Thessaloniki City

Thessaloniki or Salonica is the capital of Macedonia, the second city of Greece and one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded in 316 BC, on a site of old prehistoric settlements going back to 2300 B.C., by Cassander, King of Macedon. He named it after his wife Thessalonica, the sister of Alexander the Great. Today, Thessaloniki is an important commercial port with a population of 1,000,000, located on the shores of the Thermaikos Gulf, besides it is an active center of commerce and culture not only of Greece but also of the Balkan Peninsula. The local industry has been continuously developing, while trade, traditionally the strong point of the city, is prospering. Recently Thessaloniki has become the seat of CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training) and the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank headquarters. The city is composed of two sectors, the modern sector and the old city. The old city is where most of the views are. In the old city it will be mostly Byzantine churches and buildings that you are looking for. They are what Thessaloniki is famous for. You can get glimpses of “Old Salonica” in the walled Kastra quarter of the city, on the hillside beyond the modern grid of streets. While the modern areas are full of excellent examples of recent architecture that are interesting enough if you are into that kind of thing. The city’s landmark is the White Tower, which also houses a Byzantine museum. Worth visiting is the Archaeological museum that exhibits findings of the archaic, classical and Roman periods as well as the church of Saint Dimitrios, the holy patron of the city. Thessaloniki is also known for its exceptional nightlife with the famous Ladadika quarter. Here you will find bars and clubs playing great music as well as restaurants and ouzeris among the best in Greece.

Sparta City

Sparta is the administrative capital of Laconia (Lacedaemonia) Prefecture, which belongs to Peloponnese Region, with a population of 16,473 inhabitants. The city of Sparta is situated at the southern end of the central Laconian plain, on the right bank of the river Evrotas. The site was strategically located; guarded from three sides by mountains and controlling the routes by which invading armies could penetrate Laconia and the southern Peloponnese via the Langhda Pass over Mt Taygetus. At the same time, its distance from the sea—Sparta is 27 miles from its seaport, Gythium—made it difficult to blockade. As a city-state devoted to military training, Sparta acquired the most formidable army in the Greek world, and after achieving notable victories over the Athenian and Persian Empires, regarded itself as the natural protector of Greece. The later Sparta did not produce art or philosophy, neither left us any written work, but its people were admired for their valor and for keeping alive the Greek values. Laconia or Lacedaimona was the name of the wider city-state centered at the city of Sparta, though the name "Sparta" is now used for both. The Kings of Sparta were believed to be the direct descendants of Hercules. In a notably accurate prediction, the 5th-century B.C. Athenian historian Thucydides predicted that if Sparta were ever "to become desolate, and the temples and the foundations of the public buildings were left, no one in future times would believe that this had been one of the preeminent cities of Greece." The city had no great temples or public buildings and throughout its period of greatness it remained unfortified: Lycurgus, architect of the Spartan constitution, declared that "it is men not walls that make a city". Consequently, modern Sparta, described grid-style in 1834, has few ancient ruins, and is today the pleasant organizational centre of a vast agricultural plain. Sparta’s appeal is its familiarity - its pedestrian side streets, café-lined squares, orange trees and evening volta. The reason for coming here is basically to see Mystra, the Byzantine town, 5km to the west, which once controlled great swaths of the medieval world.

Olympia City

Olympia (Olimbia) is an ancient city located in Elis (a district to the southern Greece on the Peloponnesus peninsula), geographically it is 311 km to west of Athens, 90 km to South of Patras and 21 km to East of Pyrgos. It is famous for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games (one of the four Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece) held in Delphi. Both games were held every four years with hardly any interruption for nearly 1,200 years. Only in the 4th century CE were they finally abolished by the Christian emperor of Rome Theodosius I. Olympia is really one of the largest and most attractive spots in Greece, and the setting is as perfect as could be imagined: a luxuriant valley of wild olive and plane trees, spread beside the Twin Rivers of Alpheus -the largest in the Peloponnese - and Kladhios, and overlooked by the pine-covered hill of Kronos. Sadly, the actual ruins of the sanctuary are jumbled and confusing, and seem to cry out for reconstruction, even on a modest scale. The great temple columns lie half-buried amid the trees and undergrowth: picturesque and shaded, perfect ground for picnics, but offering little real impression of their ancient grandeur or function. Their fame, however, prevails over circumstance, and walking through the arch from the sanctuary to the stadium it is hard not to feel in awe of the Olympian history. Despite the crowds, the tour buses, the souvenir shops and other trappings of mass tourism, it demands and deserves a lengthy visit.

