Greece Archives - Top Spot Travel

January 24, 2019 by Jeremy

Top 5 Things To Do In Paros

If you are ever lucky enough to spend a week in Paros, you will want to make sure you do as much as possible. Planning your trip ahead of time will allow you to have time to experience everything this beautiful city has to offer. Knowing what you want to see and do as well as the costs and times of those activities is important. Here are some of the best things to do during your next trip to Paros.

Boat Tours

Paros is surrounded by beautiful waterways, and the best way to experience them is by boat. There are numerous tours and boat rides that will take you around Paros and allow you to see everything from a different point of view. Whether you just want to take a ride and feel the ocean breeze or want to do some fishing, you can find a boat tour to meet your needs.

Lageri Beach

Lageri Beach is a very interesting beach, and you never know what you might see on it. It has an amazing landscape and beautiful clear waters. Be aware that it is a nude beach, but if you are comfortable taking it all off, you can still enjoy it. You can swim, fish, or just relax in the sand and take in some sun. If you want to experience a fun and vibrant side of Paros, this is the way to do it.

Horseback Riding

You might be able to enjoy horseback riding other places, but not like this. Taking a horseback ride along the beach of Paros is like nothing else you have experienced. There are different stables to choose from, and the rides can go along different areas of the beach. This is a great activity for families and a good way to experience nature in Paros.

Clubs and Bars

If you like to drink or enjoy the nightlife, don’t forget to check out some of the many clubs and bars in the area. This is a great way to get a good understanding of the culture of Paros. You will find a variety of different beers, wines, and cocktails that you can only find in Paros. You may be lucky enough to find a few familiar ones as well.

Folklore Art Museum

If you love stories and art from other cultures, don’t miss out on the Folklore Art Museum. Here you will find painting, sculptures and other artwork that tells the story of Paros and its culture. You could spend hours here and not see or do everything the museum has to offer. It’s a must-see for anyone visiting Paros for the first time.

When you travel to Paros, you will find that there is more to see and do than you expected. You may not be able to experience everything this beautiful island has to offer in one trip, but if you plan properly, you can cross off a few things on your list. Once you visit Paros once, you will be ready to visit again.

December 3, 2014 by Jeremy

Golf In Greece – Where To Go

Golf is a fine sport across Europe that originated in the British Isles, specifically in Scotland and its popularity has crossed borders to other parts of the world. It is a classic sport previously played by the high and mighty but now more individuals have warmed up to the sport, it’s fashionable everywhere you go.

Greece is a favorable destination to play golf due to its scenic beauty, sunny weather throughout the year and the fact that it is a top holiday destination. As a golf holiday destination, it attracts many visitors who want to combine their holidays with some activity to keep the blood pumping.

Locals are also warming up to the sport therefore ensuring more popularity for the spot. Though it may not be a popular golfing destination like other countries, Greece is steadily changing its tourism policy to include other ways to attract visitors, which includes developing the golfing scene.

ATHENS

Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world with over 3000 years of recorded history. It has fascinating ancient sights such as Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Perthanon and the Theatre of Herodes Atticus.

For golfers who want an entertaining city break, Athens is home to the international Gylfada Golf Course, an 18 hole par 72 opened in 1966, and since then has hosted numerous golfing events. It is the greenest in Europe with shrubbery and other ancient trees.

RHODES

It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and a special gem with spectacular beaches, medieval architecture and numerous age-old monuments. Some of its highlights include the treasures of the Old Town, Lindos and Butterfly valley.

The Afondou Golf Course is in Rhodes is an 18 hole course that is challenging for players of all levels of skill. The manicured course offers excellent services to golfers such as caddies, balls, and golf clubs and caddy carts at reasonable prices.

Rhodes is a great destination to combine a family break with a golf holiday, as it is home to some fantastic family friendly villas which can keep the kids happy whilst you head off for a quick round.

CRETE

Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands and one of the most popular destinations in Greece. It is vibrant with stunning beaches and ancient attractions such as Minoan palaces, medieval castles, Venetian towns, Byzantine monasteries and Ottoman mosques. Crete is home to two courses namely Crete Golf Club and Hotel Porto Elounda Mare Golf Course.

Crete Golf Course is located in Hersonissos, Lassithi and is quite different from any other course in Greece since it is a desert course. Breathtaking scenes of rolling mountains form the backdrop of the course that is only an hour’s drive from the airport of Heraklion. It is one of the most popular courses with a variety of challenges for all levels of players.

