Volunteer and work in Greece - low cost travel abroad - Workaway!

Greece

Greece has long been renowned for its great natural beauty and fascinating history, and although the country’s recent forays into the news have been focused on its economic troubles, the country is still a top travel destination where the tourist dollar has never been more welcome. Ancient archaeological sites, idyllic islands, picture-postcard beaches, and a balmy Mediterranean climate… is it any surprise that this country of 11 million inhabitants received about 24.8 million visitors in 2016?

Since most of these tourists come in July and August, and are concentrated in a very few resorts, there are still plenty of areas in the country that remain free from large-scale tourism. The good news is that there are Workaway hosts looking for volunteers to work in their projects in both the tourist hot spots and in undiscovered corners of Greece. As a Workaway volunteer you can explore Greece in an affordable way, have an unforgettable summer or a unique gap year, do something meaningful, learn new skills, meet people and make friends for life.

Whatever your “thing” is – whether you like to immerse yourself in history, hike mountain trails or live the life of a beach bum – Greece offers the traveller plenty to discover. And if you want to extend your trip with a spot of volunteering, Workaway has more than 260 hosts located all over the country, on the mainland and the islands, in cities, in popular tourist spots and in more out-of-the-way locations. Volunteers can help in hostels and houses, on farms raising rare breeds of horse, in permaculture and community projects, and even on sailing boats.

Typical Greece

The famous whitewashed homes and charming blue-domed churches that appear on postcards of Greece are typical of a specific region of the country (the Cycladic islands), and many first-time visitors are surprised to discover a country with such regional and architectural diversity, the result of its Classical history, as well as Ottoman and Venetian influences. Its more than 4000-year-old culture has had a profound influence on Western arts, language, philosophy, politics and sports, and a visit to Greece’s many ancient historical sites takes you back through history to the mythical times of the gods.

The landscape is just as varied and diverse: the extensive coastline is studded with fabulous beaches and the mountainous interior is great hiking territory. But perhaps Greece’s biggest attraction is the islands, ranging from lively cosmopolitan tourist spots, to quiet isolated locations where the boat calls just twice a week.

Travel tips for Greece from the Workaway Blog

But there is more to a country than its history and landscape – as a Workaway volunteer you will meet the locals and be invited into the heart of Greek homes, giving you the chance to learn the language, explore the culture and enjoy the country’s wonderful cuisine. Visit the Workaway blog to find out how food-loving Workawayers learned the secrets to authentic Greek cuisine while volunteering, plus packing hacks and other advice and tips from seasoned travellers, and read on for more Greece-specific help and hints.

Mainland Greece

Athens

• The city is dominated by the Acropolis, a rocky mound rising in the heart of modern Athens and crowned by three magnificent temples dating from the 5th century BC. The best known and most distinctive is the Parthenon.
• The Archaeological Promenade is a two-and-a-half-kilometre walkway, which skirts the foot of the Acropolis and connects it to the city's other main ancient attractions – the Ancient Agora, the Roman Forum, Kerameikos, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
• Opened in 2009 and now one of Athens' most-visited tourist attractions, the Acropolis Museum is an ultra-modern glass and steel structure with light and airy exhibition spaces, built specifically to display ancient finds from the Acropolis.
• It’s not all ancient history: the National Museum of Contemporary Art is a hub for the capital's flourishing modern art scene.

Other highlights of mainland Greece

The mainland is studded with well-preserved Classical ruins, frescoed Byzantine churches and monasteries, massive fortified towns, and the long, sandy beaches of the Peloponnese and the Pelion peninsulas. Perhaps more surprisingly, the mountains of the mainland offer some of the best and least-exploited hiking, rafting, canyoning and skiing in Europe.

