7 Things Not to Do in Greece

Traveling to Greece can be the experience of a lifetime. The country is rich in stunning scenery, ancient monuments, world-renowned food, and cultural traditions. While there is much to do in Greece to enjoy your stay, there also are some cultural faux pas you should avoid committing.

Here are seven things you shouldn’t do while traveling in Greece.

1. Don’t wear skimpy clothes into a church.

Greece is filled with churches and monasteries. These include the Holy Monastery of Patmos, which was founded in 1088, and the Church of 100 Doors in Parikia, a stunning Byzantine structure from the 4th century.

Churches in Greece have a dress code of long shorts or pants for men and long skirts for women. Generally, legs and arms should be covered up (that means absolutely no bathing suits). Some churches and monasteries will loan women a wrap or coverup, but it’s better to arrive properly attired.

2. Don’t be rude to smokers.

While smoking has fallen out of fashion in some cultures, about half of Greece’s population lights up. News reports say that the number of smokers in Greece has decreased somewhat in recent years. However, that doesn’t mean the country has given up its affection for smoking. Attempts to ban smoking in public places continue to fail, as locals describe smoking bans as “cultural degradation.”

With that in mind, non-smoking tourists shouldn’t make a scene if they are caught in an enclosed space and people nearby light a cigarette. Coughing, hacking, fanning the smoke away, or raising eyebrows won’t deter the smokers. Greece typically has sunny, mild weather, which provides plenty of outdoor options if you want to stay out of smoky interiors. If you do find yourself next to a smoker and can’t tolerate it, ask politely if he or she will move somewhere else.

3. Don’t photograph military installations.

Greece is a photographer’s paradise, with glorious natural scenery and ancient monuments galore. However, there are some places where photography is absolutely forbidden.

No photographs may be taken of or near military installations, which include military camps and airports. Be especially careful near the Turkish border in the Aegean Islands. Respect signs depicting a camera with a red “no” bar over them or risk getting in real trouble with Greek authorities.

You also will see photography restrictions in some museums. One policy does not allow photographs of people standing next to ancient statues, which may be in place to prevent ill-mannered poses with nude statues. The Vergina museum and the Acropolis museum also have photography restrictions, and some museums ask guests to check their cameras in before entering.

4. Don’t drink or eat on the Metro.

Athens is home to a safe and clean Metro system that was built to provide transportation during the 2004 Olympics. More than 50,000 artifacts were found during its construction, and many of them are on display in six of the system’s stations.

Locals take pride in their mass transit system, and they follow the Metro rule to not eat or drink on the trains. Tourists should follow suit.

5. Don’t travel without cash.

Credit cards can be an easy way to pay when traveling, but while in Greece, keep cash on hand. Credit cards charge fees for purchases, and small merchants especially will prefer cash. You also may find that tavernas and shops in more remote areas may not take credit cards at all, although big hotels and restaurants in more urban areas will.

You’ll find plenty of ATMs in popular tourist areas, but the ones with English signs may run out of cash at times. Don’t be afraid of the other ATMS — English instructions will pop up on the screen when you begin your transaction.

When you get cash, be sure to get small bills and coins. Keep larger bills as a back-up supply and for larger purchases, and use small denominations of bills and coins at small shops where vendors never seem to have the right change.

6. Don’t ask for butter with your bread.

While many restaurants elsewhere serve pats of butter with pre-dinner bread, you have many options with Greek bread. You will receive a basket of bread before your main course arrives. Save some for dipping in olive oil from your salad or soaking up gravy or sauce from your meal.

You probably won’t get a separate bread plate. Additionally, it is considered polite to tear off chunks to eat to avoid double dipping. You’ll likely find the Greek method of eating bread is so good that you’ll forget you even wanted butter in the first place.

7. Don’t make a moutza.

As in any foreign country, it’s important to be aware of hand gestures that may be harmless to you but offensive to local people. In Greece, it’s the moutza, one of the oldest hand-gesture insults in the world that is still used.

Making a moutza consists of stretching your arm and hand toward someone’s face with all five fingers extended. The gesture’s meaning has evolved into several demeaning insults, and it’s best to never make it in Greece.