Hotel Porto Elounda Mare Golf five star resort offers two options for its visitors; they can play within the hotel vicinity in the 9-hole par-3 course or the 18-hole golf course in the area. The hotel is ideal for golfers who would like to play golf near their accommodations; however, the professional course is only half an hour drive from the hotel.

February 20, 2014 by Jeremy

Bargain sun and sand destinations

Who doesn’t dream of jetting off somewhere sun-drenched and sprinkled with beautiful beaches? But the truth is that our budgets seemed to be stretched further and further, leaving little room for holidays. That said, I think there’s still scope to go away and enjoy yourself, provided you pick a destination that’s known for being budget-friendly.

To help give you a little inspiration for your holiday planning, I’ve put together a list of three destinations that are reliable both in terms of sunshine and being kind to your wallet. If none of these tickle your fancy, you can check out a wider range of options (also budget-friendly) through companies like Holiday Nights.

Benidorm

Topping my list is Benidorm, which is probably one of the best-known budget beach destinations. Sitting on Spain’s Costa Blanca, it has pretty much everything the average UK holidaymaker could want – a healthy dose of Spanish sunshine, great beaches, plenty of nightlife and a few favourites from home.

You see, part of Benidorm’s longstanding appeal is that it’s a bit like finding a slice of England in the Spanish sunshine, what with its pubs and classic fish and chip shops. So, in my opinion, Benidorm is the ultimate place to come to if you fancy having that classic seaside holiday.

Its nightlife has a little bit of everything, including karaoke, live music and cabaret, not to mention lots of nightclubs, while there are some lovely local attractions. For instance, just off the coast is Peacock Island, which you can visit for some gorgeous coastal views.

Crete

Crete is a brilliant budget beach destination if you fancy having a little more variety in terms of what you do. This Greek island is really popular among walkers, while there are lots of amazing historical sites here too.

Let’s take a quick look at the beaches first, though. One of the best is Vai in Itanos, which is utterly idyllic. It’s also unique, being backed by Europe’s largest natural palm grove. Another good option is Preveli Beach, which is one of the best-loved stretches of sand on the island.

In term of other attractions, make sure you take the time to visit Knossos, which dates back to the Minoan civilisation. It should take you a good few hours to explore, so leave plenty of time for your trip – heading there in the morning is usually best, because it can get crowded later in the day.

Corfu

Last up is another of the Greek islands, Corfu. Despite being Greek, this destination has quite a European feel – something that’s largely down to the fact that it’s been occupied by the French, Venetians and British over the years. So, expect to see some European-style buildings and things like cricket being played. If you’re someone who loves a stunning hotel or place to stay whilst away, well you’re in luck. There are some beautiful villas in Corfu that really do make your trip that extra special. Whether you’re there for the beach, or to see what the city holds, there are villas scattered all around the area for whatever the plan is.

Agios Georgian Pagos is one of the most popular beaches here. Spanning 2 km, it’s a popular windsurfing spot, while there are also calmer sections of water perfect for swimming. You’ll find it in the north-west of the island. Over on the west coast, meanwhile, is the spectacular Myrtiotissa, which is often said to be one of the prettiest beaches in the world – and it’s also among the island’s top nudist beaches.

If you fancy learning more about the island’s heritage, meanwhile, head to Corfu Town. The streets in the old quarter date back to the 14th century.

February 19, 2014 by Jeremy

Cruising for history lovers

Europe’s got a fantastic history, but it isn’t always easy to get to grips with different elements of its past while you’re on holiday. After all, not everything happened in a single destination! For me, the best kind of break for any history lover is one that takes you to lots of different places – like a cruise.

While you can, of course, head to a number of destinations independently or on an organised tour, a cruise is by far the most relaxing, luxurious option. So, if you want to immerse yourself in the past without losing the relaxing element of your trip by making lots of complicated travel connections, it’s definitely the way to go.

Look on websites like Cruise.co.uk and you should be able to find plenty of itineraries that stop in historical cities such as Rome, Olympia and Athens – and I’ll take a look at their historical highlights below.

What to see in… Rome

Rome is one of Europe’s most exciting historical cities, sprinkled as it is with the vestiges of the Roman Empire. Perhaps the crowning glory of the place is the Colosseum, which was the largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire. Dating back around 2,000 years, the Colosseum used to host animal hunts and gladiatorial shows, entertaining audiences of between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators.

