Greece is a top travel destination worldwide. With a plethora of things to see and do, it is no wonder more than 15 million people a year go on holiday to Greece. If the beautiful scenery, gorgeous beaches, sunny, clear weather were not enough to draw you in, how about the exciting nightlife and historical sites? Mainland Greece and the Greek Islands are equally popular. Popular spots include Crete, Corfu, Athens, Rhodes and Thessaloniki. If you prefer spots that are more out of the way and less populated by tourists and the sorts of events and activities that appeal to them, you can find quieter, less traveled places of beauty in Greece as well.

The Mediterranean climate is alive and well in Greece. The winters are short and mild. The summers run from April through November and boast hot, dry weather and days and days of sunshine. Occasionally there will be rain showers, but these are short-lived and infrequent. May and June and September and October are the very best months to see Greece as the weather is at its most comfortable and pleasant. From the middle of July to the middle of August, Greece is under the spell of the hottest summer weather.

The peak of the holiday season is from July until August, the vast majority of those taking a holiday arrive in Greece between April and October. Most of the country’s tourist infrastructure goes into hibernation outside of these months, especially on the islands. The bulk of scheduled international flights are handled in Athens and Thessaloniki. Several charter and planned low-budget flights arrive everyday from several of Europe’s cities to many of the islands and smaller cities on the mainland during tourist season.

Expect your hotel accommodations to be simple in Greece. You will be staying in a diminutive air-conditioned room with a balcony. The room will be clean and acceptable. In the larger cities, the hotels will be more luxurious, but you likely will not feel that you got what you paid for. You can also find luxury hotel accommodations on the islands that are populated with tourists, but again the value just is not there. Even the simple hotels have an online presence and you can likely arrange your reservations over the internet or email. You can also send a fax. You can also use a hotel booking service or travel agent.

Greece offers many unique and quality local products, although it is not known for its shopping. Local handicrafts, local wines and spirits, leather goods, lace, jewelry, metalwork, pottery, knitwear, and rugs are all special purchases. Referred to locally as Tarverna or Estiatorio, restaurants there are widespread because dining out is so common. English-speaking people on holiday in Greece need not worry about language barriers too much, as English is widely spoken in the shops and in restaurants. You can find excellent Greek restaurants in highly visited tourist areas, particularly in areas that are popular with Greek tourists as well.