Content
- Map of Greece, language, money, hotels
- Money in Greece
- Language in Greece
- Map of Greece
- hotels of Greece
- How to apply for a visa to Greece?
- The main beach resorts in Greece and their features
- Video. Where to go to Greece with children?
- Holidays in Halkidiki in Greece - sandy beaches, hotels, sights
- Holidays on Crete in Greece - beaches, hotels and places of interest
- The main attractions of Crete
- Holidays on the island of Rhodes - sandy beaches, hotels, sights
- Holidays in Greece: Zakynthos island -beaches, hotels, places of interest
- Holidays on the island of Corfu in Greece - beaches, hotels, places of interest
- Holidays in Greece: Peloponnese - beaches, hotels, places of interest
- Holidays in small islands:the list of islands
- Video. The capital of Greece is Athens and its environs
- Video. Shoe tours to Greece - shopping
- Holidays in Greece: video review
Map of Greece, language, money, hotels
Money in Greece
The official currency of Greece is the euro. You can exchange currency in banks, in a hotel and in special exchange offices. If you want to save on the exchange, it's worth taking care of this before the trip and buying the euro in Russia, as in Greece the commission for exchange will be higher than in Russian banks.
Plastic cards in Greece are accepted in all major stores, cafes and restaurants, a well developed ATM network. But the Greeks, unlike other Europeans, do not really like to accept payment by a bank card, since this entails the payment of additional taxes and commission fees for the owner of the establishment.
Euro - the official currency of Greece In small shops and family taverns, there may not be a terminal for payment by a plastic card. Or, if paid, you will be asked to pay an additional amount to cover the overhead of transferring money through the bank. To avoid problems, it is better to always carry a certain amount of cash.
Language in Greece
Greek is the only official language in the country. In the regions where tourism is developed, the staff can own English in shops, restaurants and transport. There are often Russian-speaking Greeks, especially in hotels. In Greece, a large number of immigrants from Russia and the CIS countries, so for Russian-speaking tourists, the language barrier usually does not arise.
Guard of honor in the Parliament building in Athens, Greece If you are traveling through Greece on your own, some difficulties may arise with reading the inscriptions in Greek. The Greeks have their own alphabet, some letters in it coincide with Russian or Latin, but they can mean very different sounds.
If you do not speak Greek, you will hardly be able to read the inscriptions in Greek. In tourist places, inscriptions on road signs, dishes on the menu and signs can be duplicated in English or other languages. In the provinces, only the Greek alphabet is used.
Greek inscription Map of Greece
A detailed map of Greece in Russian you can see on this page. On the map are marked the most notable attractions, amusement parks, shops, museums, cafes and much more. There you can also download a map with notes on your gadget so that it is at hand on the trip. The service is provided by Google and is compatible with most mobile devices.
Zorba - the national dance of Greece Hotels in Greece
Most travelers stop to rest in Greece in hotels - the choice of hotels here is great, there are all categories of accommodation from the most simple boarding houses to high-class elite complexes that can satisfy the most demanding tourists.
Hotel Blue Palace Luxury 5 *, Crete, Greece Recently, among the Russians began to enjoy the great demand of the hotel buildings - from simple country estates to luxury villas. Hostels and apartments in Greece are not very popular.
The largest selection of hotels is presented on the site for self-booking Booking.com. Here you will find detailed information on each hotel( services, location, description of rooms), reviews and photos of travelers, recommendations for hotel selection and guidebooks.
Booking.com - site for independent hotel booking in Greece How to apply for a visa to Greece?
Greece is a member of the Schengen countries, therefore a Schengen visa is required to enter the country. You can issue a visa to Greece at the nearest service and visa center, a full list of representative offices and their contact numbers can be found here.
Please note that some visa centers accept applicants strictly by appointment. You can make an appointment by phone( see the link above) or on a single site of visa centers in Greece.
Greek Embassy in Moscow For a list of the required documents, as well as the filing rules, see here. With any additional questions, you can contact for advice on the phones and e-mail addresses listed on this page. Also in the visa center you can get additional services, a full list of services can be found here.
If you purchase a package package tour through a travel agency, your travel agent will process your visa.
Mouzenidis Travel - the largest tour operator in Greece in Russia The main Greek beach resorts and their features
Tourism is one of the most important articles in the Greek economy. Here, ideal conditions for recreation: climate, nature, rich history, advantageous geographical location.
It seems that there is not one meter of territory where any Greek would not offer his services to tourists. A zone for rest without exaggeration can be considered the whole country. Consider the most popular of the resorts.