Hydra City

Hydra is part of the group of island called “Saronic Islands”, one of the closest islands to Athens and is perhaps the most beautiful harbor in the Greek Islands. It is a rocky island in the Aegean Sea, located to the eastern coast of Peloponnese between the Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf, close to the islands of Spetses and Poros. Its area of 52 square km and a coastline of 56 km provides living to 2 500 inhabitants. One of the island's most attractive features is its traffic-free tranquility - even bicycles are forbidden here and the only motorized vehicle you'll come across is the occasional rubbish truck. Everyone gets about on foot, by donkeys, or with sea taxis. The inhabited area, however, is so compact that most people walk everywhere. It is a favorite place of many painters, authors, and other artists who seek inspiration from these quiet surroundings, the many reasons are: the traditional architecture (the buildings are in traditional style, decorated with wooden painted ceilings, marble fountains, and classic furniture that reminds you of a time long since past) and the untouched nature of the island. Another of the major attractions on Hydra is its nightlife. You'll find bars and clubs that feature lots of delicious cocktails and blaring-loud music. If you love to dance, the clubs in Hydra do not disappoint. The nightlife on the island is often compared to that of Mykonos, only smaller and more cosmopolitan in nature. At many of the island's taverns, you can relax with a drink, listen to great live music and sample some great Greek cuisine. Famous for its lack of cars and bikes, nightlife, fine restaurants, B&B style hotels, villas, beautiful beaches, shops and traditional architecture, Hydra is a favorite weekend destination for Athenians and one of the premier tourist destinations in the world today.

Corfu City

Corfu is without doubt one of the most popular destinations in Greece and it is considered as the most spectacular sceneries in Greece. Geographically it is located the west of Greece, lying within sight of Albania, just off the coast of the Greek mainland and about 75km from the heel of Italy. It is the second largest after Cephalonia of Ionian islands known as the Seven Islands, or Eptanese. Together with the small island of Paxi and others that are still smaller (Antipaxi, Othoni, Erikoussa, Mathraki), Corfu constitutes a separate prefecture. The prefecture is part of the periphery Ionian Islands. It has an area of 592 sq. km, a coastline of 217 km and a population of over 100,000 making it the largest Ionian island in terms of population. The principal city of the island is also named Corfu, or Kerkyra in Greek. The name "Corfu" comes from the word coryphi, which means peak and was used for the acropolis of the capital city. The name Kerkyra is only used in Greece. To the rest of the world the island is known as Corfu. Because of the mild Mediterranean climate and the high rainfalls during winter, Corfu is full of abundant and verdant vegetation and wild plants, approximately 65% of the surface of the island is under cultivation and 59% of this area is covered with olives, cypress trees, citrus fruit trees, fruit trees and vineyards; this makes of Corfu one the greenest islands in Greece. The island of Corfu was one of the first islands in Greece to open itself to tourism and has since become an important international tourism centre attracting many visitors and offering well-equipped and modern touristy facilities. In few words the island will leave the visitors with unforgettable memories, an earthly paradise which has been so generously blessed by God. Usually Corfu is about mostly visited during the spring to autumn periods and best avoided during the winter season as it rains often.

Chania City

The island of Crete is recognized around the world and is considered as one of the best holiday destinations. It features visitors a wide diversity of unique attributes and activities, such as exquisite Minoan sites, endless beaches, green countryside, attractive villages, delicious cuisine and the friendliest inhabitants. Crete is made up of 4 prefectures: Chania (Hania), Rethymnon (Rethymno), Heraklion (Iraklio) and Lassithi. The most picturesque prefecture is Chania (Hania). Chania prefecture covers the western most quarter of the island. The capital is the city of Chania. Chania abuts only one other prefecture, that of Rethymno Prefecture to the east. The western part of Crete is bounded to the north by the Cretan Sea and to the west and south by the Mediterranean Sea. The prefecture comprises the southernmost island in Europe, Gavdos. Chania prefecture is divided into 5 provinces: Apokoronas, Kissamos, Kydonia, Selino, and Sfakia. The Chania Crete prefecture owns a plenty of historical, religious and archaeological places and some of the finest beaches in Crete. At night, visitors can spend hours relaxing at the seaside or countryside cafes, bars, taverns and restaurants of Chania (Hania), whiling away the hours, drinking, eating and chatting with friends. If you are traveling in Crete alone, with your friends, your partner, your family, or with an organized group and you want to explore the Chania prefecture, several travel agencies will be ready to assist and support you.

Santorini City

Santorini is definitely one of the most strongly beautiful and spectacular spots on planet. This incredible scenery attracts thousands of visitors annually. The term 'Santorini' originates from 'Santa Irini', though it is formally known as Thera or Thira which is notorious for the enormous volcanic explosion which destroyed the settlements thereon, and created the current geological caldera. It is the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, located between Ios and Anafi islands, with an area of about 73 km² (28 mi²), and in 2001 had an estimated population of 13,600. Its fantastic natural beauty along with its eminent nightlife makes the island one of Europe's top tourist hot spots. Fantastic is a word often used in describing the Greek islands but it must surely apply more than most to Santorini. An island of extraordinary contrasts, it can be both incredibly beautiful and deeply unattractive. The white cube houses and blue domed churches may fall over nicely down the cliff side in the capital Thira but its streets are heavily developed with costly cafes, fashionable shops, and near nightmare groups of visitors. Santorini has an extremely well-developed tourism infrastructure, featuring visitors a very wide selection of accommodation, such as Santorini hotels, studios, apartments, traditional houses, suites, villas and rooms for rent. The narrow pathways of the island are lined with designer boutiques, jewelry and craft shops that sell high quality goods. Santorini travel agents, tour operators, and car rental agencies can be found almost anywhere on the island, offering their know-how and travel services to make your holiday extraordinary. Because of the spectacular and unique natural beauty of Santorini, several Greek singers have chosen the island, as the setting of their videos. Greek and a Brazial TV series have been view of Santorini, in addition to some Holywood movies (eg. Tomb Rider II). Generally Santorini is a extreme of attractiveness for Greek and international celebrities.

