Greece’s four seasons have been featured in a promotional video of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) titled “Greece – A 365-day Destination” that will be included in the 2nd Tourism Video Competition organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The competition will be held from September 11th through the 16th in Chengdu, China and will award outstanding country promotional videos.

This video aims to promote Greece as a year round destination, as part of the Tourism Ministry’s strategy to extend the tourism season.



To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Whether you’re in Athens, the Cyclades, the Peloponnese or somewhere in between, there’s always a great beach bar waiting for you! While there’s many to choose from, The Guardian takes us on a tour around Greece and finds 10 of the best.

From modest beginnings as a few friends who learned to catch the waves at Kolibithra beach, Tinos Surf Lessons has become a scene. Yiannis Vidalis and his crew have made something fun and friendly at the surf school that is also chic – a VW campervan converted into a bar, with driftwood furniture and umbrellas woven by local basket-makers. Everything is made to be packed up during the winter and leave the sands of one of Tinos’s longest (and windiest) beaches untouched.

One of the best swimming spots is Hydronetta, below the cannons guarding the yacht-lined harbour. Tables shaded by thatched parasols are squeezed on to stone balconies that zigzag down to a tiny sunbathing platform. Between dips, dry off on the rocks then hop back up for an iced coffee.

There aren’t any signs for this wooden canteen; it doesn’t even have a name, beyond being known as the bar at Limanakia beach. Tottering amid a series of craggy inlets between the coastal suburbs of Varkiza and Vouliagmeni, this Athens institution has no electricity (only a generator) or running water. There are no official opening hours either, but the bar is pretty much open 24 hours.

To read this article in full, please visit: The Guardian

The Athens Public Transport Organization (OASA) has recently announced a buy-10-get-one-free deal for its paper tickets in a bid to boost sales. The offer is valid for regular 1.40-euro tickets and discounted 0.60-cent tickets.

The offer aims to raise awareness for the introduction of electronic ticket technology that will replace paper tickets on buses, trolleys, trams, the metro and ISAP trains.

Article source: Ekathimerini

Known as a new foodie haven, Kerameikos is home to unique restaurants, interesting neo-tavernas, and ethnic hangouts. Greece Is explores the neighborhood for food lovers and shares the best places to eat and relax.

Aleria is now the home of modern Greek cuisine and is based on the triptych of good ingredients, high technology and modern ideas. You can select the food based on the wine you like – the wine list is long and the staff is knowledgeable. Try the beef tartare with yogurt, wasabi cream and ouzo jelly.

Address: 57 M. Alexandrou

Telephone: 210 522 2633

The salon for the winter has 50 seats, while the outer space accommodates twice as many. The food is modern Greek cuisine with a traditional base. The menu changes twice a month. It’s small, with about 12 appetizers and salads and seven mains. They make their own bread daily and their food has a nice Greek character.

Address: 15 Plateon

Telephone: 210 346 2983

To read this article in full, please visit: Greece Is

Photo Credit: Greece Is

New regulations easing capital controls and raising the maximum monthly cash withdrawal limit to 1800 euros came into effect on September 1st, 2017. The measure was announced and passed as an act of legislative content in early August.

In addition, sums transferred to a bank account from abroad after September 1, 2017 can be taken out of the country once again in full, though only half can be withdrawn as cash.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

Video blogger, who is married to a  Greek, shares his expert tips for what NOT to do while you’re in Greece. From showing up empty-handed to a Greek’s house or not trying the local specialities, Wolter’s World gives us his suggestions for everything not to do in Greece, with of course some To Do’s!

For more videos, please visit: Wolter's World

Source: Greek Reporter 

Even today, a lot of Athenians don’t know how the squares and neighborhoods of Athens received their names! Now, Greek Reporter teaches us the meaning of the most popular squares and neighborhoods of Athens!

America Square today is deteriorating as the whole Kypseli neighborhood is downgrading. Yet, the busy square was named in 1927, as the municipal council wanted to show its appreciation for the philhellenism shown by the United States. Until then it was Agamon Square, or Square of the unwed. It was named so in 1887 after three middle-aged Athenians who had a café in the square and were all unmarried.

