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!
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.
How do you offend a Greek person?
How To Piss Off a Greek
- Be super picky about food.
- Take Germany’s side on…
- Show you don’t understand the difference between modern and ancient Greece.
- Say you hate Athens after spending a total of 24 hours in tourist traps there.
- Display zero ability to handle your liquor.
- Call us lazy.
- Say we deserved the crisis.
What are some Greek taboos?
Sex before marriage was also frowned upon. Eating meat from domesticated animals and drinking milk was also taboo. Eating meat from an animal which was not sacrificed to the Gods was also not done. Not performing the proper rituals to purify yourself for the Gods was also a big taboo.
What is proper etiquette in Greece?
Meeting Etiquette
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.
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.
Is Greece English friendly?
Although the official language in Greece and Athens is Greek, English is also widely spoken, so you shouldn’t experience any problems when visiting the city. English is very widely spoken in Greece, especially in the most touristy parts of the city.
What signs 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. This is called the ‘moútza’.
What is the Greek rude finger?
It’s the “moutza.” The moutza is a Greek hand curse — the palm extended, fingers spread out, the hand thrusting forward, usually accompanied by the terrible sound of “Na!” — which means, “Here, take it!”
What does 5 fingers mean in Greece?
When Greeks hand-signal the number 5 to someone they take care not to overextend the fingers or face their palm towards the person, lest it be mistaken for a mountza.
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.
Do Greeks like small talk?
It is thought to be brusque and blunt to skip small talk and immediately discuss your topic of interest. Try to be open about yourself if you can. Greeks commonly share the personal details of their lives and appreciate when others do the same.
What are Greek values?
The ancient Greeks implemented their values of loyalty, glory, intelligence and hospitality into everyday life. While these values may seem simple, they effectively shaped an entire civilization into a culture that is one of the most referenced in history.
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 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. The proportion of self-employed Greeks is more than twice as high as in the rest of Europe.
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.
Is Greece safe to live?
Greece is generally a very safe place, and there is very little serious crime. They have one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union, although cities such as Athens are generally more expensive than the rest of the country.
Is Greek the hardest language to learn?
Despite the fact that Greek roots are found throughout the English language, Greek is among the hardest languages for English speakers to learn, according to studies conducted by the US Department of State.
What religion are Greeks?
Greece is an overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian nation – much like Russia, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. And, like many Eastern Europeans, Greeks embrace Christianity as a key part of their national identity.
Can I go to Greece without speaking Greek?
You don’t really need to speak any Greek, except perhaps for your own joy. Your trip route is in really tourism oriented places, so most people will be speaking at least good enough English to communicate, while many will be speaking good.
Is waving an insult in Greece?
Raising your hands with your palms facing out
In Greece, showing five spread fingers with the palm facing out is offensive. This is called moutza and it dates back to Byzantine times when prisoners were paraded through the town with their faces covered in charcoal or excrement.
