LocationSoutheast Europe.
Area131,957 sq km (50,949 sq miles).
Population11.1 million (National Statistical Service of Greece, 2005).
Population Density84.1 per sq km.
CapitalAthens.
Population: 750,000 (2004 estimate); Greater Athens 3.3 million (2004 estimate).
GovernmentRepublic.
LanguageGreek (Ellenika). Most people connected with tourism and those of a younger generation will speak some English, French, German or Italian.
Religion98% Greek Orthodox,
with Muslim, Roman Catholic and Jewish minorities.
TimeGMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are used.
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis since 2004.
Head of StatePresident Karolos Papoulias since 2005.
TelephoneCountry code: 30, followed by (210) for Athens, (2310) for Thessaloniki and (2810) for Heraklion (all area codes are prefixed with 2 and end with 0).
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent.
InternetInternet cafes are available in the main cities, including Athens, Thessaloniki and the islands Crete, Kos, Mykonos and Rhodes.
MediaA free press operates in Greece, although material deemed offensive to the president or religious beliefs can lead to the prosecution of editors and publishers. It was only in the late 1980s that the virtual monopoly of state-run broadcasters came to an end, with the introduction of new commercial TV services. Peak-time TV schedules are dominated by news, domestically-made variety programs, comedies and game shows. The country hosts about 1,700 private radio and TV stations, many of which are unlicensed, since broadcasting in Greece is relatively unregulated by European standards. An attempt made in 2001 to better regulate the FM dial in Athens resulted in a political row.
PostAll letters, postcards, newspapers and periodicals will automatically be sent by airmail. Airmail to Europe takes five days; six to North America; seven to Australia.
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1400, Sat 0800-1400.
Press• There are numerous daily newspapers in Athens including
Eleftherotypia, Kathimerini and
Ta Nea.
•
Athens News is published weekly in English.
Radio• Publicly-owned
ERA operates
ERA1 (entertainment),
ERA2 (culture),
ERA3 (sport and music) and
ERA4 (regional).
• Commercial stations include
Antenna FM,
Skai 100.3 and
Sfera 102.2.
• Municipal Athens station
Athena 98.4 was one of the first non-state radio stations.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.
2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
19 Feb Orthodox Shrove Monday.
25 Mar Independence Day.
6 Apr Orthodox Good Friday.
9 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
28 May Day of the Holy Spirit.
15 Aug Assumption.
28 Oct Ochi Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.
2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
10 Mar Orthodox Shrove Monday.
25 Mar Independence Day.
25 Apr Orthodox Good Friday.
28 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
16 Jun Day of the Holy Spirit.
15 Aug Assumption.
28 Oct Ochi Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.
Contact Information:Embassy of Greece (Hellas) in the UK1A Holland Park, London W11 3TP, UK
Tel: (020) 7229 3850
or 7221 6467 (visa section)
or 7313 5600 (visa helpline)
or 09065 540 744 (visa appointment booking line).
Website:
www.greekembassy.org.ukOpening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1300.
Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) in the UK4 Conduit Street, London W1S 2DJ, UK
Tel: (020) 7495 9300.
Website:
www.gnto.co.ukAlso deals with enquiries regarding conferences and conventions.
Embassy of Greece (Hellas) in the USA2217 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 939 1300
or 1306 (consular section).
Website:
www.greekembassy.orgGreek/Hellenic National Tourism Organization (GNTO) in the USAOlympic Tower, 645 Fifth Avenue, 9th Floor, Suite 903, New York, NY 10022, USA
Tel: (212) 421 5777.
Website:
www.greektourism.com
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