Greece

A paradise for tourists, Greece has dazzling coastal resorts with clean beaches and beautiful seas, hundreds of archaeological sites and it's the origin of Western civilisation. There are also 1400 hundred islands and islets to explore.

Greece is located in southeast Europe and is bordered by five countries including Bulgaria, Albania and Turkey. Its coastlines border the Aegean Sea and Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean between Albania and Turkey. The landscape is mainly mountainous.

Greece sightseeing

There's probably no other country that can boast a richer, more ancient history than Greece. Athens is the huge modern capital city. It may look like a concrete jungle occasionally surrounded by smog, but it has a heritage that dates back to the dawn of civilisation. The Acropolis is the hill on which you'll find the Parthenon, probably the most visited site in all of Greece. There are also many shops, cafes and restaurants to explore, especially at the Plaka, which is one of the best parts of town. Pireaus is the port of Athens, from where you can start your exploration of the Greek islands.

The most popular Greek islands are Mykonos, Santori, Rhodes, with its medieval castles, Corfu and Crete.

Delphi is also an incredibly popular tourist destination because of its natural beauty and historic associations as the spiritual centre of ancient Greece. It was known for the oracle and the sanctuary of Apollo.

Greece transport

Getting to Greece is easy, with many major airlines flying there. Overland travel is possible from northern Europe but it's becoming a thing of the past due to the falling prices of air fares. Travelling within the country presents very few problems as there is a comprehensive public transport system. Buses are frequent and popular and the network even extends to small villages.

Greece climate

Greece enjoys a Mediterranean climate with lots of sunshine. Summers tend to be dry and hot, cooled by seasonal winds, and winters are mild in the lowland areas.

Greece, the 12 th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union is rightfully considered to be the birthplace of Democracy and the Olympic games. Herodotus(484-425 BCE) attempted to record the events that took place on his time, giving birth to the discipline of History and later acquiring the title of “Father of History”. Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829, 8 years after the declaration of war known as “The Greek Revolution”. The Declaration of Independence was declared on 25 March 1821, the same day that the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary took place. 25 March is officially recognized as a National Day for Greece and is accompanied by military parades on the streets.

Greece lies at the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. Its borders are shared with Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Greece has more than 6000 islands scattered in the Aegean and Ionian sea but few of them have more than 100 inhabitants. Greece's islands have been categorized in 8 groups:

•  The Ionian islands.

•  The NorthEastern Aegean islands.

•  The Argo-Saronic islands.

•  The Sporades.

•  The Cyclades.

•  The Dodecanese.

•  Crete.

•  Evia.

Seven of these groups lie in the Aegean sea, whereas the Ionian islands are the only islands in the Ionian sea. Popular travel locations are the island of Mykonos, Corfu and Crete which have unparallel natural beauty and some of the most wonderful beaches in the world.

•  GREEK CITIES

Some of the biggest cities of Greece are Athens, which is also the Capital of Greece, Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Patra and Heraklion. Whatever city you choose to visit it bears no doubt that you will have an amazing time during your stay. Greece combines entertainment with education in such a variety of ways that you will never be bored.

2.1 ATHENS

Athens is the Capital of Greece, having a history of over 3,000 years and counts around 780.000 citizens, while the urban area of the city extends far beyond the administrative city limits hitting a population number of 3.5 million. Athens's climate is Mediterranean, characterized by hot summers and rainy winters. The city is home to various archaeological museums such as the National Archaeological Museum and the Cycladic Museum, that together with the Acropolis monument make Athens a first choice for all archaeology enthusiasts. The Oden of Herodus Atticus, a stone theatre structure together with the nearly 150 theatrical stages support the city's cultural entertainment for its citizens. Finally, the well-known Athens Concert Hall is located on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue and attracts famous orchestras from all over the world all year round.

•  THESSALONIKI/SALONICA

Thessaloniki is the second largest town in the Country and is considered to be a political and industrial center for the Balkans. Various International Trade Fairs are being held every year, attracting world-wide companies and organizations. The city's symbol is the magnificent white tower which now is a museum on the waterfront of the city. The city's climate is somewhere between Continental and Mediterranean. Humidity is the main problem during summers and the temperature can reach or exceed 40°C, so if you are visiting the city during summer be well-prepared for extreme weather conditions. Also, the lack of a Metropolitan Railway gives rise to heavy traffic during rush hours. The traffic-emissions together with humidity make for a very unpleasant environment at the city-centre. Despite this, the city is a major draw card for tourists and it is believed that ruins of ancient civilizations lie underneath the modern city.

