Greece Travel Tips and Guide

Macedonia is a historical and geographical region in Greece situated in the south-eastern part of Europe. It is the second most populated and largest region in Greece and it is informally known as Northern Greece together with Thrace and Thessaly. There are two types of climates in the region including Alpine in the mountain areas and Mediterranean or Temperate types in Central and East areas.

Macedonia is an area of Greece popular with tourists who like to stay in holiday rentals. There is a great selection of holiday villas and self catering holiday apartments in Macedonia that can be rented as self catering holiday accommodation. Traveling around is the best thing to do in Macedonia. Thessaloniki is am important Greek city and serves as a major industrial, cultural and economic centre. Katerinin is also one of the must visit places of Macedonia. It is the capital of Prefecture of Pieria and stands on the plains between Pieria Mountains and Mount Olympus.

The second best thing to do in Macedonia is visiting its historical sites. If you are interested in historical architectures and sites, then there are many medieval monuments in Thesssaloniki for you to see. These monuments are evidence of the great prosperity and former splendor of the city in ancient times. It is a port city and the second largest one in Greece. It is one of the most ancient cities in Europe and most of the Agora ruins date back to the Roman period.

The third attractive thing to do in Macedonia is enjoying the beaches of Makriyalos, Methoni, Plaka Litochorou, Olympiaki Akti and Platamonas. Holidays in these beaches are quite popular among the water sports and beach fans who want a village life in a relaxed atmosphere. Apart from that, these beaches also provide tavernas and other nightlife for those who are interested in living their life with fun. The beaches are unspoilt stretches of fine shingle and soft sand with shallow deep blue water, good for swimming and children. There are also beach side restaurants and bars and they also offer plenty of water sport activities.

These beaches are attractive for relaxing, sunbathing, eating well and finding entertainment around the quayside and harbour. You can rent holiday villas and self catering holiday apartments next to the beach. Going on a visit to the Litochoro is the fourth thing to do. It is a pretty village serving as the starting point of Mount Olympus which is the highest Greek mountain. It has schools, a post office, banks, sports centre, harbor, town hall, hospital, museum, concert hall, squares and shopping facilities, all of which are enjoyable for the visitors.

Agios Nickolaos and Agios Dimitrios are the two major churches in Litochoro and Hogios Athanasios is the most traditional cemetery in Greece. Visiting the historical town of Kozani is also a must for the visitors. It is located on the crossroads of Epirus, Western Macedonia, central Macedonia and Thessaly and is most famous for its library that houses innumerable previous and rare manuscripts and written documents. Siatista is situated to the west of Kozani which is a medieval town having interesting Byzantine cathedrals and some huge traditional buildings.

The fifth thing to do is to see the two lakes, Mikri and Megali which form borders between Albania, Yugoslavia and Greece. It has an amazing landscape and there is an ancient Byzantine Church on the Aghios Achielleios, which is a small islet. Ancient Macedonia settlement remains have also been found in the nearby area.

Greece, the birthplace of Olympics is also the main civilization of the ancient times. With clear blue skies, blue waters, fascinating history and charming villages, Greece is one of the most favorite holiday destinations. Families flock to Greece year after year and stay in holiday rentals. There are some charming holiday villas, cottages and self catering holiday apartments to rent as holiday accommodation in Greece. Every year more than ten million people go on holiday to Greece. They come here to experience the scenic countryside, the sun soaked islands and the vibrant cities.

To make the most of your overseas vacation to Greece, do not miss the top five things to do. These include visiting the historical sites, partaking in the Hellenic festival and Thessaloniki international film festival, taking a guided tour to Olympia and a few well known islands. While considering the best thing to do in Greece, the foremost thing is to program an itinerary for the capital city of Greece, Athens. The city constitutes of several famous attractions from the parliament building at the Syntagma Square to the Acropolis. Many holiday makers stay in self catering holiday apartments in Athens.

