Archive for the 'Greece Vacation' Category

Athens Greece Vacation Activities

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

With a Greece vacation seemingly full of things to do, a single, short visit to the country may not do justice at all. But in order to take full advantage of even the limited schedule afforded for your vacation in Greece, visiting Athens should be a priority. Not only that, having a good idea of the main places to visit in the city may be important in order to fully maximize your time and cover all the important places of note in the city. Here are some suggestions of the things that you might be able to do while in the city of Athens.

Visit Acropolis

Athens Greece VacationNo visit to Athens will be complete without going to Acropolis. This prominent hill in Athens is more than just a landmark. It has been honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Acropolis is the site of the ancient fortified town of Athens which date back to as early as the Late Bronze Age. The acropolis is also the site of the country’s best buildings from the Greek Classical Age. In this hill tourist can find the Parthenon, the Erectheion and the Temple of Athena Nike.

The Ancient Agora

After visiting the acropolis, tourists can then head out to the site of the Ancient Agora. This location provides tourists one of the best possible views of the Acropolis. On the Ancient Agora tourists may be able to visit the Temple of Hephaestus, one of the best preserved temples of the ancient Greeks. Also located in the Agora is the Attalos Stoa museum which is a reconstructed ancient Greek building.

Head to Lykavittos Hill

This is one of the more prominent of the dozen hills located in the city of Athens. It is a 200 meter hill that borders the Kolonaki district. It can be reached either by hiking towards the peak or by through a funicular railway for a fee. At the top, one may enjoy the scenery at one of the many restaurants and cafes. This is a site worth going to since it provides a picturesque view of Athens that stretches towards the sea.

Weekend Old Athens Bike Tour

For those who wish to go around the ancient parts of Athens, there is a free bike tour scheduled for every Saturday and Sunday that will take the participants in and around the old and ancient section of Athens. The bike tour usually starts at 10:40 in the morning outside the Thissio metro station. And of course, each one is obliged to bring his or her own bike.

Head For The Beaches

If the weather permits, tourists can also head out south of Athens and in the outskirts towards the city’s beaches. There are buses from the Sygrou station that will take tourists to the destination. Tourists can then check out the magnificent coastline of Greece from any point of the beaches. There are also beach-side cafes that offer refreshments to tourists in the area.

Go For A Cruise

If looking from the beaches is not enough of a Greece vacation for you, you can take a look at Athens and explore the other islands by sea. There are also a variety of cruises available that would take tourists to the surrounding Greek islands such as Mykonos, Paros and Syros.

Accommodations for Your Greece Vacation

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Greece has an ancient culture that extends on extensive coastlines and islands.  This country is mountainous, with wealth and diversity of the Greek seas.  Its  charming Greek islands and coasts provide great vacation places.  A Greece vacation is a great experience and adventure.

So whenever you  choose to stay in Greece for a vacation, there are several great places to  stay.  After a day of sightseeing and different activities, surely tourists would like to come home to a very homely and comfortable accommodations.

There are several hotels that would be great places to stay.  Hotels in Athens have world class choices.  King George Palace was  a legend since 1936.  the classical King George Palace has been home to kings, princes, presidents and Athenians alike.  It has been ranked among the top 100 European hotels.

Grande Bretagne Hotel has been representing the essence of hospitality in Greece for more than 134 years.  This hotel was the host too the world sports occasion of the Olympic games that took place in the country of its origin in 2004.  For all guests the Hotel offers a special treat with the impressive spa area, designed to relax and refresh body and spirit.

Hotels in Athens provide spectacular view to Acropolis and its beautiful sites.  If you feel to stay near the sea and the coast, then Mykonos would be the place to go.  When in Mykonos, you can experience a luxurious vacation by staying in the Cavo Tagoo hotel. This hotel is built on a Cliffside and located only a few meters away from the town center.

Paros Greece HotelsAnother unique resort in Mykonos, would be the Kivotos Club Hotel.  It has been built respecting the environment and traditions of the Mykonos and is located in the magnificent Bay of Omos.  They have five swimming pools, a private beach with water sports facilities, perfectly equipped fitness and health club, squash court and a play room.

