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Where Is Greece Located?

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Shahzeb Shaikh
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calendar23 February 2026
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Greece is located in southeastern Europe, occupying the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula and extending across thousands of islands. Situated between the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas, Greece’s location links Europe with the eastern Mediterranean region

Where Is Greece Located?

Greece is located in Southeast Europe right on the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula. It is officially called the Hellenic Republic, which helps explain what is Greece in both geographic and political terms. It stretches between latitudes 34° and 41° North, longitudes 19° and 28° East, mostly in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres.

It sits near Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria up north, Turkey off east. The east side has the Aegean Sea, west the Ionian, south the Mediterranean including that Sea of Crete. All this puts it smack at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa, which has shaped trade and cultures over time.

The place mixes a rugged mainland with over 2,000 islands, about 170 inhabited and a total area 131,957 square kilometers. This location brings a mild Mediterranean climate to Greece. It draws tourists' attention and ties into EU networks pretty well.

This piece digs into where is Greece positioned geographically, making it easier to locate Greece using maps, coordinates, and regional references.

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Continental position:

    Southeast Europe, southern Balkan Peninsula.

  • Regional orientation:

    Mediterranean region, with mainland and archipelago of over 2,000 islands.

  • Bordering land:

    Land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey; seas include Aegean (east), Ionian (west), Mediterranean (south).

  • Time zone:

    Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2), switches to EEST (UTC+3) with DST.

  • Travel and Connectivity:

    Major EU hub with Athens International Airport; ferry networks link islands, influencing regional tourism flows.

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Key Facts About Greece’s Location

This kind of table makes information easy to find, whether you’re locating Greece in the world map or checking the position of Greece on a map of Europe for reference.

Attribute Details
Capital of Greece The capital of Greece is Athens
Continent Europe
Sub-region Southeastern Europe
Population Approximately 10.4 million
Area 131,957 square kilometers
Currency Euro
Languages Greek
Time zone(s) EET (UTC+2), EEST (UTC+3) DST
ISO-2 GR
ISO-3 GRC
Calling code +30
Greece Flag Greece National Flag features Nine horizontal stripes of blue and white with a blue canton bearing a white cross.

These core facts give a solid starting point for getting to know Greece, especially if you are reading a map of Greece and trying to connect names with real places. Things like land size, population, and language help ground the country in something real. They hint at how a place this old can still feel compact in scale, yet diverse in people, landscapes, and daily life, shaped by centuries of movement and settlement.

Where is Greece Located Geographically?

Greece is located geographically between 39° N latitude and 22° E longitude, in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres. Land area totals 131,957 square kilometers, and about 80% stays mountainous. Pindus range runs northwest to southeast, Olympus hits 2,637 meter high. Peloponnese hooks via Isthmus of Corinth, islands stretch into Aegean like Crete. Coastline indents deep, 13,676 kilometres long.

  • Latitude and longitude:

    Lies between approximately 34° to 42°N latitude and 19° to 28°E longitude.

  • Hemispheres:

    Northern Hemisphere; Eastern Hemisphere.

  • Total land area:

    131,957 square kilometers, including the mainland and over 6,000 islands/periphrines.

  • Major landforms:

    Pindus Mountains (Mount Olympus at 2,917 meter), rugged peninsulas, deep gulfs, and 13,676 kilometres of indented coastline.

  • Tectonic / geologic setting:

    Eurasian-African plate boundary with active subduction zones, earthquakes, and volcanoes (e.g., Santorini, Methana).

On the Aegean plate edge, it shakes with quakes sometimes, builds steep hills, average height 498 m. That setup tends to give hot dry summers around 27°C, cool rainy winters near 10°C, coasts softened inside.

What's interesting about Greece is how the seas keep things balanced. Mountains trap rain west side, east gets windy.

Is Greece in Europe?

Yes, Greece belongs in Europe, the Southeastern part specifically. The southern end of Balkan Peninsula marks the geographical location of Greece clearly.

