The Ultimate Guide to Travelling to Greece from Australia
It starts with a longing.
Not the "hmm, where should we go this year?" kind. More the "I need air, I need beauty, I need to feel something again" kind. If you’ve landed here, I’m guessing that pull is pointing you straight to Greece.
So, let’s get you there.
This is the no-fluff, real-talk guide to travelling to Greece from Australia. From flights and visas to ferries and frappés (or freddo espressos if you're feeling local), here’s everything I wish I’d known the first time I traded Vegemite and deadlines for souvlaki and stillness.
First things first: how far is it, really?
From Sydney or Melbourne, you’re looking at a minimum of 19 hours in the air. That’s if you’re lucky. Most routes involve one or two stops (Singapore, Doha, Dubai are common). While it sounds brutal on paper, I promise it’s survivable with the right snacks and low expectations.
Tip: If you can swing it, break up the trip with a night somewhere in the middle. I once had a 36-hour layover in Singapore and it weirdly reset my body clock. Also: hawker centre dumplings.
Do Australians need a visa for Greece?
Nope. As of now (July 2025), Aussies can enter Greece visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. That gives you a solid three months of island hopping, feta eating, and fantasising about how you could live here forever.
But, important to note, Greece is part of the Schengen Zone, so those 90 days apply across all member countries. If you're doing a wider Europe trip, track your days. Overstaying isn’t cute.
When should you go?
Ah, the eternal debate.
June to early September = hot, busy, expensive
August = chaos. Really busy, really hot. That said, if you want to mix and mingle and like crowds, then it’s a hit.
May and late September = warm, fewer crowds, still swimming weather
October to April = cooler, quiet, a different kind of magic
If it’s your first time, go for late May or mid-September. You’ll get sunshine without the chaos and it’s not too hot to sightsee. Plus, shoulder season Greeks are a vibe. Less hustle, more time to chat, better room rates, and a sea that still wraps around you like silk.
Where should you go?
This part? This is where you get to dream.
Want a postcard moment? Santorini delivers (but maybe just for two nights).
Want beaches without the crowds? Naxos. Always Naxos.
Want somewhere buzzy but still Greek? Paros or Hydra.
Craving something raw and wild? Ikaria or Amorgos.
Taking kids? You’ll love Tinos.
Never seen Athens? Go. It’s gritty, ancient, and underrated. It’s my favourite city in the world.
This is a Greece travel guide for Australians, so let me just say it. If you skip the mainland entirely, you’re doing it wrong. Meteora, Nafplio, Zagori. Absolute stunners.
How to get around
You’ll probably land in Athens. From there:
Domestic flights are cheap if you book early (Aegean and Sky Express are your friends)
Ferries are the scenic option, but budget buffer time. Delays are a thing
Hire a car on the mainland or on bigger islands like Crete and Naxos
Avoid taxis at the airport. Pre-book or take public transport
And if someone offers you a lift after a long ferry ride? Take it. Greeks are generous like that.
Money stuff
Greece runs on euros, and most places take card, but don’t rely on it entirely. Always carry cash, especially in villages or small tavernas.
Tip: ATM fees add up. Try to withdraw larger amounts less often, and use Wise or Revolut for better exchange rates.
What to pack
Keep it light.
Linen over denim, unless they’re denim shorts.
One good pair of sandals.
Swimmers, a hat, a reusable water bottle.
A jacket for the ferry and cooler nights when you’re on the back of a scooter or sipping Malagouzia near the sea.
A dress you feel beautiful in, even with salty hair and no makeup.
Leave space for the things you’ll collect. Handwoven bags, leather sandals, handmade ceramics, and maybe a little piece of yourself you forgot you needed.
Travelling solo? With kids? As a couple?
Greece is for all of you.
I travelled with my 7-month-old and didn’t cry once (which is saying something)
I’ve wandered solo through alleyways in Parikia and felt safe and seen
I’ve watched couples share wine under the stars and thought, yeah, this is the place
Whoever you are when you arrive, you’ll find space here to exhale.
My thoughts from the ferry deck
Travelling to Greece from Australia isn’t simple. It’s long. It’s sweaty. It takes planning.
But once you arrive? Once you taste that first bite of still-warm spanakopita from a bakery that’s been run by the same family for generations, or float in that ridiculous, impossible-blue water, or wake up to the sound of church bells echoing through a village you can’t pronounce...
You’ll know why you came.
So go.
Pack the swimmers, book the ticket, say yes to the trip.
And when you’re ready, Greece will be there. Waiting, like it always is.
