Holidays in Greece

Greece is one of the most beloved resort destinations, a country of unique ancient history, rich culture, magnificent landscapes and an unforgettable holiday on the beach by the warm, crystal-clear sea. Every year, tourists bring considerable profits to the country, receiving in return a huge number of opportunities to spend their vacation with pleasure and benefit. If you are already planning a holiday in Greece, then you will definitely need information about local traditions and attractions that are worth visiting.

Sights of Greece

Mount Olympus

Mount Olympus is the most revered sacred site in Greece. There is probably no person who has never heard about the abode of the ancient Greek Gods led by Zeus. Aphrodite and Apollo, Artemis and Dionysus and many other Gods lived by ordinary human passions and even descended to earth to people. The ancient Greeks did not consider these characters fictitious; they brought gifts to the foot and made sacrifices.

In fact, Olympus is not a mountain, but a mountain range. The highest are Mitikas, Skala, Skolio and Stefani - their height reaches almost 3000 meters. The mountains are not only of historical value, they are unique in the abundance of rare animals and plants listed in the Red Book.

The main attraction of Olympus is the National Park. It is quite possible to get there; this will require 2-3 days of free time and an experienced guide-instructor. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it was believed that climbing the mountain was not accessible to ordinary mortals, but now there are all the conditions for this, and not only professional climbers, but also ordinary tourists can visit the famous place.

Acropolis

Athens, as the capital of Greece, is the center of the country's cultural and economic life. It is here that the most majestic monuments of ancient architecture are located. Perhaps the most famous attraction is the Acropolis. Although the structure survives only in fragments to this day, even the ruins give a glimpse of the golden age of Athens, when wealth, art and democracy flourished.

Externally, the Acropolis is a hill, a limestone hill with steep slopes except on the western side. In ancient times it was used as a sanctuary; all the buildings and temples of the Acropolis form a single, logical architectural ensemble. This fact surprises scientists, because the history of the Acropolis was created over many centuries. Some fragments found on the territory corresponded to the Bronze Age, and in subsequent centuries more and more cultural heritage monuments appeared until almost all of them were destroyed by the Persians. During the reign of Pericles, the main temple of the Acropolis, the Parthenon, was built, which is famous for its unusual bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the myths of Ancient Greece.

Today this is one of the most visited places in Greece; tourists are not at all embarrassed by the fact that most of the decor of the temple complex was made by modern craftsmen based on the samples that are stored in European museums.

Mount Athos

On the territory of Macedonia and Northern Greece there is an amazing place included in the UNESCO heritage list - the Athos Peninsula and the mountain of the same name on it.

In fact, Athos is an autonomous state under the auspices of Greece; the Holy Mountain is inhabited by exclusively male monks professing Orthodoxy. From time immemorial, everyone, without exception, including saints, lived in monasteries and monasteries of a general type. A tourist who wants to see this extraordinary place with his own eyes must obtain special permission; women are strictly prohibited from entering the peninsula.

Oddly enough, according to legend, it was the woman who first began to preach the Christian religion on Mount Athos. Tradition says that the Mother of God arrived here and prayed that the sacred place would forever remain a quiet haven for sinful people. Jesus' mother also left a covenant that no female should set foot on the Holy Mountain. Contrary to this, some ladies still did not agree with such discrimination and took refuge on Athos as refugees.

Beautiful places in Greece

With its popularity, the island of Santorini outshines even the most romantic corners of the planet. According to historical data, the island once had a round shape, but in ancient times a large volcano began its destructive activity here. As a result, this marvelous place acquired unusual rock relief and remnants of lava in the form of pumice. All this coupled with a clear blue sky, snow-white buildings, the clearest sea and sandy beach turns Santorini into a truly fabulous island.

Greek Milos is another island with a unique volcanic landscape and golden sandy beaches, of which there are about 75. This place attracts guests not only due to its beautiful nature and pleasant climate, but also because the world-famous statue of Aphrodite was once discovered on the island. Among the attractions you can also highlight the volcanic catacomb caves and see the rock paintings of the first Christians.

An ancient legend says that the history of ancient Delphi began from the moment Apollo killed the dragon Python, who was guarding a healing spring. The beautiful God walled up the chimera in this place and founded a temple, and the first priests of the sanctuary were sailors; Apollo lured them by turning into a dolphin, hence the name.

The main attraction of Delphi is the ruins of an ancient temple; even today one can understand that it was located above mysterious crevices from which steam flowed (dragon's breath). In pairs, the oracles could predict the future, so residents from all over the country sought to get here, thereby making the sanctuary of Apollo the most revered symbol of Greece.

Best hotels in Greece

One of the significant moments of any resort holiday is the choice of hotel; this determines how comfortable you will feel in a foreign country.

