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
When
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. 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.
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.
Greece Vacation Tips
Going
on a Greece vacation can be a fun and exciting experience. But tourists should
be expecting something different in terms of stepping into a foreign country.
In terms of culture, customs and other aspects, Greece has an entirely unique
experience to offer. Here are some of the important things that tourists should
know about and expect when traveling to Greece.
Country
Profile
Greece
is a country located in Southern Europe and shares its borders with Albania,
Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Its coastlines and islands stretch from the
Aegean, Ionian and the Mediterranean Seas. Greece has been part of the European
Union since 1992. The country runs under a parliamentary system of government.
Greece is considered as a popular tourist destination in Europe. It welcomes
over 15 million tourists each year.
Travel
Requirements
Because
Greece is a member of the European Union, citizens of other EU member countries
may freely enter with their national ID card in tow. For those tourists who
belong to non-EU countries, a visa and passport is required. But there are
selected countries such as Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Hong
Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia,
Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States that are provided by a 90-day
visa-free stay in the country.
Greece
is also a signatory to the Schengen agreement along with Austria, Belgium,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Traveling between Schengen
countries by a non-Schengen citizen may be able to do so by getting only a
single visa from any of the member countries. This may be used for multiple
entries on other Schengen member countries.
Language
Greek
is the country's official language and mother tongue. It is being spoken by the
vast majority of the population. But English is also a widely spoken language
in many parts of the country. And since
tourism has become an important industry in Greece many of its destinations already
have an increasing number of personnel that can speak and understand English
well. Communication with most Greeks does not usually pose a problem for many
tourists who visit the country.
Currency
The
official currency in Greece is the Euro, having replaced the local drachma
since January of 2002. Foreign exchanges are also now common in most major
cities and other dense tourist areas in Greece. Most banks in the country also
offer currency exchanges for tourists. When exchanging currency, it is
important to note of getting only notes below 50 Euros. Most Greek businesses
are usually reluctant to receive notes larger than 50 Euros, mainly because of
a scarcity of change as well as the risk of larger notes being fakes.
Cuisine
Greek
cuisine is an interesting blend of traditional as well as foreign influences. A
major part of Greek cuisine is influenced by neighboring Turkey. It is common
for both countries to have shared dishes. The traditional Greek diet is
predominantly Mediterranean which makes heavy use of vegetables, herbs and
grains native to the area. And because Greece is largely a maritime country,
seafood is an important part of the country's cuisine.
Other
important Greek dishes also make use of pork, lamb, beef and chicken as primary
ingredients. Olive oil is also a major staple in Greek cuisine and largely used
for many of its most popular dishes. Other common ingredients also include the
use of lemon and tomato paste. Bread as well as wine is also a common fixture
on every Greek dining table.
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