About Greece
Greece is a country that can be found in South-Eastern Europe, on the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula. It is the meeting spot of 3 continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. It consists of 3 main geographical areas: a mainland that is the biggest geographical part of the country, a peninsula (Peloponnese) that is off the mainland with the canal of the Corinth Isthmus, and about 6,000 islands and islets that can be found scattered in clusters in the Ionian and Aegean Seas. Among these islands are Cyclade, Corfu, Rhodes, Crete and Dodecanese that are some of the most popular destinations in Greece.
Greece is one of Europe’s most mountainous countries with 80% of the country being hills or mountains. There is also about 10,000 miles of coastline, with almost 5,000 of those miles surrounding the islands of the Greek archipelago. This is truly unparalleled in all of the continent of Europe.
Historical Activities in Greece
It is no wonder that Greece is one of the top places to see for history buffs considering the great world heritage monuments, vibrant traditional culture and wonderful landscapes. There are certain places within Greece that are a must see for those seeking history.
- Athens
Athens itself is filled with historical sites but one of its main attractions is the Acropolis. This enthralling monument demonstrates the achievements of the ancient Greek civilization and is a collection of perfectly balanced and massive in size of architectural masterpieces. These masterpieces were finished by the 5th century BC and are some of the most influential expressions of Greek architecture and Classical Greek aesthetics. The Parthenon is just one of ancient structures.
- Corinth
Corinth was of major importance to the ancient Greeks and Romans. It has some of the most well-preserved historical sites in all of Greece. The city has grown significantly in population over recent years. In Corinth you can find the ancient ruins of Corinth, which has a base of rock called the Rock of Acrocorinth. On the Acrocorinth itself is the Temple of Aphrodite. It also hosts the Temple of Apollo and Temple of Octavia. It was a very important city of ancient Greece and had a large role in Apostle Paul’s missionary work.
- Corfu
On the Island of Corfu, the Old Town of Corfu is a must see for history buffs as it has roots dating back to the 8th century BC. It houses forts the island used to defend against the Ottoman Empire and these forts have been repaired since and some are open to tourists.
Historical Vacation Packages in Greece
Traveling in Greece is fairly relaxed, safe and can be very reasonably priced. Roads are extensive, allowing for easy travel across the country. Rail, ships and ferries are other common modes of transportation when traveling in Greece. This makes vacationing in Greece easy to plan yourself or you can choose to book a package with a travel company. If a visitor would like to create a package themselves, Greece is quite accessible as flights to the islands and mainland are frequent, as are ferries.
If you prefer to select a package from a travel company, there are plenty to choose from. True Greece offers private, customized trips among the mainland and the islands. With this company, you choose where you want to go and they will make it into a vacation package of a lifetime. This is a great experience for history buffs as the company will provide you with specific information on the places you have chosen to visit and indulge you in tidbits of any family history you might have there.
The National Hellenic Society offers a program called Heritage Greece 2014. This program offers students who have a Greek heritage to experience an unforgettable journey that is tailored to their roots. This once-in-a-lifetime allows students to explore archaelogical locations, learn language skills and strongly connect to their heritage.
Your Trip to Greece is tailor made travel. The company’s website lists the UNESCO Heritage Sites in Greece that travelers can choose from to customize your ideal historical vacation to Greece.
How much will Greece cost?
Since the adoption of the euro back in 2002, Greece is not quite as cheap of a country as it used to be. You might find some tiny restaurants that still offer hearty meals for decent prices however for the most part, eating out has become much more pricey. Accommodation costs have also increased significantly, with the budget options really not worth it and making mid-range options more worthwhile.
For very basic travel with absolutely no extras, it will cost about $75 a day for a single traveler. If you are planning on eating out, staying in your own room and traveling around to see some sights, expect to pay at least $140 a day. For more comfortable accommodations and better restaurants, this will cost you over $200 a day. These estimated budgets are for solo travelers traveling during the high season. For couples who share a room, the costs will go down quite a bit. Also, consider traveling during off-season if cost is an issue.