Athens has world-class museums and the Benaki Museum and the National Archaeological Museum are well worth visiting. Touring the museums will further give a understating and insight into the various historic attractions of Greece. In addition, it is possible to go to the ancient agora and visit the Kallimarmaron stadium to experience the place where the prehistoric Panathenaic games took place. Watching the Hellenic festival and the popular Thessaloniki international is the next best thing to do in Greece. In the Hellenic festival the dance and musical performances by national and international artists takes place at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

There are also legendary musical concerts and theater performances at the Little Theater of Epidaurus. The Ancient Theater Epidaurus gives an opportunity to see the recreation of the Greeks. The Greece Thessaloniki international film festival is worth seeing. Here the world eminent actors and directors appear to celebrate the emerging international films. Among all the attractions in Greece, the ruins at Olympia are especially popular. From the city of Pyrgos, you can take a tour of these ruins. It is said to be one of the best tourist attractions in Greece.

It was the location for ancient Olympic Games, where you can easily find remnants of the sprinting track and old stadium in addition to the ruins of grand Temple of Zeus. The great Temple of Zeus used to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Greece is a wonderful country with dramatic landscapes and stunning beaches. It has picturesque gorges with soaring mountains and beautiful countryside. Greece boasts various well-known islands including Ithaki Island and Naxos Island. The Ithaki Island is home to the famous Ulysses and possesses little beaches as well as huge fields of olives.

The Naxos Island is one of the biggest Islands in the Aegean Sea. The main highlight of this Island is the Apollo Gate, the isolated gate that stands alone on the top of Pallatia Peninsula. It is the sole remain of the ancient Apollo Temple, which makes an amazing frame for the sunsets. Other famous Islands of Greece not to be overlooked are Olympia, Delphi, Rhodes and Cefalonia. Wherever your Greece adventure takes you, you are able to stay in holiday rentals to suite all tastes and budgets. Greece is home to some of the best self catering holiday accommodation in Europe.

Greece, birthplace of the Olympics, is also a center civilization and knowledge from ancient times. That glorious tradition lives on today in the country’s modern culture. Each year more than fifteen million people vacation in Greece to experience the vibrant cities, the scenic countryside and the sun-soaked islands. If you would like to be one of them, here is a guide to help you discover Greece.

1. Any Greece vacation should begin with a trip to the Acropolis. It is the symbol of the nation so it is only polite of you to stop in and leave your card. At noon, you can stroll around the majestic Parthenon. When the sun goes down, be sure to watch the light show depicting the legends of the Olympic Gods.

2. Explore the ruins of Agora. Travel down the hill where the towering Acropolis stands, and into the valley where the philosophers Socrates and Plato did all their thinking. While there, you can hardly miss the looming temple built for Hephaestos.

3. Take a helicopter trip around Athens. Just hop a copter from your hotel and spend an exhilarating half hour swooping over the city’s major landmarks. Be sure to bring your camera!

4. Take in a match of the Hellenic National league, and finally see what they call ‘football’ and we call ‘soccer’. This is a good chance to take in modern Greek culture and see what people worship, now that the Olympic Gods are out of style.

5. Compete in the marathon that begot all marathons. Or, at least, try the route that the Olympic athletes ran the last time they were in town. Just remember not to drop dead upon finishing.

6. Make your trip to Greece a volunteer vacation. There are a lot of noble causes you can devote yourself to while visiting. Each summer, hundreds of volunteers help the organization monitor the nesting period of Greece’s Sea Turtles. You could also apply your carpentry, teaching or medical skills for good causes.

7. Tour the Greece’s Archaeological Museum. Greece is where history was invented, so of course the artifacts are unparalleled. Be sure to see the Mask of Agamemnon, once believed to be the death mask of the ancient king.

8. Take a hike through the Vindos Gorge. On a hot day, descent into the world’s deepest canyon can be rough going, but you’ll find yourself cooling off the farther down you go. When you get to the bottom, you will find plant species like no others on earth.

9. Sun yourself on the beaches of Crete and experience what other Europeans have known about for decades. The scenery is so beautiful, you can’t help but relax; during the day, that is. Come night, get ready to party at the island’s infamous clubs.

