Greece Travel Guide: Places to Visit, Things To Do
By Sanchita
Introduction
Wanderlust is our way of escaping the mundane lives and explore of flawless beauty of the world. It is a desire that dries us, takes us to the places where you find yourself lost in the sea of history, the alluring fables, charming sceneries and you experience something like never before. This is the exact experience that would enthrall you to visit one of the Europe’s top travel destinations – Greece.
A land dotted with distinct architecture with a thousand histories, captivating oceanic views and famous islands. So, Greece has it all – from stunning landscapes, historic sites, nightlife scenes to cultural delights, so, lets an overview of the best places to visit in Greece and discover other things about this beautiful place.
Places to see
1. Meteora –
One of the most awe-inspiring religious sites on earth – the Meteora, which is a Greek word meaning ‘suspended in the air’ is a cliff more than 1,200 feet (366 meters) that rises like apostolic eagles’ nests into the air overlooking the villages of Kalambaka and Kastraki in the north central mainland of Greece. This place is dotted with monasteries which were built in and around 14th and 16th centuries. In ancient times, the monks pursuing spiritual isolation and freedom from religious persecution built these monasteries. Even though more than twenty monasteries used to be on the steep rocks, only six remain today.
2. Acropolis of Athens –
Athens is widely known as the cradle of Western civilization as well as the origin of democracy for the human advancement. The city is an astounding blend of historical and modern features in the same fold. Among the other famous archaeological ruins and monuments, the Acropolis stands tall. The Acropolis (Greek word which means highest point or extremity) is an ancient citadel located on an extremely rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon.
3. Temple of Olympian Zeus –
When you are walking around the Athens, you would see the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It is a huge temple and took over 700 years to construct (dating back to the sixth century). There are a number of Corinthian columns still standing, though so many have fallen. It’s quite an extraordinary sight and counted among the must-visit place of Greece.
4. Delphi –
Delphi, with an unbeatable scenery, has always been a place of historic and spiritual significance and counted amongst the most popular archaeological site after Athens in Greece. It is situated along the slopes of the awe-inspiring Mount Parnassus, Delphi was once admired by the ancient Greeks as the center of the earth. It is dedicated to the god, Apollo, who was reached out by Delphi, a significant oracle seeking good fortune. In ancient times, the common people would come to this sacred spot to inquire of the priestess for guidance on a wide range of topics from farming to politics. Even though the eternal flame no longer burns inside, a visit to the Temple of Apollo is mandatory.
5. Mount Olympus –
Mount Olympus is the dwelling of ancient gods from believed by the people of Greece. This is the place from where the Immortal Gods would control the control the lives of mortal men. Any climb to Mount Olympus starts from the town of Litochoro. A walk up this mountain will be vigorous and mystical journey as well as experience and you would see why Greeks thought it was this mountain from which the gods ruled.
6. Cape Sounion –
Cape Sounion is positioned at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula which is best known as the site of the ruins of the ancient Greek temple of Poseidon, the God of the Sea. Perched on the craggy rocks of Cape Sounio, the temple is enveloped in myth and historic facts dated from antiquity until the present times. The ancient temple as a backdrop and facing the deep blue sea is a sight you would not want to miss at all! The ancient temple as a backdrop and facing the deep blue sea! The sight of the Aegean Sea during the sunset makes it a sought-after spectacle.
7. Santorini –
Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century B.C.E. and consider it to be the most spectacular by many travelers. Aside from the beautiful landscape and volcanic presence, it is a great place for beach side camping, winery tours, scuba diving, and more. The place is all about the beauty of the ruins on the southern part of the island. One can see the clear Aegean and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.
Currency
Greece’s monetary unit is the Euro. No other currency is accepted and you can either convert your Foreign Exchange there or from here. It is also really convenient to convert the leftover Euro to INR. Greece is comparatively cheap with some travel tips.
Travel Tips
Firstly, go for the Gyros and other street snacks which are delicious and cost a few Euros and can keep you full for less than 10 EUR per day. For travelling, choose the moped renting rather than cars. Also, avoid Mykonos if you are on a budget, as it is Greece’s most expensive island with hardly any budget accommodation, but if you are a party animal, you will absolutely love Mykonos. It brings world’s most renowned DJ’s at their famous night clubs. Paradise and Super Paradise beaches at Mykonos are also worth a visit, if you happen to go.
Culture
Existing Greek culture and traditions are very rich and varied, reflecting Greece’s location at the crossing point where the West meets the East and the country’s great and tempestuous history. It has evolved over thousands of years. This rich and tumultuous past greatly influences contemporary lifestyle, the Greek perspective on the world, Greek music, food, customs and traditions, even the way Greeks do business. The locals dress up in traditional costumes during festivals while traditional weddings that start with dressing the bride and bouncing a boy baby on the nuptial bed. One is charmed by their authenticity, the love and pride each group has in its homeland and roots.
Cuisine
The Greek diet is the perfect example of traditional Mediterranean eating. It has some similar characteristics with the traditional cuisines of Italy, the Balkans, Turkey and the Levant. Modern-day Greek cookery makes wide use of vegetables, olive oil, grains, fish, wine and meat (white and red, including lamb, poultry, rabbit and pork). The most characteristic and ancient element of Greek cuisine is olive oil, which is used in most dishes. Taramasalata, Dolmades, Fresh fish, Courgette balls are one of the most dishes of Greece.
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So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and start exploring this historical place with such enriched culture and traditions along with those intriguing ruins.
P.S: Images from Google
Editor’s Note: I can say, I am in love Sanchita <3 Greece is on my bucket list.
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