Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece Handbook

Every year, we welcome hundreds of visitors of all ages and academic backgrounds who visit the Center as participants in Harvard's seminar-based, internship, and travel study programs, as well as workshops, conferences, and other events and initiatives. Moreover, we welcome fellows and other researchers of the Center, many participants in visiting and collaborating programs, and many users of our Digital Library.

Program Directors should check our official webpage, submit the collaboration form before their program's arrival, and contact us via email or phone to coordinate their program’s visit to our premises.

In the CHS Greece Building

• National and local holidays: CHS Greece is respectfully observing all National and local holidays, as well as the Christmas and Greek Orthodox recess, and will be closed on those days. Visitors are highly advised to contact CHS Greece for information about national and local holidays, as well as other dates on which the Center will be closed.
• Please respect the working hours: The Center is open to the public from Monday through Friday, 10 am-5 pm. No one can stay inside the CHS Greece building when our staff is absent.
• Close the door when you enter/leave the building: You must permanently close the front door for everyone’s safety and security and to protect everyone’s belongings. CHS Greece does not guarantee the safety of personal belongings and will not be liable for any loss or damage to visitors' property.
• Stand in front of the camera when ringing the bell: The CHS Greece staff can let you in quickly, and you will not have to wait for someone to come downstairs.
• Keep the place clean: Food is not allowed at the Center (only in the kitchen), and please be extra careful with beverages (water, coffee, juice, etc.). Please note that smoking and vaping are not permitted in the Center.
• Quiet, please: Please respect other visitors, fellow students, and staff by keeping noise volume low and wearing headphones (when talking on Skype, listening to music, etc).
• Keep the toilet clean: Do not flush the toilet paper; throw it in the trash can.
• In the kitchen: You may use the fridge only to store your food (always put your initials on plastic bags, etc.). Please do not take others’ or CHS Greece’s items. If you want to use the Center’s glasses and crockery, please wash them afterward and leave the sink clean.
• Connectivity and Internet: Information regarding WiFi and Digital Library access is available on site. If you are unable to locate this information, please ask a member of the CHS Greece staff for assistance.
  • If the internet connection drops (no connectivity), please contact CHS Greece’s staff. For connectivity to be as fast and reliable as possible, please refrain from overloading the network with activities such as Zoom, YouTube, large file downloads, or uploads during peak hours. Viewing offensive web content is not allowed.
  • Please do not disturb the electrical equipment (PCs, cables, monitors, etc.) or the air conditioning temperature. Additionally, notify CHS Greece’s staff if you notice anything malfunctioning.

The Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece is pleased to host a variety of programs and visitors annually. With your invaluable help, CHS Greece’s staff would like to ensure that the Center is comfortable for everyone.

Borrowing CHS Greece Equipment and Occupying a Workspace at the CHS Greece Premises

You may borrow CHS Greece equipment and occupy a workspace at the CHS Greece premises that is essential for you and the purpose of your stay, upon request.

To borrow CHS Greece equipment and occupy a workspace at the building, please email the CHS Greece staff to make a request. If CHS Greece has spare equipment or workspace that is not currently occupied by our programs or events, you will be asked to fill out and submit a form with your request. It is essential to note that CHS Greece reserves the right to accept or refuse your request, based on the Center’s priorities and other commitments.

Behavior Policy

All visitors understand and acknowledge that they have a substantial personal obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with local laws and regulations, as well as CHS/Harvard standards and policies. They fully agree to act responsibly and with respect for persons and property. They will refrain from improper, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate conduct for the hosts and study in a cross-cultural environment, or potentially detrimental to their health or safety. Examples of such conduct include, but are not limited to, disorderly behavior, sexual harassment or misconduct, and the use and sale of drugs and alcohol. Visitors (visiting and collaborating programs and activities, including their directors, faculty, coordinators, and participants) must understand that if at any time during the duration of their visit, they fail to honor these terms, then CHS Greece may, in its sole discretion, immediately dismiss or withdraw them from its premises.

Risks of Particular Activities:

In addition to complying with all national/local/domestic travel restrictions and other requirements, visitors understand that they must not engage in activities commonly understood to be dangerous to individual and group safety.

Health and Safety

Per University policy, all Harvard affiliates—faculty, staff, students, and researchers—traveling internationally with Harvard sponsorship, on University business, or on a University-related trip must register their trip.