Map of Crete, Greece. Where to go to Greece with children? Halkidiki holidays in Greece - sandy beaches, hotels, sightseeing
Halkidiki - the three peninsulas in the north of mainland Greece on the Aegean coast, they are called Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos.
The nearest to Halkidiki airport of Thessaloniki( in Greek it is called Thessaloniki) is of international importance and takes many charter and scheduled flights from Russia and CIS countries.
Distance from the airport to the main resorts in Chalkidiki does not exceed 200-250 km.
Map of Halkidiki, Greece Kassandra
The most touristy of the three peninsulas is Kassandra. This is a very picturesque and densely populated peninsula, 80% of the hotels and entertainment in Halkidiki is concentrated here.
Cassandra is great for relaxing with children, even with kids up to 2 years old. Smooth sandy beaches, gently sloping entrance to the sea, good infrastructure in the coastal zone make rest on Kassandra very comfortable.
In addition, the Aegean Sea is very low in salt content, water does not pinch the eye and does not irritate the skin, you can swim safely even with babies. Shallow water allows the sea to warm up in the summer to 24-26 degrees - you can forget about hypothermia and colds.
On the banks in large quantities grow coniferous and eucalyptus forests. Essential oils in combination with sea moisture, saturated with iodine, turn this air into a healing, saturated with the most useful for the body microelements and substances that strengthen immunity for a whole year.
Halkidiki, Greece What to see and do at Cassandra in Greece.
Cassandra is a continuous series of large and small resort villages, the distance between which does not exceed 3-5 km.
Each of them is remarkable in its own way, in any you will find excellent taverns, picturesque churches, pine groves and magnificent beaches. The choice of hotels is very large, from inexpensive economical 2-3 * to luxurious five-level VIP-level.
The largest settlements:
- Nea Potidea is located in the narrowest part of the peninsula, the width of the land from one shore to the other is less than 1 km. Among the sights there are the ancient ruins of the Corinthian settlement and the picturesque man-made channel
Nea Potidea, Kassandra, Greece - The Kalifeya is the most fun nightlife and excellent shopping, among other things, unique crafts of local craftsmen: jewelry, tapestries and carpets,caskets to whole chests of drawers, tablecloths and handmade stoles, moreover, the quality exceeds all expectations
- Pefkohori - in the vicinity of the village there are many secluded places and beaches, although in Pevkochori itself is entertainings missing. The main product of local residents is natural honey, it is sold everywhere and is considered to be the main local souvenir of
- . Nea Moudania - the largest village on Cassandra, claims to be the main town of the peninsula. There is a large selection of shops, rental offices, a travel agency;in the port you can order a yacht for walks to neighboring islands;there are gastronomic and folklore festivals, there is a cinema and an exhibition hall
Hotel "Makedonian Sun" 3 *, Kassandra, Greece Sithonia
Sithonia is the second largest peninsula in the number of tourists, located slightly further from Thessaloniki than Cassandra. Rest on Sithonia is more suitable for connoisseurs of untouched nature and silence.
There are more hotels here with its own territory and infrastructure, as there is often nowhere to go outside the hotel. Settlements in Sithonia are smaller and they are located further apart. Sithonia is preferred by families with children and elderly couples who do not pursue active entertainment.
Sithonia, Halkidiki, Greece Athos Athos
Athos is the most remote and sparsely populated peninsula. Most of its territory is occupied by the Orthodox Republic on Mount Athos - the land of countless male monasteries and an ascetic way of life.
The entrance to the territory of the republic is closed to tourists. Some travel agencies organize here rare excursions exclusively for men.
On Athos there are literally several hotels, all of them are located outside the territory of the monks, and the same public comes to them from year to year.
Athos is a very specific place for recreation. It is difficult to get here, there is no entertainment, but energy is simply amazing - an ideal place for meditation and self-knowledge.
Athos, Chalkidiki, Greece Rest on Crete island in Greece - beaches, hotels and attractions
Crete is the largest of the islands belonging to Greece. Crete has its own airport, you can get here without problems from anywhere in Europe, in summer almost from every major city in Russia there are charter flights to Crete.
There are four main resort areas in Crete: Heraklion, Chania, Rethymnon and Lassithi, all located along the northern coast of the island, as the southern landscape is less suitable for beach recreation: the entire coast is rugged by impregnable rocks,only on a boat.
Crete, Greece Heraklion
Heraklion is the central area, the most interesting in terms of attractions and historical sites. The main excursion object of all Crete, the labyrinth of Minotaur in the palace of Knossos, is located right here. In Heraklion, the capital of Crete is the city of Heraklion.
