Greece Holidays in 2013

There are a number of great sites for watersports throughout Greece. The island of Kos in particular is host to some great beaches and warm clear waters that are perfect for an array of different sports. Wind surfing, jet skiing and diving are all possible here. The island of Rhodes is also a popular choice for those seeking some high octane adventures. Hire a speed boar and power through the waters or try out some kite surfing for a truly exhilarating experience.

The southern coast of Crete is much rockier than that of the north and so makes for fantastic snorkeling spots. The relaxing beach of Sougia is a nice option, the beach itself is wide and long, meaning that even in busier periods it doesn’t feel crowded. Plakias is also ideal, snuggled in a quiet bay that started life as a fishing settlement it offers shallow waters and nice scenery.

Entertainment in greece is a nice mix of the traditional and the modern, with bars offering traditional Greek ‘folk’ music and live music that spans through traditional styles to modern rock, blues and jazz. An interesting venue that sees live music and outdoor cinema during the summer months is the outdoor Lycabettus theatre in Athens, atop the Lycabettus hill it is a truly unique experience especially when watching a movie under the clear star filled skies.

Greece’s bar and cafe culture is as vibrant as the rest of Europe’s with many restaurants, cafes, bars and traditional Greek tavernas offering on street seating amidst the scenic charm of the old towns and city streets. Head to the quieter areas to experience a true Greek bar experience and mingle with the locals to get to grips with Greek traditions. In the village of Tsagarada on the road to the Mylopotamos beach you’ll find the wonderful Deipnosofistis restaurant and bar. It serves a modern mix of mediterranean cuisines using home grown ingredients.

Greeks traditional cuisine is not too dissimilar from that of Turkey, Italy and the Balkans. Ingredients like feta cheese, olives, breads, herbs and wine are widespread as are courgette and yoghurt. A classic greek salad would generally consist of feta, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion olives, garlic and olive oil. Meze is one of the most common exports of greek cuisine and is popular throughout Greece and is generally served as an appetiser consisting of several small dishes served along with dips and breads. Filo pastry is also commonly used to wrap a variety of ingredients. Spanakotyopita is one such dish where spinach and cheese is wrapped in pastry and then served with cubed feta.

Greece’s culture has been deeply effected by its location on the crossing point of east and west - steeped in history and mythology, this has helped to shape contemporary Greek culture into what it is today. It has come under various ruling from the Macedonians, Romans and Byzantine empires which has had a diversifying effect on everything from architecture through to traditional food and music. There are several wonderful museums to explore during your trip to Greece including the national archaeological museum of Athens and The Acropolis museum.

Greece has some great water parks that are fun for all ages! Rhodes is home to Europe’s biggest water park - aptly named The Water Park, Creative naming aside, this park is gigantic and has a mix of thrill rides, multi rides, rides just for kids and lazy pools and rivers for those just wanting a lounge. It can be found in the resort of Faliraki and has loads of on site restaurants and bars - a great day trip option. Other popular choices includ Acquaplus water park in Crete, Zakynthos’s Water Village and Copa Copana Park in Athens.

Greece has some of the most varied landscapes of all of Europe - from the stretches of pristine white sand beaches and the vast mountains and hillsides through to the beautiful green stretches of countryside popular on the Ionian islands. A wonderful mix of man made and natural is the archipelago of Santorini with its mazes of white housing and with blue highlighted roofs and doors. As 80% of Greece consists of mountains it’s pretty hard to ignore them, but the highest of the lot - Mount Olympus is a must see.