Hi!
I have been living for 4 months now in Greece - and all my friends are foreigners!!! Why is it so hard to make Greece friends? Sometimes I get the impression that they prefer to stay amongst themselves. This is not really what I expected when I came here.
hey id ont think so that its not easy to make friends in greece.just i think u r making somethink wrong.greeks r hospitality general.in which city of greece u r staying?
In my opinion it is not at all hard to get Greece friends . I have a property on Zakynthos and the paople they are very open and friendly. Inportant is that you show youre respect for them and their way of life. If you also speak a couple of Greece words, everything is okay. By the way, I don't talk about Athens. There is everything different and more complicated.
Yes it can be hard.. it just depends on where you live and your social area..
But there are many clubs.. with on line friends here in Greece..
That`s the Greeks who want to be friends with the EXZENIS..!
The people of non Greek decent..
There are many in Athens and I have a club up here in Thessaloniki.. it`s for every one from every where coming to or living in Greece..
There are lots in Athens...
And many for the Islands..
I`f you want more info on mine .. or generall info on some other clubs ect.. you can contact me.. I`m An OUT OF TOWNER ..... www.outoftowners.net I take care of the site and organize parties ect...
Greeks do not snub, it is not our nature. We are very kind and loving, very open people. We are anything but rude to our visitors. It could be you, if you project a sense of awkwardness it won't help you meet anyone. This is in all cases of course not just Greece. Of course all over the world there are rude people too but not so much here. Also it is important you know the language! Just like if an foreigner comes to live in your America and they hardly speak they language many of them get upset by this as does some Greeks.
I have never found it hard to make Greek friends here in Corfu,and find most Greeks very friendly,and helpfull.
Of course there can be a culture clash,with Greeks who have never travelled, and as many parts parts of Greece have not evolved to western standards.
Try to speek a little Greek,this will go along way to help you make friends,and respect the culture of your new home
I have met a Greek,42 yrs old & he is a very nice person.International,as he's travelled alot & has foreign clients,speaking English everyday.When emailing or talking on msn/SKYPE he came across as very confident,flirtacious,far more open than I am(and I'm not shy)!.He was the type of guy I wanted-like me!He was completely different when we met.Reserved,shy.There wasn't the same friendlyness I'd got on-line,although it was obvious we liked eachother! I then went to meet him in Greece-on his own territory.I was expecting there to be more on a second meeting,but it didn't come.They aren't affectionate,they won't hold hands in public,not tactile.And I got the impression he wasn't wanting more.I dropped a few hints and the response was-"I had watched too many films"! We had a great 10 days together-travelled all over Greece.He is obviously well liked by everyone and I have seen that he enjoys jokes and can at least have fun.We have known eachother for approx 3 months.I understood by his lack of affection,we were to be friends,but on occassion he has said things that lead me to believe he thinks of there being an 'US'!So,you never can tell what they really mean/think.I personally found the people polite & friendly to a point. Unfortunately the ones in buisness,once they knew they could make money from you,didn't say hello first,they asked how many people my friend would bring them this season(he's a guide)!There is alot of corruption in Greece amoung the coach drivers & tourist shops/restaurants etc.Everyone seems to be after their percentage!! which is very sad.I am due to move to Greece in a few months and I hope I find friends there, either Greek or foreigners.I want to learn Greek and be comfortable with the life there.I now know they are reserved just like the French.I lived there for 5 yrs & they have the same attitude to foreigners!I must say I haven't found many new friends in my local area in UK.There are a few neighbours I talk to regulary,but the others keep to themselves,especially my immediate neighbour,who as a young mum you would have thought would have been friendly,but she has her head down and doesn't want to stop to talk!!
I totally agree with your statement.It's exactly as you describe.It's confusing.They guard their feelings.Are there any Greek/French men who are affectionate to their women? Where are you??
I think that Greeks are the rudest people on the planet. I have lived on Rhodes for 21 years and speak the language fluently. It makes no difference speaking the lingo as you will always be the foreigner. The only thing that motivates the Greeks is money.
all of you are correct! in the past 3 years that i have lived in athens...i'v probably had most of the typical negative experiences; only we cannot generalize and i'm sure there are cool greeks out there!! but what gets to me the most..is the constant demand for foreigners to prove themselves..again & again...
Why you make wrong becouse i live in greece last 10 years now iam 22 all my friends is greek they make easy friends but the ptob is that many of them don't speak englishe...start learn greek to make friends...
I fi were to go to greece now, i am 18years old how would i be treated? and what if i wanted to meet people there and make new friends would that be easy?
It`s not hard at all to make friends in Greece. But please learn the language first, that`ll make it a lot easier. Most of the Greeks are open minded and like to have friends from other cultures, so be friendly and you`ll make a lot of friends. Also, learn where the hot spots are in the city you live in and there try to approach them, you `ll be amazed how good they`ll respond.
If you find dificult to make friends, imagine how hard is that in Scandinavia and especially in Denmark!
Hi there,
I have been wanting to go to Greece all my life. I'm 32 years old and haven't been there. The closest i got was watching Mama Mia the other day hahaha !