The best beaches in Heraklion are located in the villages of Malia and Stalida( windswept bay, gently sloping entrance to the sea, sand, shallow water), in Amoudara( a large village with an active night life and magnificent sandy beaches, where discos and evening parties are often heldOpenAir format), Anissaras( a small quiet village near Heraklion, a wide stretch of sandy beaches), there are some nice sandy and pebbly beaches in Kokkini Hani.
Ammoudara Beach, Crete, Greece Rethymnon
Rethymnon is another central area of Crete, its most picturesque part. In Rethymno, the local flavor is best felt, the city has preserved its present appearance in untouched form for centuries.
Old quarters, cobbled streets, traditional Greek houses and minarets of the Ottoman era - all this makes the city a real paradise for lovers of scenic views. Local people call Rethymno the soul of the island.
In the area of Rethymnon, the best beaches are the coastal zone of the city of Rethymnon and the beach of the village of Bali, 20 km east of the city. Due to natural features in Bali, sunless, windless weather prevails, the beaches are covered with fine sand and equipped with everything necessary.
Rethymnon, Crete, Greece Lassithi
Lassithi is the most respectable area of Crete, located on the eastern coast. The capital of Lassithi, Agios Nikolaos is a typical Mediterranean city with a wide promenade along the embankment, white yachts at the quay and a diverse public from local aesthetes. Most of the settlements of Lassithi are located in the Gulf of Mirabello, which is considered the most beautiful bay of the island.
In Lassithi the best beach resort is Elounda, but it is also the most expensive on the whole island. In Agios Nikolaos sandy beaches alternate with small pebbles, among them there are many worthy options, including for recreation with children. The main advantage of any beach of Lassithi is a view of the stunning landscapes of Mirabello.
Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece Chania
Chania is the westernmost part of the island. It is a land of untouched nature, majestic cliffs, ancient impregnable fortresses and wild scenic beaches. Of all the resorts of Crete, Chania is the most isolated and self-sufficient area.
Local taverns offer the best seafood on the island, and the surroundings boast the most exotic natural areas( the Samarian Canyon, the wild mountains of Sfakia, the pink sands of Elafonisi).In Chania there are a couple of good sandy beaches in the city center, along the shores of the Gulf of Suda and in the town of Aghia Marina.
Beaches of Elafonisi, Crete, Greece Main Attractions of Crete
Knossos Palace and Labyrinth of the Minotaur( Heraklion) is a monument of the Minoan civilization, to which a beautiful ancient Greek legend of love is associated.
In the basement of the palace, the evil king Minos was holding the terrible monster of the Minotaur, the most beautiful girls and young men were regularly sent to eat him. Minos's daughter Ariadne fell in love with one of the doomed young men, Thezey, and saved his life.
Knossos Palace, Crete, Greece Samaria Gorge( Chania) is a picturesque natural canyon 17 km long, along which a hiking trail is built. The route is uncomplicated, even untrained travelers can do. On the way there are well equipped recreation areas and several villages.
Samaria Gorge, Crete Island, Greece Spinalonga( Lassithi) is an island in the Gulf of Mirabello, where an old Venetian fortress was preserved. But Spinalonga gained her glory quite differently.
In the late XIX-early XX century on the island there was a colony for lepers. At that time, leprosy was considered incurable, and the poor fellow was brought to die on the island from all corners of Europe. A creepy city of lepers is a special place that all tourists looking for in the area are eager to see.
Spinalonga, Crete, Greece Lake Qurna and the village of Argiroupoli( Rethymnon) .On the shores of the freshwater lake of Qurna there are small turtles, numerous camping sites, many water entertainments.
In the village of Argirupoli not far from the lake there are many springs that everywhere form small waterfalls, the place is considered one of the most picturesque in Crete.
Village of Argiroupoli, Crete, Greece Lassithi plateau and the cave of Zeus( Lassithi) .The plateau of Lassithi is best known for the valley of windmills and alpine landscapes, more reminiscent of the Alps than the Mediterranean resort.
On the plateau are located more than a hundred caves, the most famous of which is the cave of Zeus - a mystical place, dotted with multicolored stalagmites and stalactites.
Cave of Zeus, Crete, Greece Rest on the island of Rhodes - sandy beaches, hotels, places of interest
Rhodes is a large island near the coast of Turkey. Getting to it is easiest on the plane, regular and charter flights are from many cities in Russia, Europe and CIS countries. Also on Rhodes there is a ferry connection with mainland Greece and other islands.
