Greece

Looking for the ultimate island-hopping experience, then head directly to the Greek coast. With hundreds of islands to choose from every holiday expectation is met under a hot Mediterranean sun. From the fast pace of all night beach parties and dance extravaganza’s to the quieter solitude of stunning isolated bays. Traditional Greek life is prominent, particularly on the smaller islands adding to the magic of this popular destination. Internationally renowned for its picturesque islands, mainland Greece is a vast, mountainous country which can seem quite removed from other popular destinations in Europe. With a tightly packed European itinerary and chilling-out time at a premium, long-haul travelers from New Zealand should consider limiting their time in Greece and proceed to set sail for the Greek Islands. A newly built second airport in Athens makes flying into the capital the best option to access Greece’s long stretching coast-line and islands. A 1-2 night stay will be plenty of time to take in archeological sites including of course, the Acropolis with its world famous Greek temple Parthenon atop. Panathinaiko Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 makes for an interesting stop. At the centre of Athens, pass through Syntagma Square and catch a glimpse of the Greek version of “changing the guards”, a unique sight with their pom-pom adorned feet and stiff legged march. As the sun goes down take in the Sound and Light Show from Pnyx Hill opposite the Acropolis. Continue the entertainment at a Greek Taverna for an authentic evening show of traditional music and dance served with the local cuisine. For those night owls explore the hip nightlife in the Plaka district. A day trip to the popular archeological site in Delphi is possible from Athens and can make a welcomed break out into the Greek countryside. Pass through picturesque villages in the mountains to see the Temple of Apollo plus the bronze charioteer at the Delphi Museum. In ancient times Delphi was once seen as the centre of the world where heaven and earth met, so if you’re looking for a spiritual experience with the Greek Gods then this is the place for you. First impressions of Athens may be one of pollution, a constant noise of car horns and some pretty radical driving on the streets of the city. Definitely, once all the popular attractions have been explored, you will be more than ready to head out to the port of Piraeus to catch a ferry to the far more beautiful and peaceful Greek Islands. Mention “Greek Islands” to anyone and immediately a picture of white-washed houses overlooking an intense sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea will spring to mind. Such an accurate image makes the reality of visiting this part of the world quite surreal and completely worth the effort. For those on a tight timetable but with an endless list of islands to explore flying out to your island of choice is your best bet. There are daily flights to islands like Crete, Santorini or Mykonos that leave from Athens. Everyone’s favourite Santorini, is in the Cyclades which is the most popular group of islands. A 40 minute flight from Athens to Santorini provides a good starting point for some serious Greek Island hopping. Spend 3-4 blissful days discovering Santorini then work your way back to Athens catching the regular ferries to other islands in the area including the hot choices of Mykonos, Ios, Naxos and Paros. It is within this group of islands that you will see the typical dazzling white square houses and the bright blue domed churches, a strong characteristic of Cycladic architecture. Agean Air and Olympic provide flight connections between a lot of the Greek Islands. Agean Air fly’s to the larger islands that feature bigger runways whilst Olympic services the smaller islands. Other connection options require a bit more time and include hydrofoils, ferryboats and high speed ferries. For a bit of privacy and luxury during the busy tourist season consider booking (well in advance) a cabin on one of these. Of course chartering a boat is the best way to see the Greek Islands and there is a range of combinations available to help you achieve this.

