Greece Tours

Greece almost has two distinct worlds: the mainland and the islands. The mainland’s focal point tends to be Athens. The city of Athens is a sprawling metropolis, but it has a compact historical area and one of the most iconic monuments, the Acropolis and the Parthenon. The Acropolis is the rocky mound that the Parthenon sits upon. Dating back to the 5^th century this impressive monument contains 58 columns and pediments.

These impressive assets in Athens are part of the Archeological Promenade which is a 1.5-mile walking path that connects the Temple of Zeus, Kerameikos and the Roman Forum.

Another impressive place to visit when planning your trip to Greece is the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Designed by architect Bernard Tschumi from Switzerland. The museum is a modern steel and glass building that is full of ancient artifacts such as the 6^th century Moschophoros which is a statue depicting a man with a calf on his shoulder.

Amazing sculptures known as the Caryatids are well worth the visit as are the Parthenon marbles. Don’t forget to grab a bite to eat at the museum’s café which overlooks the Acropolis.

The mainland of Greece offers so many opportunities to experience some amazing history. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Delphi is at the base of Mount Parnassus and surrounded by green and lush hills. Long ago people came here to pray to the God of Light; Apollo and seek guidance from Oracles. The Archaeological Museum of Delphi will educate you to the history of the are through its amazing collection of artifacts dating from the 2^nd century A.D.

When planning your trip to Greece and the mainland, make sure you include the other UNESCO World Heritage site; Corfu. Corfu is located on the west coast of Greece and was controlled by Italians for many centuries. The city is filled with streets that do not allow cars, so it makes for an easy exploration of the city. A bit further out from Corfu is Paleokastritsa; which is a very popular beach area on the west coast. Corfu has an airport as well as ferry service from Italy’s Ancona and Venice.

The other side of Greece that travelers are drawn to are the famous islands.

Santorini is one of the most famous of the Greek islands and is known for its white-washed rooftops and bright blue building accents.  The island’s hot spots are Oia and Fira which have the pubs, restaurants and nightlife that so many travel there for.

Traveling to the islands is about taking it slow and enjoying the “island life.” While the pace may be slow there are some wonderful things to do in Santorini such as one of the sunset cruises which take you on the sea, to hike on the volcanic island just offshore and to see the famous sunset from the far side of the island.

There is also a winery to visit, an Archaeological museum and some volcanic beaches with black sand to enjoy and spend your days lounging on.

One important aspect of Santorini is that is has its own airport which allows you to reach the island in under two hours from Athens and from many other European locations.

If you want a bit of glamour with your Greek island then you must go to Mykonos. This Greek island is known for its nightlife, posh hotels and glitzy seafood restaurants. Outside of the nightlife; Mykonos offers lovely sandy beaches on the islands south side which are easily reachable by taxi or local bus.

When planning your trip to Mykonos; make sure you visit the whitewashed church called Paraportiani which is located in Mykonos Town.

Mykonos also has an airport which connects to Athens. Because the island has its own airport, this means you don’t have to backtrack to Santorini to catch the flight back to the mainland; this is a time saver every traveler will appreciate.

Getting deeper into the Greek islands requires a visit to Rhodes which is quite close to Turkey and is on the Aegean Sea. Rhodes Town is also a UNESCO site and is the largest of the Dodecanese islands. Another area that is car free which makes for a non-nail-biting experience that many travelers appreciate.

The Ionian Sea has its own share of wonderful destinations such as Zante or Zakynthos as the locals know it. This island is a very popular destination for those travelers looking for a more off the beaten bath island destination in Greece. The island is famous for its beaches and the most famous is Shipwreck Beach and the Blue Caves located on the northern tip of the island. Scuba diving is one of the most popular things to do on Zante.

Crete is a Greek island that many have heard of but few have visited. Located quite a distance from the mainland; a flight is the best and most efficient way to reach this long island paradise. One of the most popular attractions of the island is the Samaria Gorge which is in the White Mountains.

Make sure you are in good shape because it can take up to seven hours to walk the steep parts which can also be rocky. Make sure you are wearing the right shoes and hiking gear before setting off.

Crete’s Samara Gorge is part of the Samaria National Park which offers organized tours throughout the summer months.

As you can see there is so much more than most expect when planning a trip to Greece. The experts at Travel4Real understand the immense number of things there are to do in Greece and are great at designing efficient routes that make the most of your valuable vacation time. Let the experts at Travel4Real plan your next trip to Greece!