Greece holiday destinations

Summer is here again, a favourite season for holidays, and we know what most travel bugs do, they plan for a weekend trip or a few days’ vacation to one of their dream destinations. The other day, I got to talk to a friend who’s based in the UK, and she said we can meet up sometime for a tour in Europe, in case I’ll be going there again. Well, that really depends on my fairy godmother and mainly on my budget. Anyway, should I have another visit to Europe, I’d go down south, particularly to one of my dream destinations, Greece. I can still remember as an architecture student when we would study (and even sketch) ancient buildings and historical sites in Greece which is considered as the cradle of western civilization. Just think about the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Greece, and you’ll know what I mean.

Greece is a popular tourist destination in Europe, appealing to many visitors with its ideal geographical location (the glorious mountains in the mainland and the stunning surrounding islands). Tourists enjoy its sunny weather and beautiful beaches, as well as revel in its rich history and culture among its ancient ruins and sites. The Greek Islands such as Corfu, Crete, Rhodes, Zante or Skiathos offer the best holiday resorts, each island has its own unique character and appeal depending on a tourist’s inclination.

Tourist activities in Corfu are varied. Beach activities include watersports such as sailing, diving, skiing and more. Others may opt for outdoor recreation such as hiking along the Corfu Trail, do golf or horseback-riding, while families can visit Aqualand, a water park. The capital, Corfu Town, offers interesting architecture with its Venetian buildings. Tourists may opt to visit Benitses, an old traditional fishing village 12 km from Corfu Town.

The largest of the Greek islands, Crete offers not just beautiful beaches and scenic mountains, but an interesting history with its many archaeological sites, hill and coastal villages, historical churches as well as bustling nightlife and markets. Tourist destinations in Crete include the Samaria gorge, the Minoan archaeological sites of Knossos, Phaistos, Gournia and Mallia, the Elounda Lagoon, the Lasithi Plateau, the Roman archaeological site of Gortys, historical Byzantine churches and monasteries, the villages of Myrtos, Agia Roumeli and Paleochora and especially its many excellent beaches.

Another popular island for Greece holidays is Rhodes. Tourist attractions in Rhodes include the medieval ruins in Filerimos Hill which offers scenic views of the island, the ancient ruins of Kamiros, the castle with acropolis in Lindos, the Tsambika Peak, the old town of Rhodes city, the castles of Kastellos and Monolithos. Rhodes offer varied outdoor activities such as snorkelling, diving, surfing, hiking and other water sports. Beach resorts such as Lindos, Faliraki, Kalithea and many others are great destinations for beach lovers.

The younger crowd may opt for Kos and Mykonos, while couples might prefer the scenic and romantic ambiance of smaller islands such as Paros, Paxos, Kalymnos or Ithaca. For those who love beaches, they would surely enjoy their holidays in Greece in the Zante, Skopelos and Skiathos islands. The Greek mainland also offers great holiday attractions. For instance, tourists are treated to the scenic Halkidiki and Parga regions, and beautiful beach resorts in the Pelion peninsula.

Photo credits: www.directline-holidays.co.uk