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discover

GREECE

KORINA MILLERKATE ARMSTRONG, MICHAEL STAMATIOS CLARK, CHRIS DELISO,

DES HANNIGAN, VICTORIA KYRIAKOPOULOS

00-prelim-dc-gre1.indd 1 1/10/2010 2:51:30 PM

DISCOVER GREECE

Dodecanese (p267) Rhodes’ medieval Old Town, Nisyros volcano, Kos beaches and the spiritual atmosphere of Patmos

Crete (p233) Idyllic Elafonisi, Hania’s evoca-tive Old Town, vineyards and the palace of Knossos

Cyclades, Evia & the Sporades (p195) Island paradises of Santorini and Mykonos, ancient ruins, spas and beaches

Northern Greece (p163) Artistic, spirited Thessaloniki, traditional villages and the soaring peaks of Mt Olympus

Central Greece & the Ionian Islands (p127) Atmospheric rural peninsula and idyllic island life of Corfu or Kefallonia

Athens & Attica (p51) A vibrant, cosmo-politan capital, surrounded by the impres-sive ruins of Attica

Peloponnese & the Saronic Gulf Islands (p93) Gorgeous, rugged landscapes and stunning coastal villages

3


CONTENTS

4


THIS IS GREECE 10

GREECE’S TOP 25 EXPERIENCES 13

GREECE’S TOP ITINERARIES 31

PLANNING YOUR TRIP 39

ATHENS & ATTICA 51HIGHLIGHTS 54THE BEST... 62THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 63DISCOVER ATHENS & ATTICA 64ATHENS 65Orientation 65Information 68Dangers & Annoyances 69

Sights & Activities 70Athens for Children 79Tours 79Festivals & Events 80Sleeping 80Eating 82Drinking 84Entertainment 85Shopping 87Getting There & Away 88Getting Around 89PIRAEUS 90ATTICA 90Temple of Poseidon 90Marathon 91

PELOPONNESE & THE SARONIC GULF ISLANDS 93

HIGHLIGHTS 96THE BEST... 100THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 101ITINERARIES 102DISCOVER THE PELOPONNESE & THE SARONIC GULF ISLANDS 104

PELOPONNESE 104Achaïa 104Corinthia 105Lakonia 110The Mani 115Elia 119SARONIC GULF ISLANDS 121Poros 121Hydra 123

CENTRAL GREECE & THE IONIAN ISLANDS 127

HIGHLIGHTS 130THE BEST... 134THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 135ITINERARIES 136DISCOVER CENTRAL GREECE & THE IONIAN ISLANDS 138CENTRAL GREECE 138Sterea Ellada 138Thessaly 144IONIAN ISLANDS 151Corfu 151Paxi 157Antipaxi 159Kefallonia 159

NORTHERN GREECE 163HIGHLIGHTS 166THE BEST... 170THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 171ITINERARIES 172DISCOVER NORTHERN GREECE 174MACEDONIA 174Thessaloniki 174Halkidiki 184Litohoro 185Mt Olympus 186EPIROS 186Ioannina 186

5


Around Ioannina 189The Zagorohoria 190Parga 193

CYCLADES, EVIA & THE SPORADES 195

HIGHLIGHTS 198THE BEST... 202THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 203ITINERARIES 204DISCOVER THE CYCLADES, EVIA & THE SPORADES 206CYCLADES 206Mykonos 206Delos 212Naxos 214Santorini (Thira) 219EVIA & THE SPORADES 225Evia 225Skiathos 228

CRETE 233HIGHLIGHTS 236THE BEST... 240THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 241ITINERARIES 242DISCOVER CRETE 244CENTRAL CRETE 244Iraklio 244Cretaquarium 247Rethymno 249Anogia 253WESTERN CRETE 253Hania 253Samaria Gorge 259Elafonisi & Kedrodasos 260Azogires 260EASTERN CRETE 262Agios Nikolaos 262Spinalonga Island 264Sitia 265

DODECANESE 267HIGHLIGHTS 270THE BEST... 276THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 277ITINERARIES 278DISCOVER THE DODECANESE 280RHODES 280Rhodes Town 281Eastern Rhodes 287Ancient Ialysos 290NISYROS 290Mandraki 291Around Nisyros 292KOS 295Kos Town 296Around Kos Town 299PATMOS 300Skala 301Hora 303North of Skala 305South of Skala 305

