Why Travel to Greece?
When someone thinks of white buildings and blue roofs, glistening against the water, you may think of Greece. It is a magical place with incredible food and warm people. If you have Greece on your bucket list, it is for good reason. It is easy to fly into Athens, and take the ferry to any number of islands. The ferry system runs very efficiently and with a little planning will allow you to visit some great islands along with time on the mainland. Another option is to fly from the US to London or Paris and book a short flight into Athens or one of the islands like Santorini.
The best time to visit Greece is late spring (May) and early fall (Sept-Oct). June and July bring many tourists and cruse ships so there may be crowds and delays to deal with. In August, many restaurants are closed as locals use that time for holiday. In winter, other than the big cities of Greece or islands like Crete where folks live all year round, it may be hard to find open restaurants and shops.
Changing of the Guard Syntagma Square
Language & Culture~
Greece is the birthplace of the civilized world and its language is derived from Ancient Greek (over 3400 years ago). Today modern Greek is the predominant language although many Greeks also speak English, especially in tourist areas. In 57 BC, the political system was introduced as what we know today as democratic system. Greek was ruled by the Romans and then Ottomans but in 1832 gained independence. The Greek Orthodox Church is a strong influence and is the religion of a majority of Greeks. There is strong culture that prevails today. The Presidential Guard is an elite force that protects the president and guards watch at the tomb of the unknown soldier. Every day, at the Acropolis you can see the changing of the guard and on Sunday the lifting of the flag. Their uniform is sewn by hand , and carefully worn as a sign of respect.
Ferry Island Hopping Milos Greece
Getting There and Getting Around~
It is very easy to rent a car on the mainland of Greece. When traveling to the islands, it is important to research the ferry routes. One important note is that ferries do not go from one group of islands to the other. It is necessary to go back to Athens, for instance. Planes can be taken to some of the islands with an airport, but if you have the time, the ferry experience will allow you to visit many islands for a fraction of the cost of air travel. The best place to go to plan your route by ferry is www.ferryhopper.com. On some islands like Hydra where no cars are allowed donkeys are used. In other places like Santorini they may bring you up from the port.
Sunset at Santorini
Cost Saving Tips~
The best cost saving trip is to plan, plan, plan. It is easy to get into tourist traps and non authentic experiences without some time up front. It is also important to plan around tour busses and cruise stops as it can get very crowded in summer, especially on an island like Santorini. Ferries are the best way to travel and some islands are 1 hour or less from each other. Find villages that are not as popular, like on Santorini opt for a village like Imerovigli or Pyrgos, which are not far from the capital Fira. Those villages will give you a very authentic experience with a smaller price tag. When on the island of Santorini, do not miss a sunset overlooking the caldera. Oia is the most popular town to watch the sunset but it can get crowded. As long as you are facing west, in the direction of the caldera, you cannot go wrong.
Food and Drink~
There are many staples in Greek food, including Octopus, Grilled Meat & Fresh Fish. Main dishes include Moussaka (Eggplant, potatoes and a béchamel sauce). Olives, Feta Cheese and Tzatziki (a greek yogurt dip) are a mainstay in the Greek diet. You will find tavernas around each corner. Ask the locals for recommendations and find those great views, especially when visiting the islands. Greek wines are not as well known but especially good as many are grown in volcanic rock which adds to the flavor of wine. Do check out wineries as they are all over Greece (mainland and islands). And of course you can’t forget dessert-the most famous in Greece, Baklava. It is a rich dessert of honey, nuts and phyllo dough.
Parthenon, Athens
Our Favorite Places~
Obviously when visiting Athens, the most well known landmark is the Parthenon. It sits on top of the hill known as the Acropolis. The Parthenon is the ancient ruins of a Temple built in honor of the Goddess Athena. There is a recently built museum nearby which holds many incredible pieces that were found in the Parthenon and nearby. Just about every part of Greece will have some ancient archeological area. Even the islands such as Crete have some findings. Be sure to research more about the place you will visit if you are interested to see ancient history. Other landmarks include the famous island of Santorini which is built on volcanic rock, elevated high above sea level. The views on the western part of the island, especially at sunset are not like any other place in the world. There are countless other areas to visit including Mount Olympus (site of the first Olympics) as well as the ancient ruins of Delphi. With an extensive mainland and over 200 islands to choose from, identifying your top choices and determining the travel between each will allow you to create an amazing itinerary. Look for our Ultimate Greece Itinerary coming soon.
For Inspiration~