Its Sub-region called Southeastern Europe, or Balkans, Hellenic zone, from the peninsula shares an old Ottoman past. The UN, EU lump it there for culture, politics after the Cold War.

  • North:

    Borders Balkan states (Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria).

  • East:

    Adjoins Turkey, bridging Europe-Asia.

  • South/West:

    Mediterranean seas, island extensions.

Southeastern Europe is not just a map label. It reflects shared geography, history, and regional connections, and Greece fits into that pattern fairly well. The country’s mountains, climate and long interaction with neighboring Balkan states all play a significant role.

This helps explain why Greece often appears in discussions about Balkan politics, Mediterranean history and European identity. When people ask where is Greece located in Europe, southeastern Europe is the most accurate and commonly used answer.

Where Is Greece Located Relative to Its Neighbors?

Greece is next to Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia to the north, Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. There are also ships in the waters around Greece. Land borders are around 1,228 kilometres long and aid with trade and travel. Northwest with Albania, 282 kilometres by the Drino River, brings in tourists and helps the economy. North Macedonia is 246 kilometres away, although the Prespa accord has made things better for connections. Bulgaria is the longest at 494 kilometres and is an important trade route for energy. 206 kilometres east of Turkey on the Evros River. It is hard, but it works for migration.

  • Northwest:

    Albania (282 kilometers, along Drino River), boosting tourism and economy.

  • North:

    North Macedonia (246 kilometers), improved post-Prespa Agreement for connectivity.

  • North:

    Bulgaria (494 kilometers), longest land border, key for energy and trade routes.

  • East:

    Turkey (206 kilometers, Evros River), complex but cooperative on migration.

Aegean, Ionian Seas handle maritime lines, islands close to Turkey. West Ionian to Italy, south Med to Libya, Egypt. Egnatia Odos road north, ferries to islands, Turkey, Albania, Thessaloniki hub is available for all.

Where is Greece? Seas, Oceans, & Natural Features

Greece has a shoreline that goes along the Aegean Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The land and water make it look stunning.

  • Seas:

    Aegean (island-rich), Ionian (west isles), Mediterranean (Crete Sea).

  • Coastline:

    13,676 km, indented with beaches from Cyclades turquoise sands to Ionian cliffs like Navagio.

  • Major rivers:

    Haliacmon (longest fully Greek), Aliakmonas, Pinios; shared Maritsa, Struma.

  • Mountains:

    Pindus range, Mount Olympus (2,637 meter), rugged 80% terrain.

  • Deserts:

    None prominent; some arid southeast areas.

The mountains separate the wet west from the windy east, which helps plants and people in Greece. In real life, the Cyclades stay cool and the Ionian stays greener.

Where is Greece Located? Time Zones and Seasonal Geography

Greece runs on Eastern European Time, a single zone. Daylight Saving kicks in, clocks forward last Sunday March to EEST UTC+3, back October to EET UTC+2. Mediterranean seasons hit mild wet winters 10°C rain November to March, hot dry summers 27°C plus. Islands breeze more in Cyclades, Ionia lush, mountains snow up high.

Time Zone UTC Offset DST Regions Covered
EET UTC+2 No Nationwide (winter)
EEST UTC+3 Yes Nationwide (summer)

Uniform time helps plan, topography tweaks weather, and light a bit. Usually straightforward. Check the time difference in Greece when booking your flight. It helps you on your Greece journey.

Where is Greece Located? Significance of Its Location for Travelers

Greece sits in Southeastern Europe, right at the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. You have the Ionian Sea west, Mediterranean south, Aegean east, making it this natural meeting point for Europe, Asia, Africa.

Gateway to Three Continents

Greece is in a very useful location between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Because of this, it is easy to reach from many places. Most European travelers can fly there in 2 to 4 hours. Greece is also close to Turkey, Egypt, and Italy, so people often include it in trips exploring ancient civilizations. With over 6,000 islands, ports are very important. Piraeus port near Athens is one of the busiest in the world for ferries and cruises. Athens airport also works as a key transit hub, connecting Europe with the Middle East and North Africa.

