Glorious Greece

A glittering destination, filled with cosmopolitan cities, world-class gastronomy and a strong cultural heritage, L-J Andrew discovers all that Greece has to offer, with Eleni Skarveli from the Greek National Tourism Organisation

Greece is renowned the world over for being one of the foremost destinations for discerning holidaymakers – from the shimmering Greek Islands to the antiquity of historic capital Athens. Indeed, this reputation has been growing since the 1960s, when famous names such as Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas and Melina Mercouri, among others, catapulted Greece onto the international stage as a top getaway for luxury tourism.

‘An unforgettable stay’ is the modern-day promise offered by Greece to its inquisitive visitors: five-star hotels dotted throughout the country, spiralling villas offering privacy and comfort, the opportunity to escape one’s daily routine on a yacht sailing the Aegean Sea, combined with the incomparable Greek landscape, all mesh together to create the finest setting for a memorable vacation.

Mykonos, Crete, Santorini, Paros, Rhodes and Corfu are just some of the best-loved destinations, encapsulating the unbeatable natural beauty and art of hospitality, inherent in Greek tradition. These areas exude an irresistible draw for UHNWI and stars of stage and screen alike, all looking for a holiday haven that’s nothing less than perfect. Athens and Thessaloniki are also now fine-tuning their allure - becoming two of the most popular city destinations. With their vibrant nightlife and deluxe hotels, they’re now seen, and indeed are, outstanding European city destinations. Major cultural events, such as the Athens and Epidaurus Festival and the Thessaloniki International Fair, attract visitors from the business and artistic worlds, who return year on year.

Michelin-starred restaurants are a veritable treasure of Athens, from fine-dining tastings on the terrace with views of the Acropolis to candlelight suppers by the shore. Thessaloniki has been designated by UNESCO a ‘City of Gastronomy’ for its traditional culinary practices, vibrant fine-dining cuisine and mouth-watering local fare. That said, any gourmet encounter you might have during your stay will be a memorable one: fresh seafood, speciality olive oils and delicious patisseries are just a few of the delights for foodies looking to become part of the rich gastronomic culture.

Travellers who prefer these bustling city breaks, can always get away for a few days to one of the nearby islands. Hydra, Spetses and Kea are just three of the incredibly beautiful archipelago destinations, which can be quickly reached. Several Greek islands have heliports and specialist companies that provide aircraft and experienced pilots to whisk visitors off to their desired destinations.

For those looking for a secluded idyll, Afandou, on the stunning island of Rhodes, occupies one of the finest spots on this legendary island and Afandou Bay, on the road to Lindos, where the temple of Athena balances on a cliff top above faultless sand, is the jewel in its crown. Then there’s Crete, the largest Greek island and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. A small universe teeming with sights, sounds and treasures that need a lifetime to uncover; it’s easy to admire the remnants of brilliant civilisations, exploring glorious beaches, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys and steep gorges.

Award-winning wines, fertile vineyards, indigenous grape varieties and luxury tasting rooms also await wine lovers. Visit the winemakers of North and Central Greece, Thessaly, Peloponnese, Limnos or Tinos, Samos and Kefalonia and you’ll be enchanted by the numerous Greek vintages.

For those keen to stay active on their holiday, Costa Navarino is steadily raising its profile as a sustainable luxury residential tourism destination in the Mediterranean, sporting a world-class golf experience on its signature courses. Its credentials are impressive, with four 18-hole courses in idyllic settings next to two of the finest golf resorts in Greece, several five-star hotels and outstanding resort facilities, an endless choice of sports and leisure activities, plus great weather all year round.

Porto Carras Golf in Halkidiki is yet another immaculate 18-hole course that ranks among the most scenic in Greece, bordered by the Aegean, with the pine forests of Mount Itamos and the Domaine vineyards as a spectacular backdrop. Porto Carras is the perfect destination for professional and amateur golfers to hone their skills, within striking distance of a luxury resort offering every imaginable après-golf entertainment.

By contrast, Glyfada Golf course is an 18-hole, par72, international standard championship course with exceptional views to the sea, only a few minutes’ drive from Athens and Piraeus. When you finish your round, you can relax at the Club House and admire the breathtaking sunset.

For those seeking a little R&R, Greece has a long and renowned tradition of health and wellbeing practices with several top-tier hotels ready to welcome you for an indulgent treatment with tailor-made therapies to suit. The ‘medical’ approach in ancient Greece, preserved intact in folk tradition, sees the individual as an indivisible ‘whole’ where the soul, mind and body interact and health is considered a state of balance where good relations flow between the emotional world and a person’s natural state. Greek medical tradition is based on mild forms of therapy; healing spas, a balanced diet, herbal therapies, hypnotherapy and relaxing massage, are just some of the ‘secrets’ that have survived from antiquity to the present day.

You can find more than 800 medicinal spas with various properties and uses across Greece. It’s the composition of the water that makes each spa unique. Some springs are considered ideal for drinking, like those from Arcadian springs, which have an analgesic and therapeutic action on stomach disorders. Others are considered excellent for skin diseases and chronic diseases of the bones and muscles, such as the springs in Aidipsos in Evia, Loutraki in the Peloponnese and Eleftheres in Kavala. The healing properties of seawater, seaweed and sea mud help eliminate stress and anxiety and improve mental agility. Sea water also has unparalleled therapeutic properties. Thalassotherapy centres throughout Greece, usually a part of luxury hotel facilities, offer a unique wellbeing experience.

One of the most recent campaigns by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, ‘You will want to stay forever’, focuses on the experiences and emotions you feel when visiting Greece: sometimes it just takes one holiday to realise that you have just found your new paradise – the place you want to be.

Numerous foreigners purchase property in Greece with the aim of making it their second or even primary home. Greece appeals to investors and high-net-worth individuals seeking quality of life, scenic landscapes, serenity and unforgettable authentic experiences. The example of Tom Hanks who purchased in Antiparos and several other well-known celebrities who have put down roots in Paros, Naxos and Crete are prime cases in point.

With a lively, thought-provoking film conveying the key message ‘Greece... a life-changing holiday’, the most recent GNTO campaign reminds us that, as a destination, Greece has so much to offer, through its people, its sense of community, history, nature and multifarious cultural and leisure experiences beyond the everyday. The best advice is to travel around Greece, choose the destination that you feel fits best with your needs, aspirations and personality. It may be, you will want to stay forever.

www.visitgreece.gr