Greece - Grecian Holidays

Welcome to Greece
Introduction
Greece is a destination that always
exceeds one’s expectations.
Everywhere you turn there are hidden
treasures to be found whether they
are impressive ruins and their history
behind them, the various types of
cuisines differing between regions
and islands, and even the people
you meet. The charm of Greece is
that the experience is never uniform.
Whether it is your first time or your
tenth, there is always something new
to find, see and experience. With
its golden sands and clear waters,
mountainous islands and green vine
fields you will never get bored. Even
if you are simply relaxing by the sea,
enjoying a glass of wine in a typical
taverna, or even on a planned
sightseeing tour, the memories of
Greece will last forever. It is sun, sand
and sea with a difference!
Population
Greece’s population was estimated
to be almost 11 million in 2010
Time Zone
Greece is 2 hours ahead of
Greenwich Mean Time and clocks
are adjusted to daylight saving time
at the same time as Europe.
Official Language
Greek is the official language, but
English is becoming more widely
spoken, especially in the main
cities and towns by the younger
generations.
Currency
The currency of Greece is the Euro
(EU). Travellers cheques in Euros,
Canadian Dollars and US Dollars
are all accepted. Visa, MasterCard,
and American Express are all widely
accepted.
Climate
Greece enjoys a Mediterranean
climate, generally with mild winters
and warm dry summers though
this varies between areas due to
the influence of the sea. Average
temperatures in winter range from
10-16 C (Dec-Mar) and 25-28 C
in summer (Jun-Sep). Light cotton
clothing along with hats and
sunglasses is recommended during
the warmer months, while a warm
jacket may be required during the
cooler months. Best time to visit the
Greek islands is April to October. July
and August are very busy with large
number of European tourists. Casual
dress code is recommended with
light cotton clothes in the summer.
Some monasteries may require
clothing that covers shoulders and
knees.
Electricity
Greece’s current electrical system is
2
220V. Two pronged cylindrical round
adapter plugs are required.
Food
Greek cuisine has long been
considered an ancient traditional
aspect of Greek Society
encompassing approximately
4000 years of history. It is typical
of Mediterranean cuisine,
encompassing many aspects of the
area, including the widespread use
of olives and olive oil. Most traditional
tavernas in Athens are located in
Plaka (Old) district and this is a good
place to enjoy a Yeros (a meat dish
served with a sauce on pita bread)
and Ouzo (the traditional drink made
from Anise). There is food to suit any
tastes, from vegetarian to meat
eaters and also seafood lovers.
Visitors will quickly discover there is
more to Greek Cuisine than meets
the eye.
Visas
Canadian passport holders do not
require a visa for Greece, only a valid
passport is necessary.
Getting There
By Air: Air Canada and Air Transat
fly from Toronto/Montreal to Athens
direct several times a week. Several
other airlines have connections via
other European cities.
By Boat: Italy-Greece: There are
daily overnight ferries from Bari and
Ancona in Italy to Patra (200 Km west
of Athens), as well as ferries from
Brindisi and Venice, but these are not
daily. There are no ferries from Italy
to Athens.
Turkey-Greece: There are daily ferries
between the months of April to
October from Kusadasi in Turkey to
Samos Island, from Bodrun in Turkey
to Kos Island and from Marmaris in
Turkey to Rhodes Island. There is no
direct service, Athens to Istanbul or
vice versa.
Athens-Greek Islands: Most services
by sea from the Greek Islands land at
Piraeus Port, about 10 Km southwest
from Athens.
Getting Around
Train services in Greece mainly run
between Athens and Thessaloniki
and are limited elsewhere. Buses
connect main cities and villages on
the mainland. Car hire is suitable
to get around mainland Greece,
but parking and navigation around
main cities can be quite tricky
at times. In terms of travel to the
Greek Islands, there are limited
ferry departures from November to
March. During high season there are
regular services from Piraeus to the
main islands but there are not daily
services connecting each island. Not
all islands are connected by direct
ferry. Local buses are available on
www.grecianholidays.com
most islands, but generally they only
run between the main stops and
not all hotels can be accessed by
bus. Taxis are also very limited and
transfers are highly recommended.