Anafiotika is an Athenian neighborhood on the north slope of the Acropolis Hill. Particularly picturesque, with tiny houses and narrow streets resembling a Greek island, it was created around 1860 by craftsmen and laborers who had come from the island of Anafi to work in the excavations of the Acropolis, but also to build the capital, which was a relatively new city then. One of them, on the pretense of building a small church, gathered materials and with the help of a carpenter, he made a house in one night and settled in. In a few days (or nights …) the builder, helped the carpenter to get his own home. Thus, Anafiotika was born from these two builders from Anafi.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

Greece has managed to attract up to nine million more tourists (not counting cruise ship arrivals) over the past five years, bringing the country to 14th place on the World Tourism Organization’s list for 2016.

In absolute terms, 15.5 million tourism arrivals were recorded in 2012, which by 2016 reached 24.8 million, the biggest percentage rise of any country in the specific time period.

Mexico followed in second place, with an increase of 49.5% in tourist arrivals between 2012 and 2016, and Thailand in third (45.5%).

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

The international golf tournament will return for the second year on 21-24 February 2018 with 50,000EUR prize fund

Monday, 7 August 2017 – Costa Navarino, the award-winning golf destination in Greece will host the second Messinia ProAm on 21-24 February 2018.

The event follows the inaugural ProAm in February 2017, which saw participants from 14 countries.

2018’s tournament is expected to attract 50 teams of golf professionals and aficionados from all over the world. The total prize fund on offer to the winning team will be 50,000EUR, making it the second highest to be offered in a European tournament.

The destination’s multi-awarded signature golf courses ‘The Dunes Course’ and the ‘The Bay Course’ will offer an unparalleled golf experience with views of the seaside Messinian landscape. Alongside a thrilling golf spectacle, the event will also provide a rich programme of events and entertainment for attendees, including thematic gastronomy nights.

The ProAm is sanctioned by the PGAs of Europe and is held under the auspices of the PGAs of Greece, the Hellenic Golf Federation and the Hellenic Olympic Academy. Professionals and amateurs alike will join together to compete at Costa Navarino, selected by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) as ‘European Golf Resort of the Year 2017’.

Aegean Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, is the official airline partner of the event. The company was awarded for the seventh consecutive year and for the eighth time in nine years, as "Best Regional Airline in Europe" at the Skytrax World Airline Awards.

Kyvernitis Travel is the official travel partner of the second Messinia Pro-Am. With over 40 years of experience in the travel industry, the agency will coordinate and ensure a smooth registration process.

Registration is now open via the website: messiniaproam.costanavarino.com.

Those registered by 30 September will receive a 10% ‘early bird’ discount.

Special accommodation packages are available at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino.

Click to view the Messinia Pro-Am Video HERE!

Organizer: Costa Navarino

Official Airline Partner: Aegean Airlines

Official Travel Partner: Kyvernitis Travel Website: messiniaproam.costanavarino.com

Hashtag: #messiniaproam

Autumn is right around the corner and enjoying a hot cup of coffee is even more enjoyable with a crisp in the air. Culinary Backstreets gives us a tour of the new wave cafes in downtown Athens with trendy aesthetics and hip baristas!

Despite (or perhaps because of) Greece’s ongoing economic crisis, the number of quality coffee shops in Athens has mushroomed in recent years, and a rising cadre of professional baristas – a trendy title to hold nowadays – is taking pleasure in sharing their knowledge of coffee making and drinking.

Regardless of what kind of coffee you like to drink, make sure to head first to Kaya, without a doubt the best espresso bar in the city. Located in Stoa Bolani, an arcade close to Syntagma Square that hides some of central Athens’ best secret spots, this tiny coffee workshop is always teeming with locals.

To Dentro tou Cafe (The Coffee Tree) in Exarchia doubles as a cozy coffee shop and a retailer of freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee sourced from all over the world.

To read this article in full, please visit: Culinary Backstreets