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About Greece
Click here to see a map of Greece.Greece is one of Europe’s friendliest and safest countries. Definitely the main attraction here is the museums and archaeological sites. However, people from all over the world also flock here to see the spectacular beaches and the stunning historic towns. There are three museums that should not be missed. The National, Archaeological Museum in Athens, which houses Heinrich Schliemann's finds from Mycenae. The Thessaloniki Museum, which contains cultivated treasures from the graves of the Macedonian royal family, and the Iraklio Museum, which houses a vast collection from the Minoan sites of Crete. Greece has more ancient sites than any other country in Europe. The most famous sights that you should see are the Acropolis, Delphi, Knossos and Olympia. You shouls also try to visit The Sanctuary of the Great Gods, located on Samothraki. Probably the most popular beaches in Greece are located on the Cycladic islands. The scenery here is breathtaking, bright white buildings are offset by bright-blue church domes, which look over golden beaches that meet an aqua blue sea. The most popular beaches are Mykonos, Santorini, Paros and Ios. The Dodecanese Islands are also popular and the main places to visit are Rhodes, Lindos, Kos, Symi and Patmos. The Sporades are made up of four inhabited islands in the northern archipelago, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos and Skyros. The most popular out of these is Skiathos known for its spectacular beaches and great nightlife. Two of Greece's most spectacular medieval cities are in the Peloponnese. These are Mystras, located west of Sparta, and Monemvassia. There are also some stunning towns located on the islands. These include Rhodes, Naxos' hora and Pyrgi.
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Culture
The arts have been integral to Greek life since ancient times. As has poetry, drama, and philosophy. The Greek language is probably the oldest in Europe. Today, Greek forms a large part of the vocabulary of any Indo-European language. The majority of Greeks are Greek Orthodox; the rest of the population is Roman Catholic, Jewish or Muslim. Religion is an important part of life in Greece. Some popular Greek main dishes include mousakas (eggplant baked with minced meat and béchamel sauce), stuffed tomatoes, and freshly grilled seafood. Most meals are served with the famous Greek Salad, consisting of cucumber, tomatoes, onions, feta cheese and olives. Greek food is usually served lukewarm. Typical Greek drinks include ouzo, tsipouro and raki.
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Local_Currency
The currency in Greece is the euro (EUR).Banks exchange all major currencies in cash, travellers' cheques or Eurocheques. Post offices exchange cash but not travellers’ cheques. Travel agencies and larger hotels change cash and travellers cheques. Banknote exchange machines can be found in most tourist areas. All upmarket shops, restaurants and hotels accept credit cards. Visa, MasterCard (Access) and Eurocard are the most widely accepted. Most banks have ATMs where you can access your debit or credit account. In restaurants the service charge is included in the bill but it is the custom to leave a small amount; rounding up the bill is usually sufficient.
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Transport
The most popular form of public transport is the bus. Buses are regular and reliable. The trains only operate on the mainland. Olympic Airways offer domestic flights to many cities and island, although this is quite an expensive way to travel. Another great way to get from the mainland to surrounding islands is by ferry.
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Visa_Information
Nationals of Australia, Canada, Cyprus, EU countries, the European principalities of Monaco and San Marino, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the USA and most South American countries are allowed to stay in Greece for up to three months without a visa. Most others can enter Greece for up to two months without a visa; Greece will refuse entry to anyone whose passport indicates that, since November 1983, they have visited North Cyprus.
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