Another highlight are the Catacombs of St Callixtus, which are one of the city’s most important historical sites. These old burial chambers acted as much more than tombs – and today are filled with fantastic frescoes and sculptures. During their lifetime, the catacombs have been popular pilgrimage destinations, as well as shrines to martyrs.

What to see in… Olympia

If your cruise gives you the chance to visit Olympia, take it, because this place is an absolute must-see. Located in Greece, the village of Olympia is just a stone’s throw from Ancient Olympia – the place where the story of the Olympic Games we all know so well today began.

What’s remarkable about Ancient Olympia is that so many of the historical structures, like the original stadium, are still standing. What’s more, there’s a lot you can see within the stadium itself – for example, if you look carefully you can make out the start and finish lines of the 120 m sprint track, while things like the judges’ seats have also survived.

And don’t worry about not understanding what you’re looking at – the signage here is really good, with helpful drawings to show you how the place would once have looked, as well as plenty of information in English.

What to see in… Athens

Staying in Greece for our next destination, Athens is another unmissable historical city – and, of course, is one of the most famous in the world. The Acropolis, for which the city is best-known, stands on a large rocky area right in the heart of Athens, with the modern city sprawling all around it. What’s nice about this is that it gives you an idea of just how important this heritage is to the city.

The Acropolis is where you’ll find a host of famous ancient buildings, including the Parthenon and the Temple of Athena Nike, both of which date back to the 5th century BC. As well as visiting the buildings themselves, make sure you pop into the Acropolis Museum. This houses the artifacts found at the Acropolis site, and includes spectacular statues.

September 29, 2013 by jfalbelda

Top Things To Do In Greece!

As a tourist, there are a handful of top things to do in Greece despite its popularity in the world. Everything that can be understood about tourism in Greece commonly revolves in one academic subject – history. As far as history is concerned, Greece was one of the countries responsible for building Western civilization in ancient times. The Greeks have been pioneers in the various academic fields; particularly philosophy, geometry, architecture, as well as the fundamentals of natural and social sciences. Greeks have influenced literature and drama in such a way that until today modern writers and film makers follow the same basic formula. However, democracy is Greece’s most powerful legacy. From the unbiased decision-making process of Athens to the bitter resistance of Sparta against foreign invasion, democracy has affected the way nations rule even today. But when it comes to tourism, history is just one of the important factors in the industry.

1. Historical explorations

The most popular among the top things to do in Greece is sightseeing around the most iconic places in the Antiquities. People who are fascinated with Greek mythology should join hikers traversing the Mount Olympus. People also visit Delphi, the temple where the famous oracle used to minister her incredible powers foresight. The Parthenon is also a very popular historical landmark in the middle of the busy metropolitan capital of Athens. It is still one of the best archaeological wonders of the ancient world in the same league with Egypt’s Great Pyramids. Somewhere further from the southern coast lie the island of Crete, where the archaeological site of the prominent Minoan culture can be found.

2. Island-hopping and scuba diving

There is more to Greece than ancient history. Thus, if there is anything non-academics would love to do in their Greek holidays, these activities include island hopping and scuba diving. Greece has a number of important atolls beyond the coastlines of the southern European mainland. These islands include Crete, Santorini, Ios, and Mykonos among many others. Island hopping and scuba diving are popular tourist activities in Greece because the beaches on these islands are of excellent ecological quality. The pale blue radiance of the sea waters reflects the clear cloudless midday skies. Crete makes a fantastic place to base your island hopping, and for unique accommodation options, try checking out VillaPlus.com.

3. Tasting the diverse local cuisine

Experiencing a fine vacation in this country is not only limited to complex tourist expeditions. In fact, one can indulge in the simple pursuit of sampling as many cultural dishes as possible. Since Greece has extensive relations with nearby foreign cultures like the Romans, Slavs, Turks and Egyptians; it is only natural to find eclectic delicacies that are identical to some of these diverse cultures. Most importantly, these foods are very appetizing!

4. Celebrating Christmas thrice

Celebrating Christmas thrice can be one of the most unique top things to do in Greece. This country has a reputation for having the most official number of Christmas days. Apart from late night 24th and day 25th of December, Greeks also celebrate Theotokos Day (Christmas dedication to the Virgin Mary).