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Monday, 03 July 2017 07:00
Tips For Visiting Athens During The Summer
Celeste, from Family Goes Out, gives her best advice for families visiting Athens during the warmer months. It's best to visit visit in May and June or September and October, where the temperatures are cooler and child-friendlier, but if you must visit during the peak of the summer, August is a good time to visit Athens, as the city empties when the Greeks go on holiday.
Tips for Visiting Athens on Hot Summer Days:
Babies and young children can get ill during hot weather (dehydration, heat stroke, sunburn). Babies less than 6 month old should be kept out of the sun. Always bring a light sheet, umbrella/cover for your stroller. Young infants cannot be in the sun during the hottest hours of the day. Sun hats with a wide brim and protective flap on the back, protective clothing and sunscreen are a must. Make sure your children drink plenty of water.
For July and August, make sure that you book your (air conditioned) accommodation (and everything else such as ferry boat / air tickets, etc.) well in advance. Choose one of the city hotels with a swimming pool. Another great option is to stay at the Athenian Coast, also known as the Athens riviera. There are several family friendly beach hotels and resorts here and it is very easy to get to the city from here by either car or public transport.
Athens is very hot during the day time so plan your activities in the mornings and afternoons/evenings. Do as the Greeks do and have a nap together with your children during the hottest hours of the day. You can also take a dip in your city hotel swimming pool (make sure the children stay in the shade) to cool off.
Visit the archeological sites only in the early morning, they open at 08:00.
To get around the city, instead of walking use the Athens Metro system.
A great idea for seeing all the highlights of the city is to use one of the so called hop-on-hop-off busses. There are several companies in Athens that offer such tours. These busses are air-conditioned and stroller friendly. Some of these bus tours combine their tickets with the tourist train in the historic center called Athens Happy Train or Sunshine express. This is another great way to get around the Plaka area with your kids whilst sitting in the shade and enjoying the sites. I would recommend the train for the afternoons.
Cool Places to Visit With Your Family During the Day:
- The National Gardens
- The New Acropolis Museum
- Hellenic Motor Museum
- The Athens War Museum
- The Museum of Greek Children’s Art
- Museum of the Ancient Agora
To read this article in full, please visit: Family Goes Out
Published in
Kids Life
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Tuesday, 13 June 2017 07:00
Greece Top Travel Destination In 2017 With 30 Million Visitors Expected
The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) announced that it expects a record-breaking 30 million international visitors to Greece for 2017. This represents a growth rate of 7%, or an additional 2 million additional visitors over the previous year.
The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that tourism in 2017 will help boost the Greek economy by 6.9 percent, and will boost employment by 6.3 percent, supporting nearly 1 million jobs and representing 20% of the country's GDP. One in five jobs created in Greece is related to the tourism sector. Tourism is essential to Greece's effort for recovery and prosperity. Every 30 or more tourists visiting Greece, creates one new job for a Greek.
A distinctive and unique characteristic of Greece, "philotimo" represents a sacred honor, promise and the spirit of its people. The word, which has no real translation, conveys tolerance, open arms, and open-mindedness to all visitors, and transcends religion, race, color or creed.
Source: Windy City Greek
Published in
Greece In The News
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Tuesday, 19 September 2017 19:53
The Mystery Behind Greece's Ancient Temples
“Ancient Greeks were wise. They knew where to build their sacred venues,” says the grandfather of BBC journalist. She’s remembering a time when she was a young girl and would wonder in awe of the brightly shining stars from the Athens’ Philopappou Hill. Here, the girl and her grandfather would discuss the significance of Greece’s temples and the meaning behind them all. Now, she shares what she learned all that time ago with BBC, and us.
“In retrospect, I can’t help but wonder if this beautiful explanation was inflated by my grandfather’s immense pride in Greek culture. But Manolo Fernandez, a Spanish language teacher and amateur astronomy enthusiast, shares my grandfather’s opinion – that the placement of Greece’s temples was not random.”
“The temple of Poseidon in Sounion forms an isosceles triangle with the Hephaisteion in Athens and the temple of Aphaia Athena in Aegina. Apollo in Delphi, Aphaia in Aegina and the Parthenon, the same: they all form perfect isosceles triangles!”
