Greece Travel Guide
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Greece is a magnificent destination, whose ancient culture has had a significant influence on everything from the arts, philosophy, politics, western alphabets, to the democracies and republics. On top of that, it is also a place of high geographical appeal, with a ruggedly mountainous mainland, and an enviable collection of island beaches. Without a doubt, the Greece of today offers a myriad of landscapes and activities, all of which funnel into an unforgettable experience that’s set apart from the rest.
Autumn and spring are ideal times to visit Greece, more specifically in May-June and September-October. For the most part, the backbone of Greece’s tourist industry goes into hibernation during winter, particularly on the harder to reach islands. In fact, some of the smaller islands close completely and its inhabitants go back to second homes on the mainland for several months. Many hotels and seasonal restaurants shut their doors from the end of November until the beginning of April, and bus and ferry services are drastically reduced or completely canceled altogether. Conditions once again become perfect between mid-April and mid-June; pleasantly warm weather in most places, relatively uncrowded beaches and ancient sites, and public transport operates at close to full schedules. It’s during these times you’ll also see a bigger variety of available accommodation options to choose from, and discount airfare to Greece can be had by those willing to book far in advance.
If you have a penchant for local traditions and a charm-filled, unhurried rhythm of living, small family-run pensions might prove to be a great way to enrich your Greece vacation. Owners and personnel at these pensions are friendly and open-minded, a stark contrast to the typically impersonal service you encounter in large chain hotels. Those with a bigger budget should consider renting a villa, which normally reside near or on the beach and provide ample space and amazing views. There are also luxurious urban accommodations to be found in cities and on the more popular islands, but be sure to check the hotel’s quality against reliable sources to be certain of what it is you’re truly getting.
Greece is known to most as the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Here, tourists can get a feel of the original Olympic excitement in Olympia, throughout the town and also at the well-visited Museum of the Olympic Games. The rich historical city of Athens is teeming with internationally recognized UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Acropolis, the Parthenon and the National Archaeological Museum. The Zappion Palace and Syntagma Square are also places of immense beauty and historical significance that are open to the public. In a country that seems to be constantly celebrating, the summer season especially sees a host of festivals and events held throughout Greece. One of the most important is the summer Hellenic Festival, under which falls several other events such as the Athens Festival and the Epidaurus Festival (both of which celebrate theatre and music).
In consideration of whether or not you should rent a car while on your Greece vacation, know that the sole advantage of having a car is control; you can cover more ground per day in rural areas or on the larger islands. It is possible to get most anywhere in Greece by bus, however, some isolated villages may only have one or two buses per day, which means you don’t have to wait in the summer heat for the bus if you have your own transportation. The overwhelming majority of archeological sites are accessible by bus, and what isn’t covered by public transit can be supplemented with taxis, which in a lot of places offer fixed rates to popular destinations. On many islands it’s even possible to get most places on foot, which can be a pleasant experience in its own right.