Hostels in Greece

Greece is a unique country in Mediterranean Europe offering plenty for budget hostel travelers to see and do at an affordable price. Greek is the national language, but people who work in tourist destinations are typically fluent in English, and many signs written in Greek also have equivalent Latin lettering. If you want, you can learn how to pronounce the letters of the Greek alphabet. It's not as difficult to learn as you might think, and it's fun to decypher names of cities and other words. Your non-Greek friends will be amazed at your ability to make sense of signs written in foreign symbols.

Most visitors to Greece go to the islands. Some of the popular islands are Corfu, Ios, and Santorini, although dozens of other options are available. The Greek Islands offer a relaxed pace, scenic views, and a diverse culture. Just be aware that the Greek Islands are very tourist-focused and are the most expensive part of Greece. You can easily move between the major islands by ferry. Ferries travel between the islands daily and they're comfortable and reasonably priced.

Visiting the mainland will have an entirely different feel compared to the island attractions. Athens is the capital of Greece, and by far the largest city. People around the world are familiar with ancient Greek mythology, which is prevalent in Athens as well as other parts of Greece, such as Olympus. The Acropolis is the center of Athens, which is home to the Parthenon and other structures dedicated to the Greek gods. The Athenian museums host even more mythology and ancient statues. Many other Greek cities display less famous, but just as valuable ancient Greek art and architecture.

Greece is notable not only for ancient religions, but also for current beliefs. Athens, Thessaloniki, and Corinth are just a few of the Greek cities that can be found in the Christian New Testament. In Athens you can walk through the Ancient Agora marketplace that the Apostle Paul preached in, and also the Areopagus, or Mars Hill, where he spoke at a meeting of locals at the time. In Thessaloniki there are also many ruins of similar date. One is an ancient marketplace that may be a location where the Apostle Paul also spoke before being sent to Athens, and later Corinth. In addition to notable locations for ancient mythology and Christianity, science and other educational aspects can be attributed to locations that are now in ruins. For any history or education buffs, a trip through mainland Greece should definitely be on their to-do list!

Greece is one of the less expensive European countries, but offers just as much to see and do as other countries such as France or Italy. Finding a hostel may be difficult in small mainland towns, but hostels are numerous in the tourist Greek islands as well as Athens and the second largest city, Thessaloniki. Most hostels have high standards but are offered at a price that reflect the affordability of the rest of the community.

Handwritten by local expert for Greece hostels Jessica Lippe