Time Zones and Travel Logistics

Greece sticks to Eastern European Time, UTC+2 normally, jumping to UTC+3 with daylight saving. Travelers from the Americas often face strong jet lag, usually 7 hours or more, which can feel exhausting. UK or Central Europe folks barely notice, perfect for a quick weekend getaway. Most fly into Athens or Thessaloniki, sure, but you can sail in from Italy on ferries, or bus, train overland from the Balkans.

Impact on Travel Patterns

Being part of the Schengen Area, so many travelers can move there from other European countries without passport checks. This makes travel easier. Its southern location also brings a longer warm season. The weather stays mild from early spring to late autumn, which is more comfortable than in colder northern regions.

For travel enthusiasts, there are plenty of top things to do in Greece. Travelers especially enjoy the ferry system, which naturally connects the mainland with the islands and makes getting around easy.

Network Coverage Across the Location of Greece

Greece has a lot of different types of land, and you can see that right once as you start wandering about. The mainland is mostly mountains, the islands are spread out over several seas. And it is easy to feel the difference between a hectic city like Athens and the tranquility of the Peloponnese.

Network coverage follows people more than landscape, which matters when moving between different locations in Greece, from cities to islands. In populated areas, coverage reaches about 99 percent, with strong 4G and growing 5G from the major networks. Near the borders with Turkey and Albania, roaming usually works smoothly, especially in towns and along main roads.

  • Cosmote:

    Approximately 99% 4G populated coverage, 70% 5G; best for islands/mainland, reliable in remote mountains.

  • Vodafone:

    Around 97% 4G, 65% 5G; urban/tourist strongholds like Mykonos, Athens; network-sharing boosts rural.

  • Nova (formerly Wind):

    94% 4G, 55% 5G expanding; affordable, good urban but lags remote isles.

Cities are usually pretty close to perfect. Islands and rural areas lean Cosmote. Schengen north is easier to roam. It is fascinating that mountains make signals harder to get, but they still work.

Using SimCorner eSIMs & SIM Cards in Greece Location

SimCorner offers both eSIMs and physical SIM cards. It partners with major networks like Cosmote, Vodafone, and Nova, so you stay connected in cities, on islands, and along travel routes in between. Setup is fast and easy. eSIM lets you skip swapping physical cards, making it ideal for island hopping or using multiple devices. It really saves hassle because you can activate them before you land or right away. They help you stay connected as you move from spot to spot.

Many travelers now use a Greece eSIM or Greece SIM cards for data. In the SimCorner Local Mobile Networks section, you will find options for the mainland and islands. Using a digital chip is a simple way to stay connected while hopping between beaches, ferries, and ancient ruins.

Greece's Location in Southeast Europe mixes mainland mountains, island groups, sea reach, shapes culture, economy in plain sight. Figuring where is Greece positioned helps handle geography, time, connections better, smooths out trips nicely.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What continent is Greece in?

Greece sits on the European continent, the southeastern slice on Balkan Peninsula south end. Groups with Balkans on history, culture links, Med lay of land, not Asia even near Turkey.

Where is Greece located on a map of Europe?

On a map of Europe, Greece appears in the southeastern corner of the continent. It is positioned below the Balkan countries, with mainland Europe to the north and the Mediterranean Sea surrounding much of its territory. Greece’s islands spread east and south, making it stand out clearly on a Europe map.

Is Greece an island country?

No, Greece is not only an island country, although it is often described that way. It has a substantial mainland area along with more than 2,000 islands scattered across nearby seas. About 170 of these islands are inhabited, meaning Greece’s geography is a mix of mainland mountains, coastal regions, and island groups.

What countries are closest to Greece?

The countries closest to Greece by land are Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. By sea, Greece is close to Italy across the Ionian Sea and to Cyprus and parts of North Africa across the Mediterranean, making it well connected regionally.

Why is Greece’s location important?

Greece’s location matters because it sits at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. This position has influenced its history, trade routes, and cultural exchanges for thousands of years. Even today, Greece’s location supports tourism, shipping, and regional travel, linking Europe with the eastern Mediterranean and beyond.

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