View
5
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
discover
GREECE
KORINA MILLERKATE ARMSTRONG, MICHAEL STAMATIOS CLARK, CHRIS DELISO,
DES HANNIGAN, VICTORIA KYRIAKOPOULOS
00-prelim-dc-gre1.indd 1 1/10/2010 2:51:30 PM
DISCOVER GREECE
Dodecanese (p267) Rhodes’ medieval Old Town, Nisyros volcano, Kos beaches and the spiritual atmosphere of Patmos
Crete (p233) Idyllic Elafonisi, Hania’s evoca-tive Old Town, vineyards and the palace of Knossos
Cyclades, Evia & the Sporades (p195) Island paradises of Santorini and Mykonos, ancient ruins, spas and beaches
Northern Greece (p163) Artistic, spirited Thessaloniki, traditional villages and the soaring peaks of Mt Olympus
Central Greece & the Ionian Islands (p127) Atmospheric rural peninsula and idyllic island life of Corfu or Kefallonia
Athens & Attica (p51) A vibrant, cosmo-politan capital, surrounded by the impres-sive ruins of Attica
Peloponnese & the Saronic Gulf Islands (p93) Gorgeous, rugged landscapes and stunning coastal villages
3
00-prelim-dc-gre1.indd 3 1/10/2010 2:52:21 PM
THIS IS GREECE 10
GREECE’S TOP 25 EXPERIENCES 13
GREECE’S TOP ITINERARIES 31
PLANNING YOUR TRIP 39
ATHENS & ATTICA 51HIGHLIGHTS 54THE BEST... 62THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 63DISCOVER ATHENS & ATTICA 64ATHENS 65Orientation 65Information 68Dangers & Annoyances 69
Sights & Activities 70Athens for Children 79Tours 79Festivals & Events 80Sleeping 80Eating 82Drinking 84Entertainment 85Shopping 87Getting There & Away 88Getting Around 89PIRAEUS 90ATTICA 90Temple of Poseidon 90Marathon 91
PELOPONNESE & THE SARONIC GULF ISLANDS 93
HIGHLIGHTS 96THE BEST... 100THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 101ITINERARIES 102DISCOVER THE PELOPONNESE & THE SARONIC GULF ISLANDS 104
PELOPONNESE 104Achaïa 104Corinthia 105Lakonia 110The Mani 115Elia 119SARONIC GULF ISLANDS 121Poros 121Hydra 123
CENTRAL GREECE & THE IONIAN ISLANDS 127
HIGHLIGHTS 130THE BEST... 134THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 135ITINERARIES 136DISCOVER CENTRAL GREECE & THE IONIAN ISLANDS 138CENTRAL GREECE 138Sterea Ellada 138Thessaly 144IONIAN ISLANDS 151Corfu 151Paxi 157Antipaxi 159Kefallonia 159
NORTHERN GREECE 163HIGHLIGHTS 166THE BEST... 170THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 171ITINERARIES 172DISCOVER NORTHERN GREECE 174MACEDONIA 174Thessaloniki 174Halkidiki 184Litohoro 185Mt Olympus 186EPIROS 186Ioannina 186
5
00-prelim-dc-gre1.indd 5 1/10/2010 2:52:40 PM
Around Ioannina 189The Zagorohoria 190Parga 193
CYCLADES, EVIA & THE SPORADES 195
HIGHLIGHTS 198THE BEST... 202THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 203ITINERARIES 204DISCOVER THE CYCLADES, EVIA & THE SPORADES 206CYCLADES 206Mykonos 206Delos 212Naxos 214Santorini (Thira) 219EVIA & THE SPORADES 225Evia 225Skiathos 228
CRETE 233HIGHLIGHTS 236THE BEST... 240THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 241ITINERARIES 242DISCOVER CRETE 244CENTRAL CRETE 244Iraklio 244Cretaquarium 247Rethymno 249Anogia 253WESTERN CRETE 253Hania 253Samaria Gorge 259Elafonisi & Kedrodasos 260Azogires 260EASTERN CRETE 262Agios Nikolaos 262Spinalonga Island 264Sitia 265
DODECANESE 267HIGHLIGHTS 270THE BEST... 276THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 277ITINERARIES 278DISCOVER THE DODECANESE 280RHODES 280Rhodes Town 281Eastern Rhodes 287Ancient Ialysos 290NISYROS 290Mandraki 291Around Nisyros 292KOS 295Kos Town 296Around Kos Town 299PATMOS 300Skala 301Hora 303North of Skala 305South of Skala 305