What are you doing in Greece, and where about are you
Hi,
I too have been living in Greece for a month and a half and have found it very difficult to make friends. I'm here as Au Pair but would love to enjoy my time here but I too agree it is hard to make friends in Greece and this is not all what I expected either
Hi, I would like to join your discussion. You know, Greeks are like real children - especially on the islands - unspoiled by the "civilization" - and they expect the same from you. They can be greedy, jealous, lazy, indifferent to other world and countries (they really hate to travel!) - but they are never hypocratic. And it is better than to be cheated with a liar smile. And - most important - they are very proud of their nation. May be what you mistold for being reserved is their pride?
I was quite interested in your posting. I am currently considering taking a position in Greece running an established company based in the North of Greece. I would love to be able to find from you the details that might affect my decision - salary norms, housing costs, roads, etc. Please let me know at if you would care to assist me. Thank you.
Hi! I didn't read everything everyone has been writing, but most of it.... and I just want to say: Kathy, I really understand you. I went to a shrink because I thought it was something wrong with me, that I could not make greek friends, only friends from other countries... and the way I have been treated, especially from some greek girls, not all of the, but some, has been so painfull, and directly rasistic, judgementaland, and mean. And that greeks are not rude... what ever!!!! I thought in the begining that greeks take pride in being rude, and that there is some secret competition in being rude, that I just didn't know about. And most people want to win that competiton, what ever it takes. I have lived in 3 different countries, 7 differents cities, and on about 35 different adresses in my life, and this is by fare the hardest. Of my friends from other countries here, I even have friends that want to leave, because the rudeness is so hard to deal with. And some has. I also got to know that Athens and Paris is the hardest to live in as a forener, hardest to be accepted by the peolpe. And I think, especially as a girl. And if you are american, I can really understand that it is hard for you. I am not american, but I have lived there, and you put a lot of effort in being polite, friendly and helpfull. So this is a bit of a culture chock. I have lived here for 4 years, and I have finally made 2 greek friends, and they are great. Extremly loving and giving. It was really hard to find them, one I found in a taxiIt is very hard to live in a country where you don't feel wanted, or accepted. And remember, learning the language will not make friends for you. People that are greek will tell you so, but I have many friends that speak greek, perfect, and stil, after years, most of them don't have greek friends(girls)(it is easier to make friends here that are men). So don't listen to the "rude" people that is telling you that there is something wrong with you. They are wrong, and are probably not foregner here the once that say that. Be happy you have friends, even if they are not greek, yet. Don't give up though, because when you do find a greek friend, I feel, that it brings you cloes to the country. Remember, there is some really sweet great girls here, they are just very very hard to find. And also, don't let peolpe tell you that they are better and smarter then you, because they are greek (and more beautiful)... what is forgotten here a lot, it is not the nationality that makes you a good person, but who you actually are. And I am sure you are a great person!
I am not saying greeks are more beautiful then the rest of us, again, beauty, has nothing to do with nationality.... but many people often like telling me this here.... and if they do to you too, don't listen to them. This is a hard place to be. I wish you all luck, and happiness, and hope you will like it here! And that you will find some greek friends, eventually! My boyfrined is greek, the best man I have ever meet in my life, and his mother and father is loving me highly and truly, and it gives me great support here. They have taken me in to there family like a daughter. Enjoy all the great fruits and vegetables and the open markets!!!!
I'm from South Africa, born to Greek parents, I'm planning to move to Greece next year. Athens, where both my parents live. I speak fluently & have heard that there are many Greeks from South Africa there, does anyone have a clue where i could finfd them?
hello everybody...I'm Italian,I'm 27 and I'm moving to Athens in a few days...I lived abroad for a long time because of my job..but now I'm moving to Athens just because I want to,I feel I belong in some ways to Greece and I woul like to learn Greek...I was in Athens many time and my friend who is Greek told me I would have been disappointed..I don't know if I will..but I really would like to have Greek friends foreigneirs...I saw Greek people warm ,kind and the last thing I want is to see that is even more difficult in Ahens than Dublin to make friends..
hi! its true its not easy to find greek friends ...even if u try to speak greek. I am staying here 3td year and since my foreign schoolames left i feel a bit lonely. I am 25 and i live in athens.My email is ,
I was looking into possibly relocating from the Los Angeles area..what specific area is a good place to live? is it expensive/the economy compared to LA?
I see your post is from May, but maybe you still visit this forum from time to time! It's not very easy to get to know people here, in Greece, because they usually don't spontaneously speak with you, when you go out to bars, clubs etc., especially when you are a complete stranger to them.
It takes time. Maybe it's a good solution for a start to go out with people you work or study with? I myself am half Greek and half German and grew up in Athens, but left for Germany for 11 years, so I had a similar problem with you, finding people to go out with (although I had one or two friends here from the past). After a while going out with some colleagues (parties and concerts) the "chain" of people I knew grew and some of them became friends. You could also check the Greek-German community (Deutsche Schule Athen, Goethe-Institut). You can meet interesting people there, whenever they have exhibiton openings, lectures, film festivals or Christmas parties. But maybe you 've already done all that since May! Anyway, if you still are searching for people to go out with, write:
Greek are friends with all friends with no one. Hey are jelous people and hate the victory of others. and they hate school. Just look at their high school crisis.
Hi buddies!
I have just moving in N.Iraklio just 20minutes from Athens where I work in Hotel Business. I'm 20years old. I would like to meet people around there! Here my e mail .
WRITH ME
Anyway, if you still are searching for people to go out with, write: 
