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Information on Greece

A popular tourist destination, Greece offers a popular combination of sunshine, incredible islands, a number of historical sites, and a vivacious culture.

Athens is home to the Acropolis, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. At the heart is the breathtaking and recently restored Parthenon. Also impressive, the Erechtheion once contained the controversial Elgin Marbles. Athens is full of other amazing attractions, including the massive Ancient Theatre of Dionysos and the remarkable Propylaia Gate. Additional famous sights are Zeus’ Temple, the Panathenaic Stadium (site of the first Olympic games), and National Archaeological Museum.

Mountainous northern Greece is the site of the Meteora monasteries, a UNESCO World Heritage site. More to the north, the region of Zagoria has some inaccessible mountain villages with well preserved Turkish culture. Mount Olympus is Greeces tallest mountain at 2,917m.

Nearby Athens, the Peloponnese peninsula is scenically diverse. It is home to the historically important ancient settlement of Corinth, as well as the ancient sites at Epidaurus and Mycenae. An intriguing sight is the ghostly city of Mystras, looking down from the slopes of Mt Taygetos.

Although they are often crowded, the Saronic Gulf islands – Hydra, Poros, Salamis, Aegina and Spetses – are the nearest to Athens. Alternatively, it is a slightly longer ferry ride to the attractive Sporades archipelago, consisting of Skiathos, Skyros, Skopelos and Alonnisos. Also worth visiting, the Cyclades are about five hours away by ferry. Santorini (Thira), Mykonos, Paros, Ios, Andros and Naxos all have different atmospheres.

Much farther away, along the Turkish coast, the Dodecanese islands are well worth the long ferry ride for their rich history and culture. The two most popular and developed islands are Rhodes and Patmos. Crete is a bigger island, situated in the extreme southern Aegean. Other Greek islands include the isolated and somewhat exclusive northeastern collection of Samos, Chios, Ikaria, Lesvos, Limnos, Samothraki and Thasos.

The famous Ionian islands, along Greece’s western coast in the Ionian Sea, can be accessed by car with ferry links from Italy. Corfu (Kerkyra) is the most famous, and therefore crowded, island in the chain. It is beautiful and boasts a good mix of lively resorts and serene villages, with many ancient ruins. Paxi, Ithaki and Kefallonia are somewhat quieter, while Lefkada offers stunning natural scenery. ' '
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