Rhodes City

Rhodes is the greatest of the Dodecanese islands and it is among the most visited of the Greek islands with a population of about 98.000 inhabitants. It is the third largest Greek island and, officially, the sunniest place in the Europe. It lies approximately 11 miles (18 km) west of Turkey, situated between the Greek mainland and the island of Cyprus. The island is famous for its sun, sea and sand: the ideal place for vacations. Historically, Rhodes was known for its Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, which was unfortunately damaged. Today, Rhodes is often called The Pearl of the Mediterranean and is known for its natural beauty, historical, and archaeological treasures. The environment is mountainous and green with pine trees, and there are beautiful beaches. Rhodes is a important tourist attraction for the seekers of sunny beaches. While many of its beaches are gravel , not sand; the island can pride yourself 300+ sun days in a year. Tourism cooperate a large part in the island's economy. And estimated 80% of the island's revenue results from tourism. Consequently, you will find into tourists and hotels and beaches full of deck chairs for rent, into shops and restaurants that provide to these tourists. It can be overwhelming at times. If this bothers you, Rhodes is probably not for you. Still, there are some areas where mass tourism has not yet penetrated too much. And there are benefits, too: Travel to and accommodation on Rhodes itself can be purchased for relatively low prices, and most of the locals speak at least English and German and often some other languages.

Mykonos City

Mykonos is an notable Greek island of the Cyclades group, located in the middle of the Aegean Sea, at coordinates 37°27' N 25°26' E, near to Paros and Santorini. It spans an area of 86 km²and rises at an elevation of 364 m at its highest point. The island is composed primarily of granite. It has little natural fresh water and relies on the desalination of sea water to meet its needs. It has approximately one population of 6200 people. The greatest town is Mykonos, also known as Chora (i.e. the Town in Greek, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town), which sits on the west coast. It is believed that the island was named after a local hero, who is considered an offspring of the god Apollo and was worshipped locally in ancient times. Mykonos Greece is the most well-known and admired island of the Greek Islands and fascinates thousands of tourists every year. In the last few years, Mykonos has partially lost its special essence and has been frequented mostly by young people who want to enjoy the island great nightlife (which is often compared to Ibiza and Ayia Napa); but apart from this, Mykonos island is popular for its multicultural atmosphere, its picturesque Cycladic capital full of whitewashed houses and blue domed churches and its splendid sandy beaches. Here you can choose whether to relax yourself and enjoy the great sea, or to stay in the middle of the crowd and start celebrating in the afternoon. August is, of course, the most costly month and in this period the island is mostly frequented by young Italians . The island is also famous for being the Greek capital and oasis for homosexuals, as it recommends an extensive diversity of gay friendly hotels in Mykonos town, as well as the areas nearby Super Paradise Beach and Paradise Beach. Mykonos is the ideal holiday destination for both gay couples and gay singles who want to have a fun and relaxing gay vacation, without being under examination, as fellow visitors and locals are tactful and respectful of other people's sexual orientation, be it gay or straight.

Athens City

Athens the capital of Greece extends across the middle valley of Attica, often mentioned to as the Attica Basin, which is bound by Mount Aegaleo in the west, Mount Parnitha in the north, Mount Penteli in the northeast, Mount Hymettus in the east, and the Saronic Gulf in the southwest. Athens is the emblem of freedom, art, and democracy in the conscience of the civilized world. Its name was taken from the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. Athens comes of the name from the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. The town is the emblem of freedom, art, and democracy in the conscience of the civilized world. The main landmark of Athens is the acropolis , which manages the town and on which situate the relics of the Parthenon, the propylaea, and the Erechtheum. Occupying the southern part of Athens, the Acropolis is ringed by the other chief landmarks of the ancient town the Pnyx, where the citizens' assemblies were held; the Areopagus; the Theseum of Hephaesteum, a well-preserved Doric temple of the 5th cent. B.C.; the old Agora and the Roman forum; the temple of Zeus or Olympieum; the theatre of Dionysius (the oldest in Greece); and the Odeum of Herodes Atticus. Athens exhibits a mystifying mix of architectural styles from across the centuries and under many influences, making it a fascinating place to visit. A European Union-sponsored program aims to help in Discovering Contemporary Architecture in Athens by means of multimedia presentation and guided walks.