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Greece has traditionally been one of the most popular tourist
destinations on a global basis and each year, particularly in
the summer months, the nation's numerous cosmopolitan islands
get crammed by millions of international visitors. Unparalleled
natural beauties, golden beaches, idyllic sunsets, a legendary
nightlife and the world famous Greek cuisine combined with a
unique hospitality and an impressively developing tourism infrastracture
make Greece an irresistible hotspot for many. The spectacular
success of the 2004 Olympic Games boosted the country's international
prestige even further and reaffirmed its status as one of the
safest places to be. In 2004, Greece ranked 12th in terms of
international tourist arrivals when more than 14.2 million visitors
came to the country, many of which combining both vacations
and attendance of Olympic athletic events. In 2005, however,
those numbers increased by 14%, surpassing 16.1 million arrivals.
In 2006, those figures are only expected to grow bigger.
Apart from Athens, other top ranking tourist destinations include
the islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Corfu, Paros,
Ios, Kos, Kefallonia, Zakynthos and Hydra as well as the northern
Halkidiki peninsula.
Culture
Greece has a particularly rich culture and it has produced a
vast number of contributions to philosophy, astronomy, science,
and the arts.
When to go
Conditions are perfect between Easter and mid-June - beaches
and ancient sites are relatively uncrowded; public transport
operates on close to full schedules; and accommodation is cheaper
and easier to find than in the mid-June to end of August high
season. Conditions are once more ideal from the end of August
until mid-October, as the season winds down. Winter is pretty
much a dead loss outside the major cities as most of the tourist
infrastructure goes into hibernation from the middle of October
till the beginning of April. This is slowly changing, however;
on the most touristy islands, a few restaurants, hotels and
bars remain open year-round.
Major Tourist Destinations
Athens
The capital of Greece is the city of the Olympic Idea, the
city of culture, of science and commerce. A city with ancient
monuments like Acropolis, the inimitable ancient monument and
landmark of Greece, museums, lively tradition districts like
Plaka and numerous sights. These are some of the reasons that
make Athens worth visiting.Some of the major attractions are
The Acropolis hill,Temples of The Acropolis, National Archaelogical
Museum, Lycabettos Hill,Sounion - Temple of Poseidon.
Mykonos
Mykonos is the most famous island in the Aegean Sea as well
as the most cosmopolitan of all Greek islands. It attracts visitors
from all over the world including a lot of celebrities. The
beautiful golden sandy beaches, the lively atmosphere and the
traditional cycladic architecture represented by the numerous
small churches and the houses, along with little Venice make
Mykonos an island to remember.
Santorini
Santorini is a beautiful island, located at the south end of
the Cyclades island complex. In the 15th c BC a volcano erupted
and the center of the island collapsed into the sea forming
the caldera. The black beaches, the precipice surrounding the
caldera, the twisted, colourful rocks and the steep cliffs all
give the island a distinctive quality. Its best know products
are its wines – some of the best wines worldwide and its small
tomatoes grown virtually without water. The climate is mild
and dry. During the summer temperature is between 25- 35 degrees.
The island capital of Santorini, Fira clings to the edge of
a cliff, which is, in fact, the rim of the carter. The town's
archaeological museum is crammed with finds from excavations
at Akrotiri. Santorini has magnificent beaches, created by the
volcano, where the sand is black, red, or white and the sea
is deep blue and crystal clear. The impact of tourism has made
itself felt in Santorini, judging from the abundance of hotels,
shops and taverns.
Corfu
Corfu is the second largest island of the Eptanissa (the seven
islands). Elegant architecture, sun beaches, nightlife and fine
cuisine all contribute to attracting visitors from all over
the world. You will find ancient Greek and Roman remains, old
churches, museums, medieval villages and of course the Venetian
forts. Its crystal waters, picturesque bays, the sandy or rocky
beaches and the lush vegetation entice you to wander further.
Corfu enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with summers that
are hot and dry, while winters are mild and wet with the average
temperature around 10 degrees Celsius. Spring comes to the island
in February, and weather warm enough for swimming continues
until early November. The exquisite island of ancient Pheakon
entirely meets the desires and the needs of even the most demanding
visitor. The island's size permits its visitors to choose the
most suitable spot for a holiday.
Ios
The island of Ios lies between Naxos and Santorini. The ground
is mountainous and the only greenery is found in vineyards and
olive groves. A picturesque island, with beautiful sandy beaches,
clean seas and hundreds chapels. The pretty Hora is the capital
of the island while Ormos is the island's port. Ios is known
for its very active nightlife and thus attracts mostly young
persons. Local tradition maintains that one of the graves found
in the archaeological site in the vicinity of Plakotos was none
other than Homer's.
Olympia
One of the most important sanctuaries of antiquity, dedicated
to the father of the gods Olympian Zeus. Olympia is the birthplace
of the Olympic games, which were first held here in 776 BC to
honor Zeus. The Olympic games where ceased in 393 AD after an
edict issued by Theodosius the Great and were revived for the
first Time, after fifteen centuries in 1896 in the all-marble
Stadium of Athens.
Hydra
The town, which is the center of the whole island, is built
around its port. To the right and to the left from the entrance
of the port, there are the parapets with the canons, which protected
the city. It is probably the only place where cars, motorbikes
and bicycles are prohibited, transfers are being made only by
donkeys, water taxis, speed boats and your own feet. Hydra is
an island of unique beauty due to its architecture, with its
small alleys and its beautiful stone mansions with their yards
and small gardens and its 360 churches. Along with the historical
back round of the island Hydra has become an important tourist
center of Greece, known for offering quiet life to its visitors
during the day and exciting nightlife starting from the restaurants,
to bars and discos either with Greek or foreign music. The rocky
beaches along with the blue waters give a wild beauty to Hydra.
Naxos
Naxos is the largest of the Cycladic islands with high mountains,
fertile valleys, sandy beaches and charming villages. Naxos
or “Chora” is the capital and the port of the island, one of
the most beautiful towns of the cycladic islands. Among its
many landmarks are the imposing Portara on Palatia islet, the
Castle and the famous Kouros. Don't miss to visit the Archaeological
Museum. Naxos has a typical Mediterranean weather with summers
that are hot and dry, while winters are mild and wet. Its famous
locally produced products are a various kinds of cheeses like
xynotiro, kefalotiri and athotiro, Citron liqueur and Honey.
It's picturesque villages and beautiful beaches are worth a
visit. In the summer there are also one-day excursions to the
smaller islands, Koufonisia, Irakleia and Donousa, of the Eastern
Cyclades.
Rhodes
Rhodes is the furthest south eastern island of Greece and the
largest island of the Dodecanes, a complex of islands in the
south of the Aegean Sea. It is a very popular, cosmopolitan
island, where both Venetian and Turkish influence are apparent,
giving it a special charm. The continual sunshine - an average
300 days of sunshine a year, the mild climate and the geographical
position are the main factors that Rhodes was inhabited already
in prehistoric Times. The city is divided in two. The new city
with its modern buildings, hotels, fashionable and traditional
shops and numerous restaurants and the medieval walled city,
full of impressive 15th century buildings. Rhodes is a big island
with a lot to see. We suggest a visit to the town of Lindos
located southeast of Rhodes, where the Acropolis of Lindos,
is situated. The Valley of the butterflies is also worth a visit.
For swimming we present you some of the beautiful beaches of
Rhodes.
How to plan your tours:
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