Find the best Greece Hotels

Boasting a history dating back to the Stone Age, Greece excites with abundant historical monuments and fabulous holiday islands. Famous islands such as Corfu, Crete and Rhodes allow visitors to immerse themselves in Greek history, enjoy stunning beaches and dine on unique Greek cuisine. For international tourists, Athens is their gateway and is not short on attractions. Athens and Bangkok are 8,000 km apart but have no direct flight connections. Transiting via the likes of Doha or Bahrain gives total flight times of around 13 hours.

Athens is the capital city of Greece with a focal point around Syntagma Square. Overlooking the square, the former Royal Palace and current Greek Parliament dates from the 19th century. Nearby are the Roman era Hadrian's Arch, made of marble and 18 metres high; the Greek National Garden, home to many important statues; and the landmark of Greece, the Acropolis and its 2,400-year-old Parthenon. Crete is one of the most visited of Greece’s islands and excites with lovely beaches.

Dining and nightlife in Greece will satisfy all tastes. Must try culinary gems are the ever-popular souvlaki (kebab in pita bread), Greek salad with feta goat’s cheese, moussaka (baked eggplant), and grilled swordfish steak. There are bars by most ferry ports in Greece, while the Malia Strip and the Rhodes town of Faliraki are the premium nightlife spots in the country.

Sightseeing tours of Athens take in monuments ranging from the iconic Parthenon to a statue of legendary British poet Lord Byron. Lazing on a beach and taking swims in the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea are a major draw of Greece. Top beaches include Elafonissi on Crete, and Agios Stefanos on Corfu. Most of the islands are suited to road trips and hiring a car to explore is highly recommended. Coastal roads on Crete, Rhodes and Corfu enable drivers to go right round the islands.

All the holiday islands have souvenir outlets, but these are not generally as cheap as the shops in the Plaka District of Athens. Among the best buys are Minoan ceramic vases, flokati wool rugs, Greek backgammon sets, olive oil soap, body lotion and shampoo, jewellery, and bottles of Metaxa brandy.