Greece is generally a very safe country. Pickpocketing is the most common form of crime in Athens and the larger towns and cities. Nafplio is a small town with almost no crime. However, you are advised to take care of your personal belongings constantly and be aware of them. Please ensure you have access to the emergency phone numbers.

Report Health and Safety Incidents

If you experience a severe injury or illness (COVID-19 signs or anything requiring a doctor’s care) or a serious safety or security incident (e.g., robbery, assault, arrest), notify the local authorities immediately.

Eligible Harvard affiliates can also contact International SOS, the University's 24/7 global emergency response program for medical, mental health, and security assistance.

Health Services

There is a hospital and several pharmacies in Nafplio. If you regularly take prescription medication, bring the amount needed for your visit and a copy of your prescription, as brands may often differ between countries.

Visitors are responsible for obtaining any recommended immunizations before traveling to Nafplio. During their visit to Nafplio and Greece, visitors must carry valid and current medical insurance and have a valid insurance identity card. They should review their coverage and determine that their insurance is adequate to cover injuries or illnesses they may sustain while traveling in Greece. Visitors will be solely responsible for paying in full for any medical care they may receive during their visit.

For Your Safety

Licensed lifeguards do not attend the beaches in Nafplio. Therefore, we recommend that you refrain from swimming alone. Additionally, refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages or food before swimming.

We encourage you to explore the local environment and culture, allowing for free time whenever possible, as long as standard safety rules are followed. Also, it is highly advisable to always carry a functional mobile phone.

Emergency Numbers

• Medical – 166
• Police – 100
• EU Emergency Number – 112
• Fire – 199
• International SOS (For eligible Harvard affiliates) +1-617-998-0000 Assistance App
• U.S. Embassy in Athens (For US citizens)
  • Telephone: +30 210 721-2951
  • Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +30 210 729-4444 or +30 210 729-4301
  • Email address: athensamericancitizenservices@state.gov
  • Website: https://gr.usembassy.gov/

Location

Nafplio is a picturesque seaside town with extraordinary views of the surrounding bay. It is well-known for its Old Town, which is well worth exploring, as it is one of the most well-preserved in Greece. The central square, shaded by plane trees, draws locals and visitors alike. There are several archaeological sites in the surrounding area, as well as numerous cafés and restaurants.

Before Your Travel to Nafplio

Be a Smart Traveler

• Learn more about Greece in advance:
  • Research local customs
  • Research local areas
• Use common sense:
  • Don’t carry large sums of cash
  • Secure your valuables (or do not bring them with you)
  • Before international travel, you can consult helpful websites, such as: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html

Visa and Passport Services

• Passport: You must have a valid passport to enter Greece. Ensure that your passport is valid for the entire duration of your stay.
• Citizens from EU countries may enter Greece with their passport (no visa is required). U.S. citizens may enter Greece for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. Citizens from other non-EU countries may require a visa and should contact the nearest Greek consulate for information.
  We highly recommend bringing a photocopy of your valid passport and other identification documents. If your passport is lost or stolen, presenting a copy at your home country’s nearest Embassy office will enable you to obtain an emergency passport on short notice.
• All travelers arriving in Greece, regardless of their origin, are not required to display a valid vaccination certificate or recovery from COVID-19 or evidence of a negative test result from SARS-CoV-2 infection (PCR or Rapid Antigen test).

STEP Embassy Registration

For US citizens, it is highly recommended that you register for a trip to Greece under the Smart Traveller Enrollment Program of the Department of State: https://step.state.gov/

What to Bring

You should not bring more to Greece than you can comfortably carry in a regular suitcase. Essentials—and many non-essentials, including clothing, toiletries, and electronics—can be easily purchased in Greece. Greece is mainly sunny and generally not too cold during the winter. Temperatures during winter vary for Nafplio (anywhere from 39ºF to 59ºF). During the summer days, the weather is consistently hot (anywhere from 90ºF to 105ºF).

You can use laundry businesses in Nafplio. The hotel where you will be staying can assist you with this.

Packing Tips and List

If your checked luggage is delayed, include a change of clothes, prescription medications, and any other essential items in your carry-on bag.

In general, you should not bring more than you can comfortably carry. Essentials, including clothing, toiletries, and electronics, can easily be purchased in Greece. However, prescription medication is not easily replaceable.

To/From Greece

Several airlines operate routes between major cities and Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. Reaching Greece by rail, bus, or ferry is possible, but it is relatively expensive and time-consuming.

