Greece

With a temple of Goddess Athena crowning above the city on the Acropolis Hill, Athens is a magical place, filled with impressive historic and cultural sites. The city is also bustling with young, contemporary culture; you will see what we mean when you visit Exarcheia, the quirky city quarter with street art murals with political messages, loads of rare vinyl record stores and the popular Valtetsiou pedestrian street field with low-key vegetarian cafés and budget-friendly Mediterranean eateries. If you want to come closer to the Greek culture and escape the urban bustle, Athens is also a great hub for excursions. This guide will help you navigate amongst the best Athens day trips. Plan your trip to Italy Need data for your trip to Italy? We use Tep Wireless which offers unlimited data for $8 per day. Travelling King readers can get 10% off using the discount code TRAVELLINGKING on check…

Picture Santorini: sunlight reflecting off the white stone walls of the city, contrasting sharply with the stunning deep blue seas of the Mediterranean. Santorini has long been one of Greece’s most popular islands for those seeking sun, sea and sand. The island is part of a group of islands that were borne from millions of years of volcanic activity and remains one of the most active volcanic areas of the Aegean. It was first inhabited by the Minoans in the Neolithic period and was named Strongoli, until a violent eruption in 1500 BC destroyed their town. Santorini was later known as Firá which came from its ancient name of Thira. The name was then changed to Kalliste, meaning “the beautiful one” before its modern name of Santorini was born in the 13th century, with the island being named after Saint Irene, after whom the oldest cathedral in Perissa was named.…

A world-renowned tourist destination, Mykonos attracts thousands of travellers every year with the allure of its white-sand beaches, white-washed villages and luxury resorts, and its summer party atmosphere. A cosmopolitan destination amongst the Greek islands, this is a place where you can completely relax and let your hair loose for some St-Tropez-meets-Ibiza style fun. Situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea, Mykonos is one of the most touristed islands in the Cyclades group. It comes as no surprise when you experience the atmosphere that fills the island from the beach bars blaring music to the vast dance clubs that attract world-renowned DJs. As one of the great travel meccas, this is an island that happily flaunts its party-hard reputation and prides itself on attracting A-listers and fashionistas alike. Offering its visitors picturesque sandy beaches, hip new hotels, a charming cafe-bar-boutique scene, lively nightlife, stunning natural beauty, and a general…

Amongst the already buzzing Greek Islands, Mykonos has a stellar reputation for its nightlife and party scene, and it’s often seen as the liveliest destination in the Aegean Sea. But while the parties are thumping and the cheap drinks never stop flowing during the summer high season, there’s more to Mykonos than late-night bars and rowdy tourists. The island has long been popular because of its white-sand beaches and turquoise water, and while many are now home to famous beach clubs, others can still leave you with a sense of solitude. Mykonos is an island that can truly offer something for everyone in this respect, and you can party the night away or you can delve into local Greek culture and history. There’s a lot to see, and to help you to plan your trip to the Greek Islands, here’s our ultimate Mykonos travel guide. This ultimate travel guide to…

Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities, and a great destination for visitors from all over the world. Evidence of civilization in Athens dates back to the 13th century BC, and with ruins like the Acropolis alongside Greek beaches and delicious Mediterranean cuisine, you’ll definitely want to stay in Athens for a while. The capital city is also a financial hub and the largest passenger port in Europe, so you will have your choice of places to stay in Athens. We’ve researched the best neighborhoods and most interesting areas to help you decide where to stay in Athens. Wondering where to stay in Athens Greece? We will cover off all types of Athens accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Athens hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Athens, the best Athens hotels, best places in Athens, the best places to stay in Athens, best neighborhoods to…

Now that you have narrowed down your Mediterranean destination to the Greek island of Crete, you still have to decide which town in Crete to stay. How you choose where to stay in Crete Greece will depend on your travel tastes, goals for the trip and your travel budget. Not to worry, though, there is something for everyone on Greece’s largest island. From the spa resorts at Elounda to the Minoan ruins at Kato Zakros, Crete has the best of Greece all on one island. Using our guide on the best places to stay in Crete, you can choose the best city or resort town and then choose the best Crete hotel for your needs. We will cover off all types of Crete accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Crete hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Crete, the best Crete hotels, best places in Crete…

Santorini belongs to a group of islands in the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece. The areas of Fira and Oia are often represented as the entirety of Santorini in films, as they feature picturesque white domed buildings with royal blue furnishings. If you are interested in visiting the Santorini you’ve seen in the movies, then you’ll be completely enthralled with Fira or Oia. While the entirety of Santorini is beautiful, different people enjoy different areas. Picking the best area to stay in Santorini depends on your interests as well as your budget. For example, many areas in Santorini are quite expensive, but Firostefani is a cheaper option for budget travelers. Or if you’re traveling to Santorini to simply appreciate the beaches, then you might prefer to stay in Kamari. No matter where in Santorini you stay, it’s inevitable that you will be stunned by the views and awed by the…

Santorini is the most picture-perfect of Greece’s holiday destinations. The small archipelago in the Aegean Sea is a beautiful mixture of rustic, rural charm coupled with luxurious holiday homes and colourful villas. It’s a place of good food, even better wine, and relaxing island idylls that will captivate you for days on end. But below the idyllic setting, Santorini is also one of the most tumultuous islands in Greece. Santorini was shaped by an enormous volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, which dealt the end to the flourishing Minoan civilization that was rising in the Mediterranean. Santorini’s dramatic cliffs are the edge of a volcanic caldera, while the black sand beaches are the remnants of ash and lava.  Across Santorini, you can find the legacies of the ancient civilizations that lived here in the past, including Minoan archaeological sites, Byzantine churches and Venetian fortifications. It’s a fascinating place to visit,…

Athens is where Ancient Greece meets with the modern Greek nation, a sprawling city that’s the historic, cultural and political heart of the nation. For many, Athens is also seen as the centre of western civilization, a place where philosophers debated life and politics, and where the ideals of democracy and liberty were first discussed. It’s a truly historic destination, and in Athens, you’ll find iconic sights such as the Acropolis, and other Greek relics that date back thousands of years. But you’ll also find the remnants of the many other civilizations that sprung from Athens or conquered their way through, and there are influences abounding across the city from the likes of the Romans, the Byzantines and the Ottomans. And when the sightseeing is over, you can gorge on some of the best Greek food in the country, you can dine out at excellent restaurants, or eat simply in…