greece?

Gestures: The hand gesture that signals 'Okay' (by putting one's forefinger and thumb together to make a circle) is an obscenity in Greece. It is also severely insulting to hold up your open palm, fingers spread, at someone's face.

Can you wear jeans in Greece?

Greeks wear jeans just as much as anywhere else. Normal rules apply - dress up for smart restaurants & churches etc, I'd say. Also, it gets awfully hot to wear jeans in Greece!

What are some strange laws in Greece?

In Greece, and thus Halkidiki, wearing heels in sites of archeological magnitude is forbidden. This law aims at protecting the ancient treasures from abrasion and wear and tear. Namely, on the occasion that you plan to visit Ancient Stagira, Ancient Olynthos or the ancient town of Toroni, be aware and be mindful!

Is Greece American friendly?

The bottom line: There are risks in traveling to Greece, including some unique to the country, but as of April 2020, the U.S. Department of State does not discourage American travelers from visiting the country and urges travelers to exercise normal precautions.

Why you shouldn't go to Greece?

and of course the people are unfriendly, eating & drinking costs an arm & a leg, no-one speaks English, the weather is awful, food is imported, frozen & microwaved, ouzo is so horrible you have to water it down, driving around is a nightmare on overcrowded roads . . . . .

How do you show respect in Greece?

A handshake is the most common greeting in Greece. It is exchanged between men, women and children. Close friends may greet each other with a warm embrace or a kiss on the cheek. Others might slap or pat one another's arm or back a few times.

Do Greeks complain a lot?

Greeks love to complain about everything

Whether it's a minor thing, or a major issue, a Greek will almost always complain.

Does Greece have a dress code?

Greece does not have any unspoken rules about attire such as "cover your shoulders”, or "wear long skirts, dresses, trousers” like India for example, but as with everything an element of common sense in deciding what you are going to pack is imperative.

Is thumbs up rude in Greece?

Thumbs up

In many areas of the world a thumbs up signal is interpreted as meaning “Okay” or “I agree.” However, in Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, South America, the Middle East and parts of Italy and Greece it is an obscene insult meaning “sit on it” which is their equivalent to holding a middle finger up.

Is Greece a third world country?

Greece has the trappings of an advanced Western economy, but its government's capacity to tax and spend seems distinctly Third World.

How do I not look like a tourist in Greece?

Visiting Athens for the first time? These 12 helpful Athens travel tips will help you NOT look like a tourist

• Don't visit in August. ...
• Do drink coffee several times a day. ...
• Don't wear the “ancient Greece” themed clothes sold in souvenir shops. ...
• Don't talk about how you visited “the Greek islands” ...
• Do wear black – all year.

How is Christmas in Greece?

On Christmas Eve, it's common in Greece for children to flock from home to home in their neighborhoods to sing Greek Christmas carols, or “kalanta.” After wishing their neighbors happy holidays, the children are usually rewarded with sweets, dried fruits and small change.

What is the stupidest law in the world?

10 Weirdest Laws from Around the World

• It's illegal to hold salmon under suspicious circumstances. ...
• It's illegal to let your chickens cross the road in Quitman, Georgia. ...
• It was illegal to change a light bulb unless you're a licensed electrician in Victoria, Australia.

What is the dumbest law in history?

CALIFORNIA: A frog that dies during a frog-jumping contest cannot be eaten and must be "destroyed" as soon as possible.

Are video games illegal in Greece?

The government there has banned all electronic games across the country, including those that run on home computers, on Game Boy-style portable consoles, and on mobile phones. Thousands of tourists in Greece are unknowingly facing heavy fines or long terms in prison for owning mobile phones or portable video games.

Does Greece have snow?

Mountains throughout Greece are coated with snow in the large image. According to the Greek National Tourism Organization, snow is not unusual in the mountains of Greece during the winter.

What is Greece known for food?

Don't leave Greece without trying…

• Taramasalata. A mainstay of any Greek meal is classic dips such as tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber and garlic), melitzanosalata (aubergine), and fava (creamy split pea purée). ...
• Olives and olive oil. ...
• Dolmades. ...
• Moussaka. ...
• Grilled meat. ...
• Fresh fish. ...
• Courgette balls (kolokythokeftedes) ...
• Octopus.

What does the middle finger mean in Greece?

Earlier, the Greeks used the middle finger as an explicit reference to the male genitalia. In 419BC, the playwright Aristophanes puns in his comedy The Clouds about dactylic (finger) rhythm, with a character gesturing first with his middle finger and subsequently with his crotch.

Is it rude to show your palm in Greece?

Rude Gestures & Gestures to Avoid

Yes, this is a unique Greek gesture and is quite rude and offensive. And yes, you can detect it in many aspects of everyday life in Greece. It's done by extending the hand with the palm facing forward and the fingers stretched and apart from each other.