2.3 HERACLION

Heraklion is the capital of Crete and the 4 th largest city in the country. Numerous cultural events take place year-round with most famous The Heraklion Summer Festival which is held from 1-15 th of July every summer and includes exhibitions, dance performances and theatrical plays. Saint Titus is regarded as the patron of the island and on the 25 th of August the celebration of the feast of the Saint takes place. The Archaeological and the Historical museums can be easily found in the city and they are among most important and rich museums in Greece. Remains from the various Minoan palaces can be found, with the most famous the Palace of Knossos. Also, the city houses the Minos Winery Museum, the Kazantzakis Museum, an Aquarium and a collection of Byzantine icons in Saint Cathrine of Sinai which is housed in the Church of Saint Catherine.

•  GREEK ISLANDS

The country's islands are a famous destination for tourists all around the world. Various celebrities have also visited islands such as Corfu, Mykonos, Tinos, Paros and Santorini.

3.1 CORFU

Corfu, or “Kerkyra” in Greek, is located just off the west coast of Greece, with the North side being more mountainous and wider than the South. The island's total size is approximately 597km 2 and enjoys almost 92 charming beaches, with one of the most famous being the “Canal d'amour”, French for “Channel of love”. The inhabitants enjoy a cosmopolitan way of life, mainly sustained by tourism and agricultural products such as high quality olive oil and various mouth-watering specialties such as Sofrito, Savoro and Kou Kouat which is the trademark of the island. The tasty wines are without any chemical additives and they are usually produced by families that enjoy each and every stage of the process. Famous brands of wines include Kakotrigis and Moschato, both being excellent choices for white wine, sweet or dry and are waiting to accompany the fresh and exciting Greek food in every local tavern.

The island offers many vivid festivals and celebrations either religious or not, throughout the year and especially during summer. In the village of Ano Korakiana and during August, the “August Cultural Events” take place that involve a variety of social and cultural events that can be enjoyed during one's stay in the island. During September one can participate in one of the most amazing festivals of the island, the “Festival of Corfu” which consists of concerts and theatrical performances executed by Greek or foreign artists. Last but not least, the Patron of the island is Saint Spyridon and his memory is celebrated on August the 11 th and on Good Saturday. Other memorable festivals include “The sound and light show”, The Varkarola, and the Cricket Festival. Besides the entertainment events, Corfu has more than enough museums worth visiting, including the museum of the country's national poet “The Museum of Solomos, ”, “The Byzantine museum of Corfu”, “Shell museums” and “The museum of Asian Art”.

•  MYKONOS

One of the most famous holiday resorts is the Cycladic-architecture island of Mykonos, commonly known as the Jewel of the Aegean sea. It houses many well preserved windmills, one of the trademarks of the island that together with the town's whiteness combined with the environment's natural blue, they lend a glamorous sensation to this destination. The popularity of the island stems mainly from its intense nightlife which is marketed as one of the best in Europe together with Ibiza and Ayia Napa. The island features a vast amount of nightclubs, with the most popular being Paradise, Super Paradise, Paranga and Four Roses, continually attracting famous DJs from all over the world.

In the island's magical beaches you can find nudists, party-people, families and teenagers enjoying their stay probably in one of the numerous trendy cafes. The south coast beaches are well developed and attract the majority of the tourists. For those in pursuit of relaxation the north coast would be the best choice. Although slightly less developed and organized, they offer the same natural beauty and harmony of the senses one could wish to enjoy. Popular destinations include Psarou beach and Platis Gialos beach on the south side of the island and Agios Sostis on the north.

For the more educational needs, the “Mykonos Archaeological Musuem” houses the findings from the Purification Pit of 426B.C. and includes a vast amount of vases, statues and funerary urns. Add the architectural marvel of the “Curch of Panagia Parapontianni” which consists of four whitewashed churches forming that accompany the main church and you surely cannot ask for more.

