Introducing Greece
Experience endless miles of aquamarine coastline, sun-bleached ancient ruins, strong feta and stronger ouzo. The Greek landscape thrills, and Greek people are passionate about politics, coffee, art and gossiping.
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Satisfy Your Senses Let the Greece you’ve been imagining fill your senses, whether it’s through the pulsing nightclubs of Mykonos or the solemnity of Meteora; the grandeur of Delphi or the earthiness of Metsovo; the rugged Cretan hillsides and the lush wildflowers of spring. You’ll quickly become acquainted with the melancholic throb of rembetika (blues songs) and the ability of the ancient sights to unleash an imagination you might not have realised you had. You’ll also encounter thought-provoking modern art and a vivacious contemporary music scene, stumbling across galleries, live music and impressively modern museums in the most unexpected places. Greece balances its past, present and future in a way managed by few other countries. The result is a country with endless cultural pursuits.
Tempt Your Appetite Greeks pride themselves on their cuisine and as some of the most hospitable people on the globe, they will go out of their way to ensure you are well fed. The tang of home-made tzatziki and the aroma of grilled souvlaki are just the beginning. The Greek menu is filled with scrumptious cuisine that offers an adventure at every mealtime. Basic ingredients like feta and olive oil are at home in kitchens across the country, but it’s the regional dishes and styles of cooking that make travelling around the country such a culinary joy. Turkish and Italian legacies are woven throughout many dishes and you’ll discover islands or towns known for distinct ingredients. Cheeses, herbs and mountain greens you might never have heard of compliment local seafood, meat and veggie dishes. The secret of Greek cooking is often found in the back garden where many of the ingredients are freshly gathered and produced. These days, a renaissance in traditional cooking means that chefs are increasingly taking time-honoured recipes to new gourmet heights.
Stretch Yourself It’s easy to understand how so many myths of gods and giants originated in this vast and varied landscape, with wide open skies and a sea speckled with islands, where days melt from one to the next, while you relish the white-sand and palm-fringed beaches. But Greece offers endless activities and is a magnet for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. Wander along cobbled, Byzantine footpaths, hike into volcanoes, watch for dolphins and sea turtles and cycle through lush forests. Greece also offers some of the world’s top kitesurfing, diving and rock-climbing locations. Be brave. Be passionate. Be Greek.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Experience the best of Greece on a 15 day cultural tour
- Ascend the legendary peaks of Mount Olympus
- Sail from Santorini to Mykonos
- Take a half-day Athens sightseeing tour
Last updated: Jan 10, 2013
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Greece
Things to do
- All things to do (1,365)
- Activities (145)
- Entertainment (213)
- Restaurants (422)
- Shopping (144)
- Sights (406)
- Tours (35)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Greece
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1 The Acropolis
Simply the most famous monument from the ancient world – the Acropolis is classically Athens, and the neighbouring museum is unmissable
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2 Plakias
Offbeat southern resort with hidden beaches and hill walks in olive groves
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3 Kos
Cycle to long, powder-soft beaches sandwiched between lush landscapes and azure water
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4 Santorini (Thira)
World-famous destination where a sophisticated lifestyle and Greek culture merge with spectacular landscapes
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5 Corfu
The garden isle of Greece, product of centuries of historic influences and modern-day holiday paradise
Fast Facts about Greece
- Population:
11.3 million
- Orthodox real estate:
the Greek Orthodox Church is the second-largest landowner in Greece
- Seismic activity:
Greece is the most seismically active country in Europe, with more than half of the continent’s volcanic activity
- Cheesy:
Greeks are the world’s biggest per capita consumers of cheese, eating around 25kg per capita annually
- Too much of a good thing?
Greeks record the highest obesity rates in the EU