Greece : Mosted Visited Destinations
In this part of our guide to holidays in Greece we focus on the best locations to visit…
Despite it’s relatively small size, Greece offers numerous places for travelers to visit during their stay in the country. The islands are the most popular destinations for tourists but mainland Greece has much to offer too. These are the top five places throughout Greece:
The ancient city of Athens is rich in historic sites, and because of its importance as the country’s capital and largest city it also has many significant museums and galleries. Most of these attractions are in or around the city centre. Athens’ numerous beautiful parks, hills and mountains offer respite from the busy and noisy streets.
Thessaloniki, the second largest city in the country, has a continuous 3000-year history and is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The picturesque old town, offers spectacular views over the bay and features traditional old houses and small cobbled streets, and there’s a great seafront promenade. It’s also considered a gourmet city and has a very active nightlife.
The island of Corfu, located just off the West coast of mainland Greece, is a popular destination for holiday makers because of its excellent beaches, rich history and mild Mediterranean climate. It’s very green compared to other Greek islands (containing over 2 million olive trees) and boasts a 1000 meter high mountain which offers breathtaking views across to neighboring islands.
Lying far to the south of the mainland, Crete is Europe’s southernmost island in Europe and basks in sunshine for much of the year. Being Greece’s largest island, it offers plenty of variety. The coast has long sandy beaches, rocky bays and quiet coves, as well as beach bars and sophisticated nightclubs. The interior offers traditional mountain villages and abundant wildlife, forests and flowers. Many of the island’s plants are unique to Crete.
The island of Rhodes lies southeast of the Greek mainland and is just off the Turkish coast. Rhodes is considered to be among Greece’s most beautiful islands. Its interior consists of hills and low mountains, while the coast is rocky and dotted with small, historic towns and beautiful beaches. Northern Rhodes is known for its lively beach resorts, while the south is more sedate with traditional villages, extensive medieval architecture and archaeological sites.