10. Experience the Rockwave Festival of music. For three days, you can have your choice of three stages: heavy metal, rock ‘n roll, or good old fashioned dance music. A great balance to Greece’s otherwise educational attractions.

Greece is located in Europe, surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas. It is a peninsula country. Windsurfing in Greece is a very popular sport. It became so because of Nikos Kaklamanakis during the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.This mountainous country, with plenty of Islands offers ideal wind conditions in which to enjoy windsurfing.

The PBA, which is also known as the world association for professional windsurfers, has met every year since 1993. The World Championship windsurfing competitions have been held in the islands of Greece, and especially on the lovely Golden Beach. As one of the prominent mecques of windsurfing in Greece, Golden Beach graces the island of Paros, which is in the Cyclades, with amazing windsurfing opportunities.

The best area to practice windsurfing is the regions of the Aegean Sea which are blew by a summer wind coming from the North. These winds are called the Meltemi winds. These winds blow from May to September and their wind force is strongest during July and August. The fierce intensity of these winds will vary depending upon the region. Such winds are found in islands Naxos and Paros, found in the Cycladic Islands. Because of these helpful wind conditions, thousands of windsurfers flock here every summer.

There are other popular watersports that people enjoy in Greece. There is one called Kiteboarding. Kiteboarding is a blend of elements of windsurfing, surfing and what is known as wakeboarding. This is a rather new sport that first became really popular back in the 90's, and is also called kitesurfing. Depending on the size of the kite, you can kiteboard at different wind strengths. The bigger your kite is, the lighter force of the wind you can enter in and this can go the opposite way. Kiteboarding is actually easier to earn than windsurfing or just plain surfing. Surprisingly to the students, they are able to get up on their boards after only two lessons form a certified instructor.

Another watersport enjoyed in Greece is what is known as wakeboarding. It is very like water skiing, the most familiar watersport, in which the wakeboarder is pulled behind a boat at speeds of up to 24 mph. main difference between plain waterskiing and wakeboarding is that the boarder uses a single board, resembling a snowboard instead of skis, with bindings. This is fast becoming very popular sport all over, especially in Greece.

For surfers who would like to join a club, there are a variety of windsurfing clubs in Greece. One popular example is the Paros Kite Boarding Center. This Club is a shoreline with a sandy bottom, shallow water and perfect wind conditions. This beach is good for levels beginner through advanced kiteboarding and windsurfing. The Paros Kite Boarding Center has certified, expert windsurfing instructors that can start out the beginner and even teach novice surfers new tricks, all at the learner's own pace.

Something to consider when particpating in any watersports while vacationing in Greece is to think about the weather. The weather in Greece is has mild winters, warm summers, and is cooled by a variety of seasonal winds. Their summers are delightfully sunny and is met with very little rainfall! These weather conditions easily lend themselves to a very enjoyable summer holiday in Greece. Greece is an amazing country with lots to offer the tourist. The most popular attractions of the country is the many picturesque beaches dotting its shores. With 13,676 km of coastlines, one will definitely find the beaches of his dreams

It would not be difficult for a visitor to find the ideal beach to visit and participate in their favorite watersport when there is up to 13,676 KM of scenic shorelines. The beaches themselves offer a lovely picture for people to sit quietly and gaze upon. there are beaches that are covered in sand so white you might be blinded if the sun hit just right, with crystal-clear, turquoise waters. You might also see beaches hugged by huge cliffs or fragrant pine forests, or even palm trees.

Vacationing in Greece is a pleasure in any season. Most folks opt to visit Greece during the summer months, when the sun is high and the surf is warm. But little do people know that a visit to Greece during the winter months can be equally as exciting and fulfilling, and even more steeped in pure Greek culture. The benefits of visiting Greece in the winter months (considered December through March) are that while most of the other tourists are off vacationing elsewhere, those who call Greece their home embrace the off-season tourists with a first-hand look at what it means to be Greek.

For those of us who enjoy a little less of the tourism factor in our vacations, Greece in the winter is the ideal get-away. Hiking, biking, any exploration of nature is easier now, with the slightly cooler weather, and the number of other tourists at a minimum. Winter is the time to delight in the food the locals savor, to enjoy the nightlife known only to the locals and to participate in some activities and celebrations the locals relish only with their own.