There are also options for direct
flights from Athens to main cities and
islands, limited connections between
the islands.
Accomodation
Accomodation in Greece is diverse
allowing for the provision of services
to any taste or budget, from luxury
to backpacker. Generally for most
travellers it is essential to pre-book
accomodation especially for a
hassle free holiday as many hours
can be spent searching during high
season. In most locations, there are
limited room availabilities, hence we
recommend pre booking to secure
accomodation in a good location
and affordable price to avoid
disappoinment.
Shopping
For those who love to shop, Greece
is considered a foremost destination.
There are many bargains to find,
particularly when looking for gold and
silver Jewellery and other handicrafts
such as lace and embroidery,
ceramics and alabaster. Shopping
and trading hours vary from location
and season, but generally Monday to
Friday 9am to 2:30pm with Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday open also from
5:30 to 8:30pm and Saturday 9am
to 5pm.
National Holidays
1 Jan - New Year’s Day
6 Jan - Epiphany
25 Mar - Greek National Day
(Independence)
9 Apr - Orthodox Shrove
13 Apr - Good Friday
15 Apr - Orthodox Easter Sunday
16 Apr - Orthodox Easter Monday
1 May - Labour Day
4 June - Holy Spirit Day
15 Aug - Assumption
28 Oct - Greece and Cyprus Ohi Day
25 Dec - Christmas Day
26 Dec - Boxing Day
Things To Do
Athens: The Capital city and site of
the 2004 Olympic games.
Busting city metropolis, the Acropolis
stands proud and tall in the centre of
Athens encompassing the Parthenon,
and Temple of Athena Nike. For the
historical lovers; the ancient treasures
of earlier times can also be found in
the Archeological Museum, as well
as Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of
Olympian Zeus. The Plaka District has
always been a favourite with many
tourists due to its old world charm
and marbled buildings. Other sites
around Athens include Constitution
Square in Syntagma, which is the
city’s main square surrounded by
offices, cafes, shopping and the
House of Parliament (formally the
Royal Palace), watch the changing
of the Guards as well as visiting the
Monument of the Unknown Soldier.
Mainland Greece: The countryside
is vastly differing and there are
many scenes which evoke a sense
of going back in time. Many sites
along the way are indivative of
the history and culture present still
today. Favoured sites by all include:
Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus
(famous theatre), Nafplion, Olympia
(Birthplace of the Olympic Games),
Delphi (origin of the Oracles),
and Kalambaka (the magnificent
Meteora Monasteries).
Islands: The Greek Islands are
separated into groups:
The Saronics: A small group of islands
located close to Athens. Aegina,
Poros and Hydra are the most
popular of this group of Islands. Hydra
is most favoured due to its distinctive
architecture, its ruggedness and the
various colours in the landscapes.
Cyclades: The most popular group
of Islands, most famous for the white
washed buildings and their beaches.
Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Ios and
Santorini are the most visited islands
within this particular group. Santorini
is perhaps one of the most famous
of all of the Greek Islands, mostly for
its romantic sunsets over the volcano
and the narrow streets and famous
restaurants. Mykonos is generally
known for its beautiful windmills, but
it also boasts the charm of many
nightclubs, tiny roadside chapels and
breathtaking views from all over the
island.
Crete: Heraklion, the Capital of Crete
is most famous for its location being
near the famous ruins of Knossos; the
mythical labyrinth of King Minos.
Dodecanese: of these twelve main
islands, Rhodes is the most popular
due to the constant sunshine, and
stunning beaches. Kos is another, as
it is best known for the birthplace of
Hippocrates and Patmos is another
most famous for its rocky cliffs
and where St. John spent his time
in exile, most particularly, it is the
place in which he wrote his book,
“Apocalypse”. It also holds a aweinspiring
monastery at the very top of
the Island.
Ionian: These islands are on the
western side of Greece, the main
islands of which include Corfu,
Paxi, Lefkas, Kefalonia, Ithaca and
Zakinthos.
Sporades: These islands lie in
between the Saronics and the
Cyclades and mainly include
Skiathos, Skopelos, Allonissos and
Skyros. These islands are accessible
by air when flying Athens to Skiathos.