Greece is in Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Bright white buildings, clear blue sea and cloudless blue skies are the picture postcard images that initially attract many visitors to Greece. Alternatively it may be the pursuit of the ancient sites and archaeological treasures of Greece, such as the Acropolis and Parthenon, the Temple of Zeus or the first Olympic Stadium.

Whichever category you may fall into, you will not be disappointed, with the many beautiful islands and the capital Athens there is something here for all.

Athens is a city that visitors and locals love to hate, the most common complaints being that it is too noisy, crowded and polluted. However, one minute you will find yourself complaining about the traffic and in the next, staring in awe at the Acropolis crowned by its Parthenon, visible from almost all of Athens. Beyond the smog of the capital there are also streets and squares lined with orange trees, shops, markets and street vendors, numerous cafes and bars, and of course many places of historical interest. What more could you ask for?

The Greek islands are for those wanting sun, sea and sand, which one to visit however, can be a difficult decision. The Cycladic islands such as Mykonos, Paros and Santorini are perfect examples of the golden beaches, blue seas and white buildings many visitors to Greece come to expect.

Mykonos is the most visited and expensive of the islands, while Santorini is thought of as being the most spectacular.

The Dodacanese islands include Rhodes, Kos and Patmos. Rhodes is the largest, with ancient ruins and great beaches, it also has the best nightlife outside Athens. Kos and Patmos are also popular and can get busy during peak times. For those looking for fantastic beaches but without the crowds try Lipsi and Tilos both of which are far less touristy.

Corfu, Zakynthos, Kefallonia and Lefkada are part of the Ionian group of islands along the west coast of Greece. Popular with tourists, and not in the Aegean Sea, they have a distinctly Italian feel about them.

The Northeastern Aegean Islands are situated quite a distance from each other, so island hopping is more difficult. Because they are larger however, they also have more distinctive characters; Samos, Limnos, Thasos and Lesvos to name a few.

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and is host to the majority of all visitors to Greece. It is full of beautiful buildings, ancient remains, great beaches and rugged mountains

Whether it is one of the Greek islands or mainland Greece you choose to visit, there is plenty to see and do; from the ancient ruins to water sports and sunbathing, it isn’t surprising that Greece is such a popular holiday destination for so many, and with so much choice you can return year after year and not get bored!

Temperate; mild, wet winters; with hot and dry summers

To try and list the many and varied historical sites in Greece would be like trying to write an encyclopaedia (from the Greek, Enkykliospaideia), with monasteries, museums, ancient ruins and temples, there are many places to visit whilst on holiday anywhere in Greece.

Athens is the place to go and see many of the ruins; the Acropolis and Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Ancient Theatre of Dionysos are all worth visiting. For fans of museums, visitors to Athens will not be disappointed. The National Archaeological Museum, The Goulandris Museum of Cycladic & Ancient Greek Art and The Byzantine Museum are all here.

To get away from it all for a while, The National Gardens are an oasis of calm in the heart of Athens. With its shaded benches and a small café, it’s a wonderful place to just watch the world go by. It is possible to book excursions around the capital and beyond, to find the one of most interest to you contact the National Tourist Organization.

Water sports are not surprisingly very popular here, with sailing, snorkelling and diving being very popular throughout summer. Although scuba diving is also available, it has to be done under supervision in order to protect the many archaeological remains. Walking and hiking are also common activities in Greece with great views and great weather making a very enjoyable day out for the more active holidaymaker.

Not often associated with skiing, Greece is actually one of the cheapest places in Europe to go. With around 20 resorts, the most developed of which is on Mt. Parnassos, it makes a welcome change from the ‘usual’ ski resorts.

If shopping is more your idea of entertainment then good buys to take home with you are; jewellery, artwork, rugs and the Greek handicrafts, the majority of which are reasonably priced and make great gifts and souvenirs.

The nightlife in Greece is based around restaurants, bars and clubs – as with many holiday resorts.

Greeks don’t usually have their evening meals until around 9 or 10pm, after which the night moves on to clubs for some dancing.

The Rough Guide to Greece – Mark Ellingham, et al. (Paperback 24 February, 2000)

Lonely Planet: Greece – David Willett, et al. (Paperback 25 February, 2000)

Eyewitness Guide 37: Ancient Greece. (Hardcover 27 August, 1992)

8^th Jan – The Festival of Women in Monocclissia and Nea Petra there is a one-day role reversal where the men stay at home and all the towns women spend the day lounging in bars and café’s! Only lasts for 1 day though…

Easter is a huge celebration in Greece and all the surrounding Greek Islands. If you can arrange to be there for this time of year the processions and festivities won’t disappoint you.

End April / May in Arachova, The Elderly Races, Strongman Contest and Easter Celebrations, is a festival for all ages, with the local community descending on the town for fun and frolics.

1^st Friday of every June in Delphi the FIA World Rally Championship, is the scene of the Acropolis Rally stage

Mid June every year the Greek answer to Glastonbury happens in Athens. The Rockware Festival lasts 3 days and rocks approx 50,000 with its music and wide range of entertainment.

Athens Festival lasts for the whole of July, music, dance and theatre performs in the incredible Greek amphitheatre in Athens, there is also a festival during September in Athens, although this is not on quite such a large scale.

August (the first Thursday every year), the Professional Windsurfing Association stops in Paros on the Windsurfing Race World Tour. The world’s best windsurfers compete for big prizes in each country.

Generally the first 3 weeks in August see the Rhodes wine festival, celebrating the spirit of Bacchus, whilst the Cretan wine festival in Rethvmno also celebrating Bacchus takes place at the end of Oct / beg of November each year.

Mid October, Athens Pride celebrates gay pride and is said to be the highlight in the Greek gay / lesbian calendar.

28^th October is Oxi Day, a National holiday celebrating the day on which the Greek said NO (oxi) to allowing Mussolini’s troops into Greece. Oxi (the word for no) has since become a battle cry and the celebrations for this day, especially in Athens and Thessoloniki are spectacular with many parades, particularly military.

HOTELS IN GREECE

Expect to pay roughly £35 per room for a night in a 3 * hotel in the heart of Athens, such as the Hotel Christina, £60 for a 4* with excellent location such as the Hotel Electra Palace almost directly next to the Acropolis! There are many hotels throughout Greece, however the luxury ones are centred on the main cities / tourist / business centres.

For pure luxury The Hilton or the Astir Palace Aphrodite in Athens offers unadulterated pleasure with prices starting at roughly £135 pppn for a standard double room. The Hilton has the largest swimming pool in Athens and because of its location is extremely popular.

VISAS AND INNOCULATIONS

British nationals do not require a visa to enter Greece for up to three months. For longer stays, application should be made to the appropriate office for a residence permit.

There are no recommended vaccinations for visitors to Greece other than the essential immunisation for Yellow Fever if arriving in Greece within 6 days of visiting an infected country. Please seek professional advice. If you have not previously been immunised against diphtheria, polio or tetanus this is an ideal opportunity to have the immunisations carried out.

The usual health advice applies as with most foreign countries. Don’t drink the tap water or consume ice in drinks. Drink bottled water or use purification tablets. Take care against dehydration and over exposure to the sun, by drinking lots of (bottled) water and use high factor sun creams.