• The metropolis of the north, Thessalonica, is a lively, sophisticated place looking out over the Aegean. Founded in 316 BC, it has always been a crossroads of cultures and religions. Its main sightseeing attractions are its UNESCO-listed Byzantine churches, and the Turkish influence can still be felt in the kitchens of the city, from yiaourtlou (beef kebab on pitta with Greek yoghurt), to patisseries piled high with loukoumi (Turkish delight).
• Often cited as Greece's most beautiful city, Nafplio stands on a small peninsula on the east coast of the Peloponnese region. The car-free old town is filled with neo-classical mansions and proud churches and is overlooked by the 18th-century Palamidi Fortress.
• Delphi. This UNESCO World Heritage site is built on the lower slopes of Mount Parnassus, overlooking a dramatic ravine. The site was sacred to the ancients, who came here on pilgrimage to the Temple of Apollo and to ask advice from the mythical Oracle.
• Meteora. Another UNESCO site, Thessaly Plain’s bizarre rocky outcrops are capped by centuries-old monasteries. Six of the monasteries are open to anyone willing to climb up the several flights of stone steps carved into the rocks that lead to each monastery. Inside, you'll find flickering candles, religious icons, Byzantine frescoes, and a haze of incense.
• Olympia. Walk in the footsteps of the gods along ancient trails, up thickly forested slopes, towards the cloud-covered peak, once home to the Ancient Greek pantheon.
• Epidavros. Relax into the hollows of the well-worn stone seats and watch a performance at this theatre under the stars, surrounded by forested hills, where Greek classics were first performed over 2000 years ago.
• Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese has everything the traveller’s heart might desire, including a beach that makes all the Top 10 lists. Sample Kalamata olives (named for the capital of the region), hike the Apollo Trail, visit the 5th century Temple of Apollo Epicurius in its protective tent and Methoni Castle, a masterpiece of Venetian military architecture.

The Greek Islands

Greece has more than 6,000 islands, 230 of them inhabited, of which a dozen or so are major holiday destinations. Ferries connect many of the islands, enabling the traveller to go island hopping. You’re spoilt for choice for where to go in the Aegean or Ionian seas, and perhaps the best strategy for first-time visitors is to sample assorted islands from nearby archipelagos – Crete, the Dodecanese, the Cyclades and the northeast Aegean are all reasonably well connected with each other, while the Sporades, Argo-Saronic and Ionian groups are best visited in single trips. There are Workaway volunteering opportunities on many of the islands, just use the handy search filters to narrow down the choice by typing in the word ‘island’ or a specific place name.

Saronic Islands

If time and money are short, the Saronic islands are the best place to head for, since they are just a short ride from Piraeus (the main port of Athens).

• Hydra is free of motorised vehicles, and the zero nighttime light pollution makes it ideal for stargazing.
• Spetses is just under 2 hours away from Athens. Walk the trails encircling the island (25 to 30 km) and enjoy the quiet of the old town, where no private vehicles are allowed.

The Sporades

This group of islands to the northeast is relatively easy to reach from Athens or Thessalonica.

• Skiathos. With over 60 mostly sandy beaches scattered along its 44 km of coastline, this small island is a Mecca for beach lovers.
• Skopelos. One of the greenest of Greece’s islands – wander into the heart of the island through cool forests of Aleppo pine, or walk the orchards along the cliff edge.

Ionian Islands

Off the west coast of mainland Greece, the Ionian Islands are often dismissed as package holiday territory, but their Venetian-style architecture, especially evident in Corfu and neighbouring Paxi, make them well worth seeking out, especially on a journey between Greece and Italy.

• Visit Homer’s Ithaca, the homeland of Odysseus, and hike through dramatic island scenery and past archaeological sites.
• Wide stretches of uninterrupted soft sand line the west coast of Lefkada, a quiet little island and one of Greece's best-kept secrets.

North Aegean Islands

• Samos. Just 1.6 km from the Turkish coast, this island was the birthplace of the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras. Samian wine was well known in antiquity, and is still produced on the island.
• Chios. Famed for its striking medieval architecture and the 11th century monastery, Nea Moni, a World Heritage Site.

The Cyclades

This group of islands in the central Aegean represent the quintessential, picture-postcard Greece.