The Greek Islands

There are 8 groups of islands under the Greek Island umbrella with over 2,000 islands amongst them. These include the Cyclades Islands, Dodecanese Islands, Saronic Islands, Sporades Islands, Crete & Kithira Islands, North Aegean Islands, East Aegean Islands and Ionian Islands. All have individual island life and vary in countryside, size and architecture styles. Here’s some popular Greek Islands at a glance:- Ios, Cyclades Islands It has a long standing reputation of being the ultimate party island and whilst its picturesque village of Hora may look sleepy by day, at night it pumps with a dazzling energy until dawn. During the height of the summer months of July and August Ios is definitely for the young at heart with special party events featured every night. Ios has many beautiful beaches but the most popular by far is Mylopotas which is the longest sandy beach on the island with plenty of watersports on offer. Chora is the main village on the island and overlooks the port. It lives up to its party status with narrow lanes filled with bars, restaurants, disco’s, boutiques and cafes. As part of an island hopping experience Ios makes a good go between Naxos and Santorini (just a 1 hr ferry ride away). Corfu, Ionian Islands A large island with an abundance of green countryside and a seemingly endless mix of pebbled and sandy beaches. Sparkling clear waters wrap around its ample coastline which features the popular beaches of Pelekas, Glyfada, Sidari and Agios Gordis. A big island such as Corfu can easily cater for tourist looking for a holiday in either the fast or slow lane. Kavos is known as the party town whilst heading inland into the Corfu countryside will guarantee a more “laid back” break. Corfu is rich in history and there are plenty of archeological ruins to see here. Corfu Town itself is surrounded by the walls of two castles and is a good stop for chic shopping with the added bonus of local handicrafts that specialise in leather, lace and pottery. An international airport services the island with chartered and scheduled flights from Germany and the UK as well as local airlines, Olympic and Aegean. Such a well established island as Corfu boasts an array of holiday resorts from expensive beach side villas to package deal resorts. Island hopping is possible to Paxos and as far as Patras whilst there is also a ferry service available to take you directly back to the mainland. Mykonos, Cyclades Islands This island switches up a gear as a high class destination attracting the young, the gay and the rich international jet set. All night clubbing and beach raves are orchestrated by some of the world’s top dance DJ’s setting it up as one of the top nightlife spots in the Mediterranean. If you’re looking for the hottest dance spot then head straight to Paradise Beach but be sure to enjoy a leisurely cocktail at a bar in the Little Venice district first. Add to this a naturally beautiful island with its quaint town, classic white architecture dotted with its unique windmills and endless stretches of sandy beaches all set against the vivid clear, blue Agean Sea. Mykonos is such an idyllic Greek Island that if you’re pushed for time and can’t make it to Santorini then this little treasure will fulfill all of your Greek Island aspirations. Rhodes, Dodecanese Islands This is a wonderfully big island with guaranteed sunshine from Spring to Autumn with temperatures hotter here than any other Greek Island in the Med. Such a large island offers plenty of options from fabulous sandy beaches, private coves, archeological sites, mountainous countryside and vineyards. The nightlife isn’t lacking either and for those who like to party head for the east side of Rhodes to the party playground of Faliraki or the lively town of Lindos. Walk through the beautiful medieval walls of Rhodes Old Town and its quaint streets with shops filled of local arts and crafts, stylish restaurants, and chic clubs and bars. Although cruise ships dock here daily the size of Rhodes can easily handle the influx of tourists. Santorini, Cyclades Islands Everyone who lays eyes on Santorini falls in love with its rugged barren beauty and its dazzling white villages. Its volcanic history provides a colour contrast unseen on other Greek Islands from sheer black cliffs mixed with streaks of red stone to its black/grey sandy beaches. Mix this with the brilliant blue domed churches, the white cubed houses and the sparkling blue of the Aegean Sea and it is a picture that you will hold in your mind forever. You can count on having your breath taken away every time from the views of the towns perched high on top of the vertical cliffs and it can be an adventure just accessing these cliff top villages. Thira and Oia are two of these must see towns that hug the cliffs with access to Thira available by cable car, by foot up zig-zagging steps or by donkey. There is nothing more romantic than to stay in a cliff side hotel with a swimming pool that literally hangs over the edge. Add sunsets to die for and you’ve got it made. Firostefani and Imerovigli are two more towns that sit high up on the volcanic rim and enjoy outstanding views. The best way to explore Santorini is by motorbike or jeep as long as you can keep your eye on the winding narrow roads rather than the awesome views. Discover wineries and their fields of grapes, well preserved ruins and the black, sometimes red, and sometimes white, sandy beaches. Best and most popular beaches are Red Beach, Kamari, Vlychada and Perissa. Cruise ships arrive every afternoon during the high season of the summer months bringing with them droves of tourist. Getting out and about first thing in the morning will allow you to see Santorini at its best, head for the beaches in the afternoon and leave the towns for the throngs of sightseers.

Greece for Cruising

With its extensive coast line and thousands of islands to explore it’s a no brainer that island hopping is the ultimate way to experience the Greek Islands. And there are plenty of nautical options available to achieve this. Whether by luxury cruise liner, a self-sailing chartered yacht or a crewed charter with skipper to take care of all the sailing details. Luxury liners are common place in the Mediterranean and provide a floating hotel with all the luxury trimmings whilst having easy access to the best that the Greek Islands offer plus the added bonus of unpacking only once! Chartering a boat can range from a luxurious motor boat, a fully crewed traditional sailing boat accommodating 10-30 passengers or a smaller crewed sailing yacht for 8-12 people. Bare boats (a sailing boat chartered without a crew) are great if you have your skippers ticket and can be chartered on a weekly basis as part of a flotilla of bare boats. A fun way for sailing families to meet like minded people! There are hundreds of stunning bays offering secluded anchorage safely away from the flocks of tourist on crowded beaches throughout the Greek Islands.
 

