With warm Mediterranean sun, wonderful beaches, and many historical sites to explore, Greece is one of the world's top Holiday destinations. The many historic sites in Greece include medieval churches and castles as well as ancient classical ruins and temples. The Mediterranean Greece hosts a great variety of sunny and scenic islands to visit. It is also famous for its diverse and beautiful architecture with whitewashed houses and blue domed churches, and the delicious and healthy Greek cuisine.
Ancient temples. One of the most spectacular sights in Greece, the archaeological site of Delphi is home to the Temple of Apollo, and according to the ancient Greeks was the centre of the universe. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Delphi enjoys a spectacular location along the slope of the magnificent Mount Parnassus with breathtaking views over the Gulf of Corinth.
Crete is the largest and one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands located in the Mediterranean Sea south of the Peloponnese Peninsula of mainland Greece. The beautiful coastline, diverse nature, ancient Minoan history, and hospitable inhabitants attract a great number of visitors to Crete, but in the picturesque small villages in the Cretan countryside you can still get an impression of the traditional Cretan culture.
Dodecanese Islands. Besides Crete, there is a myriad of Greek islands to visit. Situated in Eastern Aegean Sea, Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands and a popular holiday destination with wonderful beaches, lively nightlife and interesting ancient sites, old cities, palaces and museums. Sun, sand and sea are the major attractions in the beautiful Greek Dodecanese island of Kos. The island of Hippocrates offers many kinds of activities for the whole family from water sports activities to archaeological sites and lively nightlife. The idyllic and historical island of Samos is located close to the coast of Turkey. Samos boasts with its beaches, diversified nature and historical attractions.
Cyclades. The cosmopolitan Greek island of Mykonos is famous for its vibrant nightlife with bars and beach parties. Apart from partying, the island of windmills offers activities for the whole family: beach life in the golden beaches, snorkeling and diving in the azure blue Aegean Sea, or windsurfing off the island's northern coast. The largest of the Cyclades, the green Naxos boasts many activities and attractions for the whole family, from sunbathing to windsurfing and diving. Naxos is also home to beautiful Venetian architecture, small chapels, ancient sites, and picturesque mountain villages. Located in the heart of the Cyclades and famous for its white marble, Paros offers endless beaches for sunbathing and good wind conditions for windsurfing and kite surfing. The magical island of Santorini is home to spectacular volcanic landscapes and whitewashed houses with blue domes. The romantic sunsets of the Oia in Santorini are world-famous, and the volcanic black and red beaches of the island are ideal for sunbathing.
Ionian Sea coast. The sunny, green island of Corfu is home to lush nature and beautiful beaches. The blue waters of the Ionian Sea offer excellent surfing and diving. The green countryside with olive trees, cypresses, wild flowers, valleys, hills, and mountains is ideal for hiking and biking. The island of Kefalonia has breathtaking scenery and exceptional natural beauty with azure blue sea, idyllic bays, secluded beaches, high cliffs, impressive mountains, underground lakes, secret caves, verdant vineyards, and olive groves. Another beautiful island on the Ionian Sea and one of the most photographed islands of Greece, Zakynthos hosts secluded beaches, mountains, and steep cliffs, and the azure blue waters around the island are exceptionally rich in marine life. Built like an amphitheatre on a slope of a hill covered by pine trees, the idyllic town of Parga is located on a picturesque bay on the western coast of Greece. Parga has golden beaches and green countryside just waiting to be explored.
Lively cities and beautiful islands in Greece
One of the oldest cities in the world, the metropolitan Athens is the capital of Greece. Once a powerful city state and the birthplace of Western Civilization and democracy, Athens is home to numerous ancient sites. The modern Athens is also a business centre with luxury hotels, cafes, pedestrian streets, dining places, vivid entertainment scene and more. The second largest city in Greece, Thessaloniki is another fascinating mixture of old and new. There are numerous museums and ancient sites in this important centre of business, industry and transportation. Thessaloniki offers also wonderful shopping opportunities, lively nightlife and a number of festivals and events.Ancient temples. One of the most spectacular sights in Greece, the archaeological site of Delphi is home to the Temple of Apollo, and according to the ancient Greeks was the centre of the universe. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Delphi enjoys a spectacular location along the slope of the magnificent Mount Parnassus with breathtaking views over the Gulf of Corinth.
Crete is the largest and one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands located in the Mediterranean Sea south of the Peloponnese Peninsula of mainland Greece. The beautiful coastline, diverse nature, ancient Minoan history, and hospitable inhabitants attract a great number of visitors to Crete, but in the picturesque small villages in the Cretan countryside you can still get an impression of the traditional Cretan culture.