Skiing in Greece is an after thought, or nonexistent one for most looking to vacation, while in fact, Greece provides some of the best skiing mountains in the world. Macedonia, Pelion, the Peloponnesus, Pelion and other cities to the north have ski centers and chalet type buildings in the mountains that provide ski lifts for downhill as well as cross-country runs. Because Greece is blessed with such a temperate climate and beautiful natural environment, sailing in the winter is also a preferred sport by some. The cooler weather and less hustle and bustle from tourist crowds make it easier and even more enjoyable to sail and enjoy the natural surroundings. Whether it is bird watching, or ruins exploration.

Island culture abounds in the winter months, when tourists do not outnumber the locals. The usual tourist spots that are open in the summer months tend to close come wintertime. This means that the establishments that are open, are regular spots the locals visit. In turn, this generally means better Greek food to enjoy, and better yet, deeper, richer Greek culture including dog slide races, river wild rafting, and Alpine skiing. Another great positive for enjoying Greece in the off-season, is of course, the lower rates. Traveling over seas is already costly enough, but if Greece is calling you, add lower rates on everything from airfare to hotel rates to the list of positives.

Apokreas, or carnival season, takes place in Greece around the end of February. The island of Skyros, Athens and Patras hold huge celebrations at this time of year. Apokreas refers to the time right before the 40 days of fasting before Easter begins. This involves feasting, celebrating, drinking and dancing - every night. What better way to see Greece than during this time, when many locals are celebrating more than they do the rest of the year?

More reasons to enjoy Greece in the wintertime is that ferries are always running to and from the mainland to the islands. If the weather becomes questionable or nasty, travel may become difficult, but for the most part, winter weather still tends to be quite exceptional. The ruins are much more enjoyable to visit during the winter. The crowds are not in place, and neither is the heat. So it is easy to linger among the ruins, such as the Acropolis, the monasteries on top of the rock towers in Meteora or the Oracle of Delphi. One of the most amazing views of Athens can be seen from the Acropolis at sunset. Part of the reasoning behind visiting Greece is, no doubt, to explore the history of the native land, and the ancient ruins, so why would not someone want to take as much time as possible?

The picking of olives and production of olive oil is an important aspect of living in Greece. Homer referred to it as a "liquid gold" which is more a true statement today then he could have ever believed. A full 60% of Greece's cultivated land is devoted to growing olives. The fruit is hand picked by families and even relatives and neighbors join in on the fun. Since this process generally starts toward the end of the year, those visiting Greece during the winter can help pick olives themselves, and really be a part of Greek family traditions. With so many reasons to visit Greece during the winter months, how could anyone who is thinking of planning a trip not be seduced by the history and natural beauty that are in abundance in this amazing Mediterranean country.

Are you getting married soon and looking for a way to make your wedding day extra special? Have you always dreamed of a romantic setting to make it more memorable? If you are searching for just the right place, then here are the 5 top reasons to get married in Greece, counting down from fifth to the best reason.

Greek Customs: Your wedding day is going to be a memory you want to cherish forever and should be a cause for great celebration. No one knows how to celebrate more than the citizens of Greece. Wedding celebrations are legendary, often going on for days around the actual wedding event. The Greeks are known for great food, boundless dancing and generally knowing how to enjoy life. The citizens would love to celebrate this special day with you. If you want to turn your wedding into a real festival, then Greece is definitely the place for you.

Greek Traditions: Even with all the celebrations, the Greek people still take the observance of a marriage very seriously. They have some very time honored traditions that will not only add to your wedding, but give it a very special feeling. Each part of the wedding is a special event. The exchanging of rings is observed with the Service of Betrothal. The exchanging of wedding vows are the central part of the Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage. The wedding is not something to be rushed through but rather it is an event that is to be enjoyed and kept sacred. During the wedding, the bride and groom are both crowned with traditional thin crowns known as "Stefana". The "Dance in the Moonlight" is the traditional climax of the wedding event, often going on for hours.

