Visiting or Relocating to Greece

The country of Greece is in southwestern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula.

The Mediterranean Sea is to the south. To the north is Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey, and Macedonia. Italy lies to the west, across the Ionian Sea, and Turkey to the east across The Aegean Sea. Over one thousand small islands surround Greece, Less than 20% of them are inhabited. Inland Greece is primarily a mountainous country with a major chunk of its landmass perched over 1,500m (5,000 Ft) above sea level.

Greece is a paradise for tourists for different reasons. For those who love the sun and sand Greece has over 13,500m (8,500 miles) of coastline. The Greek islands such as Crete, Rhodes, and the Cyclades are known for their picturesque scenery and rich histories. It is full of history that shaped the world, great for lovers of the classics, and a must-see for anyone interested in knowing where Western civilization as we know it stems from. You would be hard-pressed to find another nation in Europe with more ancient history than Greece. The glorious history of Greece is reflected in the ruins and monuments that lie scattered all over the country.

Greece's antiquity dates back to 3000 BC when the powerful Cycladic, Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations flourished here. The evolution of powerful city-states, especially Athens and Sparta, between 800 and 500 BC produced the classical age of Athens, which was the high point of the Grecian civilization. Under the leadership of Pericles, Athens paved the way for an era of prosperity in all spheres: an era when Pericles himself commissioned the Parthenon, Democritus taught the concept of democracy, the intricacies of logic were taught by Socrates, and Sophocles wrote Oedipus Rex. After Alexander's conquest of the city-states, the Roman invasions began In 205 BC, Greece became a part of the Byzantine Empire in the 4th century AD. Then came the Crusades, and by AD 1500, Greece was under Turkish control.

Athens can be a bit smoggy, but Athens is a great city with many things to see, It has a special charm and grandeur all its own. The Big 3 things that Visitors to Athens want to see the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Theatre of Dionysus. Consider a visit to the National Archaeological Museum, it's a treasure trove of Greek antiquities.
The Cycladic Museum in the Kolonaki district (up the hill from Vasilisis Sophias Street) has a very good collection and is worth a visit. The Plaka and Monastiraki districts are very nice areas to stroll around, many souvenir shops here. Athens has interesting street fairs too. You have The Parthenon right behind you, up the hill... you are close to Agora an archeological area with old potteries and things.

About a five-hour drive north of Athens in mainland Greece, many people visit the magnificent Meteora monasteries.

South of Athens, The Temple of Poseidon, also called Sounion, is a fun & interesting place to check out. it is approximately a one-hour drive from downtown Athens. About 200 km southeast of the Greek mainland is the island of Santorini, officially Thira and classical Greek Thera, Its capital is impressive, and the city of Thira is situated at the edge of a large cliff. The cliff was formed by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago that sunk half of the island. With a population of approximately 14,000, santorini includes the inhabited islands of Therasia and Santorini, and the uninhabited islands of Palaia Kameni, Christiana, Nea Kameni, and Aspro Nisi.

Three hours east of Athens The Peloponnese, Peloponnesus, or Morea is a peninsula and geographic region in the southern Greece.Connected to the central part of Greece by the Isthmus of Corinth a land bridge that separates the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf.
The southern peninsula, the Peloponnesos, is known both for its picturesque scenery and rich history and is made up of numerous distinct regions (such as Lakonia and Mani) that each have their own distinct histories and appearances.
While in the Peloponnesos, be sure to check the cities of Sparta, Corinth, and Mycenae, there are some outstanding historical places to investigate.

The Ionian Islands are small picturesque islands that don't get a ton of visitors. That can be a wonderful experience for the traveler, especially if you can see them by sea via boat or kayak.

In the north, in the region of Macedonia is Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city. With 2,300 years of history, Thessaloniki is absolutely worth a visit. Founded by The King Cassander of Macedonia, Thessaloniki is named after the sister of Alexander the Great. There are numerous monuments from the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman times. The archaeological museum displays various treasures from the ancient kingdom of Macedonia.

All over Greece, the sunsets are breathtaking. So are the black sand beaches, such as Perissa Beach. Mykonos is also great fun, with over 20 sandy beaches and countless great bars to enjoy till the early hours, always feeling in the presence of the island culture which the white house architecture portrays. And there is the sacred island of Delos, the birthplace of the god Apollo, which is a short boat ride from Mykonos. Mt. Parnassus near Delphi is a favorite of trekkers in the summer and skiers & snowboarders in the Winter. Mt. Parnassus is just one of the 25 ski areas in Greece.

Greece has beautiful days and so many things to do and see, and good food, music, and more, this list is just the tip of the iceberg.