Dodecanese Islands. Besides Crete, there is a myriad of Greek islands to visit. Situated in Eastern Aegean Sea, Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands and a popular holiday destination with wonderful beaches, lively nightlife and interesting ancient sites, old cities, palaces and museums. Sun, sand and sea are the major attractions in the beautiful Greek Dodecanese island of Kos. The island of Hippocrates offers many kinds of activities for the whole family from water sports activities to archaeological sites and lively nightlife. The idyllic and historical island of Samos is located close to the coast of Turkey. Samos boasts with its beaches, diversified nature and historical attractions.
Cyclades. The cosmopolitan Greek island of Mykonos is famous for its vibrant nightlife with bars and beach parties. Apart from partying, the island of windmills offers activities for the whole family: beach life in the golden beaches, snorkeling and diving in the azure blue Aegean Sea, or windsurfing off the island's northern coast. The largest of the Cyclades, the green Naxos boasts many activities and attractions for the whole family, from sunbathing to windsurfing and diving. Naxos is also home to beautiful Venetian architecture, small chapels, ancient sites, and picturesque mountain villages. Located in the heart of the Cyclades and famous for its white marble, Paros offers endless beaches for sunbathing and good wind conditions for windsurfing and kite surfing. The magical island of Santorini is home to spectacular volcanic landscapes and whitewashed houses with blue domes. The romantic sunsets of the Oia in Santorini are world-famous, and the volcanic black and red beaches of the island are ideal for sunbathing.
Ionian Sea coast. The sunny, green island of Corfu is home to lush nature and beautiful beaches. The blue waters of the Ionian Sea offer excellent surfing and diving. The green countryside with olive trees, cypresses, wild flowers, valleys, hills, and mountains is ideal for hiking and biking. The island of Kefalonia has breathtaking scenery and exceptional natural beauty with azure blue sea, idyllic bays, secluded beaches, high cliffs, impressive mountains, underground lakes, secret caves, verdant vineyards, and olive groves. Another beautiful island on the Ionian Sea and one of the most photographed islands of Greece, Zakynthos hosts secluded beaches, mountains, and steep cliffs, and the azure blue waters around the island are exceptionally rich in marine life. Built like an amphitheatre on a slope of a hill covered by pine trees, the idyllic town of Parga is located on a picturesque bay on the western coast of Greece. Parga has golden beaches and green countryside just waiting to be explored.
Photo: sanderovski, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Practical information for your trip to Greece
Greece is located in Southeastern Europe on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. The country consists of the mainland area and many islands on the Mediterranean Sea. The Greek landscape is diverse, consisting of mountains, peninsulas, wine-producing valleys, olive groves, green and lush forests, island chains and more. A visitor in Greece is also delighted by the lively nightlife, delicious food tradition and the hospitable inhabitants of Greece.climate. Greece enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers from May to September and mild and wet winters from November to March. The main summer season for tourism in Greece runs from June to September, but for other purposes than sunbathing, the best times to visit Greece are in spring from May to June or in autumn from September to October when the temperatures in Greece are mild and pleasant for sightseeing.
How to get there. Greece has many international airports receiving flights from all over the world. The main air hub in Greece is Athens, and other big Greek airports are located in Thessaloniki, Rhodes and Corfu. There is also an extensive network of domestic flights within Greece. The country can be entered by car from all its neighboring countries and some international bus, train and ferry connections to Greece also exist. Greece and many of its islands can also be entered by boat.
Getting around. Greece has a reliable, effective and inexpensive network of domestic buses. The domestic train network is quite limited but under reconstruction. Ferries ply between the many islands of Greece and offer a convenient way for island-hopping. Renting a car in Greece is a good option for touring the country by your own, as the roads and highways in Greece are in fairly good condition and well marked. However, due to the aggressive traffic culture, driving can be dangerous especially at the narrow streets on the mountains.
Safety. Greece is a quite safe travel destination, although natural disasters like floods and earthquakes are possible. Visitors are advised to exercise normal caution, to keep an eye on their belongings, and be aware of pickpockets and possibly violent demonstrations especially in large cities of Greece.
History and culture of Greece
The Greek culture has inherited a lot from the ancient Greece, as well as Byzantine and Roman empires. Greece is said to be the birthplace of democracy and advanced Western civilization, and the modern Western culture is mainly based on the ancient Greek traditions on literature, drama, philosophy, and politics. Once ruled by city-states and later as part of bigger empires, Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. In the World War II the country was invaded by Italy and later by Germany. Ruled by military in the early 1900s, Greece has been a democratic republic since 1976.Nowadays suffering from a financial crisis, Greece remains a modern and developed society and a member of the European Union, European Monetary Union, NATO and many other international organizations. However, Greece still retains a unique traditional culture. The Greek cuisine is based on the healthy Mediterranean diet consisting of fresh vegetables and meat, and olive oil is added to almost every dish. The majority of the Greek inhabitants are Greek Orthodox and the family and relatives play an important role in the Greek society.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Delphi, Parga
