The cradle of democracy, the birthplace of many novelties in language, art, human civilization and even banking, Greece is the wonder of many worlds at once; where ancient meets modern and east meets west. At Stargate, we are passionate about Greece and the vast and diverse opportunities it offers. Here we share some of our thoughts, expertise and ideas about this wonderful country and on topics that might interest you when it comes to immigration and investment in Greece.

Greece: Examined

From white sand beaches to lively nights spent listening to street musicians in Little Venice, Mykonos, Greece captivates with her beauty, culture, history and scenery. A country situated in the heart of the world, where continents meet and seas pour into one another, her beauty has been quiet and admirable since antiquity and extends well into today’s contemporary Europe. Here, we explore the Hellenic Republic, Greece and revisit some of the reasons why it remains a top destination for tourists and settlers alike.

(Geography)

A Mediterranean Paradise in Europe 

Greece also known as Hellas or Ellada (Ελλάδα) in Greek, is situated in Southeastern Europe, at the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania to the North, Turkey to the East and is surrendered by the Aegean Sea to the East, the Mediterranean Sea to the South and the Ionian Sea to the West. Greece has the largest coastline in Europe (13,676km), ranked 11^th worldwide and is home to 2000 islands. It has a total population of 10.77 million people in the mainland and the islands.

Greece is uniquely located at the juncture of Europe, Asia and Africa. Its unique geographical location has contributed to it becoming home to many civilizations and undergoing various historical periods. These range from prehistoric to Classical Greece and include the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and nearly four centuries of Ottoman Turkish rule. Greece is also home to 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its geographical characteristics have also led to an extraordinary natural environment and exceptional biodiversity.

(climate)

Year Round, Four-Season Delight

In Greece, the sun shines an average of 250 days a year. This reaches 300 days in some areas such as Rhodes Island, making Rhodes a place where summer never ends. With commonly warm Mediterranean weather, Greece’s climate is diverse and can vary most noticeably in the winter depending on the region. Summers are mostly hot and dry while winters can be cold particularly in the Northern parts of Greece, where snow is not unusual. August is the best month for visiting the breathtaking Greek beaches, enjoying the sun and the Mediterranean breeze.

Athens has long, hot and dry summers and rather mild winters. The average temperature is around 29°C in August, the hottest month of the year. Athenians enjoy an average high of 10°C in the coldest month of the year, January.  December receives the most rainfall with an average of 97.6 mm.

(economy)

Greek Economy; Growing Stronger Every Day

In 2009, after 4 years of making exceptional economic growth, Greece’s economy plunged into a crisis. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2007-2008, Greece fell into an almost 8-year long recession. Since then, Greece has been working relentlessly to make a full recovery. The progress has been steady especially since 2014, when Greece started witnessing positive GDP after 6 consecutive years of recession.

Greece’s economy is classified as an advanced, high-income economy with a high standard of living and high human development index, ranked 32^nd in the world. Its main sectors include 80% service, 16% industries and 4% agriculture.

The Greek merchant marine is the largest in the world and merchant shipping remains one of the most successful sectors in Greece. The country has traditionally engaged in import and exports with neighboring countries such as Italy, Germany and Russia and is a valuable trade hub for those who wish to expand their businesses in Europe, Africa and North America.

With 20 million tourists a year, tourism is one of Greece’s most significant industries. Greece is the 7th most visited country in Europe and the 16th in the world. Just in 2019, Greece earned 17.68 billion euros from its tourism industry, around 11% of its total GDP. 

Similar to other countries around the globe, the Greek economy has also been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, as isolation ends, Greece is expected to bounce back as tourists with even more enthusiasm than before, are expected to crowd its cities and islands. The country’s remarkable handling of the healthcare crisis and its projected return to tourism in 2021, have caused experts to project Greece to be among European nations who are expected to have positive GDP growth in 2021.

(education)

Ancient Wisdom, Modern World-class Education

Home to great philosophers and prominent thinkers such as Aristotle, Socrates, Homer and Plato, Greece is the birthplace of academia with a long tradition of excellence in education that extends until today.

Public education is free for all residents regardless of their country of origin and includes the cost of textbooks and transportation for children who reside far from school. Public schools make up more than 90% of schools in Greece and more than 90% of Greek students attend them.

Low-income families, whose monthly income is less than 3,000 euros, receive a government stipend of 3,000 euros per year to assist with their children’s schooling. 

About 7% of primary and secondary schools in Greece are private schools. These are usually American or British schools with a yearly tuition fee ranging from 1,500 to 13,000 euros. Foreign nationals with Greek residency can attend both public and private schools.

The school year begins on the 11^th of September and ends on June 15^th for elementary schools and June 30^th for middle and high school students. With a total of 175 days and four weeks of holidays in total, the school week in Greece is typically from Monday-Friday, 8am to 2pm.

Greece is home to some of the world’s highest-ranking universities. These include the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, National Technical University of Athens and University of Crete among others.

(healthcare)

Healthy Long lives for Everyone

Average life expectancy is 80.3 years in Greece, which is higher than average and includes the greatest number of 90 year olds in the world. Greece has places like Ikara; famous for its unique longevity, with 1/3 of the population living to be more than 90 years old. Healthy Mediterranean diet alongside fresh air, strong family ties and a healthy sense of community are among contributing factors to the Greek’s good health.

