Greece

Move over Percy Jackson, this is the real deal. The land of Zeus, Athena, Apollo & Hercules, simply brims over with myth, history and culture. The islands of Paros, Corfu, Rhodes & Mykanos offer innumerable avenues to surf, sky gaze or simply surrender to the sparkling waters. Come to Greece; come to the navel of the world. Where mankind was born or so the legend goes.

Must Dos

Hit the Monastiraki Flea market, Athens, to find the real, non-mass items like the Bouzoukia, hand crafted musical instruments and first edition books!
Learn to dish out traditional Greek food, at a charming tavern in Athens.
View the Acropolis from a roof top bar.
Make a 100 m dash, just for the record, at Olympia.
Take your fill of olive oil glistening Taramasalata – a creamy blend of white fish roe on a potato or bread base, a drizzle of virgin olive oil and a dash of lemon.
Catch the sunset at Oia, Santorini, where white façades punctuated by blue splashes of sky and sea become bewitchingly ethereal.
Bite into layered Moussaka, Greece’s iconic dish.
Visit the treasure trove of artefacts and antiquities of Greece in the National Archaeological museum, for a dizzying lesson in ancient Greek technology.
See the habitat of the world’s oldest Europeoid at Petralona Cave.
Get behind the wheel for some superb driving experiences in Heraklion, past the rich cultural ruins of Crete.
Get a glimpse of Minoan glory at Knossos palace, Crete.
Eat Gyros, incredibly healthy Greek fast food – chicken or pork and chips wrapped in a pita served with tzatziki.
Sail, surf, windsurf or cycle. There is no shortage of amazing beaches or landscapes!

The vision of sculptor Pheidias, transformed this rocky hill into a timeless showpiece of Greek glory. See it by day, by night or view it from surrounding terraces - the Acropolis will hold you in thrall. The site has many attractions including the Parthenon, the Old Temple of Athena, the Erechtheum, the Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia or Brauroneion and the Temple of Athena Nike.

The Parthenon on the Acropolis dominates the skyline of Athens. The exemplar of Doric architecture, the most important remnant of the classical era, the sculptures and columns of this edifice remind us of the greatness of human civilization.

Go back to where it all began. The ruins at Olympia include the Olympic stadium, a temple of Zeus, Hera’s altar (where the torch was lit) and the ruins of Zanes (statues built from fines paid by participants who cheated!). The museum is a must see to grasp the enormity of history behind this legendary site.

The sanctuary of Delphi was so stunning and so perfectly situated, it was considered the ‘navel’ of the world, the place where heaven and earth met! The Oracle only added to its weight in the history books. Delphi also hosted the Pythian games, the forerunner of the Olympics. The extensive ruins are situated on multiple terraces on Mount Parnassus and the Sacred Way leads up to the main sanctuary of Apollo. It is dotted with monuments like the treasury of the Athenians, the theatre, the Stadion and the temple of Athena.

Tear a paper on stage and you can hear it at the very last row. The 12,000 seat amphitheatre is a marvel of acoustics and sound engineering. It still hosts performances in summer, drawing the biggest names in showbiz! The other main site is the Sanctuary of Asklepios, the most celebrated healer in Ancient Greece and the son of Apollo.

Ride the Odontotos (Tooth train) from Diakopto through the Vouraikos Gorge up to the town of Kalavrita, 750 m above sea level. Considered one of the most spectacular train journeys in the Balkans, the track rises from the river bed, goes through narrow passages into the mountains, past waterfalls, sheer cliffs and pine forests. The one hour journey is sure to transport you into another realm all together.

Trek the longest gorge in Europe and feel enriched! Snaking its way to the White Mountains, the Samaria Gorge is carved with carbonate rocks, dotted with cypress trees and hosts unique flora & fauna. To see its stony beauty, start at Xiloskalo and walk your way down to the Agia Roumeli beach.

A one of its kind museum, the Koutsoyannopoulos is set inside a natural cave, eight meters below the ground and took 20 years to create! Explore and learn about the stages of wine production, including the most delightful – the tasting.

Halkidiki wine was praised by Aristotle himself and with good reason! This peninsula sinks its three branches into the Aegean, creating a region of breathtaking natural splendour and distinctive micro-climes and terroirs. The wine growing regions, Agios Pavlos, Sithonia and Mount Athos are rich in both viticulture and gastronomic tradition. These wines are made with uniquely Greek varieties of grapes. The top tipples are PGI Halkidiki, PDO Slopes of Meliton, PGI Sithonia wines and PGI Mount Athos. Wine tours will take you to top vineyards like Domaine Porto Carras, Tsantali Vineyard and wineries along the slopes of Mount Meliton (among the largest single vineyards in Europe). Like practically every square inch in Greece, Halkidiki too has historic heritage sites like Mende, Olynthos, Potidaia and the Byzantine monastery on the ‘Holy Mountain’ – Mount Athos. Unfortunately, women are not allowed to set foot here and must stay a third of a mile away!

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