GREECE IN FOCUS 307ARCHITECTURE 308CUISINE 311FAMILY TRAVEL 314FESTIVALS 316GODS & GODDESSES 317HISTORY 319NATIONAL CHARACTER 332SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL 333TRADITIONAL MUSIC 335

DIRECTORY, TRANSPORT & ISLAND HOPPING 337

DIRECTORY 338Accommodation 338Activities 339Business Hours 341Climate 341Customs 342

6


Dangers & Annoyances 343Discount Cards 343Embassies & Consulates 344Food 344Gay & Lesbian Travellers 344Health 345Holidays 346Insurance 346Internet Access 347Legal Matters 347Maps 347Money 348Photography & Video 349Shopping 349Smoking 349Telephone 349Time 350Toilets 350Tourist Information 350Travellers with Disabilities 351Visas 351Women Travellers 352TRANSPORT 352Getting There & Away 352Getting Around 354ISLAND HOPPING 357Practicalities 357Connections 361Individual Islands & Mainland Ports 361

GLOSSARY 370

BEHIND THE SCENES 372

INDEX 376

MAP LEGEND 384

7

p163

GULF ISLANDSTHE SARONIC

p267DODECANESE

p233CRETE

p195THE SPORADES

CYCLADES, EVIA &

GREECENORTHERN

p127THE IONIAN ISLANDSCENTRAL GREECE &

p93

PELOPONNESE & p51

ATHENS & ATTICA


KassandraGulf of

A D R I A T I CS E A

Gulf ofCorinthPatra

Gulf of

SaronicGulf

M Y R T O Ö NS E AGulf

Lakonian

I O N I A NS E A

S E A

M E D I T E R R A N E A N

MACEDONIA

ATTICA

THESSALY

ELLADASTEREA

PELOPONNESE

EPIROS

Serres

Prilep

Bitola

Florina

Kastoria

Metsovo

Kozani

Veria

EdessaKotasThessaloniki

Gerakini

Kilkis

Durrës

Berat

Konitsa

Corfu

Lecce

Brindisi

Otranto

Korça

Halkida

RafinaLoutrakiATHENS

Thiva

Strofylia

Larisa

Farsala

Lamia

Trikala

Kalambaka

Arta

Amfilohia

Karditsa

Karpenisi

Delphi

Diakofto

Xylokastro

LivadiaMessolongi

Agrinio

Kyllini

Patra

Kalavryta

Nafpaktos

(Thebes)

Perahora

Volos

EdipsouLoutra

Hydra Town

Neapoli

Corinth

TripoliArgos

SpartaLeonidio

Geraki

Pyrgos

Kyparissia

Kalamata

Olympia

Megalopoli

Areopoli

KardamyliGythio

Methoni

Gerolimenas

Pylos

Koroni

Mycenae

Nafplio

Piraeus

Town

Parga

Pelekas

AgiosNikolaos

ZakynthosTown

SamiArgostoli

Mytikas

Preveza

Ioannina

Igoumenitsa

Azogires

Paleohora

Kissamos

Vergina

Meteora

AncientDelphi

LakonianMani

Mt Ossa

(2520m)

(2637m)Mt Smolikas

(2918m)Mt Olympus

Mt Grammos

Mt Gamila(2497m)

Mt Parnitha(1413m)

(1978m)

Mt ItiMt

(2457m)Parnassos

(2125m)

GorgeSamaria

40°N

38°N

36°N

22°E20ºE

LakesPrespa

AliakmonasLake

LakeKremasta

Skiathos

SPORADES

PorosAegina

Salamina

Hydra

GULF ISLANDSSARONIC

Kythira

Elafonisi

Spetses

Corfu

IONIANISLANDS

Zakynthos

Ithaki

Antikythira

KassandraPeninsula

PelionPeninsula

RodoposPeninsula

GramvousaPeninsula

Halkidiki

Zagorohoria

Ara

htho

s

YUGOSLAVREPUBLIC OFMACEDONIA

FORMER

ALBANIA

ITALY

Greece’s dynamic second city, with a heady arts

and nightlife scene

THESSALONIKI p174

tsovot o

(((ZagoroZagoaZag

Monasteries atop sheer rock make for one of Greece’s most

stunning spiritual sites

METEORA p145

The garden isle of Greece, with French and Italian historical

influences and great beaches

CORFU p151

Navel of the ancient worldand home to the oracle

that influenced thecourse of Greek history

DELPHI p138

Hop on the rack-and-pinion train to Kalavryta – Greece's most dramatic rail journey