To read this article in full, please visit: BBC
Published in
Greek Language & Culture
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Tuesday, 05 June 2018 07:00
Greece's Bathing Waters Are Among The Cleanest In Europe
According to the latest annual bathing water quality report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Commission, Greece ranked 4th in Europe for having 95% or more of "excellent" quality bathing waters. This means that Greece's bathing waters were free of pollutants that can be harmful to a person's health and the environment.
Based on information from 2017, 95.9% of the 1,598 sites that were assessed in Greece reached "excellent" quality. Luxembourg ranked first, Malta second, Cyprus third, and Austria fifth.
Nearly all bathing water sites (over 21,000) monitored in Europe met the minimum quality requirements under EU rules according to the report.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Published in
Greece In The News
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Monday, 05 November 2018 07:00
Dolmades-Stuffed Vine Leaves
Dolmades, or stuffed vine leaves, is one of the most famous traditional Greek dishes; it is light, meat-free, and really tasty! Dolmades make an excellent starter for a family dinner, but they are so delicious they can also be served alone as a main dish.
Traditionally, dolmades are prepared with rice, herbs, and onions but some regional variations call for toasted pine nuts, red currants, and raisins. Stuffing the vine leaves my look a bit tricky at first, but after your first few rolls you'll realize how easy it really is!
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 cups sweet white onions, chopped very fine
- 4 cups long-grain riced, uncooked
- 6 cups fresh herbs – measured before chopping, chopped fine ( I use equal parts dill/mint/parsley)
- 3 tsp salt
- 2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- Grape leaves – 1 large 16 ounce jar (approx 60-80 leaves,rinsed well) or hand picked and boiled
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1/3 c olive oil
- Juice from one lemon
Published in
Greek Food & Diet
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Monday, 07 October 2019 01:00
Ouzo: A Beginner's Guide
Care for an ouzaki? Like many other Greek words, ouzo is often referred in the diminutive, which makes it even more charming and appealing. There is nothing severe or pretentious about an ouzaki; it can be an excuse for a break in the middle of a busy day or a staple feature of a Greek summer holiday. No matter what you call it, sharing a carafe or miniature bottle of ouzo is a quintessential Greek experience. While there are no rules about doing it properly, there are certainly ways of getting the most out of it.
Ouzo can is made from grape or grain-based alcohol, which is distilled with anise, fennel, and other herbs, according to the 'secret' formula of each producer. Its alcoholic content ranges from 38% to 48% volume. It is the presence of anethole in the anise that turns the transparent drink to a milky white color when mixed with water or ice cubes.
Tyrnavos in Thessaly was the first place in mainland Greece to make ouzo back in 1856. However, the area most associated with ouzo production is Plomari, a coastal village on the island of Lesvos. There are some 300 ouzo brands throughout the country, of which the best known are Ouzo Plomari, Ouzo Varbagianni, Mini Mytilinis, Ouzo 12, and Tsantali.
The best place to enjoy a drink (or two) of ouzo is at a seaside locale during the summer. However, the custom is not limited to the summer months, a quaint location or a time of day. Ouzo time may continue well into the afternoon or past the dinner hour– which in Greece is a very loose concept anyway.
The most critical factor in the ouzo drinking protocol is the company or parea in Greek. Greeks rarely drink alone and seldom without at least a nibble to eat. Without ordering it, you will usually be served a dish of a simple meze–olives, pickles, salami, cheese–along with your carafe of ouzo. Before you take a bite, clink glasses with your friends and say stin iyeiá mas, which means to our health.
Serious drinkers will order more meze dishes; those are likely to be salty, spicy or sour, to offset the slight sweetness and intensity of the ouzo! If all you want is an aperitif with a snack to precede a full lunch or dinner, these titbits will suffice. Making a meal of mezedes is another very Greek habit. Fish and seafood, fried or salted, rank highestbut garlicky vegetables, spicy meats, minty meatballs, and sausages also complement ouzo very well!
To read this article in full, please: thisisathens.org
Published in
Greek Food & Diet
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Tuesday, 09 February 2021 19:20
Athens Covered In Snow!
