Greece is considered the tourism capital of Europe. Situated on the Confluence of the Aegean, Mediterranean and Ionian seas, Greece has a history and culture that is steeped in its maritime past. As a result all of Europe and much of the rest of the world holidays in Greece. However this domination of the tourist dollar is being chipped away at by countries like Spain, Italy and even Croatia.
Things to see and do in Greece
Greece offers many types of vacations. Group Vacations If you are young and looking for fun then Greece can cater for you. Young people, group travel packages and backpacking packages are well represented in Greece. However pre-booking is not always essential, especially if you are coming before the beginning or after the end of the main tourist season. These types of spontaneous holidays can often be more rewarding, especially to the younger traveller who is willing to put up with a little bit of hardship. As a bonus these types of trips can be cheaper. Historical travel – Greece has a long and well documented history. Much has been bequeathed to the modern world by the ancient Greeks. Mathematics, logic, democracy, drama, philosophy, medicine, the Olympics, justice system, the study of history (Herodotus) are some examples. Many of the sites and towns were these fundamentals of modern life were developed are still in use or are ancient monuments that can be visited. Very few countries can match Greece for this type of historical tourism. Some ancient sites that must be visited are below
- The Parthenon (Acropolis) which is located in Athens.
- Temple of Delphi which is located at the Southern slopes of Parnassos, near the modern city of Delphi.
- Olympia is the birth place of the Olympic games and is situated at the western end of the Peloponnese peninsula. However almost anywhere you go in Greece there is an ancient monument or ruin.
The Greek Isles– We cannot talk about Greece without mentioning the islands. The beaches and views on the islands of Greece are some of the most amazing on earth. Few things on earth create more wonder in the human mind than sitting on a hotel balcony in Santorini and looking across the great caldera to the still very active island of Thera. It is one of those life experiences that can change you. The real threat of danger posed by the steaming volcano, contrasted with the peaceful surrounding of the island itself leaves a real impression on ones soul. Other islands, in no particular order as they are all spectacular and have their own charm are,
- Mykonos – known for its lively night life.
- Corfu – wonderful historical sites and lively night and day life.
- Rhodes – Shaped like a spearhead it is one of Greece’s largest islands.
- Crete – The largest and most populous of the Greek isles.
There are many more and some of the littler ones are real gems, so search them out to complete that holiday of a lifetime.
Travelling around and to Greece
Getting to Greece is easy there is any number of airlines offering cheap flights to Athens. However if you have the time then a driving holiday is a great way to experience the wonders of this great nation. Car rental is relatively painless in Greece; all the larger established car rental companies have a presence here. Even when island hoping, a car is a good option. Most of the islands are serviced by large passenger and car ferries and although the roads on some of the islands can be a little rough, in general the roads and byways of Greece are well maintained. make sure you get a good road map of Greece.
Some interesting facts about Greece
The capital is Athens. Greece has a population of 11.3 million people and a land mass of a 132,000 square kilometres. It is bordered by the countries of Albania, Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaira and Turkey,