Greece

Greece is a land of rich cultural heritage, considered the capital of literature, art, philosophy and politics as well as architectural wonders. Situated in the Mediterranean in Southeast Europe, with Athens as its capital it is composed of both mainland and numerous islands. The official language is Greek, although most of the younger generation speaks English, German, French and Italian.

Strewn amidst the calm turquoise waters of the Ionian and Aegean Seas are 1,400 islands, every one of which has its own history. The islands makeup one fifth of Greece’s surface area, here one may find peaceful beaches, medieval fortified towns, dramatic cliffs plunging into the sea all scattered with typical whitewashed houses with cubic forms.

In Athens one can explore the city’s rich architectural heritage with the Parthenon and Delphi’s Temple of Apollo amongst other numerous sites, while on the island of Crete the magnificent Minoan city of Knossos is a must.

Greece offers something for everyone, including those seeking sports activities both on water and land, with sailing, scuba diving, hiking and mountain bike riding. The islands offer superb conditions for all water sports, while the rugged mountainous landscapes offer a myriad of trails to explore on foot or on wheels.

Greece has a warm Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The summer winds on the islands help alleviate the very hot summer temperatures that can get very hot in the Athens area. The rainy season goes from November to March.

  • 10

    Acropolis of Athens

    The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon.

  • 8

    Ancient Acropolis of Sami, Kefalonia Island

    Ancient Sami was a powerful fortified town whose ruins are found in Lapitha Mountain, over the port town of Sami Kefalonia. This town was an autonomous and independent state with its own coin inhabited from the Paleolithic Times.

  • 4

    Archaeological Site of Aigai (Vergina)

    The city of Aigai, the ancient first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia, was discovered in the 19th century near Vergina, in northern Greece. The most important remains are the monumental palace, lavishly decorated with mosaics and painted stuccoes, and the burial ground with more than 300 tumuli, some of which date from the 11th century B.C.

  • 3

    Argassi Bridge (Venetian Bridge of Argassi), Zakynthos Island

    Argassi Bridge is built at the outfall of a river and is today ruined, located 10 metres from the seashore, in the small harbour of Argassi. Almost half of the bridge, which used to be part of the main road, is now resting on the shore and the other half is immersed in the sea.

  • 2

    Atheronissi Island, Kefalonia Island

    Atheronissi is a small rocky island with gorses and wild goats. According to legend, Poseidon (god of the sea), on seeing Odysseus's return, was furious and turned to stone the Faeacians ship.

  • 3

    Avithos Lake, Kefalonia Island

    Lake Avithos in Kefalonia has been a mystery both for visitors and scientists for many years. The mystery was resolved and the answer was surprisingly simple.

  • 2

    Cape Keri, Zakynthos Island

    Cape Keri is a place on the island of Zakynthos mostly extended to the south. Most characteristic points are two rocks protruding from the sea and the lighthouse.

  • 6

    Cave of the Apocalypse, Patmos

    The Cave of the Apocalypse is situated about halfway up the mountain on the Aegean island of Patmos, along the road between the villages of Chora and Skala.

  • 10

    Church of Prophet Elijah

    The Church of Prophet Elijah is a 14th-century church in Thessaloniki, Greece, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • 10

    Church of St. Catherine

    The Church of Saint Catherine is a late Byzantine church in the northwestern corner of the old city of Thessaloniki, Greece. The church dates to the Palaiologan period, but its exact dating and original dedication are unknown.

  • 8

    Church of St. Nicholas Orphanos

    The Church of Saint Nicholas Orphanos is an early 14th-century Byzantine church in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki.

  • 10

    Church of St. Panteleimon

    The Church of Saint Panteleimon is a late Byzantine church in Thessaloniki, Greece, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • 3

    Church of the Acheiropoietos

    The Church of the Acheiropoietos is a 5th-century Byzantine church in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. It is located in the city's centre, at Agias Sofias street opposite Makedonomachon square.

  • 4

    Dafni Beach, Zakynthos Island

    Unlike other beaches in the area, the road to Dafni is very bumpy and in pretty bad condition. It also goes on for quite a distance and there is a sharp descent near the end. At the bottom you find the pleasant beach of Dafni.

  • 4

    Daphni Monastery

    Daphni or Dafni is an 11th-century Byzantine monastery 11 km north-west of central Athens in the suburb of Chaidari, south of Athinon Avenue (GR-8A). It is situated near the forest of the same name, on the Sacred Way that led to Eleusis. The forest covers about 15 to 20 km².

  • 10

    Delos

    The island of Delos, near Mykonos, near the centre of the Cyclades archipelago, is one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece.

  • 10

    Delphi

    Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis. In myths dating to the classical period of Ancient Greece (510-323 BC), the site of Delphi was believed to be determined by Zeus when he sought to find the centre of his "Grandmother Earth" (Ge, Gaea, or Gaia).

  • 10

    Erechtheion

    The Erechtheion or Erechtheum is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece which was dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon. The temple as seen today was built between 421 and 406 BCE.

  • 2

    Gerogompos Lighthouse, Kefalonia Island

    At a crossing after the village of Havriata, on a country lane that looks a lot like tundra with no trees, only stones, shrub and a constant wind, one can find a historical, well-designed lighthouse of international value. It is located near Cape Gerogompos.

  • 10

    Hagia Sophia

    The Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki, Greece, is one of the oldest churches in that city still standing today. It is one of several monuments in Thessaloniki included as a World Heritage Site on the UNESCO list.

  • 7

    Hagios Demetrios

    The Church of Saint Demetrius, or Hagios Demetrios, is the main sanctuary dedicated to Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of Thessaloniki (in Central Macedonia, Greece), dating from a time when it was the second largest city of the Byzantine Empire.

  • 4

    Heraion of Samos

    The Heraion of Samos was a large sanctuary to the goddess Hera, in the southern region of Samos, Greece, 6 km southwest of the ancient city, in a low, marshy river basin near the sea.

  • 5

    Historic Centre (Chora), Patmos

    The Historic Centre (Chora) with the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Patmos.

  • 2

    Holy Monastery of St. Stephen, Meteora

    The Holy Monastery of St. Stephen is one of the most attainable as we don’t have to cope with innumerable stairs to reach it. The small single-nave church of St. Stephen was built in the middle of 16th and decorated in 1545 or a little later.