🇬🇷map Greece [Overview]

Greece, written as Elláda in Greek, sits at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, with thousands of islands dotting the Aegean and Ionian Seas and a mountainous mainland stretching down the Balkan Peninsula. Its population is a little over ten million, concentrated in Athens and Thessaloniki with smaller cities and islands drawing steady waves of seasonal residents. Everyday life flows between modern European routines and deeply rooted traditions, especially around food, family, and regional festivals. One detail many newcomers notice quickly: Greece’s coastline is among the longest in the world, shaping everything from the cuisine to the ferry timetables.

Even a short stay reveals how strongly the country’s identity is tied to the sea, history, and neighborhood-style community. Cafés are busy well into the night, island ferries run like commuter rail in summer, and conversations easily stretch from philosophy to football. The climate is generally Mediterranean—mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers—so many expats find outdoor living surprisingly accessible most of the year. If you plan to split your time between city and islands, you’ll discover each region’s personality, cuisine, and pace feel distinctly their own.

Economy

Most people work in services, with tourism, hospitality, retail, logistics, public administration, and professional services leading the way. Shipping remains a signature industry; Greek shipowners play an outsized role in global maritime trade, supporting ports, marine insurance, and technical services. Agriculture is smaller but visible in daily life, producing olives and olive oil, wine, citrus, honey, and regional cheeses that anchor the local food scene. Light manufacturing, food processing, and energy (including renewables in windy and sunny regions) round out the landscape.

Greece is tightly connected to the wider world through its EU membership, use of the euro, and participation in NATO and the Schengen Area. Athens International Airport is a major hub, and an extensive ferry network links islands to one another and to Italy and Turkey. Broadband and mobile coverage have improved, with 4G widely available and 5G expanding in major cities, making remote work increasingly practical. For business ties, EU single-market access, double-taxation treaties, and a growing startup ecosystem—especially in Athens and Thessaloniki—help international professionals plug in.

Culture

Greek is the dominant language and the heartbeat of daily life, though English is widely understood in cities and tourist areas. The population is predominantly Greek, with regional identities shaped by island, mountain, or urban roots; you’ll also meet Albanian, Balkan, and other European communities, plus seasonal workers and international students. The land carries visible layers of history—from classical ruins to Byzantine churches and Ottoman-era neighborhoods—yet the culture feels contemporary: film festivals, contemporary art, and a lively café and nightlife scene keep cities buzzing.

People are passionate about family gatherings, food, and football, and there is a strong tradition of hospitality that extends naturally to guests and newcomers. Greek Orthodox Christianity is the majority faith, and its calendar shapes much of public life. Major holidays include Clean Monday, Orthodox Easter (with midnight services and feasts), August 15 (Dormition of the Virgin), October 28 (Ohi Day), March 25 (Independence Day), and New Year’s/epiphany traditions in early January. In summer, every island seems to have a panigyri—an open-air village festival with music, dancing, and long tables that make even short-term residents feel like part of the neighborhood.

Franz
Franz is a German technical writer and business consultant from Munich, with over 15 years of experience in international corporate relocations and German business culture. Having worked for major German multinational corporations including BMW and Siemens, Franz has extensive experience facilitating the relocation of international talent to Germany and helping German professionals navigate complex assignments abroad.