GREECE

Greece is a country in southeastern Europe with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. Influential in ancient times, it's often called the cradle of Western civilization. Athens, its capital, retains landmarks including the 5th-century B.C. Acropolis citadel with the Parthenon temple. Greece is also known for its beaches, from the black sands of Santorini to the party resorts of Mykonos.

Main Destinations
Tourism in Greece has been a key element of the economic activity in the country and is one of the country's most important sectors. Greece has been a major tourist destination and attraction in Europe since the 1970s for its rich culture and history, which is reflected in large part by its 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among the most in Europe and the world as well as for its long coastline, many islands, and beaches.
The Egremont sand beach on the Greek island of Leokadia, noted for its blue crystal waters, is a popular tourist destination.
Greece attracted as many as 31.3 million visitors in 2019, up from 24 million in 2015,[4][5][6][7] making Greece one of the most visited countries in Europe and the world and contributing to approximately 25% to the nation's Gross Domestic Product.

The Location
Greece is a country in southeastern Europe with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. Influential in ancient times, it's often called the cradle of Western civilization. Athens, its capital, retains landmarks including the 5th-century B.C. Acropolis citadel with the Parthenon temple. Greece is also known for its beaches, from the black sands of Santorini to the party resorts of Mykonos.

Main Airport
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, commonly initialized as AIA, is the largest international airport in Greece, serving the city of Athens and the region of Attica. It began operation on 28 March 2001 and is the main base of Aegean Airlines, as well as other smaller Greek airlines.

Capital City
Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple. The Acropolis Museum, along with the National Archaeological Museum, preserves sculptures, vases, jewelry, and more from Ancient Greece.

Language Spoken
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages, native to Greece, Cyprus, southern Italy, southern Albania, and other regions of the Balkans, the Black Sea coast, Asia Minor, and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The official language of Greece is Greek, spoken by 99% of the population. In addition, a number of non-official, minority languages and some Greek dialects are spoken as well. The most common foreign languages learned by Greeks are English, German, French and Italian.

Currency
Greece joined the European Union in 1981 and adopted the euro in 2001 in time to be among the first wave of countries to launch euro banknotes and coins on 1 January 2002.

Emergency Calls
In Greece, 112 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can connect the caller with Police. Fire Brigade. Emergency Medical Services.

Peak Season
Tourist season is roughly Easter through October. Peak season is summer when Athens is packed with tourists, and hotel prices can be high. July and August are the hottest. The best time to visit is late spring (May) and fall (Sept-Oct).

LOW SEASON

Winter is the low season in Greece, with crowds and costs at a minimum beginning in November all the way until March. Many tourist attractions have shorter hours, and some islands can even close for the whole season. Winter can actually be a decent time to visit Athens, though.

TEMPERATURE

In Greece, the summers are warm; the winters are freezing, snowy, and windy; and it is partly cloudy year-round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 19°F to 79°F and is rarely below 4°F or above 87°F.