GREECE IN FOCUS 307ARCHITECTURE 308CUISINE 311FAMILY TRAVEL 314FESTIVALS 316GODS & GODDESSES 317HISTORY 319NATIONAL CHARACTER 332SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL 333TRADITIONAL MUSIC 335
DIRECTORY, TRANSPORT & ISLAND HOPPING 337
DIRECTORY 338Accommodation 338Activities 339Business Hours 341Climate 341Customs 342
6
00-prelim-dc-gre1.indd 6 1/10/2010 2:52:41 PM
Dangers & Annoyances 343Discount Cards 343Embassies & Consulates 344Food 344Gay & Lesbian Travellers 344Health 345Holidays 346Insurance 346Internet Access 347Legal Matters 347Maps 347Money 348Photography & Video 349Shopping 349Smoking 349Telephone 349Time 350Toilets 350Tourist Information 350Travellers with Disabilities 351Visas 351Women Travellers 352TRANSPORT 352Getting There & Away 352Getting Around 354ISLAND HOPPING 357Practicalities 357Connections 361Individual Islands & Mainland Ports 361
GLOSSARY 370
BEHIND THE SCENES 372
INDEX 376
MAP LEGEND 384
7
p163
GULF ISLANDSTHE SARONIC
p267DODECANESE
p233CRETE
p195THE SPORADES
CYCLADES, EVIA &
GREECENORTHERN
p127THE IONIAN ISLANDSCENTRAL GREECE &
p93
PELOPONNESE & p51
ATHENS & ATTICA
00-prelim-dc-gre1.indd 7 1/10/2010 2:52:45 PM
KassandraGulf of
A D R I A T I CS E A
Gulf ofCorinthPatra
Gulf of
SaronicGulf
M Y R T O Ö NS E AGulf
Lakonian
I O N I A NS E A
S E A
M E D I T E R R A N E A N
MACEDONIA
ATTICA
THESSALY
ELLADASTEREA
PELOPONNESE
EPIROS
Serres
Prilep
Bitola
Florina
Kastoria
Metsovo
Kozani
Veria
EdessaKotasThessaloniki
Gerakini
Kilkis
Durrës
Berat
Konitsa
Corfu
Lecce
Brindisi
Otranto
Korça
Halkida
RafinaLoutrakiATHENS
Thiva
Strofylia
Larisa
Farsala
Lamia
Trikala
Kalambaka
Arta
Amfilohia
Karditsa
Karpenisi
Delphi
Diakofto
Xylokastro
LivadiaMessolongi
Agrinio
Kyllini
Patra
Kalavryta
Nafpaktos
(Thebes)
Perahora
Volos
EdipsouLoutra
Hydra Town
Neapoli
Corinth
TripoliArgos
SpartaLeonidio
Geraki
Pyrgos
Kyparissia
Kalamata
Olympia
Megalopoli
Areopoli
KardamyliGythio
Methoni
Gerolimenas
Pylos
Koroni
Mycenae
Nafplio
Piraeus
Town
Parga
Pelekas
AgiosNikolaos
ZakynthosTown
SamiArgostoli
Mytikas
Preveza
Ioannina
Igoumenitsa
Azogires
Paleohora
Kissamos
Vergina
Meteora
AncientDelphi
LakonianMani
Mt Ossa
(2520m)
(2637m)Mt Smolikas
(2918m)Mt Olympus
Mt Grammos
Mt Gamila(2497m)
Mt Parnitha(1413m)
(1978m)
Mt ItiMt
(2457m)Parnassos
(2125m)
GorgeSamaria
40°N
38°N
36°N
22°E20ºE
LakesPrespa
AliakmonasLake
LakeKremasta
Skiathos
SPORADES
PorosAegina
Salamina
Hydra
GULF ISLANDSSARONIC
Kythira
Elafonisi
Spetses
Corfu
IONIANISLANDS
Zakynthos
Ithaki
Antikythira
KassandraPeninsula
PelionPeninsula
RodoposPeninsula
GramvousaPeninsula
Halkidiki
Zagorohoria
Ara
htho
s
YUGOSLAVREPUBLIC OFMACEDONIA
FORMER
ALBANIA
ITALY
Greece’s dynamic second city, with a heady arts
and nightlife scene
THESSALONIKI p174
tsovot o
(((ZagoroZagoaZag
Monasteries atop sheer rock make for one of Greece’s most
stunning spiritual sites
METEORA p145
The garden isle of Greece, with French and Italian historical
influences and great beaches
CORFU p151
Navel of the ancient worldand home to the oracle
that influenced thecourse of Greek history
DELPHI p138
Hop on the rack-and-pinion train to Kalavryta – Greece's most dramatic rail journey
DIAKOFTO p104
ioo
Shaped by generations of famous seafarers, who created
one of the most beautiful island towns in Europe
HYDRA p123
AA
A tranquil mountain hamlet with a beautiful setting and
remarkable local legends
AZOGIRES p260
K
S
M
G
P
00-prelim-dc-gre1.indd 8 1/10/2010 2:52:46 PM
da
as
s
os
S E A
S E A O FM A R M A R A
B L A C K
T H R A C I A NS E A
S E A
S E AA E G E A N
K A R P A T H I A N
S E A
M E D I T E R R A N E A N
C R E T E
S E A O F
THRACE
ÎSTANBUL
