Author and blogger, Marissa Tejada, from Travel Greece Travel Europe, travels to Nafpaktos and shares her favourite things to do!

The Venetian Castle of Nafpaktos is one very large and incredibly preserved structure that you simply can’t miss. It can be seen from the harbor and from many points in town. The castle is what gives this place – set on a sparkling aqua blue corner of the Corinthian Gulf – its defining charm.

The Botsari Museum is part of the Venetian Tower of Botsaris. It is a historic landmark that is run by the charitable Botsaris Foundation. It is worth a stop to view a collection replica paintings and engravings that give insight into the great Battle of Lepanto of 1571.

Every coastal town, big or small, in Greece has beautiful beaches and Nafpaktos is no exception. The names of the two city beaches are known as Psani and Gribovo and have been accredited with Blue Flag status.

To read this article in full, please visit: Travel Greece Travel Europe

Just a few hours away from Athens, Greece offers some of the best ski resorts for both adults and children. Ski runs range in all levels of difficulty while giving its guests the opportunity to enjoy mesmerizing views of Greece! Here are our top 3 ski resorts close to Athens.

Parnassos Ski Resort


@parnassos.gr

This resort is probably Greece’s most popular ski center because it is very easy to access, located only about two hours from Athens. It is also close to the popular ancient archaeological site of Delphi. There you will find 17 lifts, 13 main modern lifts and 4 baby lifts, 23 slopes, and 7 ski trails with a total length of 34 km.

The Kalavrita Ski Center is located in the Peloponnese, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Athens, and is the second-largest ski resort in Greece sporting 13 diverse ski tracks for you to enjoy, with a total length of 25 km. If you are a beginner, you should consider trying out the newly-added and longest run "Harmony", a very scenic ski route through the pine forest of Helmos.

This ski resort is one of the oldest in the country and is located on Mount Velouchi, 10 km from Karpenisi, the capital of Evritania, and around 4 hours away from Athens. It boasts a total of 6 ski lifts with 18 different slopes of varying difficulty to check out.

 

While Athens has been bearing the brunt of the Greek crisis, it has also undergone an evident revival as a tourism destination. Downtown Syntagma has become a hub of exciting restaurants, sophisticated wine bars and award-winning mixologists, alternative art spaces and design studios, but also a few brand-new hotels, with the most talked-about arrival in 2016 being that of the Metropolis Electra. The inauguration of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the honor of hosting the international art forum Documenta 14 and the anticipated unveiling of the new opera house at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center also point to a renaissance in the arts and constitute excellent reasons to extend your stay beyond a visit to the Acropolis and its museum.

Tinos spent decades in the shadow of the Cycladic island cluster’s most popular destination – Mykonos – and was known mainly as a pilgrimage site for the Church of the Panaghia, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its reputation has undergone a massive turnaround in the past few years, however, and today it’s becoming the place to be, thanks to its many beautiful traditional villages, its local winemakers producing fine organic like Volacus, and cultural events such as Tinos Food Paths and the Tinos World Music Festival.

Just a stone’s throw from the popular Cyclades holiday destination of Paros, this small island that was a punk-rocker haven in 1970s, has acquired a new sophistication after its discovery by Hollywood star Tom Hanks. Laidback campers now rub shoulders with jet-setters sailing into the island on luxury yachts, staying at rented villas and eating at fancy restaurants. The islet of Despotiko, an archaeological site, is a must-see. To reach Antiparos, fly or take a ferry to Paros and take a boat either from Parikia port or from Pounta.

All the beauty of the Peloponnese can be found encapsulated on this island off the peninsula’s southeastern tip. It has great beaches like Kaladi and Halkos, pretty cobbled alleys in the main town of Hora, traditional cafés and seafood restaurants where you can dine on fresh lobster, and, of course, located above the village of Milopotamos, the famous Neraida Waterfall, named after the fabled fairies some believe still frolic among the age-old plane trees.

And many more!

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

If you’re looking for a romantic getaway, Greece is the perfect choice! Travel Greece Travel Europe shares 12 gorgeous and romantic destinations to choose from.

In the capital of Greece, a lot of romance can be uncovered among the marble ruins. It’s also a city surrounded by nature, so if you know where to go – the urban views are breathtaking.

Another one of my picks for the most romantic destinations in Greece is this little Saronic island, which happens to be one of the closest to Athens. Hydra has one of the most picture perfect ports in Greece. No cars are scooters are permitted here – donkeys are the capable transporters. In Hydra, there’s peace and quiet. The atmosphere is simple, natural, traditional and super romantic.

You don’t need to go to the islands to feel the romance. Another one of the most romantic destinations in Greece is Pelion. Boasting lush mountains and a beautiful coastline, this peninsula in central Greece is a year-round destination. This region is known for its atmospheric mountain villages complete with incredible panoramic views and quaint cobbled walking paths.

Greece’s second largest city is known among Greeks as 'the city of love.' With the longest boardwalk in Europe, famous sunsets and a reputation for its fine and modern art, Thessaloniki is definitely one of the most romantic destinations in Greece.

This destination in central Greece can be described, like Santorini, as out of this world. Meteora is a natural, historic and spiritual wonder where historic monasteries were built on the sky-high peaks of incredible rock formations. Ever heard of that? It exists and its jaw dropping.

