If one of your travel goals is getting a look at Europe’s rich history, then Greece shoud be high on your list. In fact, the country in Southeastern Europe is considered to be the cradle of philosophy, science, democracy and a number of other firsts. Throw in the fact that Greece has a warm and sunny climate to go along with its more than 13,000 kilometers of coastline and you have a travel country that’s a favorite for many people from around the world.

The unique mix of travel options, sights and attractions make Greece one of the premier travel destinations on the continent. Adding to the appeal is the country’s location bordering the Balkans in the North, Turkey in the East and the ocean practically everywhere.

Greece has many islands – counts vary between 1,200 and up to 6,000 – several of which are popular summer vacation spots. This includes the largest Greek island, Crete, as well as Lesbos, Rhodes, Corfu, Samos, Santorini and various others. Many of these are not only famous for their beaches, but also feature major historic sites and other attractions.

Apart from the Greek islands, a number of mainland places are major tourist draws. There are no less than 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country. Some of these are in the Central Macedonia region in Northern Greece around the city of Thessaloniki. Mount Olympus, the mythical home of the Greek gods, in this area.

Also worth a visit is Greece’s capital Athens. The country’s largest city is also one of the world’s oldest and has numerous archaeologcal sites and museums that preserve the country’s rich heritage and culture.

PopulationAreaCurrencyEU memberSchengen area
10,768,500131,957 km²Euroyesyes

List of articles on Greece:

Cities, towns and placesSights and attractionsBackground facts and stories
CorfuMount Athos
Olympia