Athens International Airport to Nafplio and vice versa

Visitors are responsible for arranging their travel to Nafplio. There are two options for traveling from Athens International Airport to Nafplio: Taxi and Bus. It takes approximately two hours to arrive at Nafplio from Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in Athens by car/taxi, and the cost is around €200-250, depending on the taxi type and the number of passengers. It is strongly recommended that you arrange for a taxi before arriving at the airport.

Alternatively, you can use public transportation (KTEL bus) from Kifissos Bus Station. It is a reliable and inexpensive way to get from Athens to Nafplio. It runs about ten times per day and costs approximately €15.

If you are heading directly to Nafplio from the airport, take the X93 bus from the airport to the KTEL bus station, which is located on Kifissou Street. Outside the arrivals building (Athens Airport), you can take the X93 bus to Kifissos Bus Station (KTEL). The X93 bus leaves every 30 minutes, and the ticket costs approximately €6 per person. The trip from the airport to the Kifissos Bus Station is around 50 minutes. Alternatively, you may take a taxi outside the arrivals building to Kifissos Bus Station. The cost is around €60, and no arrangement is required.

From Kifissos Bus Station (you should find the “Argolida” bus terminal and purchase tickets, or purchase them online at https://ktelbus.gr/arg/ticketweb/), you will take the bus to Nafplio (there is a large sign over the bus terminal that reads “Argolida – Argos – Nafplio” in Greek). Buses depart from the station for Nafplio approximately every hour, with a trip duration of 2.5 hours.

Transportation within Nafplio

You can cover all of Nafplio on foot. Numerous hotels and pensions are within a 10-minute walk from CHS Greece and/or other locations of interest. A taxi stand is near the KTEL bus station on Andrea Siggrou Street. To call a taxi, dial +30 27520 24120.

Accommodation

Visitors are responsible for booking their accommodation. CHS Greece has established corporate rates with some hotels and pensions in Nafplio. We would be glad to assist you with your booking and bring you into direct communication with the hotel of your interest.

Finances Basics

The currency in Greece is the euro (tō evró). Bills are in denominations ranging from €5 to €200, and coins are in denominations ranging from €0.01 to €2. Refer to the European Central Bank's website for the latest exchange rate information.

Bank Services

Obtain euros at a bank, foreign exchange bureau, or the airport before arriving in Athens. Keep in mind, however, that these services charge exchange fees. Once you are in Greece, a convenient and inexpensive way to access cash is to use an ATM. Nafplio has many banks where you can exchange money or withdraw from ATMs.

Please note that your bank may charge you a foreign transaction fee; check with your bank about their current policies before you leave.

Let your bank and credit card company know that you will be using your card(s) abroad. If you do not, they may freeze your account(s).

Forms of Payment

Credit cards are widely accepted in larger establishments. Most cards charge a fee for currency exchange transactions. Consider keeping a credit card with you if you need to make an emergency purchase. We recommend using Visa, the most widely accepted card in Greece.

Food

You will always be able to find a place to get a quick, inexpensive meal (e.g., bakeries, souvlaki shops, fresh fruits and vegetables). Meals are usually eaten a couple of hours later in Greece than in the US—lunchtime is usually around 2:00 p.m., and dinner is around 8:00 or 9:00 p.m.

The vast majority of restaurants are tavernas that serve various Greek dishes. The menu items and prices do not vary much from taverna to taverna or even from town to town.

Tipping: The bill almost always includes a “cover” or “bread” charge of €1.50-2.50 per person. Although the tip is also included in the bill, it is customary to round up the total and add €2 for more extensive checks as a tip.

Water

Due to issues with the Nafplio water supply, we strongly advise against drinking tap water. However, it is safe to cook if boiled first. Bottled water is very inexpensive.

Communication

Internet

Wireless Internet access is available at CHS Greece, cafeterias, and most hotels. Internet cafés are plentiful and reasonably priced. Please bring a laptop or tablet with you. The most common methods of communication are email and phone calls.

Phones

You may obtain a Greek phone number for convenience. Once in Greece, you can purchase a SIM card with prepaid minutes from many shops (Cosmote, Vodafone, Germanos, or Nova). When you buy a SIM card, you must fill out an information card with your name, ID number, and other relevant details.

This SIM card can be used for calls, SMS, and provides access to the Internet.

Postal Mail

Stamps (grammatósima) for mailing letters or postcards cost about €1.50 each. They are available at some perípteros (kiosks) and the post office (ELTA). Mailboxes are bright yellow.