The Myconoian Ambassador Hotel and Myconian Imperial hotel are some of the wonderful and romantic jet-set destinations in the world.  It has private beaches and their rooms have balconies providing spectacular and romantic view of he ocean.

The oldest and most simple form of residence in the Aegean is called cave houses.  They are traditional buildings which are found inside the rocks with a domelike roof, narrow façade, and narrow but long spaces inside.  Santorini, another beautiful place in Greece is known for  its cave houses and people from all over the world.

Cave houses have been transformed into hotel rooms, and a lot of tourists have been visiting Santorini to stay in these famous cave houses.  According to the tradition, the cave houses were created by ship crews in order to survive and have a place of residence inside them despite the steepness of the cliff.  Some others say that some cave houses were also used as stables for mules and other animals.

Cave houses re divided into two parts.  The front part which is the kitchen and living room.  The second part is the bedroom which is at the back.  The two areas are separated by a wall with openings to let the air and light to enter the back of the cave. Another certain technique that the Santorinian people still use today in house building is applying mud on the walls along with some small part of red rocks that are added for the reinforcement of the mixture.

Your choice of accommodations and places to stay during your Greece vacation will make everything worthwhile and picture perfect.

Activities On Your Greece Vacation

Friday, May 1st, 2009

Greece is a wonderful and fascinating city. Before, it is home to three of the great wonders of the world and though they are now just ruins, the spirit and the culture of this great civilization still emanates. This is perhaps why a vacation in Greece is one of the most dreamed about trip. A lot of people want to visit and see for themselves the structures that have played a part in history.

But beyond the sight seeing, people can also do a lot of things in Greece. Here are some of the things that you can do while on vacation.

Shop

The girls will surely love this part. There are a lot of items that are uniquely found in Greece. Tourists will also love replicas of the famous structures. There are places that you go to, to look for bargains. Greece is known for their bazaars and markets where you can get great deals. Here you can find things that you can bring to your loved ones at home and at very affordable prices.

Tour the countryside

Greece HolidayThe city is no the only place where you can have a great time. In fact, exploring the countryside will afford you with more of  the ambiance of Greece. Remember that the country is actually not citified. Most of the places that are really enjoyable to go to will be the ones that most people have not gone to. Besides, would it not be great to be able to tell your adventure in areas where people have not been to. That way, you will have a different story to tell.

One downside  in doing this is getting lost. If you prefer to go gallivanting on your own, make sure that you have with you a local who can help you to get there. If you are not familiar with the place yet or if you do not have a local who can help you, then it Is better to stick to the tours. At least, you will be safer there.

Eat

Greece’s restaurants are great places to relax and just rest after touring the place. This is especially true if you have gone through so many sights during the day. Relaxing at a local café or a restaurant is a great way to cap your evening. You should also try their famous restaurants. For a list of the recommended restos in the area, check with the local tourism office or at your hotel concierge. You can also check the internet for any listings and for some recommendations from bloggers.

Bar-hopping

Greece may have been an ancient city but this does not mean that they don’t have modern haunts like bars where you can drink and dance the night away. Before going to any bars though, make sure that you have asked locals for the right direction and to also check if the area is okay for tourists. Remember that you are still new to the place and will need to go to places that are tourist-friendly. You can get information from your hotel concierge.

Walk

Walking is one way to enjoy the sights and the ambiance of the place. You can go early morning or really late at night when the weather is not as hot. Be careful though in going out late at night. Always ask if the area is safe.

Greece Vacation Travel Tips

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

A Greece vacation requires a number of things to consider. For tourists trying to go and visit a foreign country, making travel arrangements are essential. And in order to make these arrangements more effective, learning about the means of travel from and about the different places in Greece is necessary. Here is some useful information that will help you learn about the different means of travel available for tourists in and around Greece.

Traveling By Car

Traveling by car around Greece has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore it is up to the tourists if these conditions meet with his or her own preferences to warrant the use of a private vehicle to go about. And of course there are certain requirements that a tourist driver may need to have in order to drive around the country. Having a good knowledge of local traffic rules is one.

