Greece Introduction

Basking in the sun in South-eastern Europe, Greece deservedly remains a top choice for anyone seeking great hospitality and a huge range of things to do, see and enjoy. It is a country where you will find beautiful coastline, fantastic beaches, natural beauty, lush green forests, caves, rivers and lakes. All this and more in a coastline of 15,000 kms. Some of the most famous islands which are popular with tourists every year include those of Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos and Zante which are the biggest of the Greek Islands.

Greece has some smaller islands too, with beautiful beaches and along with its archaeological history you could not wish for more. The smaller islands are Skiathos, Skopelos and Santorini. You could not wish for a country with more archaeological sites and monuments, such as the Acropolis in Athens. Greece is a country full of character and atmosphere - and if you are looking for a Grecian gem, then there is an island just for you.

From gorgeous beach resorts, quaint towns, intense nightlife, excellent restaurants and many shops visitors, are sure to find Greece and its islands a truly captivating destination.

You can feel like you've taken a step back to olden times with some of the authentic villages, particularly those in the islands of Santorini, Lesbos, Lefkas and Corfu with their cobbled streets and white buildings and the slow pace of life.

Alternatively, modern life is all about a vibrant nightlife which you will find in Kavos in Corfu, Laganas in Zante or Kefalos in Kos. You will also find some trendy chic resorts like Skiathos Town. On mainland Greece the nightlife in Athens is simply buzzing and you will find plenty to do to keep you partying until dawn.

Greece has played such an important part to the culture, philosophy, science and art than just about any other Western society. The numerous ancient ruins and museums provide a look at what life used to be about. In Athens one of the popular sights is the Acropolis Parthenon ruins and its surrounding area.

Another excellent ancient site to visit is at Olympia where the Olympic Games originated. You will find Olympia in the Peloponnesus Valley, a distance of about 200 kms from Athens. You can visit the hippodrome and the temple of Zeus. In Greek Mythology, Delphi has Mount Parnassus which the Greeks believed to be the centre of the universe. The God Apollo is believed to have lived at Delphi.

With Greece you have the choice of resorts which are located on the Ionian Sea, Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, so you have plenty of opportunities on offer.

Greece Location

Greece is located in southern Europe and is surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas. Its closest neighbouring countries are Albania and Turkey.

Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea and the Libyan Sea. The groups of islands are called the Cyclades (Kythnos, Milos, and Mykonos), the Ionian Islands (Corfu, Kefalonia and Zante) and Dodecanese (Kos and Rhodes). Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean, and one of the most popular destinations for tourists.

Weather in Greece

Athens is well known for its hot and sunny climate. Rainfall is low and any rain that does fall is usually during the winter months which are considered to be between mid October to mid April. Winters are usually mild although it is not unknown for Athens to have some frosts. Showers may be heavy but generally do not last very long. The summer temperatures can reach a staggering 104°F (40ºC) and there is often little breeze to cool temperatures down, sometimes the atmosphere is smoggy because of the heat. Visiting Athens in the Spring or Autumn is better if you prefer cooler temperatures, but still pleasant.

By contrast, coastal areas around Greece often experience strong breezes coming from the Aegean, which can be a welcome relief to the heat in the Cities.

During July and August it is usual to experience a good 12 hours of sunshine per day

The weather on all the Greek Islands is good, with longer than average summer temperatures which start around end of April through to October. Sometimes, Crete has been known to have snowfall, particularly on the picturesque White Mountains.

Beaches in Greece

Greece has an abundance of beautiful beaches both on the mainland and on its islands. You will find some busy beaches with a great variety of water sports, scuba diving clubs, paragliding and plenty more. Greece's beaches have everything you could wish for so if you are looking for banana boats, jet skis and water ski-ing, or simply building sandcastles, you will find it in Greece.

Here is a selection of some of the best beaches:

Crete

Crete has some beautiful beaches with lots of activities and water sports. You can find some that are quiet and relaxing, if you prefer to keep away from the energetic sports.

Gouves has 3 beaches with water sports available. There are plenty of sun bathing facilities and if you feel like a change there is also a nearby water park where you can enjoy the experience of sun bathing and getting wet, whilst you brave the flumes and the rapid river ride.

