Ancient ruins, Mediterranean seas, super friendly people — of course all-inclusive holidays to Greece are on pretty much everyone’s bucket list. Europe offers plenty of amazing vacation spots but Greece has certain qualities that makes it stand out from the rest.
Ancient sites
A trip to the capital city of Athens gives visitors a window into the country’s great and vast past. Top sites include the Acropolis, Theatre of Herodes Atticus, Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos, Filopappos Hill, Ancient Agora, Panathenaic Stadum, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Arch of Hadrian and more. You can buy three-day tickets that cover all the sites. Take a free walking tour to hear all about modern and ancient history from guides who know the city inside out.
Delicious cuisine
You really get to know a place through your tummy! Greece boasts some stellar dishes as part of its Mediterranean diet. Naturally, Greek salad is a simple but delicious, refreshing choice: tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, olives and a large chunk of feta cheese. You should also take full advantage of the freshly caught seafood: mussels and calamari are a favorite. Finish off with a dessert of sweet honey baklava or a freshly baked honey and nut biscuit.
Island life
With 6600 Greek islands sitting in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, 227 of which are inhabited — you have your pick of a dazzling choice. Kefalonia was the setting for the famous story of Captain Correlli’s Mandolin, with its vast stretches of blue Ionian sea, traditional tavernas and fishing villages. Santorini gives a taste for the high life, with top resorts in the idyllic cliff-edge town of Oia. And Rhodes offers some of the best beaches Greece has to offer, for all the family to have fun on.
Water sports
Thanks to the crystal clear waters and world famous beaches, there are so many watersports to get stuck into. Take a trip out on a speed boat for some scuba diving or snorkelling. There are options for all levels and budgets — just ask around when you arrive. You might also want to hire out a jet ski for some fast fun or even do paragliding.
Unique features
Some sites in Greece are so unique and incredible, you’ll never forget them. Take for instance the Corinth Canal with its natural, high stone walls and blue waterway. Or the Simonos Petras Monastery that sits on a dramatic cliff edge. The windmills of Mykonos are almost dreamlike at sunset, as are the Sarakaniko rocks on Milos island.
Get the ideal mix of beach life and city culture by taking a detour to Athens on your way back from one of the islands. The welcoming locals will always happily fill you in on life in the area and you will be truly fascinated by what they have to say. You’ll definitely want to go back and explore as many as the islands as you possible can.
Images by Ronny Stiegel and Evoflash, used under Creative Commons license
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