FIND YOUR BLISS IN GREEK SUMMER
Enjoy small pleasures
The flavours of Greece make the senses come alive. From the feeling of crumbling feta in your fingers to the sea salt on your skin. The smell of grilled octopus washed down with crisp white wines infused with the sap of the Aleppo pine tree, or Retsina wines with aromas of linseed oil and lime peel. Rolling hills are scented with oregano and thyme, while the sound of cicadas and the Aegean waves play on. A new generation of dedicated Greek winemakers are playing their part, alongside passionate chefs and boutique hotel owners, in ensuring gastronomy and hospitality of a world-class experience.
Connect with nature
There is something elemental about this land that speaks to the modern-day traveller. A land of surprising natural diversity; with forests and beaches, lakes, waterfalls and deserts, as well as volcanoes, highlands and fertile plains. In the sublime northwestern region of Zagori, Epirus, you can hike in one of the world’s deepest gorges or wander along with mountain villages and across iconic stone bridges. The Pindus mountain range, also in northwestern Greece, is the perfect destination for rafting, hiking and climbing. Think of postcard Greek images — the whitewashed buildings and clear, turquoise water, the magnificent monuments and bustling harbours. Add to the scene a remarkably diverse ecosystem, providing stunning vistas and landscapes to explore.
The Greek summer is a sensory joy. It is also about escape and a sense of adventure. Fewer than 230 of the country’s 6,000 islands are inhabited. If it’s solitude you seek, it’s certainly here, whether hiking, walking the gorges or cycling. Then there are the 215,000 square km of deep blue Aegean and Ionian Seas. In addition to stretching out on the warm sands or simply going for a swim, you can learn to scuba dive, water ski, sail, kayak, surf and windsurf, and much more. For hardcore climbers, the limestone cliffs of Kalymnos, overlooking the sea and Telendos Island, have become a magnet. Or perhaps it’s clear, cool air you crave for. In that case, head for the home of the gods: Mount Olympus can be hiked, ideally with an overnight stay at one of its mountain lodges, where you can keep warm by a log fire and watch dawn break.
Breath in summer
Greek summer takes you back to the fundamentals. Breathe in the sea breeze and the mountain air. Open your body, mind and spirit to this most sensual of lands: the long beaches, welcoming villages and rugged mountains. Enjoy the sounds of the summer festivals and the summer breeze in the pines. Experience the aroma of wild mountain herbs and the taste of fresh food and aromatic wines. And breathe…
Get inspired
Greece offers curious visitors more than 100 important archaeological sites. Even off the beaten track, away from the places that typically attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, explorers can stumble across sites and treasures dating as far back as 4,000 years. Ancient philosophy is embedded in these stones. People have been thinking about the ideal way to live since before the time Socrates strolled through the groves of ancient Athens. The philosopher’s core belief—know thyself—has never felt more apposite.
Be with the people you love
It’s summer in Greece: Everyone is invited. This is a story that captures philoxenia, the art of Greek hospitality, and the tempting notes and flavours of a Greek summer. The warmth, the big family welcome, good friends and a sense of belonging. The backdrop is the calming cool sea, the faint scent of pine and the tantalizing taste of fresh cuisine from an authentic culture. Picture a festive atmosphere in the narrow streets of an island village: children playing, families gathered together, elderly couples chatting and women in flowing, floral dresses. The August full moon is a special time for Greeks to come together for music, dance and food in the height of summer. There’s a time and place for every passion. From a medieval festival in Rhodes, jazz in Halkidiki or classical music on Syros Island. Some prefer to climb the cliffs of Kalymnos Island, others prefer diving, or feast on sardines in Lesvos, washed down with ouzo at the annual Skala Kallonis festival.