Almyros beach at Aghios Nikolaos has a beautiful bay with azure blue calm seas. It has shallow water and is one of Crete's blue flag beaches.

Kos

Tingaki beach is fantastic. It has beautiful clean, white sand that just mixes in your toes as you walk across it. The beach is quiet, so you will always be able to find an isolated, undisturbed spot to sun bathe. There are some sun bathing facilities, and some gentle water sports like wind sailing, as this part of Kos benefits from warm, gentle breezes. The beach is gently shelving so is ideal for young children.

Paradise Beach, or Bubble Beach certainly lives up to its name. Bubble beach has active volcanic jets so the water is like a Jacuzzi. It is a very strange phenomenon that is well worth a visit. It has beautiful soft golden sand and a variety of water sports.

Kefalonia

Myrtos beach is an idyllic beach, with soft golden sand and crystal clear waters. It is considered one of the best beaches of Kefalonia and has featured in many photographs. Surrounded by the cliffs, it is also well sheltered. Sun beds and parasols are available and there is a snack bar on the beach.

Rhodes

Kremasti beach area provides a place of long stay, in other words you can easily spend your days here lounging and lazing with a good book, or you can take part in any of the organised water sports that are available. The beach is long and never seems too crowded and there are plenty of tavernas and snack bars nearby.

Skiathos

The beach at Asselinos remains unspoilt and therefore never gets too crowded. It is on the northern coast and easily reached by car. Facilities are simple, but there is a taverna at the back of the beach to provide you with essential food and drink.

Agia Paraskevi is a long beach on the southern coast. There are water sports, sunbathing facilities are available for hire and a couple of beach bars that serve food and drink.

Zante

Laganas Beach is large and sandy, the beach gently shelves into the sea so it is safe for young children. There are some pedalloes you can hire and a wide range of water sports are available. Part of the beach is protected for the loggerhead turtles which nest here, so you will not have access to all parts of the beach.

Corfu

At Paleokastrista there are six small bays so you will never find it too busy on any particular one. The bays are surrounded by forests of pine and citrus which keep it well sheltered, and even somewhat secluded. The sea is crystal azure blue and very clean, absolutely ideal for families with young children. Diving and snorkelling is popular here around some of the larger rocks which sit just outside the shoreline.

Sidari beach is sandy, it is very soft and fine and ideal for making all those sandcastles. There is some beach entertainment and a variety of organised water sports. The waters are shallow which make them perfect for young children and scuba divers and snorkellers will be in their element around the marvelous rock formations.

Lesvos (Mytiline)

On the island of Lesvos you will find a good selection of beaches. Some are purely for relaxing with a good book if you want, or others have a wide range of water sports and wind surfing facilities.

Naxos

Naxos has some of the best beaches of the Greek Islands. Its capital, Chora has a beach at Agios Georgios, there is a fine sandy beach at Kastraki and Mikri Viglia. Take advantage of the meltemia breezes to enjoy windsurfing at its best.

Santorini

As Santorini had volcanic activity thousands of years ago, its beaches have an unusual mixture of white, red, or black sand.

Sifnos

Sifnos has some magnificent beaches, slightly quieter than some of the other Greek Islands. They offer magnificent opportunities for swimming, scuba diving, snorkelling and sunbathing. The beach at Vathi is one of the best of the island.

If you wish to sunbathe topless, this is not a problem and is perfectly acceptable on all of Greece's beaches. In some quieter locations you can find naturist beaches.

Car Hire in Greece

In Greece the road signs are international and modern. Care should be taken as a lot of the roads are very narrow and winding. Always carry your driving license, passport and car rental agreement because if you are unlucky enough to be stopped by the police, you could face a fine for not having one of these documents. In Greece you drive on the right and the speed limit is 80 kph (62mph) for cars on national highways; 70 kph (44 mph) on country roads and 50 kph (31mph) in towns. Seatbelts must be worn and crash helmets for motorcyclists are compulsory. Beware of any stray goats, sheep or even pot holes. Most major car rental firms operate throughout Greece. An International Driving Permit Traffic is required by non-EU citizens. A national driving license is acceptable for EU citizens. Traffic drives on the right. The minimum age for driving is 18. Seat belts must be worn. Children under 10 must sit in the back seat. The maximum speed limit is 120kph (70mph) on motorways, 110kph (60mph) outside cities/towns and 50kph (31mph) inside cities/towns. It is illegal to carry spare petrol in a vehicle.

