Greece

Make a unique journey through a country full of archaeological sites and monuments of distinctive prestige and charm...

Greece offers the traveller the comforts of modern Europe in close proximity to the stark beauty of the ancient world. There is no denying that the historical and cultural heritage of Greece continues to resonate throughout the modern Western world - in its literature, art, philosophy and politics. Reminders of the country's glory are all over Greece - from Athens' Parthenon and Delphi's Temple of Apollo, to the ruins on Crete of the Minóan city of Knossós, a civilisation reaching even further back into history. Scattered throughout the calm blue waters of the Aegean are Greece's 1,400 islands, the largest of which is Crete, each with its own special story. The serenity of islands like Skópelos contrasts with the hedonistic party islands such as Mykonos and Páros.

Local time: GMT/UTC +1             Currency: Euro

Climate: Greece and especially Crete has a typically Mediterranean climate. That means dry, hot summers and mild winters

Language: Greek but English is widely spoken

Best time to visit: Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Greece. Conditions are perfect between Easter and mid-June - beaches and ancient sites are relatively uncrowded; public transport operates on close to full schedules. Conditions are once more ideal from the end of August until mid-October, as the season winds down

Things to do: Crete is famous for golf and one of the best golf clubs in Europe is located on the island. For scuba divers there are lots of hidden bays with small marine life

Things to know: Winter is pretty much a dead loss outside the major cities as most of the tourist infrastructure goes into hibernation from the middle of October till the beginning of April. This is slowly changing, however; on the most touristiest islands, a few restaurants, hotels and bars remain open year-round, while the ski resorts on the mainland do thriving business

Insider tip:  Don`t miss out a visit the Cretaquarium or a walk in Samaria Gorge National Park