Home to the 2004 Summer Olympics, Greece has become one of the most popular leisure destinations in the world. Steeped in year round sunshine, this fascinating country blends ancient historical sites with a modern tourism infrastructure.
Athens is a vibrant city animated by outdoor cafés, pedestrian streets, parks, gardens and ancient monuments. They seem to appear around every corner. In Athens, you will never be short of things to see and do. You can visit the ancient sites such as the Parthenon, the Theatre of Dionysus, where the works of Euripides were first performed, and even the site of the first ever Olympiad. Today, Athens has become a modern capital city and has excellent nightlife as well as beautiful resort areas along the city's coastline.
Greece's largest island is Crete. Steeped in history and culture, scented by wild fennel and basil, this beautiful island hosts a quarter of all visitors to Greece. Crete was the birthplace of one of Europe's oldest and most fascinating civilizations, the Minoans as well as Zeus, the King of the Gods. Heraklion, or Iraklio as it is known locally, is the capital of Crete and has some fine museums detailing the island's history. One of the most visited places on the island is the ancient Minoan site of Knossos, which was home of the legendary Minotaur. Also worthy of a visit is the island of Spinalonga, a former leper colony.
Corfu, the wooded isle of the Phoenicians, is the best known of the Ionian Islands. The capital, Corfu Town, or Kerkira as it is known locally, is built on a promontory that juts into the sea and is divided into a northern and southern section. Corfu Town presents a mesmerizing picture with its broad streets and wide squares, the popular Spianada houses, traditional Georgian mansions, a Byzantine Church and Venetian monuments. Kanoni, 4 kilometres south of the capital, is one of the most popular spots on the island. A narrow causeway leads across the water to the Monastery of Vlacherna and you can take a kayak from here to visit the glorious Pondikonissi and its 13th century church. Corfu's traditions are very much alive and can be sampled in all the shops where folk art and crafts are displayed.
Greek mythology claims that the fossilized bodies of the giants killed by Hercules formed Mykonos. This enchanting and cosmopolitan island is known the world over for its many windmills, white cube buildings, rocky hills, sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife. The capital, Hora, is dotted with beautiful box-shaped houses, intertwining narrow streets, red-roofed chapels and simple tavernas.
The island of Rhodes, also known as the Island of the Sun, is packed with everything from archaeological sights and fantastic beaches to valleys, which are home to beautiful butterflies. Rhodes Town, the capital, boasts a fairytale-like atmosphere with medieval walls, charming tavernas and quaint shops. The island also offers some of the most animated nightlife in the eastern Mediterranean. The ruins of ancient Rhodes, the Acropolis of Lindos and the azure sea, are sure to impress you.
Preparing for your flight to Athens