Greece

Greece is a country in southeastern Europe, consisting of thousands of islands scattered across the Aegean and Ionian seas. Its capital, Athens, is located on the mainland and is famous for its grand Acropolis, overlooking the city.

The country has a population of 10.75 million and uses the euro as its currency. Other notable places include the Peloponnesian region, which used to host ancient Sparta, large islands like Crete and Mykonos, along with popular tourist destinations like Santorini and Paros.

Mainland Greece and the islands have a typical Mediterranean climate with long hot summers and mild winters. The best time to visit is between April and September, when the temperature is almost always above 20 degrees, and rain is rare. It should be noted that the weather is very different in the mountainous areas than in the coastal areas and the south is generally hotter than the north.

Greece, with its rich history, captivates visitors as the birthplace of Western literature, home to Homeric epics such as the Iliad and Odyssey, and to ancient mythology featuring gods like Zeus and Poseidon. Colonised by Dorian invaders from Asia, it formed city-states with unique systems.

Greece produced great thinkers—Herodotus, Hippocrates, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagoras. Athens and Sparta, its most famed city-states, united against Persia before battling in the Peloponnesian War. Athens became the first democracy after a revolution in the 5th century. Sparta, founded earlier by Lycurgus, had a warrior culture. Darius the Great invaded after Athens aided the Ionian revolts, leading to battles at Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, and Platea.

The Peloponnesian War ended with Sparta’s victory, reducing Greek power. Macedon’s Philip and Alexander the Great expanded Greece into an empire reaching India. Later, the Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, and finally Greece gained independence in 1821.

Its rich food culture is undoubtedly among the best in the world. Some of the most famous dishes include mezes, which are usually accompanied by either ouzo or tsipouro, and are commonly described as the Greek equivalent of tapas, such as tzatziki, a garlic-infused yoghurt with cucumber, ‘Spanakopitakia’, which are small spinach pies with crushed feta cheese, and ‘Dolmadakia’, vine leaves filled with rice, onions, or minced beef.

Feta is the most renowned Greek cheese, typically crumbled over tomatoes, olives, and cucumber to make Greek salad. Famous main dishes include moussaka, made with aubergine, potatoes, mincemeat, and a cheese sauce; gyros, a kebab-like dish served in pita bread; and a variety of delicious fish dishes. Greece is also famous for its numerous tasty local wines, as well as spirits such as raki, ouzo, and tsipouro.

An ideal place for family holidays, it offers a vast array of fun activities for the entire family. Foremost among these are the many golden beaches that populate both the islands and the mainland, ideal for relaxing, and a large selection of water sports for those who want an active holiday.

The country’s hotels are also incredibly family-friendly, with children’s clubs and facilities. Greece is also ideal for anyone interested in history and culture, with trips to the Acropolis or ancient Sparta, among a plethora of other places. This makes Greece the kind of place where you will have a family holiday to remember.

Complete with a vast array of incredible attractions, it will surely excite and delight visitors equally. On the mainland, there are places rich in history, such as Athens, the Peloponnese, and Thessaloniki, with treasures including Ancient Sparta, the Acropolis, and the Parthenon.

The islands are also blessed with amazing sights, such as the untouched Navagio beach in Zakynthos, the Medieval town of Rhodes, the windmills of Mykonos, and the hiking trail between Oia and Fira on Santorini.

Both the Greek mainland and the islands are famous for their incredible nightlife, which plays a vital part in local culture. Traditionally, one would begin by eating at a taverna, before moving on to a more exciting bar and club.

Athens and the islands like Mykonos, Paros, Crete, Rhodes, Kos are all renowned for their vibrant evening settings. While, places like Santorini and Zakynthos are more famous for their romantic spots, which are ideal for couples on romantic holiday.

Greece offers the complete shopping experience from the fashion boutiques in Athens and Mykonos to the more traditional shops dotted around the quaint villages. Some of the most famous products available in Greece are authentic handmade local goods, including leather, ceramics, pottery, jewellery and clothes.

Greece is also ideal for people who love incredible local produce, with delicious wine, honey, and golden olive oil all abundant on the island.

Why not pursue a lifelong dream and “hop” around the enchanting Greek islands to see them in all their splendour? Revel in the fiery orange sunsets of Santorini, the ultra-chic nightlife of Mykonos, the Medieval and Venetian history and architecture of Rhodes, the white sandy beaches of Crete, the peace and serenity of Naxos, or simply relive the movie Mamma Mia! on the island of Skopelos.

Why settle for just one when you can have them all? At Cyplon Holidays, we can expertly organise your island-hopping adventure, helping you to realise your dream trip. Whether you seek romance, adventure, escapism, or a blend of everything, we are here to assist!

Being able to cultivate some of the world’s finest grapes enables Greece to produce exceptional wines, a tradition they have maintained for thousands of years, although the rest of the world has yet to fully recognise the quality of Greek wines.

Other traditional alcoholic beverages native to Greece include ‘Ouzo’, an aniseed-flavoured aperitif often mixed with water, ‘Retsina’, a white wine with a truly distinctive taste, and ‘Tsipouro’, a spirit made from grape skins that is not for the faint-hearted.