EU nationals may import a foreign-registered car, caravan, motorcycle, boat or trailer for a maximum of six months. This period may be extended to 15 months for a fee and further paperwork. EU nationals taking their own cars to Greece are advised to obtain a Green Card, to top up the insurance coverage provided by the car owner's domestic policy.

Transfers From The Airport in Greece

Arriving at a foreign airport can often be a strenuous affair and with most customers traveling independently these days having a pre-booked airport transfer is an essential part of your holiday package. Local taxis at the airport can sometimes be limited or with long queues, by booking a pre-booked you can not only make a fantastic saving on your transfer but also avoid all the stress of queues and haggling with taxi drivers. Book your airport transfer service here now >>

Airport Shuttle Bus Service in Greece

In most of our gateway airports you can pre-book an Airport Shuttle Service. This is a pre-booked only service that operates between the relevant airport and holiday resort. In normal times you can expect to wait up to 30 minutes for your shuttle bus to arrive however as this is a pre-negotiated service and only available to participating travel companies then expect to pay far less to get from the airport to your destination accommodation than other traditional forms or transport such as local taxis. Book your airport shuttle service here now>>

Shopping in Greece

You will find shopping in Greece is a sheer delight with its many trendy shopping malls. You will be able to buy almost everything you could wish for including trendy fashions from some top designers along with crafts, food, wine, lace, copperware, jeweler, crystal, linen and items that have been hand painted such as pottery and ceramics.

There are some trendy designer boutiques with trendy prices also, but you will be able to find bargains if you look hard enough. Some of the best buys are to be had at the local street markets, where you will find all the above items plus more, such as souvenirs. You will also be able to buy fruit, vegetables, cheeses and meat produce at the markets and you will find the quality is extremely good. The locals usually shop at the markets, so as well as the experience of shopping you will be able to see what local life is like in Greece, as a market is a big event and not just a means to an end.

If you go to Athens to do some shopping, it is like going to Paris or New York. In the winter months you will find some fantastic bargains. Each of the Greek Islands have their own unique product that will remind you of your holiday. Ioannina produces silverware, Sifnos and Skopelos produce ceramics, rugs called flokati originate from the Epirus region and embroidery and lace are part of the specialities from Crete, Rhodes, Skiros and the Ionian Islands.

In Athens, the old quarter called Plaka is around the Acropolis which has one of the best flea markets. Its other shops selling crafts lead along small narrow alleyways which will take you to some tavernas and cafes.

An attractive shopping street is in Pandrossou which is pedestrianised, and sells all sorts of items like slippers, onyx goods, dolls in costumes and much more. Another fine shopping street is Andrianou.

Everyday at Monastiraki there is a flea market which has an authentic feel with a traditional atmosphere. Some of the best buys can be had at a street market. Corfu Town has a big market on a Saturday morning, as does Heraklion and on Wednesday mornings there is a market in Aghios Nikolaos.

Kos has a market twice a week in Zipari, which sells many home grown produce. The market days are Wednesdays and Saturdays.

In Rhodes you will find a fantastic market in Zefiros Street. The produce market is usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays, whilst the other street market that sells anything and everything is in Mandraki. You will also find a street bazaar in Rhodes Old Town.

Eating Out in Greece

Like most Mediterranean countries, Greece enjoys simple, but wholesome food that tastes delicious. A normal Greek diet doesn't usually consist of fast food or convenience type food. They like their own locally produced fruit, salad and vegetables which are picked and cooked extremely fresh.