• Volcanic Santorini is the most dramatic of all the Greek islands, and the cliff-top towns of Fira and Oia, which lie on the west coast, overlook the deep, blue, sea-filled caldera. Swim from the black volcanic sand beaches and visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri, an ancient Minoan settlement buried below lava following the volcanic eruption that created the caldera, some 3,600 years ago.
• Mykonos is Greece’s answer to Ibiza. The numerous sandy beaches along the island's south coast are served both by bus and taxi-boat, and the island is particularly popular with international celebrities.
• Other islands in the group have fewer visitors. Check out Moni Hozoviotissis on Amorgos, a dramatic monastery dating to 1017 that clings to a cliff face high above the foaming sea.

The Dodecanese

Lying to the east, in the Aegean Sea, close to Turkey, Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands. Its capital, UNESCO-listed Rhodes Town, is one of Greece's top tourist destinations.

• The car-free cobbled streets of the old town on Rhodes are enclosed by an impressive fortification system, including monumental towers and gates built by the Knights of St. John, and are a delight to explore on foot. Nearby attractions include the pretty hillside coastal town of Lindos.
• Take a trip to Marmaris on the Turkish coast, which can be visited by excursion boat.

Crete

The largest and most populous of Greece’s islands, it is also the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean, and separates the Aegean from the Libyan sea.

• The Samaria Gorge is the most visited of Crete’s gorges; however, the narrow Imbros Gorge and lush Agia Irini Gorge are equally breathtaking and less crowded.
• Heraklion Archaeological Museum has artefacts spanning 5,500 years, but is most famous for its Minoan collection, including the incredible frescoes from Knossos.

Volunteering in Greece

Workaway is the world’s leading community for volunteering and cultural exchange. Lone travellers backpacking through Greece will find plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with the locals, but Workaway also offers many opportunities for couples, friends, families and groups. Workaway’s many hosts offer volunteers free accommodation and meals in exchange for a few hours of work a day, normally five days a week. This is the perfect way to make travelling affordable in Greece, or to extend your stay. Whether you want to visit Greece’s lively, diverse cities and tourist hot spots, or get right off the beaten track and immerse yourself in wild nature and local life, the perfect host is waiting to welcome you. It doesn’t matter whether you are exploring during your summer holidays, or seeking a gap year adventure, the volunteering opportunities are almost unlimited and will guarantee you have the time of your life.

Volunteer abroad: find the perfect host in Greece

As a member of the Workaway community you can use the many thousands of reviews and feedback provided to find your perfect match among our hosts. Share your culture, skills and language with the communities, projects and families that offer a wide range of volunteer programmes, volunteer projects and volunteer jobs. If you want to take a backpacking trip through the heart of Greece, use our search filters to check out the many offers far away from the usual tourist spots. Combining these more off-the-beaten-track opportunities with a stay with some of the many host families and organizations in cities and coastal towns is the ideal way to enjoy the diversity of Greece. 

Travel and make a difference in Greece

Who doesn’t enjoy going on holiday and relaxing in a tourist hot spot? However, travellers who want to connect more deeply with the host country and make a real difference will find perfect opportunities to do this by joining Workaway. Do you want to find out more about the culture of Greece? Volunteering is the perfect vehicle for cultural exchange, providing the traveller with a truly memorable experience while doing something useful, like helping to restore an old building, helping with household tasks, or caring for children or animals. Working and travelling in Greece will provide the perfect opportunity to get to know this unique country, its culture and its people. 

Working and healthcare in Greece

If you are from outside the EU and planning to visit Greece solely as a volunteer and not as a tourist, you will need the correct visa. To find out more information, you need to contact the Greek Embassy in your home country before travelling. And please don’t forget to take out appropriate insurance to make sure you qualify for healthcare!

Have a great trip!

It’s practically impossible to do justice to a country as varied as Greece in a single article – so if you want to find out more before visiting, check out this infographic, arm yourself with some more information, join Workaway and get planning your trip!