Greece, Mediterranean country in Southeast Europe.
Description
This Mediterranean nation consists of a peninsula in the southern Balkans and more than 2000 islands scattered across the Aegean and Ionian seas. Mountains and hills cover most of the mainland, while the coastline includes bays, small harbors, and sandy beaches.
History
The region gained independence in the early 19th century after a long uprising against the Ottoman Empire. The modern nation formed over the following decades through territorial expansions and political upheavals.
Culture
The local language uses its own 24-letter alphabet, visible everywhere in daily life from road signs to restaurant menus. Religious holidays like Easter follow the Orthodox calendar, so processions and services often take place on different dates than in Western Europe.
Practical
The capital Athens sits in the south of the mainland and serves as a starting point for trips to the islands and other regions. The euro has been the currency since the early 2000s, and English is commonly spoken in tourist areas.
Did you know?
The Athos peninsula in the north houses an autonomous monastic republic that grants access only to male visitors with special permits. The region has preserved its own governance for over a thousand years and does not allow female entry, not even for animals.
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These archaeological sites document several millennia of Greek history. The fortress of Tiryns displays Mycenaean military architecture from the 13th century BC, while the Oracle of Dodona ranks among the oldest Greek sanctuaries, where priests interpreted the future from the rustling of sacred oak...
Greece is home to many secluded beaches, away from main tourist routes and resorts. These lesser-known coastlines are found on the islands of Crete, Lefkada, Zakynthos, Cephalonia, Milos, and Karpathos. Some feature fine light-colored sand, others black volcanic pebbles from ancient eruptions, and...
Greece holds natural water basins formed by geological processes over thousands of years. These include cold mountain springs, thermal springs heated by underground volcanic activity, waterfalls that have carved pools into rock, and coastal lagoons where seawater fills hollows in stone. Some are...
Discover a selection of the most attractive natural pools and waterfalls in Greece, spread across islands and mainland regions. These sites are known for their basins shaped by rocks or set within dense vegetation, often featuring clear water from streams or torrents. This list includes characterful...
Parthenon
189.6 km
Acropolis of Athens
189.6 km
Mount Olympus
125 km
Delphi
72.3 km
Mount Athos
238.9 km
Athos
238.9 km
Knossos
498.7 km
Meteora
85.7 km
Mycenae
155.9 km
Olympia
154.3 km
Agia Sophia Stadium
186.3 km
Thermopylae
52.5 km
Corinth Canal
146.6 km
Delphic Oracle
72.5 km
Delos
338.2 km
Platonic Academy
187 km
Panathenaic Stadium
190.8 km
Mon Repos
190.2 km
Areopagus
189.3 km
Philippi
297.9 km
Erechtheion
189.6 km
Akrotiri
420.9 km
Temple of Athena Nike
189.5 km
Olympic Stadium in Athens
189.7 km
Spinalonga
529.3 km
Navagio
173.5 km
Temple of Olympian Zeus
190.2 km
Ancient Agora of Athens
189.1 km
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