I attempted to organize it so that people would not get lost so easily and even though some say it is fun to be lost, occasionally you need a place to come back to and get your bearings. View Chapters Hide Chapters. Beneath the majestic facades of the many venerable landmarks, the city is teeming with life and creativity. Peppered with ancient ruins (try Delos), mystical castles (head to Naxos), lush scenery and dramatic coastlines (visit Milos), the islands are spread like Greek jewels across the sea. Taste-test your way through the city’s zaharoplasteia (patisseries) for Ottoman-inspired sweets. Greece - Plan your trip (PDF Chapter) Details. How Greece is rethinking its once bustling tourism industry. Wander along the top of the city’s walls, with the sea on one side and a bird’s-eye view into this living museum. For a more authentic Greek atmosphere, the islands of the East and North Aegan are worth visiting. November 2020. The Argo-Saronic Islands, just a stone’s throw from Athens, are the perfect destination for multi-stop holiday. Useful info, unmissable tourist sites, hotels and restaurants - Greece Useful info, unmissable tourist sites, hotels and restaurants - Greece There is the picture postcard Greece, with its antique ruins and paradisiac islands, and the other, more intimate country, characterised by a relaxed lifestyle and hospitable inhabitants. Soulful rembetika (blues songs) serenade the cobbled streets, while cocktail bars and nightclubs abound and swing deep into the night. Ancient sun-bleached ruins pierce blue skies as the Aegean laps at the endless coastline. Generally, though, you’ll find the weather less predictable and you might encounter some storms in October, particularly in the west or in the mountains. 7 Bell Yard, London WC2A 2JR, United Kingdom Head up to the hill for a trip to ancient Greece. The magnificent Acropolis looms over Athens, dominating almost every view. Driving in Greece can be a joy, thanks to spectacular mountain scenery and picturesque coastal roads – just remember to drive on the right. Waistlines be damned: Crete is the perfect place to indulge. Once the centre of anti-Ottoman resistance and later a shelter for Allied soldiers, this tranquil building offers magnificent views. Greece Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources. No elements found. If you’re travelling around Greece as part of a bigger trip, Athens is a necessary stop. Can’t decide where to dine? Explore the ancient Knights’ Quarter, the old Jewish Quarter or the Hora (Turkish Quarter). Greece : prepare your stay with the Michelin Green Guide. Travel is subject to entry restrictions If you travel to Greece, you will need to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) at least 24 hours before travel. Below is my Greece Travel guide to help you plan your ideal itinerary including the best places in Greece (especially beaches, gorges, archeological sites...), road trip guides and plenty of photos and video to make you dream of your next trip! As hoards of holiday makers can attest, Greek summers are hot, hot, hot. I have been traveling or living in Greece since 1968. My Original Greek Travel Guide is a good way to introduce yourself to Greece with pages of information and links to even more pages of information. They are included here because they consistently find deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. The story of Corfu is written across the handsome facades of its main town’s buildings. The island’s Mediterranean diet is known for its health benefits but the farm-fresh produce, aromatic herbs, straight-from-the-ocean seafood, soft, tangy cheese and some of the world’s best virgin olive oil make it legendary. A flavourful melting pot of sparkling nightspots, fresh seafood, sizzling Mediterranean passion and mythical legend, Greece is a fascinating and enchanting destination. Tour the galleries of one of the country’s most artistically fertile locations and save time for the first-rate museums. Atop this historic citadel are the ruins of many ancient buildings; most over 2000 years old. Worshipped, feared and admired, they formed the basis for the ancient Greek religion until paganism was banned by the Romans in AD 391. They are the ones I use the most and are always the starting points in my search for travel deals. It cannot be overemphasized just how exigent Greek immigration officials have become on this issue. But don’t miss out on modern Athens: take some time to explore the city’s neighbourhoods and you’ll escape the crowds and experience the Athens that modern Athenians know and love. Northern Greece's Halkidiki stretches out into the Aegean like a fat fist with three enticing fingers of sand and sun-soaked bliss. Starting near Omalos and running down through an ancient riverbed to the Libyan Sea, it's home to soaring birds of prey and a dazzling array of wildflowers in spring. Flying is the easiest way to get to Greece, with the country boasting no fewer than 15 international airports. For the best weather without the crowds it attracts, June and September are lovely times to visit. You won’t regret a single saltwater-splashed second of it. How Greece is rethinking its once bustling tourism industry. Stay (mostly) on dry land with Cretan Odyssey to experience Crete beyond the beach resorts. And don’t miss out on a cup of strong, sweet Greek coffee at a kafenío, a traditional Greek coffee-house. Here's what you need to know about buying property around the Med. There are countless ways to travel Greece. Windsurfing is hugely popular around Greece. If you don’t have time to spare, a stay on Crete just might give you everything you could want in a Greek island and more, with its top notch beaches, remote spots and friendly people. Add to Cart. You can explore the region by hiking or mountain biking, or simply get cosy by the fire in one of the many rustic B&Bs dotting the region. You name it and Kefallonia does it. Here, the air is clear, fresh and cool, and the views astounding. Greece travel guide. Explore