Greece is often associated with the image of Aristotle Onassis, the Greek shipping magnate that once hosted luxurious parties on the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. But Greece is not that fancy, nor expensive, though the surreal blue waters exist and are, in my opinion, the most beautiful of all the Mediterranean countries.
When it comes to beauty, Greece has it all: rugged mountains, exotic, pristine beaches with crystal-clear waters, green valleys, quiet lakes and lush forests. But all these are only of small significance when it comes to what else the country offers: Greece is the birthplace of philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, the Olympic Games, the Orthodox Church, and so on, its culture being known for influencing the Roman Empire and many other civilizations, still continuing to influence modern cultures today.
The people are fascinating, too, their family values, the openness and friendliness; the Greeks hold the answers and the meaning of a simple, happy life.
When and where:
The best time to visit Greece is April-May, though in the Autumn, the waters are great for a swim until October. The summer air is barely breathable as the weather temperatures easily reach 45 Celsius and, with the exception of few tavernas (greek restaurants), everything just shuts down between 1 and 5pm.
When it comes to the travel expenses, they are considerably lower during the off season, meaning in November-February, but even then, be careful as you can only visit Athens, Thessaloniki, and some of the other Greek metropolises. Unfortunately, all 200 or more Greek Islands are closed during the winter.
Northern Greece
If you decide upon north of Greece, than you should fly to Thessaloniki.
The region is very diverse, it stretches across more cultures and terrains than any other in the country. Mighty civilizations, including Macedonians, Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs and Turks, have left traces here and this is nowhere more apparent than in Greece's second city Thessaloniki -a magnetic place that breathes history and character, and has the best food in the country. Don’t forget to try Souvlaki!
There are many magical places in the northern part of Greece, from which I can mention:
Parga:
Parga is a small fishing town on the Ionian Coast of mainland Greece, its main draws being the historical castle that overlooks the town, and the beaches. What’ s beautiful about this place is, not only its bright fresh colours and fairytale landscapes, but the fact that it’s a hidden gem, the town being still genuinely Greek. The locals are friendly, the tavernas smell like fresh octopus and the late dinners are noisy and full of laughter. Notice: not too many people speak English!
Meteora:
Going towards the central part of Greece, you need to visit the breathtaking Meteora: a region of almost inaccessible sandstone peaks, where monks settled on these “columns of the sky” from the 11th century onwards. Twenty four of these monasteries were built, despite incredible difficulties, at the time of great revival of the eremitic ideal in the 15th century. Their 16th century frescoes mark a key stage in the development of post-Byzantine painting.
To reach Meteora, the most impressive road to take is to pass the town of Kalampaka and enter it through the village of Kastraki.
Southern Greece:
Athens:
If you choose to visit the south of Greece, than you should start with its capital -Athens.
Inhabited for more than 3000 years, Athens is widely known as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy.
The athenians lived below the Acropolis (the rocky hill) and the marble temple of Parthenon was built on the highest part of it. Both Acropolis and Parthenon are an archeological and historical jewellery, dating since 5th century BC, for which you need to save the second part of the day. The sunset seen between the Acropolis’ columns is magical.
The National Archaeological Museum also worths paying a visit, as it contains the richest collection of artifacts from Greek antiquity worldwide, being considered one of the greatest museums in the world.
The perfect location for accommodation would be Plaka, a village feel neighbourhood, with narrow cobblestone streets lined with tiny shops selling jewelry, clothes and local ceramics, together with family-run tavernas. Don’t forget to buy yourself a pair of ancient leather sandals!
Santorini:
You can get to Santorini Island by booking a cheap Eastern European flight straight form Athens or by eight hours ferry.
Santorini or Thira is one of the most famous island of Greece, not only for its unique volcanic landscape and the whitewashed, cubiform houses, but for being very posh and expensive.
The volcanic eruption that occurred aprox 3600 years ago is said it may have led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization.
Santorini’s two principal towns, Fira (more nightlife) and Oia (more romantic) both have great sunset views and live music restaurants, but Fira is closer to the beach. The car is needed, but preferably not rented directly on the island as the prices are high.
Notice: Santorini is a very touristic destination, expect it to be crowded.
There are so many places full of authentic charm and abundant history spread all over Greece, that once you start visiting, you will become amazed and intrigued, wanting to continue or to always come back for more. That’s the Greek magic!
Therefore, please indulge yourself in a two week vacation to this unforgettable country; you will not regret it. Greece stays in your heart forever.
I have to stop reading this blog! It makes me want to travel too much, and work and COVID are sort of inconvenient these days...