Greece Travel Tips and Guide

A vacation to Greece is one of the most colorful, historical, rich and beautiful vacation choices you could make. Statistically a small country, Greece is large in diverse experience. You’ll be able to take in the past, the present, the scenery, and vibrant living in a vacation to Greece. But anywhere you choose to go, its vital to know what to see and do so you don’t miss a thing. In this travel guide to Greecewe’ll ensure you are aware of every breathtaking experience you can find in your exciting vacation to Greece.

Even with its small size, Greece has a very diverse natural environment such as coastlines, rocky mountains, lakes, rivers, gorges, waterfalls, forests, and islands. Greece’s environment makes for a great country for extreme sports such as rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, hang gliding, bungee jumping, hiking, and more. The marine parks near the islands Alonissos and Zakynthos make an interesting stop on your tour. The Greek countryside is home to a rich floral life.

What comes to mind very quickly when thinking of a vacation to Greece is visiting the many historical monuments. And no one would be disappointed. Greece is riddled with historic sites, churches, stadiums, monasteries, and old cities from many an era. And with so much enticing history in Greece, the country has over 300 museums. From Archaeological Museums, Greek Art, Theater Museums, Music, Natural History, to Science and Technology Museums; there is something for everyone.

Greece’s food has been refined through tradition and influence for over 4,000 years. With Greece’s mild climate, most vegetation is grown outdoors; and is therefore fresh, natural, and aromatic; which adds a lot of vibrant flavor to Greek dishes. Most herbs in Greece are collected in the mountains and in the countryside, such as oregano, rosemary and thyme. Then of course high quality olive oil enriches almost every Greek dish.

A spa visit is also a worthwhile addition to any travel guide to Greece. Natural springs, both cold and hot, dot Greece and have spas built around them for therapeutic treatment and just to relax. Another way to enrich your visit is to indulge in Greece’s Agro tourism. Tour local products, traditional cuisine, agricultural areas, experience tradition and participate in rural activities.

Greece holds a variety of events; especially during summertime. Open-air cinemas, cultural events, carnivals, and sports events included. The Athens Festival, the Epidaurus Festival, and “Musical July” are considered among the most important art festivals in the whole of the European continent. Theaters such as the National Theatre of Greece stage a variety of plays. The International Thessaloniki Film Festival has become a major regional festival.

Including the mountains or oceans in your Greek holiday is something to consider as well. Water sports, cruises, skiing, and hiking are all at your fingertips in traveling to Greece. Or visit one or more of the secluded islands for a quiet getaway. We hope this has been an informative travel guide to Greece. No matter what you’re venture – nature, history, culture, nightlife, relaxation, sights, sounds, tastes – you can find them in Greece. Enjoy your vacation to Greece.

Holidays In Greece- Best Option For Fun Lovers

Greek Island holidays are amongst the hot pick when it comes to having a fun time with one's family on a vacation. Holidays in Greece mean having a glimpse of Greek culture and tradition and at the same time rejuvenating ones soul at sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Holidays in Greece are for everyone, be that honeymooners, couples or families as one is surely going to find an unforgettable package of fun here. Quite and beautiful Greek islands are an ideal choice for all those who want to unwind themselves and drench in tranquility.

Boast About Impressive Greek Culture & Tradition

Greece presents an idyllic amalgamation of modernity and fascinating heritage to the excited tourists. Most of the people pick Greece as their preferred travel destination as the wonderful sunshine welcomes all with loads of unparalleled hospitality. Mainland Greece has numerous things that would excite the travelers such as clear blue seas, beautiful beaches, picturesque fishing villages and family friendly towns.

Glorious Greece- A Destination For Everyone

There are so many mesmerizing islands in Greece that make an option worth considering for everyone. The environment here is lively and vibrant and what adds to the fun element is the lively nightlife. Santorini is the place where honeymooners visiting Greece need to spend some quality time as the overall ambience is amazing at the sunset time.  For the peace lovers places such as Lefkas, Thassos and Samos might prove to be a great pick.

From having a glimpse into the modern day Greece to knowing the tradition one; all in possible while tourists are one holidays in Greece. The warm welcome that the tourists receive from the local population contributes a lot in making Greece a travel destination. If one is looking for cheap holidays in Greece, then this is an acquirable thing as most of the advance bookings can save huge chunks. Tourists can decide on the dates they want to visit Greece, seek assistance from a reliable holiday planner and finally get all the reservations done in advance. If all this works out as planned, then there is no stopping factor to affordable and enjoyable holidays in Greece.

Accommodation options are many and if one is planning to make a trip with one's family, it would be better to go for a resort that is rich in amenities and low on cost. Unspoilt beauty of Greece attracts tourists like magnet and most of them land up making their favorite holiday destination for lifetime.  Holidays in Greece are going to rejuvenate ones soul to the core, if one makes all the arrangements ahead of the travel.

Marriage was regarded as an auspicious relationship in the ancient Greek society. Marriage was very important to carry family chain. In the Greek culture, every respectable woman became a wife if she could. In marriage, there was hardly room for choice. Destiny played an important role in solemnizing marriage. Woman had no alternate than marriage. The sacred wedding rituals were interwoven by the various ceremonies. These ceremonies had ritual meaning and overlapping rites.

There is great evidence for these formalities, both literary and artistic, which helps to provide a complete account of Greek customs. Offerings, dedications and sacrifices were made by the bride and the groom. Marriage consisted of a private contract where woman was transferred to her husband. Marriage consisted of transfer and transformation. Transformation means actually giving the responsibility of the woman. Many things pointed towards her transformation like cutting of hair and offering them to virgin deities. Presenting the hair locks to the goddess often signifies the attainment of womanhood.

Greek society stresses upon the marriage of a girl at the age of fourteen. Boys are found eligible at the age of thirty after they have served military force. Girls are obliged to marry where their father wants. Various types of rituals are followed in the marriage ceremony. Both the bride and groom take bath in the holy spring. On the wedding day, girl is dressed in the traditional attire. She is taken in veil to the banquet hall. She is accompanied by her friends and relatives. Groom attires in the best outfit reaches the bride's home with a procession of friends, relatives and family members. Drums are played and crackers are burst to ward away evil spirit spirits. Music and dance plays a major role in the festivities. Bride and the groom wear a crown or garland to mark the occasion.

The actual transfer of the bride from father to groom takes place at night after the bridal banquet. After the great feast the procession in a chariot takes place from the home of the bride to the home of the groom. Bride stands in the cart as her husband mounts it in preparation for their journey. Families follow the chariot by foot bearing gifts. Bride’s mother carries the torch in the journey at night to light the way. Bride eats an apple as a part of the incorporation rites which demonstrates her new union with her husband. Fruits and nuts are showered on the couple which acts as agents of fertility and prosperity.

One day the after the marriage, an outdoor procession of people is held. It is called the Epaulia. It is an outdoor procession of people who brings gifts. Gifts generally include vases filled with greenery, baskets, pots, furniture, jewelry and combs. Athenian marriage is relationship between a man and a woman who had the primary goal of producing children and maintaining the identity of the social and political community. In ancient Sparta, the ceremony was very simple. After a tussle, to prove his superior strength, the groom would toss his bride over his shoulder and carried her off.

Slaves in the ancient Greek culture cannot marry because marriage was considered only for the privileged class. Any children which were born from their masters were disposed off because the slaves have no right to rear children

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.