it early in the morning or soak up the view from a dinnertime terrace; no matter how you experience the Acropolis, you will be mesmerised by its beauty, history and sheer size. Travel to Greece in the mid-July to August peak season and you’ll find temperatures soaring into the mid 30s, along with crowds of tourists and domestic Greek holiday makers. Winds can make for nauseous sailing in July and August, when you’ll also find far higher prices and crowded moorings. They vary from easy jaunts around the countryside to serious rides up proper mountains. During winter it may be your only option, as direct flights to some islands only operate during the summer months. Greece is a charming, laid-back country, and travelling the Greek Islands has been one of my favourite travel experiences. The island comes to life with fireworks, dancing in the streets, goats roasted outdoors and plenty of ouzo. Beyond the town, Corfu is lush green mountains, rolling countryside and dramatic coastlines. $4.95 USD. Depending on how much time you have, it’s best to pick one group of islands to explore (or to sit back and relax on). Greece Travel Guide. Greece remains a premier-league travel destination despite the battering its economy has received in recent years. Visitors from non-EU countries are currently not, in practice, being given extensions to tourist visas. Here, Rhodes and Kos, two of Greece’s largest and most-visited islands, are the stars of the show. per chapter. It shares borders in the north with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Of course, you must get your Classical Greek fix with visits to the Parthenon and Athens Archeological Museum. If you’re travelling to one of the islands, taking a flight to Athens and catching the bus or ferry can be a cheaper route than flying direct. May and October are worth a trip for the lower prices and Crete and the Cyclades are arguably at their best in May. All rights reserved. Further north, Thessaloniki gives the capital a run for its money, with sophisticated restaurants, a buzzing nightlife and its own culture scene. Matt Barrett's entertaining Guide to Athens, Greece, makes visiting the city easy and makes planning fun with loads of great photos, restaurant, hotels reviews,things to see and questions answered by e-mail, Greece, Travel, Information Guide to Athens, Guidebook, The islands are really the jewel in Greece’s crown, though and a must when you visit Greece. November 5, 2020 CORONAVIRUS, FEATURED 24 Comments 20,558 Views. Although it can no longer be described as 'remote', the Mani holds a magic unlike anywhere else in Greece. Sampling the local cuisine is a highlight of any trip, but in Greece especially so. And best of all it remains remarkably unflustered by tourism. Add to Cart. UK and all other EU nationals need only a valid passport to enter Greece. Zeus, the lord of the heavens and supreme power; Hera, his wife and sister, goddess of fertility; Athena, the goddess of wisdom, patron of crafts and fearless warrior; Apollo, the god of music, of prophecy and the arts; his sister Artemis, the virgin huntress and goddess of childbirth; Poseidon, the god of the sea; beautiful Aphrodite, goddess of love and desire; Hermes, the messenger who leads the souls of the dead to the underworld; Hephaestus, the god of craftsmen; Ares, the god of war; Demeter, the goddess of crops and female fertility; and Dionysus, god of wine and intoxication. If you overstay your time and then leave under your own power – ie are not deported – you'll be hit with a huge fine upon departure, and possibly be banned from re-entering for a period of time; no excuses will be entertained except (just maybe) a doctor's certificate stating you were immobilized in hospital. Everyone approaches Hydra by sea. November, and for three weeks, until 30. Magnificent Meteora will leave you speechless. Below, sailboats, caïques (little boats) and megayachts fill Hydra’s quays while locals and vacationers fill the harbourside cafes. The white-gold houses of the tiny island's stunningly preserved stone village fill a natural cove and hug the edges of the surrounding mountains. You can’t visit Zakynthos without paying a visit to the beach that’s become the poster child for the whole of Greece. Take the tourist road less travelled with a trip around the Central Mainland or Northern Mainland, with brilliant mountain hiking and trekking opportunities as well as tonnes of history and the all-important spectacular beaches. Travel Coronavirus Coverage. Regal on its hilltop, the elegant Acropolis remains the quintessential landmark of Western civilisation. Here, a mere hour and a half from Athens, you’ll find a great cappuccino, rich naval and architectural history, and the raw sea coast beckoning you for a swim. Greek food is wide-ranging and delicious and restaurants (tavernas) are straightforward and good value. Thessaloniki has it all going on. Travel ideas, Events, guides, what to do, where to go in Greece. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME IN GREECE! Greece's best sights and local secrets, from travel experts you can trust. Switzerland. After mysteriously disappearing less than a thousand years later, their extraordinary wealth of frescoes, sculptures, jewellery and structures lay buried under the Cretan soil until the site’s excavation in the early 20th century. Galleries and clubs hold the exhibitions, performances and installations of the city’s booming arts scene. The tour to Greece was a pleasant surprise for me! There’s Classical Greece, where each stop will reveal something new about one of the world’s greatest civilisations. Soaring pillars of rock jut heavenward, a handful complete with monasteries perched on their summits. Shelve your ideals of a peaceful Greek holiday and join in the fun on Mykonos, where the beaches are lovely and lively and the nightlife is second to none. Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates. Greece - Athens & Around (PDF Chapter) Details. Explore the Sporades from Skiathos; set out from Athens for the Argo-Saronic islands and north Peloponnese coast; or sail around Corfu and the Ionian. Fancy a villa by the sea, or an apartment in a vibrant Mediterranean city? Read . Welcome to Greece Travel for 2020, my 25th Season of writing my Greece Travel Guides. In these hidden corners your imagination will take off with flights of medieval fancy. Nearby, the Sacred Way meanders past the Temple of Apollo where prophecies were uttered that sent armies to battle and made lovers swoon. Here’s all you need to know about getting to Greece. Beaches don’t get much prettier than this. Navagio, better known as Shipwreck Bay, has a spectacular cliff drop, white sands, turquoise waters and – you guessed it – its very own shipwreck. Greece travel guide 14th Edition Mar 2020. As hoards of holiday makers can attest, Greek summers are hot, hot, hot. For centuries, the feuding families here were literally a law unto themselves and this has contributed to the unique Maniot culture. Beginning July 1, 2020, the Greek government has determined how the country will welcome travellers, carry out the necessary diagnostic screening and keep everyone safe throughout the season. Travel to Greece in the mid-July to August peak season and you’ll find temperatures soaring into the mid 30s, along with crowds of tourists and domestic Greek holiday makers. The difference to the first lockdown in … If you’re starting in the US, there are direct flights to Athens from New York and Philadelphia. All sorts of bareboat and flotilla yacht trips are on offer, while dinghies, small cats and motor boats can be rented at many resorts. It’s not just for the beautiful views either, but for the food, beaches, wonderful people, and the plethora of history. If you are looking for travel inspiration, visitgreece.gr has everything you need to know. Buses are plentiful all over Greece, and they’ll get you around all the primary routes on the mainland, with a more basic operation on the islands. Top image: The Parthenon on The Acropolis, Athens © Lucky-photographer/Shutterstock. Your passport must be valid for three months after your arrival date. From lightning storms to schoolwork, here's what it's like to live on a boat with your family and travel the world by sea. You’ll find accommodation in Greece to fit whatever budget you’re on, though prices will vary depending on the time of year you travel. To help you narrow it down, we’ve put together four possible routes which should each last around two weeks. They are advised to avoid nonessential travel to areas with a local COVID-19 transmission. While Greece travel isn't as well-known for diving as the nearby Red Sea in Egypt, there is still some spectacular diving and enough locations to keep a true dive enthusiast busy. Read the Fodor's reviews, or post your own. Sunset at Oia on Santorini island © DigitalHand Studio/Shutterstock. Welcome to Matt's Greece Travel Guide: Hi. Life in Athens is a magnificent mash-up of both the ancient and the contemporary. Today, only three columns remain of the magnificent sanctuary, but that's enough to let your imagination soar. Summer heat can be fierce, but spring and autumn offer great riding conditions. For yachting, spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons. After passing through a seemingly endless array of tunnels, the Egnatia Odos Hwy brings you into rugged Epiros, home of the Pindos Mountains and the Zagorohoria – an immaculately preserved region of traditional villages spread along the ridges of Europe’s deepest canyon, the Vikos Gorge. There is no airport, there are no cars. The Greek seashore offers endless scope for watersports, from waterskiing and parasailing to yachting and windsurfing. The country has long held appeal for travellers who flock to its shores to lounge on beaches, explore ancient relics and take advantage of the legendary Grecian hospitality. While it's a late bloomer in the modern age and retains echoes of a simpler, time-passed world, contemporary Greece has one of Europe's fastest-changing cultural landscapes. The Mani’s footpaths and landscape beckon hikers from around the world. During this time it has become one of the most popular travel sites on the web with all sorts of free information that you would have to otherwise search for. Our sailing picks? It’s even more stunning in spring, when wild flowers bloom all over the valley. Go tailor-made! Watching the sunset across Santorini’s famous caldera is up there on most lists of things to do before you die. Early morning is a magical time at Delphi, as the sun's rays pour over the Sanctuary of Athena Pronea. Ships in 1-2 business days. The train system, meanwhile, is limited and is often a slower option than taking the bus. The journey takes around 2 days from London to Athens, or you could combine it with a bigger trip as part of an InterRail or Eurail pass. Find out more about the best time to travel to Greece. Whether it’s a bowl of snails, fresh artichokes, mussels or figs, the essence of this rustic cuisine is a balance of flavours. It will give you an idea of what things will cost while you’re in Greece, what entrance fees you can expect to pay to tourist sites, where you’ll find all the embassies, useful Greek phone numbers and lots more. Built as early as the 14th century, these were home to hermit monks fleeing persecution. The historical significance of this site is both humbling and inspiring. Mezedhes like tzatzíki and souvláki and chops are always reliable choices, while seafood can be one of the highlights of a trip to Greece. Don’t think the Greek islands hold the country’s only beautiful beaches: the long, sandy stretches of the Peloponnese are well worth a visit and easily accessible from the mainland. Take a look at all our Greek itineraries here. The Greek calendar is chock-full of festivals and holidays, but the biggest event of the Greek Orthodox Church is Easter. The atmosphere at the site of the first Olympics is almost mythical. 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