They cook with olive oil, grown locally and make some tasty salad dressings which are low fat and high in nutrients, as is locally produced tomatoes either in puree, pulp or cooked whole. Stuffed tomatoes with vine leaves are a popular choice at some Greek restaurants. Stuffed vine leaves are called Dolmades. Mousaka is a popular Greek dish which is served with meat, aubergines, potatoes and topped with a delicious white sauce.

Another popular local dish is called avgolemono which consists of chicken broth, rice, eggs, salt and lemon juice.

Avocado dishes are popular, particularly served with tomato and mint. Eggplants are usually on most Greek menus. Feta cheese is widely used in many countries around the world, particularly as a garnish for Mediterranean salads.

You will find Kleftiko, Baked Lamb, Bekri meze and Giouvetsi (veal) typical menus at a lot of the traditional Greek restaurants. Souvlaki is also a traditional meal, this is a kebab with small pieces of meat and vegetables.

Meze is a well known dish internationally as a starter, sometimes served with keftedes which are nice and spicy meatballs. Served with tzatziki which is a dip of yoghurt, olive oil, garlic and cucumber. Taramasalata is another popular starter, this is made from fish roe, bread, onions, olive oil and lemon juice. Often you will find a selection of seafood dishes such as kalamari (squid) and octopus.

Vegetarian menus are available, and usually have gigantes which are large white beans, small boiled courgette flavoured with oil and lemon. Olives are cheap and grown locally so they are served extremely fresh.

A filo pastry desert which is filled with an almond and honey sauce is very rich and sweet, but delicious. Loukoumade which is honey drizzled pastry puffs are very popular and again very sweet.

Retsina is a famous Greek wine, rather specially made with pine needle resin. Ouzo is a locally produced spirit which is a clear aniseed liquor similar to French pastis, you can add water to Ouzo if you prefer. Brandy is produced locally but, be warned it is not as smooth as you might be used to. A typical Greek beer is like Pilsner.

Greek coffee is usually served strong.

Nightlife in Greece

There are many towns in Greece which is well known for an active nightlife. Athens has a wide choice of tavernas and Greek bars. Evening performances take place of musical events at the Odeion of Herodes in Attica. If you enjoy Greek music, called bouzouki then you can find many venues offering this type of evening.

Around the Greek islands you will find a diverse mixture of nightlife. In Corfu there are places you can go, such as Acharavi, Agios Stefanos, Kommeno Bay, Peroulades and more where you will not find anything noisy, just traditional Greek tavernas and restaurants. But if you are looking for more entertainment and something a bit more lively then head to Corfu Town, Gouvia, Kavos,Roda, Ipsos, and Dassia. At these resorts you will find an abundance of bars, and clubs all playing popular music and offering a choice of beer, wine and cocktails.

In Crete, Heraklion has its fair share of nightlife: there are a range of clubs, discos and bars that stay open until the early hours, playing a mixture of R & B music or the latest popchart records. Hersonissos in the newer part of the town is where you will find an abundance of cafes, restaurants, bars, disco bars and even typical English pubs selling pints!

In Kos most of the nightlife is centred around Kos Town where there are two streets in particular where you will find plenty going on: Diakon Street and Nafklirou Street. Nightlife is simply buzzing at Kardamena: it is where club lovers enjoy a full night of party atmosphere. You will have a good choice of places to go to find entertainment including English style pubs, tavernas, restaurants, bars playing live music and clubs.

In Zante the places where nightlife is lively is Laganas, Kalamaki and Argassi. You will find plenty of choices depending upon your taste and what you like from English type pubs, tavernas, restaurants and nightclubs.

In Rhodes, Faliraki has earned a wild reputation night where there is an abundance of clubs, bars and pubs. Rhodes Town is also popular so you won't go wrong with a visit to these resorts after dark.

All that said, all around Greece and its islands you can find a quieter pace of life, where you can enjoy a typical Greek dish in a friendly and welcoming taverna and all the ambiance and atmosphere that goes with it.

The Greek people enjoy their dancing, and a night listening and participating with them in their customary dances, is a night that is packed full of fun and laughter.

You can find cinemas, bowling alleys and open air musical and theatrical events, which take place at many of the larger towns in Greece, and its Islands.