Vacations In GreeceAn advantage of going around Greece by car is that you can explore the very interiors of the country that some tourists may not have the privilege visit. There are areas in the country that public transport may not be able to reach. But thanks to having your own car, you certainly would have a more personalized knowledge of the country that other tourists may not be able to have.

But then there are also disadvantages of using a private vehicle to go around Greece. First of all, there is the difference in driving culture. Most Greek drivers are known to be aggressive one. This may be the reason why this country has one of the highest road fatality rates in the European Union. This might serve as an important point that you should consider should you decide to use a private car.

Another possible disadvantage of using a private car going around Greece is the possible added costs in exchange for a more private tour. Although most roads in Greece are well-maintained and excellent for driving, it might be good to note that most of these newer roads are toll roads. This means that you may need to pay a toll when using them. These can be come pretty expensive at times and should be considered as part of the traveling expenses.

Traveling By Public Transport

Another means of traveling around Greece available for tourists is the country’s network of public transport. There are many options available. All major Greek cities have public buses that go around the main thoroughfares as well as in and around the different cities. There are also taxies available to supplement the areas not accessible by the intercity buses.

The Inter-city bus is a popular means of traveling all around the country. The public bus system follows a dense network route that serves almost the entire country. What makes these buses attractive for traveling is that they are fairly efficient, reliable and relatively cheap. Whether on short or long distances, buses provide an effective means of travel in and around different parts of Greece.

Trains are also another inexpensive means of travel around Greece. Rail expansion is currently undergoing to serve a greater part of the country. What railway systems that do serve people today can really shorten the travel time for tourists on selected cities and other areas.

When visiting the other beautiful islands on your Greece vacation, ferries still provide the most effective means of going from island to island.

A Guide to Your Greece Vacation

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Going on a Greece vacation can be fun and exciting. But just like any other adventure to another country or place, it pays to learn more about Greece before going there. This will help you know what to expect as well as avoid certain problems. Of course, going into a foreign country may lead one to expect many quite different things than the usual.

Country Description

Greece is a country located in Southern Europe. Its coastlines stretch the Ionian, Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. Greece is an ancient country with a culture known to have a significant influence in the arts, politics, philosophy and sports in today’s society.  Aside from the influence, the country also boasts of idyllic and scenic islands and places that are worth visiting.

Major Destinations

Vacations GreeceWhen going to Greece, it is also important for tourists to know which places to go to when in the country. And there are many areas in Greece that are always worth the visit.  One of these places is Athens. Athens is Greece’s capital city.  And just like most capital cities, Athens also has a lot of attractions to offer to tourists. It is the location of one of Greece’s most famous landmark, the Acropolis. Not only that, tourists can learn more about Greek culture and history by visiting its many museums as well as the other major sites in the city.

Another place worth visiting in Greece is Delphi. For tourists well aware of ancient Greek history, Delphi is worth visiting since it is the place of the famous oracle of Apollo.  It is also considered as a major archeological site that tells a lot about Greece and its long and colorful history.

For those who are looking forward to see some of Greece’s scenic beaches, there is the island of Mykonos to go and visit. Mykonos is one of Greece’s more popular tourist destinations and one of the most visited sites in Greece. Crete is also another popular tourist destination in Crete. It is a historical island that was once a major city of the ancient Minoan civilization about four centuries ago.

Climate

Despite having a small land area, Greece is known to enjoy a varied climate. There are areas that offer the heat of summer as well as the coolness offered by the rainy seasons. Many parts of the country enjoy a pleasant Mediterranean climate. With its summers going for an average of seven months each year, it has become quite a popular destination for many European countries to visit to enjoy the summer heat.

The most pleasant weather in Greece can be enjoyed from May to June as well as from September to October. July and August offers the hottest summer in Greece. While the sun may be as hot as it can be during the day, Greek nights are most pleasant even in the height of summer. Greek nights tend to be cool and pleasant as most of the surrounding areas in enjoy low levels of atmospheric humidity and does not trap the summer heat in its surrounding air. Travel Costa Rica- Travel Costa Rica with a leader in Costa Rica travel at an affordable price.

A Greece vacation can be truly an enjoyable experience. Not only the tourist is offered a good climate to enjoy on a vacation but also quite an interesting and exciting place to explore. dc dentist, New York City Hotels