Greece offers so much to see and experience — whether that means sunbathing on its pristine beaches, uncovering ancient artifacts, savoring anise-flavored ouzo at bouzoukia clubs or shopping in Athens’ magical squares. Spring, summer and autumn are ideal times for visiting Greece because temperatures remain mild throughout these three seasons.
Travelers with disabilities should keep in mind that access to many sights, hotels and restaurants in Greece may be limited; advance planning will make your experience as hassle-free as possible.
Greece’s History
Greece is a land brimming with history. At its foundation lies democracy – first established by Solon of Athens in 5th Century B.C. as a means to give political rights and abolish slavery for free men – then later adopted in other thriving democratic nations around the globe, including America. Visitors can marvel at this historical legacy while admiring Acropolis Parthenon or sitting atop Pnyx hill where ancient Athenians gathered to cast ballots in times past.
Greece is currently a secular, parliamentary republic governed by a president and prime minister who are both elected by its parliament (Vouli). Under Greek law, parliament has wide-ranging powers which enable it to choose cabinet members who manage government departments. Government bodies possess their own independent budgets, with approval required from the president prior to any major spending plans being approved by Congress. Public education from kindergarten through university level is under state control while private schools must comply with certain educational standards. Greek is the official language of government and school instruction, while many young people speak English as their second language. Traditional choral chanting of a Greek folk song known as bouzoukia still takes place at local bars and restaurants; however, plate-smashing traditions at live music clubs (bouzoukia) have mostly disappeared.
Greece is divided into 51 prefectures that are led by prefects who are elected through direct vote, while 13 regional administrative districts, or peripheries, as well as an additional position called nomarch are appointed by the central government. Furthermore, municipalities elect their mayor directly through direct voter balloting while villages have appointed village heads; state pays salaries to clergymen while Orthodox Christianity reigns supreme.
In the 1950s, Greece saw rapid development through Marshall Plan funds and NATO membership in 1952. Unfortunately, Greece experienced its worst civil war from 1946-49 as tensions between leftist and rightist factions continued to divide it further. Meanwhile, industrial legislation and protective tariffs enabled factories in Greece to flourish while tourism helped boost its economy even further – full suffrage being granted in 1952 and Lina Tsaldari becoming first female minister during that decade.
Greece’s Culture
Ancient Greece became home to an advanced civilization around 3,000 BCE, with emphasis placed on government, art and philosophy. Citizens were encouraged to play an active role in public life while honoring multiple gods.
As such, Greeks take great pride in their culture and the fact they invented democracy. Since modernity began, a sense of national identity has emerged that is comprised of language, religion, democracy, an analytic approach to life, travel, entrepreneurship, cleverness and an intimate knowledge of Mediterranean landscape.
Greek culture has left us an impressive legacy of art and architecture; they also left behind an abundance of literature and philosophical thought. Plato is often considered the founder of Western Philosophy; Odysseas Elytis was known for romantic modernism and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1979.
Greece’s culture is grounded in strong family structures. Household units serve as the central point for social life and provide psychological and material support throughout a person’s lifetime. Bilateral kindreds (loose networks of relatives on both the mother’s and father’s sides) also offer identity and support, with godparents or wedding sponsors keeping close ties throughout life.
Greece stands at the crossroads between Eastern and Western cultures, thus becoming home to various cultural influences from both sides. These can be seen reflected in its cuisine, music and art forms – one such form being the hexastyle building with six columns front and 13 on either side – one of its most distinctive architectural styles in Greece.
Greeks take great pride in their heritage and often display ancestral statues in their home. Greeks are passionate people and love spending time with friends and family; social activities may include eating, drinking, playing games, listening to music or having animated discussions. Personal relationships between family members are valued highly; many live near elderly parents or grandparents and continue providing care as they age.
Greece’s Cuisine
Greek cuisine is famously revered around the globe for its fresh ingredients, robust flavors and ancient traditions. Its main components are meats (lamb, chicken and pork), vegetables, fruits nuts and legumes. Meat dishes such as lamb are typically cooked using herbs and sauces on grills or barbecue pits before being stewed or stewed for hours in sauces with aromatic spices such as rosemary. Vegetables including tomatoes cucumbers eggplants zucchini served raw or cooked into casseroles or pies while fruits like oranges lemons grapes can also be eaten fresh while nuts such as almonds walnuts pistachios can also be eaten raw or made into desserts while beans & lentils make great additions for soups or stews!
Greek cuisine reflects its multiethnic past, drawing influences from Turkey, Iran and other Mediterranean nations such as Italy. Dishes like tzatziki, hummus and dolmades serve as evidence of this multiculturalism in Greek cuisine.
Greece’s cuisine is known for being light and nutritious due to the use of olive oil and fresh vegetables in its cuisine. A balanced Greek diet includes moderate quantities of cheese and wine while oregano, thyme and mint are common spices found throughout its cuisine; in addition, Greece boasts influences from Asia via cinnamon and nutmeg as popular spices used here.
There are numerous iconic Greek dishes that have become world-famous, such as gyros, moussaka, feta cheese and tzatziki. Gyros is a deceptively simple sandwich consisting of marinated pork or lamb served on a rotating spit and usually stuffed into pita bread with onion and tomato for a delicious comforting dish rich with tradition. Moussaka is another satisfying classic Greek meal composed of layers of eggplant, ground meat and bechamel sauce; both dishes represent some of the best that Greek cuisine can offer!
Feta cheese, often served melted over toasted pita with chopped tomatoes and onions, is another iconic Greek dish, found almost anywhere you travel in the country. Other favorites include tyropita (cheese pie), spanakopita (spinach pie), as well as numerous regionally inspired sweet and savory pies with ingredients sourced locally; for dessert there’s bougatsa and baklava filled with creamy custard. Greek wine production boasts over one hundred indigenous grape varieties that create wines of vibrant hues and distinctive flavor profiles! The Greeks also pride themselves on producing quality wines with vibrant hues and distinctive tastes; over one hundred indigenous grape varieties produces wines of vibrant hues and distinct tastes!
Greece’s Weather
Greece boasts a temperate Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Temperatures differ throughout the country with Mykonos and Santorini islands experiencing higher average temperatures than mainland regions such as Attica or Myrni; mountainous regions in the north can experience freezing winter conditions with snowfall during some parts of winter months.
Greece is best visited from May through September when temperatures are warm yet not overly hot and crowds are considerably thinner than during peak summer months. Visitors can take advantage of swimming, sightseeig, snorkelling and sightseeing both in and on the waters and beaches during this period, while fall offers great opportunities to discover Athens with its museums, contemporary art galleries and local culture of Greece’s islands.
Summer in the islands can be extremely hot and muggy, and Meltemi wind, which blows during July and August’s warmest months, can make being outdoors even less appealing.
Spring and fall provide ideal hiking conditions, with cooler temperatures and clear skies. However, December through March can bring cold and wet conditions, though sunny days do occur during these months; during these times visitors can comfortably visit Delphi ruins and Athens’ ancient sites.
Climate in central and southwestern parts of Albania resembles Italy in that coastal areas tend to be warmer while interior regions often experience colder conditions; mountains of Balkan Peninsula generally experience lower rainfall compared with other areas of country.
The number of wet days across the country varies, with most precipitation concentrated in the southern and western regions. Rain alone or snow plus rain days is equally variable; rain alone being most prevalent; at Athens Ellinikon in Greece there is only an average of 14.8 wet days annually as opposed to Gubden Russia (5,615) or Hakuba Japan (6,488) both far more wet places.
Related Guides
- How to Get from Athens Airport (ATH) to City Centre — Airport guide