Greek Architecture: The ancient architecture of Greece adds a special ingredient to the overall effect of a magical wedding ceremony. Imagine getting married in the shadows of an ancient building like the Parthenon, or picture yourself taking your vows amidst towering Greek columns. You can almost hear the whispers of residents from over two centuries, giving testimony to the beauty of these historic edifices. The Greek countryside is dotted with hundreds of places for you to consider using to provide that perfect backdrop to your wedding.

Exotic Locations: If you really want to do something different, how about having your wedding ceremony at the edge of a volcano. Believe it or not, many couples have exchanged their vows on the Greek island of Santorini. The volcanic island of Santorini, once thought to be the home of local vampires, has quickly become the most sought after location in the region for exotic weddings and honeymoons. There are many hotels on the island of Santorini that are offering wedding packages and specials. If you are into adventure, this will definitely make your wedding day extra special.

Magic of the Meditteranean Sea: Greece is a place where everything is touched by the sea. The Meditteranean Sea is a mystical and romantic environment, and will give your wedding the unique touch that you are looking to find. With its' ancient history and stories of legend, the Meditteranean Sea provides a mystic background to your special day.

If you are looking to make your wedding an event that you will always remember, then check out all the possiblities of getting married in Greece. You will truly see your special day turned into a grand celebration!

When you think of traveling to Greece, you probably would think of doing it on your liesure time. Many people visit Greece on thier honeymoon, anniversary, or for a family vacation. There is so much to see in Greece; so much rich history. Who wouldn't love the opportunity to see the Acropolis of Athens, or the historical site of Olympian. Maybe you have visited Greece before, or maybe you have only daydreamed about it.

Have you ever considered traveling to Greece for your next international business meeting?

You probably think that the beautifull Mediterrainian beaches and business don't mix . Perhaps the thought of discussing business while pondering the the medieval city of Rhodes seems like a far fetched idea. You are probably used to the mundane, routine business trips. When you board your outgoing flight and the flight attendant smiles and says "Business or pleasure ?"; you sigh and reluctantly say "Business" as the thought of long boring meetings makes you wish you were going on vacation instead.

Although it may sound too good to be true, you can travel for business and pleasure at the same time. In today's fast paced world we have to find time for ourselves, otherwise we lose who we are. Instead of our business giving us quality of life; we will be giving up our quality of life for the business. Wouldn't it be nice if your spouse and children could do some shopping in downtown Athens or sightseeing at Mount Athos while you're in the business meeting or seminar.

Wouldn't it be great to have them there waiting for you to get out of the meeting so you can accompany them to see one of the many majestic churches located in the early Christian and Byzantine Thessalonica or to enjoy a picnic on thr Greecian coast. You could even stay a couple of extra days to enjoy some sightseeing and relaxation time. Today many of the Greek hotels offer rooms with internet access; large capacity conference rooms for meetings and seminars, and all the appropriate accommodations for any business person.

There are also many new hotels which have been built with the business traveler in mind. Even many of the smaller hotels have conference rooms, and of course internet access. When you host your next business meeting or seminar in Greece, you are sure to impress your colleagues. You might even encourage them to bring thier families. You could plan group outings to places such as Mystras, the Ancient Agora of Athens museum, or to one of the ancient ruins such as the Valley of the Temples. While in Greece you not only will be able to see the many beautiful sights in between the meetings and the seminars, but you will also be able to enjoy the world famous Greek cuisine.

I'm sure you are already familiar with the Gyros, baklava, and feta cheese, but have you ever eaten them in Greece? Have you ever tried the delicious roasted lamb or yaorti. Not only is Greek cousine delicious, it is also recommended by many nutritionists as being a healthy diet. With so many reasons for you to have your next business event in Greece, you would be wise to forget about the old way of going about your international business meetings and seminars.

When you mix in a little pleasure with business, you and your colleagues are sure to go home with your minds refreshed and your stress reduced; you will be even more effective in your business dealings when you can think clearly. Next time the flight attendant asks you "Business or pleasure?"; you will be able to smile and say "Both".