DIAKOFTO p104

ioo

Shaped by generations of famous seafarers, who created

one of the most beautiful island towns in Europe

HYDRA p123

AA

A tranquil mountain hamlet with a beautiful setting and

remarkable local legends

AZOGIRES p260

K

S

M

G

P


da

as

s

os

S E A

S E A O FM A R M A R A

B L A C K

T H R A C I A NS E A

S E A

S E AA E G E A N

K A R P A T H I A N

S E A

M E D I T E R R A N E A N

C R E T E

S E A O F

THRACE

ÎSTANBUL

Îzmit

Bursa

Bandîrma

Didymotiho

Kavala

Xanthi

Komotini

Alexandroupoli

Smolyan

Drama

Karyes

Edirne

Çanakkale

Ušak

TownMytilini

Ayvalîk

Îzmir

Manisa

Kaš

Marmaris

Milas

BodrumKos

Kattavia

DatçaTown

Lindos

RhodesTown

Denizli

ChiosTown

Karystos

Kymi

Nea Styra

Hora(Naxos)

Lavrio

Gavrio

Çešme

Pigadia

SitiaAgios

RethymnoIraklio

IerapetraMatalaPlakias Nikolaos

Hania

HoraSfakion

BalîkesirMyrina

Knossos

Mt Athos(2033m)

(2111m)Mt Falakro

Mt Ida(2456m)

28°E26°E

Limnos

Rhodes

Nisyros

Kos

DODECANESE

Lesvos

NORTHEASTERNAEGEAN ISLANDS

Psara

ChiosEvia

Mykonos

Naxos

Delos

CYCLADES

Santorini(Thira)

Inousses

Patmos

Karpathos

CRETE

Gavdopoula

Gavdos

AthosPeninsula

Gallipoli

BeachPreveli

Evros

TURKEYBULGARIA

TURKEY

Dadia ForestReserve

ELEVATION

1000m

2000m

0

500m

3000m

LEGEND

RailwaySecondary RoadPrimary RoadFreeway

100 km60 miles0

0

The most iconic monument of ancient Greece

THE ACROPOLIS p70

Cycladic style, fashion and fun make for an irresistible mix in

the dazzling light of the Aegean

MYKONOS p206

s

Cycle to long, powder-soft beaches sandwiched between

lush landscapes and azure water

KOS p295

Crete’s striking ancient Minoan palace was home to the

mythical Minotaurof King Minos

KNOSSOS p248

World-famous destination where a sophisticated lifestyle and Greek culture merge with

spectacular landscapes

SANTORINI (Thira) p219


It’s easy to understand how so many myths of gods and giants originated in this varied landscape. Greece beckons with its wide open skies and endless miles of aquamarine coastline; and then it draws you in with its infamous ancient sights, slow-paced island life and vibrant cities.

As the birthplace of drama, democracy, Western science and medicine, Greece offers a welcome balance of traditional and contemporary life. Ancient sights often take the limelight and while it’s easy to find traditional villages with brilliant white buildings and roaming donkeys, Athens’ firm grip on style and sophistication rivals that of any European capital. The Greek modern art scene is fresh and vibrant, fashionable clubs and cafes buzz with life and society is increasingly multicultural. There are few cultures that embrace the past so passionately while simultaneously welcoming the future with open arms.

Once you arrive, it’s not difficult to find the Greece you were hoping for, whether it’s the pulsing nightclubs of Mykonos, the solemnity of Meteora, or the grandeur of Delphi.

THIS IS GREECE

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01-this-is-dc-gre1.indd 10 1/10/2010 3:11:19 PM

You’ll quickly become acquainted with the throbbing melancholy of rembetika (blues songs) and the tang of homemade tzatziki, and Greece’s ancient sights will unleash your imagination.

Not surprisingly, such drawcards haven’t gone un-noticed. This means you need to do some preplan-ning and booking if you’re heading for a popular city or island in the summer. Nevertheless, the sheer quantity of destinations means that most places absorb the influx of visitors with grace and ease.

Greece is essentially a laid-back place. Lounge endlessly at a cafe over a coffee, stroll along the seafront, park yourself on the beach and take your time over meals and you’ll fit right in. Greeks know how to enjoy life and are renowned as some of the most hospitable people on the globe. Their generosity and warmth is as genuine as the soft sand between your toes and the warmth of the Aegean sun.

‘few cultures embrace the past so passionately while simultaneously welcoming the future with open arms’

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01-this-is-dc-gre1.indd 11 1/10/2010 3:11:24 PM

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