|
|
GREECE: THE BEST OF GREECE
By Clicking in the links below you will
find what Frommer's consider to be the best of
the best.
The Best Islands of Greece
Hydra (Saronic Gulf Islands): Old-timers keep waiting for Hydra, with its
handsome stone mansions overlooking a picture-postcard harbor, to be "spoiled."
After all, even before Mikonos and Santorini, Hydra was one of the first Greek
islands to be "discovered." So far, so good: donkeys still outnumber motorcycles,
and the day-trippers who blitz the appealing harborside shops leave at twilight.
That means you can almost always find the table you want at one of Hydra'
pleasant small restaurants.
|
|
Crete: Whether for its rugged mountains or its countless beaches, its ancient
remains or its ultramodern hotels, its layered history or its intense people, Crete
cannot be denied. It is not just a distinctive Greek island—it is a world unto
itself.
Santorini (Cyclades): This is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular islands in
the world. The streets ofFira and la are carved into the face of a high cliff, facing
the circular caldera left by an ancient volcanic eruption and now filled with the
deep blue waters of the Aegean. The site ofAkrotiri offers a unique glimpse into
life in a Minoan city, frozen in time by the eruption 3,600 years ago. Add to this
the Fira nightlife scene, and you'll see why this is one of the most popular (and
overcrowded) summer vacation spots in the Aegean. |
Crete: Whether for its rugged mountains or its countless beaches, its ancient
remains or its ultramodern hotels, its layered history or its intense people, Crete
cannot be denied. It is not just a distinctive Greek island—it is a world unto
itself.
Santorini (Cyclades): This is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular islands in
the world. The streets ofFira and la are carved into the face of a high cliff, facing
the circular caldera left by an ancient volcanic eruption and now filled with the
deep blue waters of the Aegean. The site ofAkrotiri offers a unique glimpse into
life in a Minoan city, frozen in time by the eruption 3,600 years ago. Add to this
the Fira nightlife scene, and you'll see why this is one of the most popular (and
overcrowded) summer vacation spots in the Aegean.
Sires (Cyclades): This tiny island has it all: a vivacious, cosmopolitan capital
town; thriving beach resorts along the west coast; and a starkly beautiful region
of farming communities, archaeological remains, and extraordinary remote
beaches to the north. Siros is also one of the centers ofrembetika, a form of Greek
traditional music with roots in Asia Minor; the Fragosiriani, a classic known
throughout Greece, was composed by the Siriot Markos Vamvakaris, and you're
sure to hear its simple and infectious rhythms many times during your stay here.
Rhodes (Dodecanese): The island of Rhodes has everything a visitor could
want—dazzling ancient and medieval ruins, great food, spectacular beaches, and
the hottest nightlife outside of Athens—the one drawback being th'at everyone
knows it.
Skyros (Sporades): Winding roads and remote beaches, one main town and a few
minor villages, some ancient legends and 20th-century tales: Skyross charms
remain perhaps the most elusive of the four Northern Sporades. But if these have
left the island a bit difficult to access and still not overstocked with touristy
amenities, Skyros also offers both a living local culture and some natural
wildness.
Corfu (Ionian Islands):Lush vegetation, some still undeveloped interior and
unspoiled coast, ancient sites and a 19th-century presence, a dash of Italy and a
dose of the cosmopolitan, Corfu is a Greek island like no other. Tourism may be
rampant, but Corfu's attractions have survived worse.
Chios (Northeastern Aegean): You'd think that an island with such gorgeous
beaches, exquisite medieval towns, and remarkable scenery wouldn't remain a
secret for long. Despite the qualities that attract a small group of devotees year
after year, Chios remains surprisingly quiet. If you like the idea of getting away
from the tour buses, being alone on a beach to rival any in the Cyclades, and
exploring towns that preserve the contours of medieval life, Chios is for you.
Another benefit: The local hospitality hasn't worn thin here, as it has on many of
the more heavily touristed islands.
Get Frommer's online at www.frommers.com
|