Îzmit
Bursa
Bandîrma
Didymotiho
Kavala
Xanthi
Komotini
Alexandroupoli
Smolyan
Drama
Karyes
Edirne
Çanakkale
Ušak
TownMytilini
Ayvalîk
Îzmir
Manisa
Kaš
Marmaris
Milas
BodrumKos
Kattavia
DatçaTown
Lindos
RhodesTown
Denizli
ChiosTown
Karystos
Kymi
Nea Styra
Hora(Naxos)
Lavrio
Gavrio
Çešme
Pigadia
SitiaAgios
RethymnoIraklio
IerapetraMatalaPlakias Nikolaos
Hania
HoraSfakion
BalîkesirMyrina
Knossos
Mt Athos(2033m)
(2111m)Mt Falakro
Mt Ida(2456m)
28°E26°E
Limnos
Rhodes
Nisyros
Kos
DODECANESE
Lesvos
NORTHEASTERNAEGEAN ISLANDS
Psara
ChiosEvia
Mykonos
Naxos
Delos
CYCLADES
Santorini(Thira)
Inousses
Patmos
Karpathos
CRETE
Gavdopoula
Gavdos
AthosPeninsula
Gallipoli
BeachPreveli
Evros
TURKEYBULGARIA
TURKEY
Dadia ForestReserve
ELEVATION
1000m
2000m
0
500m
3000m
LEGEND
RailwaySecondary RoadPrimary RoadFreeway
100 km60 miles0
0
The most iconic monument of ancient Greece
THE ACROPOLIS p70
Cycladic style, fashion and fun make for an irresistible mix in
the dazzling light of the Aegean
MYKONOS p206
s
Cycle to long, powder-soft beaches sandwiched between
lush landscapes and azure water
KOS p295
Crete’s striking ancient Minoan palace was home to the
mythical Minotaurof King Minos
KNOSSOS p248
World-famous destination where a sophisticated lifestyle and Greek culture merge with
spectacular landscapes
SANTORINI (Thira) p219
00-prelim-dc-gre1.indd 9 1/10/2010 2:52:52 PM
It’s easy to understand how so many myths of gods and giants originated in this varied landscape. Greece beckons with its wide open skies and endless miles of aquamarine coastline; and then it draws you in with its infamous ancient sights, slow-paced island life and vibrant cities.
As the birthplace of drama, democracy, Western science and medicine, Greece offers a welcome balance of traditional and contemporary life. Ancient sights often take the limelight and while it’s easy to find traditional villages with brilliant white buildings and roaming donkeys, Athens’ firm grip on style and sophistication rivals that of any European capital. The Greek modern art scene is fresh and vibrant, fashionable clubs and cafes buzz with life and society is increasingly multicultural. There are few cultures that embrace the past so passionately while simultaneously welcoming the future with open arms.
Once you arrive, it’s not difficult to find the Greece you were hoping for, whether it’s the pulsing nightclubs of Mykonos, the solemnity of Meteora, or the grandeur of Delphi.
THIS IS GREECE
10
01-this-is-dc-gre1.indd 10 1/10/2010 3:11:19 PM
You’ll quickly become acquainted with the throbbing melancholy of rembetika (blues songs) and the tang of homemade tzatziki, and Greece’s ancient sights will unleash your imagination.
Not surprisingly, such drawcards haven’t gone un-noticed. This means you need to do some preplan-ning and booking if you’re heading for a popular city or island in the summer. Nevertheless, the sheer quantity of destinations means that most places absorb the influx of visitors with grace and ease.
Greece is essentially a laid-back place. Lounge endlessly at a cafe over a coffee, stroll along the seafront, park yourself on the beach and take your time over meals and you’ll fit right in. Greeks know how to enjoy life and are renowned as some of the most hospitable people on the globe. Their generosity and warmth is as genuine as the soft sand between your toes and the warmth of the Aegean sun.
‘few cultures embrace the past so passionately while simultaneously welcoming the future with open arms’
11
01-this-is-dc-gre1.indd 11 1/10/2010 3:11:24 PM
Recommended