Best Time to go

Aiming to be in the Greek Islands for the summer parties? Then July and August are the months for you. This is when the islands are at their most populated with tourist looking for sun and fun. And yes the sun will be at its hottest at this time of the year, expect temperatures to be sizzling. But if you would rather slip away when the pace is a bit slower and the islands a bit emptier then the months of April, May, June, and September would suit you best. From the end of October to the end of March tourism basically shuts down in all but the bigger islands. If you were looking for dead quiet then you will find it during this low season. Ferries and flights heading out to the islands decrease significantly during the low season and expect rough waters during the winter months. With mainland Greece being so mountainous it is worth considering a skiing holiday in northern Greece. There are decent snowfalls during the winter months of December, January and February and the skiing can be pretty good plus it makes a nice change to be hitting the slopes in an unknown region compared to the extra busy ski fields in France, Italy and Switzerland. Public Holidays in Greece January 1 New Year’s Day January 6 Epiphany March Lent March 25 Greek Independence Day March/April Good Friday March/April Easter Sunday March/April Easter Monday May 1 Labour Day June (early) Holy Spirit Day August 15 Feast of the Assumption October 28 Ochi Day December 25 Christmas Day December 26 Boxing Day Annual Events/Festivals Feb/March – Carnival Festival (Apokrias); places to catch the best carnival celebrations are at Naousa, Chios, Zante, Thebes, or if in Athens the district of Plaka. Patras is probably the most festive location. Easter celebrations are very big throughout Greece and the Greek Islands, bigger than Christmas. During Easter expect to see processions to village churches, fireworks, and some villages to whitewash their streets and the outside of their buildings. Athens features the Hellenic Festival during the summer months which is a collection of festivals including the Athens Festival, the Epidaurus Festival, and “Musical July”. Theatre, dance and musical performances (classical and pop) from national and international artists are held in dramatic settings around Athens, both modern and historic. July – wine festivals in Crete July - August – Hippocrateia Festival in Kos July – September – Rennaissance Festival in Crete November – International Film Festival, Thessaloniki
 

Quick Stats

Population: 11,170,957 Flying Time from NZ: Approximately 25 hours from Auckland. Climate: Summer sunshine can be guaranteed with Greece and the Greek Islands enjoying a typical dry and hot Mediterranean climate. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European two-pin (round prongs) plugs are standard. A travel adaptor will be needed for your New Zealand plug. Currency: Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Banking: There are ATM’s in all parts of Greece. Be aware that some smaller Greek Islands may only have one machine in the main town of the island. Travelers cheques issued by all the major companies are widely recognized and can be cashed in all Greek and foreign banks, exchange bureaus and large hotels. Don’t forget to have your passport with you to provide identification. Credit cards: All major credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants. Check the front window of premises for stickers advising which cards are acceptable.

Top things to see and do

1. Climb the steps to the Acropolis and be impressed by this near 2,500 year old monument.

2. Dare yourself to take a taxi ride in Athens!

3. Get out of Athens pronto and head for a beach on the closest Greek Island as possible.

4. Charter a bare boat and explore the Greek coast and islands with a flotilla of like minded yachties.

5. Rent a moped and take to the narrow roads of your favourite Greek Island - find an isolated beach, a traditional Greek taverna that no other tourist has found, a tranquil spot to watch the sun set over the sea.

6. Make like a starfish and lay in the sand soaking up that hot Mediterranean sun!

7. Enter the Old Town of Rhodes through its surrounding medieval walls and try not to get lost in the maze of unnamed lanes and streets inside.

8. Dance till dawn on Paradise Beach, Mykonos

9. Take a donkey ride up the steep cliffs in Santorini.

10. Just explore as many of the 2,000 Greek Islands as you can …

Aiming to be in the Greek Islands for the summer parties? Then July and August are the months for you. This is when the islands are at their most populated with tourist looking for sun and fun. And yes the sun will be at its hottest at this time of the year, expect temperatures to be sizzling. But if you would rather slip away when the pace is a bit slower and the islands a bit emptier then the months of April, May, June, and September would suit you best. From the end of October to the end of March tourism basically shuts down in all but the bigger islands. If you were looking for dead quiet then you will find it during this low season. Ferries and flights heading out to the islands decrease significantly during the low season and expect rough waters during the winter months. With mainland Greece being so mountainous it is worth considering a skiing holiday in northern Greece. There are decent snowfalls during the winter months of December, January and February and the skiing can be pretty good plus it makes a nice change to be hitting the slopes in an unknown region compared to the extra busy ski fields in France, Italy and Switzerland. Public Holidays in Greece January 1 New Year’s Day January 6 Epiphany March Lent March 25 Greek Independence Day March/April Good Friday March/April Easter Sunday March/April Easter Monday May 1 Labour Day June (early) Holy Spirit Day August 15 Feast of the Assumption October 28 Ochi Day December 25 Christmas Day December 26 Boxing Day Annual Events/Festivals Feb/March – Carnival Festival (Apokrias); places to catch the best carnival celebrations are at Naousa, Chios, Zante, Thebes, or if in Athens the district of Plaka. Patras is probably the most festive location. Easter celebrations are very big throughout Greece and the Greek Islands, bigger than Christmas. During Easter expect to see processions to village churches, fireworks, and some villages to whitewash their streets and the outside of their buildings. Athens features the Hellenic Festival during the summer months which is a collection of festivals including the Athens Festival, the Epidaurus Festival, and “Musical July”. Theatre, dance and musical performances (classical and pop) from national and international artists are held in dramatic settings around Athens, both modern and historic. July – wine festivals in Crete July - August – Hippocrateia Festival in Kos July – September – Rennaissance Festival in Crete November – International Film Festival, Thessaloniki