Rating of the 3 most popular hotels in Greece:

• The Dessole Mirabello Beach & Village 5* hotel offers services for people who can afford quality and complete rest. Located on the 2nd coastline, next to the island of Crete. In addition to standard rooms, there are bungalows on site that can accommodate even a large family. All guests can try dishes from the common buffet, or dine in one of 4 restaurants; there are two bars near the indoor pool. Playgrounds, a swimming pool and a disco bar have been built for children.
• Unforgettable paradise rest awaits you upon accommodation at the Princess Andriana Resort & Spa 5* hotel, located on the island of Rhodes directly across the road with a clean sandy beach. Tourists here have family rooms with children's bedrooms, separate pools and terraces, several types of restaurants with different cuisines, a football and golf course, a tennis court, a fitness room, entertainment programs for children, and free sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach.
• Potidea Palace 4* is one of the most popular hotels among Russians, located on the first coastline. Accommodation there is ideal for tourists with children - comfortable rooms with a balcony, an all-inclusive restaurant, a spa center, a private beach and swimming pool, a play area with an equipped playground, a health center, a bathhouse, a sauna, and a fitness room.

Resorts of Greece

Of course, first of all, tourists go to the capital Athens; this city is good for lovers of ancient history, centuries-old buildings, architectural attractions, museums and exhibitions. Without visiting this city, it will be difficult to have an idea about the life of the country and local traditions. Getting to know Athens begins with a visit to the Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Zeus and many other iconic monuments.

Be prepared for transportation problems due to Athens' large population. It’s better to travel by metro, especially since each station here is a museum in miniature.

The island of Crete is a pearl beach holiday in Greece, washed by three seas. The air and water temperatures here are ideal for swimming almost all year round, the season lasts from November to May. Hot days, starry nights, picturesque landscapes, the opportunity to engage in water sports for both beginners and professionals.

Couples with children will have a wide choice of hotels, and young people will have a lot of fun in Hersonissos, a popular resort with an abundance of bars and discos.

Rhodes attracts tourists from all over the world both in winter and summer. The pleasant Mediterranean climate is suitable for people who do not tolerate heat well, as a fresh sea breeze blows from the Aegean Sea to the island.

Rhodes is a real pearl of Greece, combining deserted sandy beaches and youth recreation areas where you can enjoy views of the stormy tides and go windsurfing. And, of course, even the most remote corner of the country carries a piece of its unique historical heritage. A visit to the Palace of the Masters or a leisurely walk through the Butterfly Park will leave indelible impressions for a lifetime.

Features of Greece

Each country has its own unique traditions and cultural heritage, but Greece is a special place where the habits and mentality of the indigenous people have been formed over several centuries. Greece is one continuous peculiarity; the way of life in it has not changed for centuries. The Greeks are still cheerful and prefer to live one day at a time, combining unity with nature and a cheerful night's rest.

The people of Greece value wealth and prestige most of all; this is perhaps even more important than family. The Greeks do not consider it shameful to spend a month’s salary on entertainment and beautiful trinkets, while everyone wants to be rich, but the passion for hoarding and saving is not in their character.

The Greeks are a contradictory people; the temperament of the inhabitants surprisingly combines hot temperament and sentimentality. They fiercely protect their traditions and revive long-forgotten customs, especially before the holidays. For example, important events in the life of the country make one remember such a symbol of Athens as the organ. Previously, almost every Athenian had this instrument, but now it decorates some homes as decoration.

The Greeks are very hospitable, and this hospitality is not ostentatious or necessary for duty. Arriving at the house, you should definitely at least drink a cup of hot or cold coffee, and at most have dinner with the hospitable hosts.

People elderly age love gather in tavern or coffee shop, where drinking tea, coffee, anise vodka and play in cards days all day long. U Greeks even yes concept « ours coffee shop», usually this is such establishment, which is located nearby from at home, in him walk whole generations and never not change traditions. B similar places at all not considered shameful smoke, have fun and loud chant songs.

Eating for the residents of Greece is a special ritual, a kind of holiday for which you need to carefully prepare. Almost everything national dishes prepared with the addition of seafood, tomatoes, lamb. Raisins and garlic are used as seasoning. And, of course, no meal is complete without wine.

How much will a holiday in Greece cost?

Greece is considered budget place to relax. Prices in shops and cafes are relatively not high, but as soon as you move a little further from hostels and inexpensive restaurants, they inflate significantly. For example, to visit the Acropolis you will need at least 25 euros, to go to a club - about 20-25 euros.

In any case, it all depends on the desires, capabilities of the tourist, and on what style of vacation he prefers. If you are determined not to deny yourself anything, stay in a five-star hotel for a couple of weeks, drive around in a rented car on your own, dine in a restaurant every day and bring home a fur coat as a present, then get ready to shell out at least 4 thousand euros.

A modest but high-quality vacation for two for two weeks will cost about 1.5 thousand euros. At the same time, you will be able to see the main attractions, taste national dishes and live all this time in a comfortable environment.

When going to Greece, even for a few days, you should remember that every tourist should have at least $500 for the entire vacation period.