Map of Rhodes, Greece The main resorts of Rhodes
Faliraki is the most youth resort known for its incendiary nightlife and an abundance of entertainment. Nearby is one of the best water parks in Greece. The old center of Faliraki is very beautiful. Beaches in the resort are mostly sandy.
Aquapark Faliraki, Rhodes island, Greece Lindos is a very picturesque town located on the slopes of the hills. The city center is exclusively pedestrian: cars can not drive on too steep and narrow streets, so the main vehicle is donkeys and motorcycles.
Lindos is built up with traditional Greek houses, painted in white color, and the pavements in many places are lined in the form of a mosaic made of multi-colored pebbles.
Donkeys on Lindos Street, Rhodes Island, Greece Ialysos is a respectable place, built up by villas, first-class hotels and manors. The rest of the city's infrastructure suits the rest of the population: restaurants, well-equipped beaches, bars, walking areas and social entertainments.
Hotel Sunshine Rhodes, Rhodes Island, Greece Ixia is a mixed resort where any category of tourists will find a holiday to their liking. There are large family hotels and business apartments in high-tech style, noisy nightlife and secluded beaches, windsurfing clubs and shopping areas.
Ixia is located very close to the capital of the island, where many attractions are concentrated, so the beach holiday in Ixia can be successfully combined with sightseeing trips.
Ixia Beach, Rhodes Island, Greece Attractions in Rhodes
The Old Town of Rhodes is a perfectly preserved medieval quarter of the Knights of the Ioannites. Knights came here from all over Europe, each of them was a representative of the noble family, so in the old town there are many original beautiful houses decorated with family coat of arms and other architectural delights.
The Old Town of Rhodes, Greece The Palace of the Grand Masters of Rhodes is a Byzantine fortress that served as the residence of the rulers of the knightly order. The interior of the palace still contains details of the interior of those times.
Another remarkable fact: during the Second World War the Italians planned to build the residence of Benito Mussolini in the Palace of the Grand Masters, but the defeat of Germany and its allies did not allow Mussolini to enter the dovre.
The Palace of the Grand Masters of Rhodes, Greece The Acropolis of Rhodes is an ancient settlement on the outskirts of the city, in which excavations are still conducted. Currently, the stadium, the gymnasium, the temple of Athena Pallada and the theater-cloak are restored and available for inspection.
Acropolis of Rhodes, Greece The Valley of the Butterflies is a natural gorge where a large colony of butterflies-moths lives in natural conditions. The valley resembles a magic forest: ancient trees, a stream flows on the bottom, waterfalls ring on the walls, air smells of vanilla from specific species of trees growing only here. Moving along the valley of butterflies, you need a special wooden bridge, laid over the water.
The Butterfly Valley, Rhodes Island, Greece Acropolis of Lindos is the second largest and most important antique fortress city after the acropolis in Athens. Inside the acropolis there were preserved several ancient Greek and early Christian buildings, as well as the ruins of the temple of knights-Hospitallers.
Acropolis of Lindos, Rhodes island, Greece Holidays in Greece: Zakynthos island - beaches, hotels, places of interest
Zakynthos is a continuous nature reserve where people come to enjoy the views of coniferous forests against the sea, try the water from artesian beaches and seeon the unique sea turtles, which are found here in large numbers.
It is believed that Zaknifa is one of the best beaches in Greece. The choice of hotels here is not very big, but there are options from different price categories, so you can choose the accommodation exactly for your taste and wallet.
If you want to join the culture, there are many Orthodox churches in Zakynthos that preserved unique ancient icons and Fremski. Also Zakynthos is famous for its own school of painting and unique manner of folk singing.
island of Zakynthos, Greece Rest on corfu island in Greece - beaches, hotels, places of interest
The island of Corfu( the Greeks call it Kekira) is often called the emerald island for its beauty and unique climate: there are no snakes and dangerous insects on the island, almost allbeaches are ideal for swimming, and local landscapes are simply mesmerizing.
Corfu is a purely English resort. Residents of Britain chose it in the XIX century, and since then the island has established the fame of an aristocratic little place for not poor tourists and bohemians.