General Guidelines

• Make sure you have access to important phone numbers at all times.
• Stay hydrated and eat properly. Protect yourself from the heat and the sun (sunscreen and hats are highly recommended).
• Always be vigilant of your items in crowded places and on public transportation.
• To keep in touch, it is highly recommended that you subscribe to the CHS Greece email list and follow us on social media.
• Check your email and our social media for announcements, etc.

Free Time

Nafplio offers many options for visitors. The countryside is green and hilly, and hiking and jogging around the town in the early morning or afternoon are pleasant. In addition, there are several archaeological sites to visit.

Numerous restaurants and cafés are located within the city, as well as supermarkets and small shops where you can purchase books, magazines, newspapers, and clothing. Stores and supermarkets are generally closed on Sundays, but several remain open throughout the day in the Old Town of Nafplio.

Suggested activities for free time in Nafplio:

• Trenaki Tour (ideal to explore the new city as well)
• Bus Tour (ideal for exploring the new city as well)
• Bourtzi (by boat, in front of the Center)
• Palamidi (site, open 8:00 am–7:00 pm, includes hiking, ~999 steps)
• Beaches: Arvanitia Beach (7-minute walk), Karathona Beach (45-minute walk)
• Visit archaeological sites such as Mycenae, Epidaurus, etc. (you should book a taxi, or you may rent a car)

You should be aware of the various body language and gestures commonly used in Greece. For example, indicating "yes" or "no" with body language is different in Greece than in the US. "Yes" (ne in Greek) is a slight downward nod of the head, and "no" (ohi, in Greek) is a slight upward nod of the head. Shaking hands upon meeting someone is considered polite, while exchanging hugs and kisses with women you are familiar with is a common practice. Men usually pat each other on the back or the shoulder. Don’t be alarmed if Greeks shout at you; they are probably just being expressive.

Places of Interest while in Nafplio

While in Nafplio, you can visit archaeological sites, Museums, and other places of interest in and outside the town. The official webpage of the Municipality, https://nafplio.gr/en/, provides more information about all areas of interest and how to visit them while in Nafplio.

Museums/Sites in Nafplio

• National Gallery - Nafplio Annex
• Basil Papantoniou Foundation
• Archaeological Museum of Nafplio
• War Museum in Nafplio
• Palamidi Castle
• Bourtzi Castle
• Fougaro Art Center
• Directions to walk the Arvanitia path around Acronafplia hill
• Walk on the Acronafplia hill
• Directions to walk the path towards the Karathona beach

Out of Nafplio (for the following, a transportation means is needed):

• Mycenae
• Ancient Theater of Epidaurus
• Heraion of Argos
• Mycenaean Acropolis of Midea
• Mycenaean Necropolis of Dendra
• Mycenaean Acropolis of Tiryns

Please note that all these locations are usually closed on January 1st, March 25th, May 1st, Easter Sunday, and December 25th and 26th.

Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece (CHS Greece)

• Address: Philhellene Square and Otto Street, 21 100 Nafplio
• Telephone: (+30) 27520 47030
• Email address: chsgreece@chs.harvard.edu
• Join our email list to receive news and updates from CHS Greece.

CHS Greece Staff

• Dr. Christos Giannopoulos, Executive Director
  Mobile: +30 695 7215933
  Email address: cgiannopoulos@chs.harvard.edu
• Katerina Schinochoriti, Administrative and Accounting Manager
  Telephone: +30 27520 47030
  Mobile: +30 695 7215931
  Email address: kschinochoriti@chs.harvard.edu
• Matina Goga, Curricular Development Manager
  Telephone: +30 27520 47040
  Mobile: +30 697 3035317
  Email address: matina.goga@chs.harvard.edu
• Christina Lafi, Projects and Content Development Manager
  Mobile: +30 698 6888256
  Email address: clafi@chs.harvard.edu
• Dr. Evangelos (Evan) Katsarelis, Programs and Events Manager
  Mobile: +30 697 9647166
  Email address: ekatsarelis@chs.harvard.edu
• Georgia Dimopoulou, Programs and Events Assistant
  Mobile: +30 699 6225642
  Email address: gdimopoulou@chs.harvard.edu
• Fani Kapetaniou, Hospitality and Facilities Assistant
  Telephone: +30 275 2047030
  Email address: fkapetaniou@chs.harvard.edu