The storm titled 'Medea' covered Athens with an unusual amount of snow on Tuesday. Temperatures dipped below freezing, and the Greek capital's historic monuments looked incredibly beautiful all covered in white.
Published in
Newsletters
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Sunday, 01 May 2022 14:50
Navarino Challenge - Outdoor Activities For The Whole Family
The award-winning sports tourism event Navarino Challenge celebrates its 10th year by uniting people of all ages and abilities through sports. Amateur and professional athletes from Greece and abroad will visit Costa Navarino and Pylos, Messinia, on October 21-23, 2022.
Follow the footsteps of Telemachus
Participants in Navarino Challenge, have the opportunity to run in one of the top Half Marathons 21.1km in Greece, together with the Greek-American ultramarathon runner Konstantinos Dean Karnazes, and to cross the beautiful beach of Voidokilia while tracing history beneath their feet in King Nestor’s land. They will follow the trail mapped out in the Homeric era by Telemachus, Ulysses’ son, trying to find his missing father. Moreover, they can choose between the 10km route or the fun 5km route, which can even be completed with dynamic walking. On the same day, the 1km children’s route will be held in two groups, for children 10-14 years old and kids up to 9 years of age.
Runners can act promptly and take advantage of the early bird offers, which are valid until July 31, featuring discounts higher than 50% on registrations. The children’s race is held with free participation. The event, always having the participants as a top priority, offers a refund on their registration costs until September 1.
Entries for Navarino Challenge are underway and interested parties can participate by completing the available form through the following link.
Entries for Navarino Challenge are underway and interested parties can participate by completing the available form through the following link.
Enjoy here the video with Navarino Challenge 2022’s outdoor activities.
Sea kayaking at Pylos Bay
Starting from the Poseidonia Restaurant known for its traditional Greek cuisine and local delicacies in the port of Pylos, on Saturday, October 22, a sea kayak tour around the island of Sphacteria will take place, with the support of Explore Messinia. Participants will paddle towards Navarino Bay exploring the coastline of Sphacteria. For entries: welcome(at)exploremessinia.com
Take part in the Beach Volleyball Tournament with a view of the Ionian Sea
Overlooking the sand dunes and crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea, The Dunes Beach at Navarino Dunes, Costa Navarino, will host the Navarino Challenge King of the Court Beach Volleyball Tournament. The Olympic sport of beach volleyball returns with the former international Greek volleyball player and record holder of participations with the Greek National Team, Michalis Triantafyllidis, as its ambassador. On Saturday, October 22, the tournament will include separate categories for men and women, whereas on Sunday, October 23, the tournament will be mixed. All beach volleyball activities are carried out with the support of Triantafyllidis Beach Arena. For registrations and more information: info(at)beacharena.gr
Tennis at the Mouratoglou Tennis Center Costa Navarino
Participants in Navarino Challenge will have the opportunity to attend tennis clinics for children 6-9 years old and 10-13 years old as well as to participate in the Round Robbin tennis tournaments for men and women, which will be held with the support of Mouratoglou Tennis Center Costa Navarino under the guidance of elite coaches. Costa Navarino is the first European location for a Mouratoglou Tennis Center, while the brand-new state-of-the-art facilities feature a total of 16 tennis courts at Navarino Dunes with breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea. For registrations and more information: tennis(at)costanavarino.com
Track and field, pilates, cycling, golf for everyone!
The schedule of Navarino Challenge offers you the opportunity to come closer to sports and their benefits, alongside top instructors. More specifically, you can take part in activities such as beachathlon for parents & children 6 to 13 years old with the Olympian and European champion Periklis Iakovakis, pilates lessons with the team of physical education instructor, Mandy Persaki, bike ride to Voidokilia with the support of Navarino Outdoors and golf lessons for 2 days, with the support of Navarino Golf Academy.
Book your room now
Enjoy a weekend full of outdoor wellness activities for people of all ages. Book now the event’s accommodation package which is full of sports activities and includes half board. Live the unique sports and cultural experience that is offered to you. For more information on accommodation packages at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino you may send your email to booking(at)navarinochallenge.com or call Vita N Travel at +30 210 3249070.
Check the accommodation packages here.
