GREECE

Travel Guide to Greece: Everything You Need to Know for a Dream Vacation

A favorite tourist destination for many Moldavians, Greece is a country where you can find the sea, sun, mountains, history, culture, religion, ancient cities, fascinating islands, relaxation, and adventure. It is considered the cradle of civilization and the place where the earth falls in love with the sea waves every day.

Thus, a travel guide to Greece covers all these objectives and tourist attractions for a vacation in Greece just as you desire:

How to Get to Greece and the Ideal Time for a Stay

The map of Greece consists of two main areas: the mainland and around 6,000 islands, of which just over 200 are inhabited. You can travel to Greece by car; it's an easy and picturesque journey through Bulgaria. It is recommended to contact travel agencies and tour operators for transport by bus or plane, to travel without stress, in safety, and to fully enjoy the landscapes.

If you are wondering when it is best to visit Greece, the answer depends on the region you want to visit. The climate is generally mild, with alpine, Mediterranean, and temperate characteristics. You can choose any time of the year for a vacation in Greece, but the best months are from April to October.

A stay in Greece is a marine spectacle par excellence, as this mythical land is surrounded by the Aegean Sea to the east, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Ionian Sea to the west. And if you need another reason for a holiday in Greece, you should know that 80% of the country’s land area is covered by mountainous terrain.

Most Visited Cities in Greece

Athens
In the top destinations in Greece, the capital, Athens, occupies a special place, famous for its history and invaluable architectural ruins, which tourists can visit: the Acropolis, the port of Piraeus, the Parthenon, the bohemian Plaka neighborhood, and the Monastiraki market.

Thessaloniki
Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki, rivals Athens in beauty and tourist attractions, bearing the marks of a long history and the passage of legendary figures such as Cicero, Cleopatra, and Suleiman the Magnificent, with its White Tower, the true symbol of famous Thessaloniki.

Ioannina
Ioannina is the capital of the Epirus region and attracts tourists from all over the world with the beauty of its castle, Lake Pamvotis, the island, and the caves in the Pindus Mountains, making this ancient city a special destination. It’s a hidden treasure waiting for visitors with a superb Byzantine museum, mosques, churches, and taverns full of color and flavor.

Most Famous Tourist Attractions in Greece

The Acropolis
Among the most famous tourist attractions in Greece, the Acropolis represents the sacred fortress of the goddess Pallas Athena, the protector of the ancient city of Greece. Located on top of a hill overlooking the plains of Athens, the Acropolis is considered the most beautiful place with ancient ruins in the world! When you climb the marble plateau and look around, you feel like you've traveled back in time thousands of years.

The Meteora Monasteries
Any travel guide to Greece mentions the Meteora monasteries, the city between rocks, the second religious center of Greece after Mount Athos, but the first in terms of the number of tourists and spectacular scenery.
The name comes from the Greek expression “Meteoron” (suspended in the air), and it is fully justified, as the architecture of this place is impressive due to the meticulousness and effort required to build the buildings atop the mountains.

The Temple of Delphi
The ancient city of Delphi, located on a plateau of Mount Parnassos, is famous for its archaeological site dominated by the ruins of the legendary Temple of Apollo, built in the 4th century BC. The columns in Doric style have been reconstructed and impress with their size and architectural details. The ancient relics and traces of the amphitheater and stadium in Delphi complete the fascinating story of this place full of legends and mystery.

Mount Athos
Located on one of the three peninsulas of Halkidiki, Athos is a holy place where monasteries, hermitages, and monks' cells are found, home to over 1,500 Orthodox monks. Access to the mountain is allowed only for men, and the visiting rules are strict. The beauty of the place and its religious symbolism are strong arguments for including this unique tourist attraction in any travel guide to Greece.

The Most Beautiful Greek Islands

Some of the most popular resorts in Greece are located in the island area, where the mountains and the sea create true natural spectacles, and tourists from all over the world are impressed by the landscapes, the hospitality of the locals, and the flavors of the traditional cuisine. Here are the most beautiful Greek islands to visit on your next vacation:

Santorini Island
Santorini is one of the most famous islands in the Aegean Sea, part of the Cyclades archipelago, and is famous for its absolutely beautiful sunsets. Tourists can admire the views in the capital of the island, Fira, and the Firostefani area, with its spectacular views of the volcano, the Skaros Fortress, and the beaches of Kamari. Santorini is a place full of romance and color.

Crete Island
The southernmost Greek island in the Aegean Sea, Crete is an ideal place for a seaside vacation and also close to the mountains, with various options for leisure, from water sports to cultural tours. A stay in Crete, with a hotel in the capital Heraklion, represents a complete experience, including visits to the Knossos Palace, Samaria Gorge, the Chania harbor, Lake Kournas, the windmills of Lasithi, Agios Nikolaos, Arkadi Monastery, and Vai Beach.

Rhodes Island
Rhodes is the largest and easternmost island of the Dodecanese group in the Aegean Sea. It is a superb tourist destination, so a vacation in Rhodes is a great option year-round. The most famous attractions are the old town, the Grand Master's Palace, the ancient city of Ialyssos, the medieval area of Kamiros, and the stunning panoramas in Lindos.

Thassos Island
Also called the "Emerald Island," Thassos is a beautiful place in the northern Aegean Sea, famous for its fine sand and lush vegetation, rivaling some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. The main tourist attractions are the capital Limenas, the fishing village of Theologos, the ancient city of Panagia with its famous Golden Beach, and especially Giola, a true natural swimming pool located in a dreamlike landscape.

The Best Beaches in Greece

There are many things tourists say about Greece, but the most well-known is that it has some of the most beautiful places to spend a beach holiday. Throughout the year, the sun pampers this legendary land, and the terrain is so diverse that it is difficult to say which are the best beaches in Greece. However, in a subjective ranking from tourists visiting this wonderful country, the following beaches are highly recommended:

• Elafonissi Beach in Chania, southwest Crete
• Simos Beach on the island of Elafonisos
• Kleftiko Beach and Sarakiniko Beach on Milos, the volcanic island in the Aegean Sea
• Porto Limnionas and Kalamaki Beach on Zakynthos
• Milos Beach on Lefkada
• Anthony Quinn Bay on Rhodes

How to Organize a Vacation in Greece?

The most important things you need to determine are: the place of accommodation in Greece, the duration of the stay, the mode of transport, and the travel schedule.

It is recommended to consult specialized travel operators for this destination and follow their advice regarding transport and safety measures to reach your destination safely.

Choosing the Resort
As those who love vacations in Homer’s land say, the most beautiful resort in Greece is the one you choose for your next vacation. The options are numerous: Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, Kos, as well as the Peloponnese Peninsula, Athens, and the main resorts of the mainland in the Halkidiki Peninsula.

Greece is a tourist destination for all tastes: those who wish to relax have beaches and sun, explorers will find secret, charming places on every island, and those who prefer active vacations can explore the mountainous terrain, volcanoes, wooded coastlines, or practice all kinds of water sports.

Choosing a Hotel
You can choose accommodation in Greece on an All-Inclusive, Ultra All-Inclusive, or Half Board basis. Enjoy five-star comfort and luxury, convenient four-star options, and affordable tourist packages offering stays in three-star hotels.

Choose the option that suits you best and enjoy a successful vacation at any time of the year.

Travel to Greece with Condor Torurism
To choose from the most varied tourist offers for Greece, Condor Tourism packages include accommodation with meals, flight tickets with included airport taxes, group transfers by bus, and multi-product insurance, cancellation, and medical insurance for international travelers.