3.3 TINOS

On the north side of the Aegean sea lies the picturesque island of Tinos, surrounded by Mykonos, Andros and Syros. 40 unforgettable villages, hundreds of churches and monasteries and beautiful, sandy beaches are the distinct elements of the island. Tinos is an important orthodox place of worship, attracting hundreds of worshipers every year that take part in the pilgrimage by walking on their knees from the harbor to the church of Panagia Evangelistria to ask for protection and forgiveness. In addition to the Orthodox Churches there are nearly 230 catholic churches on the island providing a mixture of religions not usual in the Greek land. Each church and monastery has its own celebration day once a year, with most important the celebration of the feast of Saint Mary that takes place in August the 15 th . Other feasts include the feast of annunciation in March 25 th , the feast of Agia Pelagia in July 23 rd and the feast of Agia Paraskeui on July 26 th .

Besides the religious scope of the island, it is also suitable for leisure activities and entertainment. Sandy beaches of unparalleled beauty, Agios Ioannis, Agios Sostis and Agios Romanos to name a few, provide an excellent opportunity for an enjoyable swimming experience before a traditional Greek meal in a local tavern near the beach. One could also enjoy wind-surfing in the areas of Porto Bay and “Agios Sostis” but should be careful since the winds can become very strong and thus, create dangerous waves.

3. 4 PAROS

The third largest island of the Cyclades and a European tourist hotspot, surrounded by the islands of Sifnos, Syros, Naxos and Ios, halfway between Athens and the island of Santorini. Paros is a traditional Greek island offering crystal clear natural beauty and excellent beaches with water sport capabilities, and the Windsurfing World Cup taking place once a year in the Golden beach. The climate is typical Mediterranean, similar to the climate of other Cycladic islands with hot and humid summers followed by mild winters.

The beaches on the island cover every possibly need and taste, either be water sports, tanning or plain swimming. Popular destinations are Parasporos, The Golden Beach and Pounta beach which is one of the most crowded places you can encounter. Finally, one could also visit Naoussa, a beautiful fishing village in the North side of Paros which includes Kolymbythres beach and Agios Ioannis beach both of them reachable by foot walk.

Like every other Greek island various festivals take place on the island. Nine days after the Assumption of the Virgin, a big feast representing the attack of pirates in the village of Paros is organized and is accompanied by local food, wine and music. Other noteworthy feasts include the feast of Agia Marina on July 16 th , the feast of Panagia Faneromeni on September 8 th , and the feast of Panagia Ekatontapilliani on August 15 th .

3.5 SANTORINI

Santorini, an island connected to the myth of Atlantis, took its name by the Venetians in reference to Saint Irene. The island was also a place for the production of famous movies and attracts many celebrities, mostly during the summer. Santorini was originally a single island but after an enormous eruption of the island's volcano it is now formed by several volcanic islands.

Santorini offers a wide range of activities for tourists and also a wealthy number of attractions to visit. The scenery of the island is fantastic and it is a must to watch the sunset from the west coast, which together with the volcanic landscape paints a picture rarely seen. The most beautiful village of the island is Oia, situated on top of an impressive cliff and is known for its quiet life and spectacular views of the island it offers.

One the world's most important archaeological sites is the Minoan city of Akrotiri, located near the famous Red Beach, where you can see many of the advancements the Minoans made in their age. For a more musical entertainment, the Jazz Festival of Santorini is a popular festival that takes place during the summer for the past 6 years. Some of the best international jazz bands(Ethnic, Pop, Fusion and Funk), perform during this festival.

•  ATTRACTIONS

4.1 ACROPOLIS

Acropolis is probably the most significant and most visited monument in the world. It is a testament to the ancient Greek civilization and every year attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. Most of the monuments were built during the Golden age of Pericles and include The Erechtheion temple, the statues of Caryatides, the Propylea and of course, the Doric-style Temple of Parthenon, dedicated to the Goddess Athena, protector of the ancient city of Athens. The external pillars of Parthenon are not straight but slightly curved so that they give an optical illusion as being straight from every angle they might be seen. The Parthenon was designed by the famous sculptor Phidias, while Ictinos and Callicrates were in charge of the construction work.

