Travel Guides - Greece

Greece

Greece (the Hellenic Republic) is located at the south end of the Balkan Peninsula on the Mediterranean Sea in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Bulgaria to the north, Turkey to the East, the Ionian Sea to the west and the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas to the south and east.  There are two further sizeable peninsulas which are the Peloponnese (to the south) and Chalcidice.  The highest point in Greece is Mt. Olympus. The Pindus Mountain chain runs from NW Greece to the Pelopennese.  The main mountainous areas of the country are located in the north central area and western Macedonia.  The capital city is Athens.  Other major cities include Thessaloniki, Patras and Piraeus.  Currency is the Euro (formerly Drachma).  The official language is Greek, with English and French also spoken.  Greece joined NATO in 1951 and the EU in 1981.

Greece is a place of ancient history, the Byzantine Empire, Greek mythology, legends, and the classics. Its cultural history is mind-boggling and a fascinating subject to delve into.  The remnants and ruins of ancient civilizations are still in existence in many archaeological sites and monuments.  Greece boasts many UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites, including the Acropolis, Delphi, Mycenae, Olympia, Patmos and the medieval city of Rhodes. You can even go skiing at Mount Parnassus, close to Delphi.

The Greek Islands are popular tourist destinations and known for their beautiful scenery, beaches and weather.  Crete, Santorini, Rhodes and the Cyclades are all popular destinations.  As a quick guide these are the main island groups:  The Northeastern Aegean Islands (including Thasos, Samos, Lesvos), the  Sporades (Alonissos, Skyros, Skopelos, Skiathos), The Argo-Saronic Islands (including Poros, Salamina, Hydra),  The Cyclades (a large group of island with major ones including Santorini, Mykonos, Kea, Kythnos and Paros).  The Dodecanese (including Rhodes, Patmos, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kos, Lipsi and Leros).  The island of Crete.  In the Ionian Sea there is just one group of islands, called the Ionian Islands (including Corfu, Cephallonia, Paxi, Lefkada, Antipaxi, Ithaca and Zakynthos).  The Greek Islands are made up of thousands of islands and islets distributed throughout the Seas, but only a few hundred are inhabited.

Mainland Greece and the Greek Islands comprise many miles of coastline, with bays and coves, rocky coasts, sandy beaches and sand dunes, black volcanic sand beaches, as well as caves, lakes, rivers, mountains, gorges, national parks and waterfalls.  Needless to say there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy water sports such as windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving and fishing.

Link:  www.gnto.gr

Athens

Athens, the capital city of Greece, is a large and modern city located in the south of the country, with reminders of its ancient and cultural history everywhere you look.  It is easy to get about via public transport on the Metro, trams and buses.

One of the most popular attractions is the Acropolis, the hill where the Parthenon and other archaeological sites can be visited.  Don’t miss the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.  In summer you may be lucky to catch some of the events of the Athens Festival.  The Plaka in the old part of Athens is a good place to start your tour of the city or you could start from the modern part and Syntagma Square.  You can see plenty by foot, including the colourful street markets and dozens of museums, the Agora, Temple of Zeus, Theatre of Dionysus and Cycladic Museum.  In Athens you can explore to your heart’s content, find great restaurants and enjoy the nightlife.  Athens also has a zoo and National Gardens.   If you need to give your aching feet a rest, head for the beach to relax and cool off.

Within a short distance from Athens you can visit the Temple of Poseidon.  From Pireaus, the port of Athens, you can take a boat trip to the surrounding Greek islands.

Greece gave birth to the Olympic Games and Athens hosted the Olympic Games in 2004 leading to the construction of many sporting facilities, new hotels and infrastructure.  There is so much more to say about Athens, so take a look for yourself:

Link:  www.athensguide.com