6 things the English girls get SO wrong on the beach in Greece!

On the Greek island of Zakynthos I’ve been enjoying plenty of beach time while on holiday, hanging out with my daughter, niece and friends. From behind my (designer) sunglasses I’ve been observing Greek beach etiquette and realising how different it is from a British day out at the seaside. The stylish Greek girls laugh at the English holiday-makers who get it wrong in every way on the beach. So if you want to blend in with the cool crowd on the beach, here’s where you need to know about Greek beach style.

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1. Don’t think that the beach is free

If you’re used to a week in Cornwall you may imagine that on your Greek holiday you’ll be laying your towel out on the sand and unpacking the picnic you brought with you. The beach is free, right? Wrong!

In Greece you need to rent a pair of sun beds which will cost you €4-10 for the day. No self respecting Greek would lay their towel on the sand unless they were in a completely deserted spot with no beach bar.

For a start, the sand is way too hot and there’s no shade. Besides you need that handy table to put your drink so you can relax and chat your friends without getting sand in your hair.

Some beach bars don’t charge for sun beds but you’ll still be expected to order a couple of drinks at the bar. For sun-beds and drinks you probably need to budget €10-15 for a day at the beach.

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2. Don’t try to get bronze in a week

The Greeks look on with astonishment at the English girls who lie in the sun for hours, desperate to go home after a week’s holiday with a deep and lasting tan. You’ll never see a pink and peeling Greek girl.

The Greeks respect the sun and will either stay in the shade or sunbathe for short periods with plenty of sun-cream. In the hottest part of the day it’s time for a siesta. Why worry about your tan when the summer stretches ahead of you? After all there’s plenty of beach time to develop that gorgeous brown body.

Review my favourite sunscreen products and more on my beach trip packing list

3. Understand the importance of a stylish bikini

In the magazines you may admire those elegant one piece or tankini swimming costumes and think that they are just the thing to cover up any embarrassing bulges. But in Greece everyone from the largest to the slimmest, from your daughter to your granny wears a bikini.

So leave your one-piece to wear in the pool back home. In the blistering Greek summer a one-piece would just be too hot and inconvenient. 

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Bikini etiquette in Greece

And while we’re on the topic of Greek beach etiquette, the Greeks always wear their bikini to the beach, never change when they get there. Slip on your micro-shorts and a transparent, floaty top to show off your figure and you’ll be considered stylish but not slutty.

On the sun bed or in the beach bar you can pose in your tiny bikini, go for a swim, dry off and then cover up again to go home. After a siesta, shower and change you can dress up for an evening meeting your friends in the bars and clubs.

If you’re wondering whether you can go topless in Greece, topless sunbathing is legal but uncommon among the locals. So if you see someone going topless in Greece they are probably a tourist. If you want to do it, find a quiet spot at the end of the beach and you probably won’t be bothered. 

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4. The coffee comes chilled not hot

Why would you order a hot drink when the temperature is in the 30’s? The Greeks love their coffee too but it has to be chilled.

To be like a Greek you need to order a “Freddo” coffee, which is the typical Italian style of coffee such as espresso or cappuccino, but on ice. When the guy comes round to take your order as you lie on the sunbed, make it a Freddo cappuccino, Freddo Espresso or a Freddoccino (iced mocha coffee with chocolate).

If you need something stronger then order an iced beer. But he Greeks would never drink more than one or two since they’ll be going home for a home cooked meal later on and it’s considered bad form to appear drunk in front of family and friends.

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5. Why spend the day at the pool when you can go to the beach?

The Greeks can’t understand why the Brits come on holiday for a week and then lie by the pool rather than going to the beach. After all you can find a pool in any city or hotel. Surely when on holiday you want to make the most of the beautiful beaches and swim in the sea as much as possible?

The Greeks believe the pool water is full of chemicals and other people’s sweat, while the sea is natural and healthy. There’s a Greek saying that if you swim in the sea all summer, you’ll be healthy all winter.

The Greeks on holiday will also want to see as many different beaches as possible. So they hire a car to go and explore the best ones rather than keep returning to the same place. On Zakynthos you could probably find a different beach or rocky cove for every day of the month and still have not seen them all.

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6. Be sure to wear the latest designer sunglasses

The sun in Greece is strong. So the Greek girls understand the importance of a good pair of sunglasses that will protect your eyes. This is an investment purchase, not a bit of 5 euro fun to throw away at the end of the holiday.

A Greek girl will buy a new pair of designer sunglasses each summer, depending on the latest fashion, so she has a few pairs in her wardrobe. Last year it was all bright frames, this year it’s oversized rounded frames and iridescent lenses.

My Greek fashion spies tell me that in Athens everyone is wearing wooden framed sunglasses, so next summer you’ll probably see them on every Greek beach.

You can find a selection of sunglasses on my beach trip packing list

Now you have all the Greek secrets for a stylish day on the beach where you can blend in with the locals and not stand out like a beetroot. Thanks to all my beach babes and Greek style advisors who advised me on this article!

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This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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