Culture and Customs of Greece

Arts, Crafts, and Architecture

Arts

Crafts

Architecture

Museums

Customs and Traditions

Local Traditions

Etiquette

Dress and Behavior

Sensitive or Taboo Topics

Languages

Modern Greek is the official language of Greece and the mother tongue of about 90% of the population. The country also has several local dialects spread across the islands or the mainland. For Latin speakers, Greek is not an easy language, further complicated by a specific alphabet. Fortunately, in tourist areas or for certain things, words written in Greek are often transcribed into the Latin alphabet.

When it comes to foreign languages, English dominates widely, especially among young people and in the tourism sector. French follows, understood by roughly 10% of Greeks. While useful in tourism, French has long been associated with the upper classes of Greek society. Finally, for historical and tourist reasons, German (many Greeks once worked in Germany) and Italian (some islands were Italian possessions) are also spoken by 3–5% of the population.