Greece

In Greece, you are standing at a crossroads of cultures, colours and civilisations, you feel the strength of history and the warmth of being in the southernmost part of Europe, you discover an evolutionary process of thought, influence and experience. Greece is a country of beautiful contradictions, a constant journey in time, from the present to the past and back again.

Athens
Athens located at the Attica peninsula in a basin surrounded by mount Aegaleo at the north west , mount Parnitha and Penteli at the north ,mount Hymettos at the east and the Saronic gulf at the west. Visitors to Athens can experience the exhilaration of stepping back in time and seeing the places where great historic events actually took place over 20 centuries ago. Most important, of course, is the fabulous Parthenon (448 to 437 BC), which stands like a crown on the rocky hill of the Acropolis, dominating the city.

Crete
Crete island is the largest of Greece and is located in the south of the Aegean Sea. Crete is one of the most famous Greek islands. It is separated in 4 prefectures: Chania, Heraklion, Lassithi and Rethymno. The island has everything to offer: mountainous landscapes, a coast with many beautiful beaches and rocky coves, beautiful towns and charming villages and harbors, excellent food, ruins of the Minoan Civilization, one of the greatest civilization ever, an exciting nightlife.

Dodecanese Islands
The Dodecanese islands are located in the southeast part of the Aegean Sea and consist of twelve major islands and a number of smaller islands: Astypalea, Leros, Lipsi, Nisyros, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kastellorizo, Kos, Patmos, Rhodes, Tilos. Some of those Greek Islands are located at the border to Turkey. They have everything to offer to the visitors: whitewashed houses, beautiful beaches with crystal waters, charming villages.

Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are located in the Ionian Sea, in the western part of Greece. The Ionian Sea is also called the Adriatic sea. The Ionian are some of the most popular Greek islands and attract a lot of people from the United Kingdom. They are composed of Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Zakunthos, Ithaca, Paxoi, Kythira and some others. These islands are known for their beautiful beaches, their charming villages and their verdant landscapes.

Northeastern Aegean Islands
The Northeastern Aegean islands group is, like the Dodecanese, much closer to Turkey than to the Greek mainland. They are composed of: Chios, Ikaria, Lesvos(Mytilene), Limnos, Thassos and Samos. This group is less popular than the Cyclades but not the less interesting from a point of authenticity. There are characterized by mountainous landscapes, dense forests of pine-trees and beautiful golden sandy beaches.

Peloponnese
The region of the Peloponesse is the southernmost point of mainland Greece, and in fact, can techincally be called an island, since the completion of the Corinth canal in 1893. The Peloponnese is the perfect destination for your holiday in Greece stunning sandy beaches and crystal waters, Olympia the birthplace of the Olympic Games, ancient cities such as Mycenae and Pylos, the ancient theater of Epidaurus, and so many other wonderful places that are worth visiting.

Saronic Gulf Islands
The Saronic islands are situated at a close distance from Athens, the capital of Greece and its port, Piraeus and are scattered between the prefecture of Attica and the eastern side of the Peloponnese. This group of Greek Islands is composed of Angistri, Aegina, Methana, Poros, Salamina, Spetses and Hydra and they have a lot to offer to the visitors: natural beauty, clean sandy beaches and even small deserted islets to explore.

Activities and Tours

The Acropolis
The Acropolis and the Parthenon dominate Athens, and the most sightseeing weary traveller will catch an enticing glimpse and be scrambling toward it before they know it. Even if there were no Parthenon, the Acropolis is worth the visit just for the magnificent view of Athens and the surrounding temples below.

National Archaeological Musuem
This extensive collection is housed in the heart of Athens. While even a brief visit is dazzling, the true museum junkie should allow 2 to 3 hours. Even then, you're speeding through millenia of Greek culture, starting with the Cycladic Island civilization and the Minoans and Myceneans, and stretching up toward the present.

Knossos
Knossos, still redolent with an ancient, undefinable atmosphere, easily leads visitors astray. The maze of its passageways, now often interrupted and in ruins, seem to shift and twist even as you walk within them, and it's common to become parted from your companions, certain that they turned down that corridor just up ahead, only to find it empty.

Ancient Delphi
Located on a plateau on the side of Mt. Parnassus above the Gulf of Corinth, Delphi is about 100 miles northwest of Athens. Delphi is one of the most well known spots in ancient Greece, made famous by the Delphic Oracle which was believed to have the power to tell the future. It was designed by Trophonius and Agamedes.

Santorini
Santorini Greece in the Cyclades, Aegean, has one of the most spectacular landscapes in Greece and in the world. The traditional villages of the island, built on tall cliffs, offer a breathtaking view over the submerged volcano. They represent the beautiful Greek cliche you have always dreamed about! Among them you mustn't miss Oia, the place gifted with the most famous and stunning sunsets.

The Acropolis of Lindos
Spectacularly perched atop a 116m (383ft) high rock is the Acropolis. It's about a 10 minute climb to the well signposted entrance gate. Once inside, a flight of steps leads to a large square. On the left is a warship hewn out of the rock by the sculptor Pythocretes. A statue of Hagesandros, priest of Poseidon, originally stood on the deck of the ship.

Vergina
The site of Vergina is ancient Aigai, the first capital of Macedon. One of Greece's most famous (and costly) archaeological sites, Vergina is known generically as the Royal Tombs. Vergina consists primarily of the major dome (tholos). A walkway leads you inside the darkened interior of the tumulus where you can visit four separate tombs (I IV), each fenced off from further casual investigation.

Travel Tip and useful information

Climate
Temperatures do vary, however. Winters are mild and rainy, with temperatures sometimes dropping to freezing point, especially in the north. Summers are long and dry, with extremes of 37°C (99°F), making the yearly mean temperature about 17°C (63°F). For those not overly fond of the heat, the mountainous areas offer some respite as they receive more rain in summer, and even snow in winter.

Time Zone
Greece is 3 hours ahead of GMT (+3 GMT).

Population
98% of the Greek population belongs to the Orthodox Church. The rest of the Greek population is Roman Catholic, Muslim and Jewish. Greek is the unique language of the country but most of the people connected to tourism and the younger generations currently use English.

Transport
During the past few decades the transportation network of the country was modernised and impressively upgraded and, as a result, Greece today has an integrated transportation structure allowing for fast and safe travelling all over the country.

Currency and credit cards
Currency: euro (EUR), formerly Drachma (dr). All major Credit Cards as well as Euro-cheques are recognized and accepted in most hotels, shops, travel and car rental agencies and restaurants.

Dress Code
It depends on the time of the year and the kind of holiday you have booked. Overall, bring casual clothes with only a few informal pieces for evening outings. If you go on a cruise, ask for the evening dress code. In all cases, bring good, sturdy shoes and your hat.

Safety and security
Although traditionally Greece has had a low crime rate, in recent years this has changed somewhat, with theft on the increase, particularly in crowded places like urban areas and holiday resorts. Don't be paranoid, as many people are scrupulously honest, but for your own peace of mind keep your valuables under lock and key at all times.