Country Name |
Hellenic Republic |
Continent |
Europe |
Surface area |
132,020 km2 |
Capital |
Athens |
Population |
approx. 11 million |
Language |
Greek |
Currency |
Euro (EUR) |
Time zone |
+1hr compared to Italy |
Area code for Italy |
0039 |
Area code from Italy |
0030 |
Yellow fever vaccination is not required.
This viral disease is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. Vaccination is recommended when staying in areas with a higher risk of infection. The risk decreases in the winter months.
Infection typically occurs through contact with the saliva of an infected animal, usually caused by bites, scratches or licks near open wounds or mucous membranes (e.g. mouth, nose, eyes). The most common vectors are dogs and bats, but cases of infection in other domestic animals have also been reported.
Caused by toxins released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, the risk of tetanus infection is present throughout the country.
Diseases such as Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, Leishmaniasis, and West Nile virus are present in Southern Europe. As these diseases are transmitted by insect bites and there are no vaccines, it is important to adopt careful behavioural and preventive measures.
The following vaccinations are strongly recommended as these diseases can be contracted anywhere in the world. Experts advise that you protect yourself and other travellers by making sure you are up-to-date with all of the recommended vaccinations. This will allow you to travel safely, while minimising the risk of exposure to infection.
Greece occupies the southern portion of the Balkan Peninsula. It shares land borders with Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. It is lapped by the waves of the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea, where the Ionian and Aegean archipelagos and the island of Crete are found. The islands make up 1/5 of the countries entire area.
The country is predominantly coastal due to the high number of islands and peninsulas. The irregular western coast is carved out by deep indents, coastal-facing plains and lagoons; whereas, the eastern coast, although still rocky, is more regular and characterised by numerous cliffs.
The Pindus mountain range, which reaches its highest peak on Mount Olympus (2,917 m), is located in the centre of Greece. This creates a clear climatic divide between the western and eastern side of the country. In fact, although the climate is typically Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, the winters in the east are significantly colder, with scarce precipitation and a dry atmosphere. On the mountains, the climate becomes more rigid with Alpine-type features.