Most hotels in Corfu offer a luxury service, many of them allow accommodation with pets. Of the entertainment, golf clubs, horse riding, tennis, SPA-salons, casinos and cabarets prevail. In most establishments the staff speaks English.
island of Corfu, Greece Sightseeing of Corfu island
- Paleokastritsa - an ancient monastery on top of the same rock, picturesque place with special energy and panoramic views
- Lynston street in Kekira is an old promenade, a favorite place for walks of the local aristocracy of past centuries. It is noteworthy that only the elite owned the right to walk along this street, at the entrance there hung a shortlist where the lucky ones were listed by name. The remaining access to the street was closed
- The old and new fortress in Kekira - historical fortifications, from which now some fragments of
Kekira, Corfu island, Greece have emerged. - Paxos is a small island 10 km from Corfu, famous for its colorfulcaves and caves. Some of them are available for inspection from the land, others can only be accessed by boat.
- The Museum of Asian Art in Kekira is a private collection handed over to the state, whose exhibits include household items, costumes and works of art from Japan, China, India and Nepal. Some specimens date back to the 2nd millennium BC.
- Monument to Admiral Ushakov - a monument in honor of the great Russian naval commander Fyodor Ushakov, who grateful Greeks erected for the rescue of the island from the French in 1799.Residents of Corfu consider this feat so significant that the local church is ranked F. Ushakov to the number of saints
Icon of St. Fedor Ushakov Rest in Greece: Peloponnese - beaches, hotels, sights
The Peloponnese is a peninsula in the southernmost part of mainland Greece. Usually tourists come here only as a part of excursion programs - see local sights and go further.
Beach vacation in the Peloponnese is not very developed due to the distance from the main international airports. However, if you want to Peloponnese you can find decent options, there are many famous hotel brands: Grecotel, Aldemar and Best Western.
Beach vacation here is considered elite, so most hotels belong to the premium class. Beaches of the Peloponnese are mostly sandy, or small pebbles.
Peloponnese, Greece The main value of the Peloponnese lies in its historical heritage. It is from here that the origins of ancient Greece originate.
The main attractions of the Peloponnese
Ancient Sparta is the most legendary and strange state of Ancient Greece, a military republic where strength and fearlessness were most valued, and weak and feeble citizens were ruthlessly thrown into the abyss( by the way, according to some sources, this is a myth).
Sparta, Peloponnese, Greece Mycenae is a legendary antique city, mentioned in almost every legend of Ancient Greece. Judging by the legends, life in Mycenae is an antique Santa Barbara, whose morals and did not dream of modern courtesans.
The wealth of the ancient Mycenae strikes the imagination of archaeologists all the things found during excavations, including weapons, cups and even buttons, are made of precious metals( gold, bronze, silver).No iron objects found.
Mykonos, Peloponnese, Greece Olympia is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, in which the ancient stadium where the first competitions were held is still preserved.
Olympia, Peloponnese, Greece Epidaurus is the city where the art of the theater originated. Modern physics scientists are still looking for the secret of the acoustics of the ancient theater in Epidaurus: if you throw a coin on the stage, its ringing is equally well heard in the first and last rows.
Epidaurus, Peloponnese, Greece Corinth is an ancient city and a place where the Apostle Paul preached. Christian Epistles to the Corinthians from the New Testament - an appeal to citizens of this particular city.
The inhabitants of Corinth were so vicious that in the Greek language the word "corinthian" is still preserved, that is, vicious and immoral.
Corinth, Peloponnese, Greece Rest on small islands: the list of islands
- Santorini is a group of five islands of volcanic origin. Types of Santorini - one of the most picturesque in Greece and recognizable among tourists. Another feature is the beaches with colored sand colored due to volcanic rocks
about Santorini, Greece - Samos is a small island, the birthplace of Aesop, Pythagoras and Aristarchus. Excellent beaches, clean mountain air, ancient buildings
- Kos - the birthplace of Hippocrates, a bicycle paradise( many mountain and plain paths for cycling tours), a place of dwelling of wild peacocks
- Naxos - excellent cuisine, beautiful capital, many picturesque villages. In coastal waters, swarms of dolphins often swim to chat with holidaymakers.
- Skiathos is a mecca for yachtsmen, a favorite place for creative people: actors, poets, painters. The place is ideal for finding inspiration.
about. Skyatos, Greece - Kefalonia is a mix of antique buildings, Venetian fortresses and medieval monasteries. There are caves with unique acoustics on the island, where
- concerts are held. The Idra is a completely pedestrian island that is full of celebrities from all over the world, many of them are buying real estate here. On the Idra, Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso loved to rest.
- Mykonos - favorite place of celebration and idle golden youth: a lot of music, wines, good beaches and picturesque architecture.
- Paros is a haven of ancient pirates and a place for storing their untold riches. Currently, the island was chosen by surfers and other amateurs of water sports
in Mykonos, Greece