I'm a Turkish person who needs to go on a school trip to Greece for their coursework...?

Question

I'm not anti-Greek at all, as a matter of fact I have some Greek friends and wish for peace in between Greece and Turkey. However, I don't know how the Greek public as a whole would feel if they saw a Turkish person walking around the place. I just wanna be safe!

1) How should I act and cover up the fact that I'm Turkish?

2) There's a stamp in my passport saying that I've been to North Cyprus before, and apparently Greece is allowed to block incoming visitors who have the stamp. What can I do?

No I haven't made all of this up, I'm serious. Everyone who goes to North Cyprus gets their passport stamped by those passport checkers. Besides, why would I waste 5 of my points on this question if I was making this up?

Oh yes, ignore my name. What's in a name, anyway?

Well frankly I'd rather broaden my horizons by going to Greece than staying at home and getting all of my information off the internet.

Answer 1

Hello my friend,
I am Greek and i can assure you that i would have no problem at all if you were visiting Greece as i don't have problem if anyone from any other origin visits Greece. What you hear in the news is not always true and Greeks are very friendly and welcoming people as long as you respect the place you are visiting and not disturb anyone by making noise. Honestly, no one is going to say anything bad to you and we have so many tourists from other countries that no one will pay attention to where you are from.
I don't know why you've got the impression that you won't be safe but keep in mind that just because the politicians play games between the two countries, the people are friendly and understanding. And if as you say you are not anti-Greek and you like Greeks they will like you too!

Answer 2

First of all I do not think that you should hide the fact that you're Turk. Be proud of who and what you are, besides most of the people here will welcome you (at least I will).
I do not believe there's a problem with the fact that you've been to Northern Cyprus. I mean Greek Cypriots and Greeks do not recognize the "Northern Cyprus" country thing (you do know about the occupation and conflicts) and therefore Greeks do not travel there as a stamp in the passport which is an official document would kind of show a recognition of the country. But this doesn't mean that someone who's been there before can not enter Greece.

Answer 3

I do not live in Greece but i spent the summer in Greece at my grandmother's house in Rhodes. I do believe that Rhodes is the closest Greek island to Turkey.

while i was there i asked a lot of questions about turkish-greek relations and this is what i found out:

from what i heard most of the younger to middle age people in Greece have nothing against the Turkish. Its the older people who still have some anger becuase either they were around during the turkish occupation or their parents were so the anger was passed down.

I highly doubt that they would say or do anything to you so i wouldnt cover it up.

Also what i found strange is that on a visit to turkey while i was there i couldnt tell the difference between how greek people and turkish people look. I was always told i looked greek but while i was in turkey a number of venders called me over in turkish and then appologized because they said i looked turkish. this kinda made my grandma angry cause shes part of the older generation.

as far as the north cyprus stamp i would call ahead to the customs agency in greece.

hope this helps!

Answer 4

I understand your point as i am Greek Cypriot.
Mu cousin who has a british passport went to Turkey and got his passport stamped. When he next went back to Cyprus (Southern) he was accused of being a spy!!
Is your passport a british passport? If so i doubt very much that they will question you at all. Greece has moved forward a long way. I'm sure many other people go to Turkey or northen cyprus for holidays and then go to Greece too.
Don't worry - when people see you in Greece they are not going to assume that you are turkish - in fact they may talk to you in Greek based on apperances. I know that i get told i look turkish all the time!!
If you are truly worried contact the Greek Embassy in London at the following details

1A Holland Park
London, W11 3TP
Tel. [phone]
Fax. [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]


I hope this info is useful - good luck!!

Answer 5

You will be perfectly safe walking around in Greece. There is very little violent crime. Many Greeks have Turkish surnames, so you won't stand out there. Besides, you are not going to go around waving a Turkish flag, so why would anyone even need to know you are Turk? There are scores of tourists in Greece especially in Athens and the islands.

As for the passport stamp, I don't know about that.

Ignore 'Steptoe'. Sending a Turk to Greece is nothing at all like sending an American to Iraq. Americans in Iraq might well get shot. A Turk in Greece might be offered an ouzo. No comparison

Answer 6

I see thousands of Turkish vehicles passing north Greece,they never had any problem I assure you you are totally safe Nobody is aggressive against Turkish people
I live in Thessaloniki and pass every day in frond Ataturk s house which is the Turkish consulate,and lately I watch Turkish touristic vehicles
For the stamp problem ask the Greek consulate.I think they put a stamp saying that this country is not recognized Just remember when you enter Greece you will smell another air of freedom,and don't cover up that you are a Turk.Good luck

Answer 7

There is no problem in Greece with your being Turkish and there is no reason to hide your identity, honestly. You are very safe in Greece - probably safer than anywhere else in the world, no matter where you come from. I don't know about the issue with Northern Cyprus, call the greek consulate or embassy in Turkey and ask about it.

Answer 8

'Greeks hating Turks' is a very old-fashioned view. The fact is that most Greeks do not even mind at all, and modern Greeks see no problems with Turkish people. As a Greek myself, I encourage that you visit Greece, because there's no problem. Don't 'hide the fact that you're Turkish', just go on as usual, unless you plan on walking around with a giant Turkish flag on your back or something.

Answer 9

I'm an Albanian.You know that the relation between Albania and Greece is the same with the relation between Turkey and Greece.I was living in Greece and didn't have any problem with the Greeks so i don't think that you will have any problem with the Greek public.With your passport i don't think you will have serious problems, they will only ask some questions.
güle güle

Answer 10

Is there any label on you writing tht u are turkish?Well I am not sure of how anti-racists we are....Albanians face many problems here(They also cause,some of them)...But as I told u who would understand your turkish identity if u didn't show it?Are u obliged ,in order to speak to someone, to introduce yourself as "Hi,I'm your enemy, the turkish one"?There are people who don't really mind whether you are turkish or not..There are people who overcare,but they won't harm you.Personaly you have done nothing to us so as to harm you.The suspision though exists.Wht u will face coming here is surely some negative comments about your country..As for the passport, I am not aware of wht happens.
Lykovetos I've seen your nickname which sounds greek.You have also said tht u like greek culture.So u made me wonder.Is Lykovetos Likavitos, (Λυκαβηττός-Lycabettus),a hill of Athens?