GREECE
If you opt for an island then which one? There are hundreds to choose from and each has it’s own charm, character and idiosyncrasies so Putney Travel will be happy to help you. Greece is dramatic, legendary and beautiful – a perfect holiday destination and especially good if you are looking for that villa or hotel with a stunning view.
Athens & surrounds
Athens itself can be visited year round although it is at its best in the spring and autumn. With a wealth of historic sights to see in the city itself it can also be used as a base to explore some of the best known sites outside – Delphi, Corinth & Sounion to name a few, or the nearby islands of the Saronic Gulf such as Aegina, Poros or Hydra. The city centre is easy to get around and you can wander the narrow streets of the Plaka district, looking for that perfect rooftop taverna table with the Acropolis looming above! For a variation try the second city Thessaloniki with its own Byzantine character and surrounding Macedonian treasures.
Villas and Activity Resorts
Greece has a huge choice of villa accommodation with particularly extensive possibilities in the Ionian Islands such as Corfu, Paxos, Levkas and Kephalonia or Crete. You could expect stunning views, a high standard, many are within easy walk of the beach and it’s easy to find one with a pool. Most will encourage you to rent a car, perfect for exploring your island and enjoying that idyllic remote beach taverna.
For those looking for activity there are a wealth of resort options, particularly geared towards families, with watersports, tennis & cycling included and an emphasis on tuition and child-care. Many will be all-inclusive allowing you total freedom to sit-back and relax and also allowing you to budget effectively. Mark Warner, Club Med, Neilson & Sunsail are all represented both on the islands and the mainland.
The Mainland
Most visitors head to the islands but for classical sites and dramatic scenery it is hard to beat the mainland, and in particular the Peloponnese. Names such as Olympia, Delphi, Corinth, Sparta and Mycenae leap straight from the legends. Less well known, but real highlights nonetheless, include hillside Mistra, awash with flowers in spring, the rock of Monemvasia with its medieval streets, the small port of Nafpaktos, perfectly preserved or the monasteries of Meteora on their rock towers. Head south into the Mani landscape with its village watch towers and enjoy atmospheric towns like Nauplion or Gythion.
The Islands
If you opt for an island then which one – Ionian, Aegean, Cyclades or Sporades? There are hundreds to choose from and each has it’s own charm, character and idiosyncrasies so Putney Travel will be happy to help you. Crete is the biggest with tons on offer including historic towns and sights, isolated beaches and mountain villages. Rhodes has its incomparable walled capital, Santorini it’s epic volcanic caldera and lush Corfu its beautiful town and gorgeous views across to the mainland. Levkas, Kos, Skiathos and Cephalonia are well known but what about Thassos, Chios, Kythera or Paxos?
- The best villas in Greece will sell out early for the summer holidays – if you know what you want book as soon as possible.
- Get advice and choose you island carefully. They each have their own character and offer a range of things to see and do – some more than others.
- Economic pressures mean that some prices have dropped in Greece so they look better value than they have for years.
- Watch the Aegean Sea in the summer months – the Meltemi wind can play havoc on the beaches and with those wanting to do watersports.
- While you can get warm weather all year long, especially in the south, the Med waters can feel cold right up to June but can stay warm up to the end of October.
- September is a perfect month!
- Spring in the Mediterranean can be a revelation with flowers in profusion and lush green landscapes – a real contrast to late summer and autumn when it can look barren.
- Athens and its surrounds – so full of history
- The legendary landscapes of the Peloponnese
- Exploring almost any of the hundreds of islands
- The glorious view from your island villa – Corfu and Lefkas spring to mind
- Exploring beautiful classical sites, with Delphi, Delos and Mistra the top of the list, being brought to life by a knowledgeable guide
- Fresh seafood at a beach taverna yards from the sea
- The caldera at Santorini
- Spring flowers below snow-capped peaks from March to May
- Visa Required: no
- Population: 10.8 million
- Capital City: Athens
- Currency: Euro
- Classic Dishes: Mezes, Seafood, souvlakia, kleftikon, baklava
- Local Tipple: Mythos beer (€4..00) and Ouzo.
- Year round for cultural visits.
- The summer ‘beach’ season runs from April to October.
- May/June and September are great months outside the main summer holiday season.
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