If you really want to live that coastal Mediterranean lifestyle, what could be better than volunteering in Greece? It’s a place with some serious historic swagger. Not only known as the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of Western civilization, it’s also home to some exceptional social, educational, and culinary treasures!
Greece has been a particularly popular tourist location for the last 50 years thanks to its beautiful beaches and architectural wonders. And in recent years, opportunities for those looking for meaningful travel opportunities to volunteer in Greece have been abundant, as the country responds to a series of economic crises that require support from talented teams dedicated to a common mission.
In Greece, volunteer abroad programs offer you options for everything from working on human health and welfare programs to wildlife to conservation initiatives. You could apply for opportunities connected to organic farming, work on refugee relief, or even provide necessary volunteer support while working on set-up and execution for traditional festivals.
So, while you’re considering how best to contribute during your travels to places like Athens, Mytilene, and Crete, read on for some colossal things to keep in mind about volunteering in Greece.
8 things to know before you volunteer in Greece
1. The best time to go to Greece is not the summer.
One thing you might know about Greece is that it gets hot! Summer temps can get up to averages of 104º F, and that’s much more than seasonably warm — but that’s not why we’re suggesting you avoid Greece in the summer.
Summer, even with the heat, is the high season for tourism. You’re much better off planning your volunteer opportunities in Greece between mid-April to mid-June, or from September through mid-October. Less tourism means you won’t have to deal with inflated prices...and that will make your budget for Greece volunteer programs quite a bit easier to manage.
2. Keep costs down with budget-friendly travel plans — even during a party!
So, if you’re planning on being available for festival season in Greece, volunteers like you will need to know how to work around the high prices for tourists also planning on going to Greece for the exact same reason. You might be working the festival rather than participating as a guest, but you still need to get there, and do so without spending all your Euros.
Be sure to put safety first (always), but don’t forget to check budget flights from major U.S. airports to other locations in Europe, and then consider some of the smaller routes to Greece.
And, when you’re there, be sure to plan out your travel using things like Beat (the Greek version of Über) and do your best to take public transportation (including the ferries!) whenever possible.
3. You can support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
If you volunteer in Greece while working with endangered sea turtles, you’re not only helping protect these incredible creatures, you’re also contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals! The work you do to collect data, build sustainable structures, and monitor nests will prove to be critically important as you create more sustainable communities and work on the environmental health and wellness of the land and sea.
And when you’re not working on turtle habitats, you can hike the countryside, learn about olympic history, and visit archaeological sites while enjoying local foods with a group of like-minded people.
4. Dig deep...in the Tombs of Aigai!
In Greece, volunteer programs that focus on archaeology are not only contributing to the Greek economy and shoring up historical culture, they’re also contributing to our global understanding about Western civilization, given how significant these sites are to our knowledge about the past.
Whether you’re a history buff or not, when you add in the opportunity to work within the same spaces once occupied by Alexander the Great (working in the Tombs of Aigai!), you gain the benefit of an incredible volunteer experience with access to lessons about history and hands-on access to locations that very few people will ever have!
5. You can get your beach-time in–or head for the woods!
Given the heavy toll that summer tourism takes on the environment, volunteer opportunities in Greece focusing on conservation efforts are particularly high-impact. But the coast isn’t the only place that needs attention. Intensive deforestation resulting from fires and long, dry summer heat means that attention paid to reforestation efforts will also provide excellent opportunities for making a difference — especially if you’re the kind of person who enjoys some additional outdoor adventuring as part of your volunteer efforts.
Just remember to check the environmental guides offered by programs geared toward Greece volunteer abroad readiness so that you keep yourself healthy, safe, and protected from the elements!
6. You can see rural and resort-level fancy in the same place!
One of the most beautiful places in the Ionian Sea for you to pursue volunteer opportunities in Greece would have to be Corfu, an island with ragged mountains and resorts on practically every inch of the coast.
Having been ruled by the British, the French, and the Venetians, there are also connections here to the earliest Greek battles fought in the Peloponnesian War. And what can you do here in between traveling the countryside and visiting the churches, museums, and fortresses?
You can farm and you can help out an orphanage! Given the history of Greece and the surrounding areas, cultural and geographical juxtapositions are common...so why not make the most of them?
7. You can visit 18 UNESCO World Heritage sites during your downtime.
You already know that volunteering in Greece means access to all kinds of incredibly significant monuments and historical structures, but did you know that 18 of the UNESCO World Heritage sites (including the Acropolis and the Archaeological site of Delphi) are located here?
When you’re not working on your archaeology or historic preservation volunteer projects, you can spend some time visiting these phenomenal places. Travel allows you to experience the world in new ways, but when you volunteer in Greece, you get to spend time doing all the things a shorter-term trip doesn’t allow for.
Can’t you just see yourself with a plate of delicious Greek olives, enjoying the views from the top of the Ancient Theater in Philippi?
8. You can even follow in the footsteps of an Apostle.
We know that Greece brought the word philosophy, democracy, and so much more (including some amazing yogurt), but if you have a yen for youth ministry, don’t forget that your desire to evangelize can also be met through volunteering in Greece!
Find the path the Apostle Paul followed on his pilgrimage, including places like Samos Island, Kavala, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Veria, Athens, and Corinth. And even if you’re not persuaded to ministry, there are so many wonderful opportunities to work and volunteer along these cities, that you might find other reasons to stay there.
For example, in Samos alone, you can drink some of the best wine, view the aqueduct of Eupalinos, and walk the same streets that Pythagoras and Epicurus once did!
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Volunteer opportunities in Greece are calling!
Can you hear the bells ringing in the mountaintop monasteries? Can you feel the warm sun against your face as you stand in awe of the Acropolis? Can you smell the salty sea air and the brine from the olives? Can you taste the flaky baklava, dripping with honey as the pastry melts in your mouth?
When you volunteer in Greece, you get to stand in the footsteps of history, but you also get to add a whole Colosseum’s worth of present goodness into your life! And, as with any opportunity to volunteer abroad, you can boost your professional, educational, and personal skill-set through a variety of programs designed to help you level up through some meaningful travel experiences.
With so much to gain, there’s nothing to hold you back from an incredible opportunity! As you review our suggested list, you’ll find all kinds of options to make your time as rewarding as possible. So, before you pack your bags and get your passport and documents ready for travel, make sure you take a bit of time to think through what you want to do, and where you want to do it.
Let the resources we pulled together help you find the perfect program for you. You’ll soon be on your way to whichever of the Greece volunteer programs you decide is best for you!