•  PLAKA

Under the Acropolis site, lies Plaka, one of the most attractive and elegant districts of Athens. Plaka offers the children's museum in Kydathineon, and the Kanellopoulos museum under the north slope of Acropolis. Archaeological sites such as the Greek and the Roman agora, various Roman monuments and the Atallos stoa that hosts many extra ordinary artifacts make Plaka a suitable supplement to the visit of acropolis. Finally, Plaka offers a wealthy variety of local taverns with traditional food and wine and live Greek music.

•  EPIDAURUS

The site of Epidaurus on the Peloponnese peninsula is certainly worth a visit. During summer a vast number of high-quality theatrical plays are being presented. The theatre's attracting property is the excellent acoustic it offers to its 15,000 spectators. The design of the theatre permits perfect unamplified intelligibility of every spoken word regardless of the spectator's position in the stands.

4.4 GREEK CAVES AND MOUNTAINS

Greece's rich geological formation has enabled the form of various caves on the mainland and on the islands. Many of these caves have provided clues for early human presence, and findings such as ancient jewelries and bones have verified this suggestion. One of the most famous caves in Greece is the Cave of Petralona, in the foothills of mount Katsika in Macedonia. There, geologists found a human skull dating from 600,000 BC and various other animal bones. Today it is an active attraction site year-round.

The abode of Gods, mount Olympus is the highest mountain in the country at 2.917m and is located 100km from Thessaloniki. All climbs to the mount Olympus start from the town of Litochoro, situated on the roots of the mountain. Another popular mountain that operates as a ski resort is Kaimakchalan that attracts teenagers and families wishing to take ski-lessons or just enjoy the panoramic view.

4.5 MOUNT ATHOS

Mount Athos, or “Holy Mountain” is the center of Eastern Orthodox Monasticism and is only accessible by boat. The mount is also called “Garden of the Virgin” and houses 20 monasteries who follow the coenobitic way of life. The monasteries possess enormous amount of medieval-aged treasures such as icons, relics and liturgical vestments. The most daring monastery is probably the holy monastery of Simonos Petra which is build at a height of 330 meters on the end of a rocky mountain range. The entrance to Mount Athos is prohibited to women and males must have been issued a visa before visiting. The visa is available upon application from the Pilgrim's Bureau in Thessaloniki and Orthodox Christians take precedence in the permit procedure. The monasteries are land-linked but are only accessible by ferries which also require reservation due to the large amount of visitors.

•  ACCOMODATION IN GREECE

Greece offers various types of accommodation, licensed by the Greek National Tourism Organization, that fall under the following categories:

•  Hotels

•  Rooms to let

•  Apartments to let

•  Self-catering units

•  Campsites

•  Youth hostels

Today, Greece offers over 352,000 rooms in approximately 8900 hotel units, supplemented by private accommodations (rooms to let). Hotels, rooms and apartments to let are being rated by a system determined by the National Tourist Organization. The Deluxe class is noted as 5*****, while class A corresponds to 4**** followed by 3***, 2**, 1*. The campsites offer a variety of places to camp, pitch tents and park caravans offering a wide range of facilities and services. You can contact the campsites directly or through agencies.

•  TRANSPORTATION IN GREECE

Greece offers a safe and fast transportation system all over the country. Athens has the privilege to be the only city with a Metropolitan Railway system in the mainland accompanied by a tram network and suburban railway.

Public transportation is very easy with maps on each stop displaying the buses route and the estimated time of arrival for each line in the major cities. The passenger has to buy a ticket before boarding the bus, with its value differentiating in each city.

The Greek railway system covers the mainland with daily routes and links the country with Central Europe and Turkey. The Hellenic Railway Association offers special routes as excursions for a tour through Greece's magnificent land.

Greek yellow taxis are surprisingly cheap when compared to their European standards. Every licensed taxi is equipped with meter that displays the tariffs and surcharges. However, in many tourist areas the amount of money you have to pay for a ride to a specific destination might be fixed. Take notice that taxis cannot deny you a ride or pickup extra passengers without your permission.

As far as coastal transportation is concerned, the transportation network serves all Greek islands with the Greek fleet which consists of various types of vessels. These vessels connect the central harbours of Attica or Piraeus with all islands. A more limited number of vessels serves the port of Thessaloniki. All passenger ships offer First and Economy classes, restaurants and other services depending on the duration of the trip.