The quality of healthcare is generally high in Greece, with some variations between mainland Greece and less populated Islands. Greek healthcare uses a national healthcare system and a private sector. While the national healthcare aims to provide free quality healthcare for most main purposes such as emergency visits, laboratory testing and diagnostics, maternity care and others, Greeks who require coverage for more specialized care usually use private healthcare.

Foreign nationals can benefit from the public healthcare system at little or no cost or sign up for private insurance to cover their unique needs.

Pharmacies are found frequently in all Greek cities and are marked by a green cross against a white background. The emergency services can be reached at 166. In case language is a concern; general European emergency services can be reached at 112 with English-speaking operators.

(beaches)

Golden Gates to Turquoise Heavens

With nearly 14,000 km of coastline, Greece is a haven for water sports enthusiasts and beach lovers. With unparalleled natural landscape, Greek beaches showcase an array of different characteristics; some stretched out smoothly in white sand, pebble beaches, dark colored beaches with volcanic soil, tucked away bays, coves, cliffs and steep rocks.

With a high level of service and infrastructure, Greek beaches offer endless possibilities for leisure; from taking part in watersports such as water skiing, windsurfing or diving to fishing in quiet remote caves. Greek beaches have something for everyone. In fact, every year, a large number of beaches in Greece are awarded the Blue Flag, a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that is only awarded to establishments who meet rigorous environmental, safety and service quality. The Blue Flag has been awarded to nearly 400 beaches and 9 marines in Greece.  Elia Beach on the island of Mykonos possibly remains the most popular beach in Greece.

(islands)

Greek Islands | A Magical Blend of Tranquility and Liveliness

Greece has a total of 6000 islands and is home to some of the most sought-after islands in the world: from secluded retreats to breathtaking natural wonders and popular party destinations. Greek islands frequently rank amongst the best in the world. Just in 2020, seven islands including Paros, Milos, Rhodes, Crete, Dodecanese, Santorini, Corfu, the Ionian Islands and Mykonos, were named amongst the best in Europe by Travel + Leisure Magazine. Breathtaking scenery, historical architecture, ancient archaeological sites, charming villages and lively nightlife, are some of the reasons why Greek Islands are voted among the best.

Some of the most popular and iconic islands in Greece are the Cyclades; a group of islands in the Aegean Sea forming a circle around the sacred island of Delos. Cyclades means circular islands. According to Greek mythology, the God of the sea, Poseidon was furious at Cyclades nymphs and morphed them into islands. Cyclades includes legendary Greek islands such as Santorini and Mykonos characterized by their natural untouched landscapes, characteristically whitewashed houses with colorful blue domes, sandy beaches and quintessentially Mediterranean charm.

Mykonos

Imagine sitting in a small café by the water so close that you feel as though floating above clear azure waves.  As you sip on a cold drink, the breeze from the Aegean Sea lightly touches your face, and if you would just look up, you could catch a glimpse of the iconic Mykonos windmills, built in the 16th century. This is Mykonos, nicknamed the Island of Winds. A jewel in the Aegean Sea, the Island of Mykonos is a picturesque romantic destination iconized by its whitewashed houses and cobble stoned alleys.

Near the water, on the Island’s main city Chora, picturesque houses with colorful balconies extend adjacent to the sea creating what is called Little Venice. Built in the 18th century, Little Venice has inspired many artists over the years to capture its beauty and continues to be known as one of the most picturesque tourist locations in Europe. Today, Little Venice is home to numerous bars, cafes and restaurants and is host to a vibrant nightlife.

Mykonos has some of the most satin-like sandy beaches in all of Europe. Elia is a well-known example of such, which however can get crowded. Sunsets in Mykonos attract a crowd curious to watch the beauty of gold, red, and yellow melting into the night’s sky, and as the city delves into the night, the islanders don’t go to bed early. Frequently called the Ibiza of Greece, Mykonos is known for its exciting nightlife, which only seeks to parallel the Island’s natural beauty and charm.

Santorini

Santorini is arguably Greece’s most popular Island, it receives about 1.5 million tourists a year, almost 100 times its population. Yet it is simple to understand Santorini’s popularity, or why it has been a musing ground for artists for years. From its unique nature to its brilliant architecture and wonderful scenery, all the way to its luxurious, trendsetting clubs and restaurants, there are numerous reasons why Santorini remains the best-known island in Greece.

Santorini emerged as a result of a series of volcanic activities, the latest of which erupted about 1,650 BC destroying the Minoan civilization and forming Santorini’s crescent shape.

Built on a volcanic caldera, Santorini has islands made of lava rocks and its spiral road and architecture follows the spiral rhythm of its natural shape. Originally built as caves, Santorini’s iconic whitewash houses are still tucked away into every corner of this bustling island. Some of these have been converted into expensive villas, hotels and restaurants. Blue domes adorn the tip of some of these houses shining in white. On the edge of the caldera, Fira, Santorini’s capital city shines like a colorful jewel against the sun. Together with the neighboring Oia, Imerovígli and Firostefáni, Fira creates what is known as Caldera’s Eyebrow, with unparalleled panoramic views of the Island and the endless sea. Santorini has the most breathtaking views, impeccable waters and romantic sunsets. It is one of the most romantic islands in all of Europe and is therefore the island of choice for many couples looking to get married or experience a truly romantic getaway.