Greece Things to Do

The 3,000 plus Greek Islands fan out into the Aegean Sea from the mainland; those closest to Athens include the Saronic Islands, where Hydra, Poros, and Aegina are popular destinations. To the east highlights of the Cyclades encompass Delos, Mykonos, Kea, Paros, and Tinos.

As Greece’s premier honeymoon destination, Santorini is blessed with coal-black sands, rugged multi-colored cliffs, flaming sunsets, and a night sky glittering with trillions of twinkling stars. Add to this heady mix the stark-white buildings and the cobalt blue sea reflected in the bright roof tiles and no wonder this island has a reputation for love.

Greece is known as a summer destination but there are plenty of reasons to visit over winter. Prices are cheaper and temperatures are reasonable, at around 11· Celsius (52· Fahrenheit) in Athens.

The mélange of Cycladic beauty and an exciting nightlife might be what makes the island of Mykonos one of Greece‘s most visited islands, as well as one of its most romantic spots. Inhabited by less than 10,000 people, Mykonos is the premier destination for couples looking to get away from it all.

With all the recent economic difficulties around the world (understatement), you’d think cultural festivals and celebrations of artistic expression would be the first to go. Fortunately, this is not so. In fact, artistic endeavors like the Athens International Film Festival (AIFF) have dug in and flourished, creating jobs in local economies, opportunities for the reinforcement of international fraternity, and some much needed diversion for festival-goers and the residents of host cities.

If you’re looking for some uninterrupted time with your sweetheart, soaking up the beauty of the Greek Isles without the hassle of crowds, salespeople, and traffic, an uninhabited or partially uninhabited island is great way to go. Of the more than 6,000 Greek islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, only a few hundred are actually inhabited.