Photo Credit: Elias Lefas
Check the accommodation packages here.
Samsung Electronics Hellas supports the event for a 6th consecutive year as its Official Technology Partner. Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino are the Official Hospitality Sponsors.The event is assisted by Vita N Travel and Kayak.
Navarino Challenge will take place under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, whose mission is the formulation of the tourism policy and the executive planning of the tourist development of Greece.The event is organized by ActiveMedia Group which is also responsible for the event’s Sports Production.
Hashtags: #navarinochallenge #costanavarino #sportsunitespeople #10yearsNavarinoChallenge #eatwell #runwell #livewellPhoto Credit: Elias Lefas
Published in
Local News
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Saturday, 15 February 2025 07:00
3 Bookshop Cafés In Athens You Will Fall In Love With
Winter may not be a favorite of the four seasons, but it is nonetheless part of nature's important cycle. There is something nice about the season; be it cozy rediscovery, the warmth of a fireplace, the peaceful sounds of rain and snow, and the freshness of crisp air - it is a season for all the senses!
One of the greatest pleasures is definitely cuddling up with a good book, and sipping a cup of warm coffee or tea. And although there is no place like home, if you feel like heading out without having to sacrifice your comfort and coziness, these bookshop cafes are exactly perfect.
Enastron
@enastroncafe
A favorite among students, especially during the exam period, Enastron is the perfect place to relax, grab a book, and have a little me time. On the menu, you will find coffee, hot beverages, drinks, and cocktails, as well as light meals, and numerous books await you on the bookstore’s shelves. The venue also hosts a number of events, including book launches, musical acts, educational seminars, and many more.
Address: Solonos 101, Athina
Telephone: 21 0382 8139
Ianos Cafe
The lobby space overhead Ianos bookstore on Stadiou Street has been transformed into a delicate cafe where students, scholars, and bookworms take shelter year-round. There you may jumpstart your literary journey with a drawn-out cup of coffee, while examining the space oozing with artistic interest!
www.ianos.gr
The lobby space overhead Ianos bookstore on Stadiou Street has been transformed into a delicate cafe where students, scholars, and bookworms take shelter year-round. There you may jumpstart your literary journey with a drawn-out cup of coffee, while examining the space oozing with artistic interest!
Address: Stadiou 24, Athina
Telephone: 21 0321 7917
Free Thinking Zone
@ephellas
@ephellas
Where else will you find a cozy bookstore, gallery, and coffee shop all in one? Free Thinking Zone is all of the above and so much more. It is a place full of warmth and positive vibes where you can meet new people and share your ideas or spend some quiet time browsing the permanent and periodic book collections. A broad spectrum of events takes place at the bookstore, including book presentations and other cultural events.
Address: Skoufa 64, Athina
Telephone: 21 0361 7461
Published in
Pubs, Bars & Cafes
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Thursday, 05 February 2015 12:57
My Week in Athens… May 3
Summer is here, judging by the incredible weekend weather… Who wants to stay home? Friday night arrived and a few of us headed to the centre for a couple drinks. With no destination in mind, we headed towards the Gazi district – plenty of choice for a couple drinks, and a few for some good food too.
Sure, Gazi is young, trendy, even predictable (is that so bad?!) – but it was also buzzing with amazing energy… people everywhere, out to enjoy the beautiful night. We ended up at The Hive – a well-known multi-level bar & event space on the main square, with a small bar inside and a great rooftop terrace. Upstairs, the terrace was jammed full of people, enjoying in the beautiful view and the charged dance music. Later in the evening we headed downstairs where we were greeted by a live band – a great band! 2 female singers – mix of Greek and English pop music. Fantastic. Later on, after another visit to the rooftop, we wandered around the square – still busy with people - decided against a late-night souvlaki – and headed home…
Athens comes alive at night. It's a transformed city after dark - bright lights, music, sound, people, action - the city truly buzzes in a way that few others do. At least after the sun sets, we are spoiled for choice on where to meet friends and enjoy a spring evening...
I loved the buzz of the night. Bring on summer!
Athens nightlife. Not to be missed. Now appearing everywhere ;)
See you next week.
Jack
In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…
Published in
My Week In Athens
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