The Olympic Games were born in ancient Greece, along with democracy and the foundations of philosophy, science and mathematics. Greek civilization is known for the contribution of many cultural building blocks on which Western civilization rests.
Modern Greece is better known as a great destination for a good vacation, more than a center of learning and culture. Today, the country attracts thousands of visitors by offering simple pleasures: delicious food and wine at affordable prices, beautiful beaches and sun, attractive places, seemingly endless coastlines and small islands full of landscape surprises.
There are many possibilities for an ideal summer vacation, whether you like peace and quiet, an active vacation full of sports and adrenaline, or crazy fun and dancing until dawn. The resorts are not crowded with massive hotel resorts and you can always find a hidden corner to sip your morning coffee, enjoy the sun or have fun in the evening.
The country exudes traditional charm, especially on its increasingly popular islands, which stick to their traditional architecture and way of life despite being often overrun by tourists. Women wrapped in black continue to deliver vegetables to the island's taverns on donkeys, and tanned and wrinkled fishermen sit in the sun, drinking black coffee and playing dominoes or backgammon.
A large number of Aegean islands are easily accessible from Piraeus, the historic port of the Greek capital Athens, by ferry or hydrofoil. Many of the larger islands have airports with connections to Athens or seasonally with larger European cities.
In the south of the mainland there is a crowded and polluted Athens, which nevertheless fascinates visitors, while in the north Thessaloniki is a lively and modern city with Byzantine taste. Athens dominates with its attractions such as the Parthenon, and the remains of other wonders of the ancient Greek classical world can be found mainly in the Peloponnese, south of the city of Corinth. Every year, Greece and the Greeks welcome thousands of visitors with open arms, who come to admire the national beauty and enjoy its beaches and delicious cuisine.
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Greece; specifically May, June, September and October. Most of the country's tourist infrastructure goes into hibernation during the winter, especially on the islands. From mid-June to the end of August is the high season. It's party time on the islands and everything is in full swing. It is also very hot during this period; in July and August temperatures almost everywhere in the country can reach 40 ° C in the shade, and the beaches are congested, ancient sites full of tourists and in many accommodations everything is booked.
If you have not yet decided where you will go on vacation, without thinking, head to Greece!