To read this article in full, please visit: Travel Greece Travel Europe

Photo Credit: Travel Greece Travel Europe

Northern Greece is gaining ground for its rich culture and diversity, as well as beautiful landscapes and plenty of outdoor activities. However popular Athens and the Greek islands will be, sometimes it’s worth exploring the road less-traveled. Vogue takes us to 3 areas in Northern Greece where you can go wine tasting in the Rhodope mountains or visit the Great Prespa Lakes, bordering Albania and Republic of Macedonia.

Kavala

‘Northeast of Thessaloniki, in Greek Macedonia, the port town of Kavala serves as an excellent base for visiting the ancient city of Philippi and wine tastings around the semi-continental Rhodope mountains.’

Nymfaio

‘Grevana, to the south, is a quaint village recognizable for its arched stone bridges, mushrooms, and snowboarding. There is a half-pipe at posh Vasilitsa resort and Valia Calda National Park is nestled into a valley nearby as well.’

To read this article in full, please visit: Vogue

Sifnos is located in the middle of the western Cyclades islands, with only 2,600 inhabitants. It is surrounded by other islands, which enhance the views and has a mild Mediterranean climate with lots of sun and minimal rain. The island is quiet most of the year, except for August, and is known for its ceramics, pastries, and cooking.

Some say that Siphnos, leader of the Ionian colonists, a hero of Attica and the son of Sounios, gave the island its name, but it may derive from the Greek word ’sifnfis’ meaning ‘hollow.’ Herodotus wrote that the inhabitants were wealthy because of the gold and silver mines in the Agios Sostis region, where their buildings were attractive features of the town.

The capital and Sifnos’ largest village, extends over three hills, virtually joined to Exambella, Ano Petali and Artemonas. The island’s main life is concentrated along the narrow pedestrian street, Stylianou Prokou, which begins near the square and ends at the Agios Spyridon church.

To read more about Sifnos, where to go, what to eat, and what to buy, please visit: Hip Greece

Photo Credit: Hip Greece

Monemvasia means “one entrance” and in fact the only access to this castle is via a causeway. This uniquely preserved mediaeval town is carved into the majestic grey rock like a sculpture. The “Gibraltar of the East” or a “stone ship” about to set sail, as the famous Greek poet Yannis Ristos described his birthplace, is calling you for immediate boarding for a journey through time. Wander around the vaulted alleyways, churches and aristocratic mansions.

 

As soon as you walk through the gate, you’ll begin to explore the secrets of this mediaeval castle. First have a coffee in the Agora, on the main cobblestone street in the Lower Town. This was the Byzantines’ Central Avenue, the Venetians’ Market and the Ottomans’ Bazaar, the commercial artery and cultural hub for so many civilisations. Today you’ll see cafes, tavernas, shops and artisans’ workshops.

Monemvasia is an ideal romantic hideaway and honeymoon destination. Boutique bed & breakfasts and luxury hotels with suites boasting Turkish baths, mosaic floors and flowering courtyards will transport you to another time, without sacrificing modern comforts.

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

Photo Credit: Discover Greece

Passion for Greece, along with Travel Bloggers Greece, recently took a trip this summer to Hydra and shares their experience with us. If we didn't have enough before, now we have 15 reasons to visit Hydra!

With its rich history, architectural beauty and vibrant lifestyle, Hydra mesmerizes its visitors at all times of year. A much loved destination among foreign celebrities and prominent Greeks alike, this quaint Saronic Island is a short two-hour ferry trip from Athens. Here are our 15 reasons to visit Hydra right now.

During 1960s Hydra became an artists destination when Leonard Cohen came here and bought a house for only one thousand five hundred dollars, where he spent ten years of his life writing music and novels. Every year his son Adam visits the island for his holidays and every two years the Municipality of Hydra together with the Canadian Embassy organize an event dedicated to Leonard Cohen.

Hydra has managed to preserve its traditional flair as its architecture dates back to the 18th century. Until this day the island is protected by an archaeological law, nothing can be changed in its architectural style and it is forbidden to use solar systems on Hydra.

No installation of metal doors or windows in the houses is not allowed. There are no cars or motorbikes on Hydra which protects the island from pollution. Get lost wandering around the charming streets of Hydra, every turn is guaranteed to give you joy.

To read this article in full, please visit: Passion For Greece

Photo Credit: Passion For Greece

Summer in Greece, especially August, is packed full with all kinds of travelers, thus making it more difficult to find accommodation. If you’re looking to take a last-minute holiday, check out Greece Is’ list of the best places to do so!

Located in the northeastern Aegean, Samothraki (also known as Samothrace) has some truly fairytale landscapes not normally associated with Greek islands – most notably the Fonias Gorge with its waterfalls and plunge pools that you can swim in all summer long. Walk along the gorge under lush trees accompanied by colorful dragonflies flitting about.

Roughly a four-hour drive from Athens and located near the city of Volos (which has an international airport), Pilio combines much of the best of Greece has to offer (forested mountains, fantastic beaches, stone-built villages, stories of centaurs). While it is a popular destination among Greeks and foreign visitors, the accommodation options are many in and around the numerous villages, so even in the height of summer you should be able to find a little slice of paradise.

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

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