XpatAthens
Saturday, 21 March 2015 11:45
Top 20 Most Googled Destinations In Greece
Google released interesting date with regard to the way travelers worldwide research their trips.
During an event that was organized by Google to announce the expansion of its innovative “Grow Greek Tourism Online” program, the powerful company released interesting data with regard to the way travelers worldwide research their trips.
According to the data presented by Google, most travelers that search Greek destinations online come from UK, Germany and USA.
Moreover, the 20 most googled regions in Greece include the country’s two biggest cities, namely Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as popular islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, Paros and Crete.
See the full list below:
1. Athens
2. Thessaloniki
3. Thessaly
4. Peloponnese
5. Corfu
6. Lefkada
7. Zakynthos
8. Skiathos
9. Lesbos
10. Chios
11. Andros
12. Mykonos
13. Paros
14. Naxos
15. Patmos
16. Kos
17. Santorini
18 Rodos
19. Karpathos
20. Crete
To read more please visit: Protothema
Published in
Greece In The News
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Tuesday, 18 August 2015 07:00
Celebrations Under The August Full Moon
More than 140 events are expected to take place at dozens of archaeological sites, monuments and museums across Greece on Saturday, August 29 – the night of the full moon. The special events and activities include music and theater performances, puppet theater productions, guided tours, exhibitions and film screenings as well as stargazing. A number of sites and museums will offer free admission on the day and in many cases visitors will be welcomed up until 1 a.m.
Although there are no events taking place at the Acropolis in Athens (the site will be open during its regular opening hours, until 8 p.m.), the archaeological site of Sounio will welcome visitors with free admission until midnight!
There will also be an event from 8pm at the Acropolis Museum - Tango At The Acropolis
To read this article in full, please visit: eKathimerini
Published in
Local News
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Tuesday, 29 December 2015 07:00
Parnassos Ski Center
The Parnassos Ski Center, Greece’s largest located in Central Greece, is up and running and ready to welcome snow and ski lovers to its slopes.
The popular ski resort officially launched for operation on Christmas Eve, with its Aeolus and Pericles trails ready for action and its Venus, Baccus, Aeolus and Dias lifts in place.
Ski and snowboard lovers will have the chance to enjoy their favorite sport as the first snowfall officially marks the beginning of the season.
To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Published in
Travel Greece
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Wednesday, 02 March 2016 07:00
Cremation Now Legal In Greece
Cremation of the dead is now legal in Greece, despite strong opposition from the Orthodox Church. The law on cremation was officially published in the Government Gazette.
The Church of Greece prohibits cremation. However, the bill that was passed in parliament mid-February provides that the choice of burial rites is every person’s right.
The law provides that any person can freely declare before a notary the type of funeral ceremony and the place of burial. With the notarized declaration of the person who wishes to be cremated, relatives and friends can grant his or her wish.
The law also says that if the wish of the deceased is not contrary to public policy, health regulations or moral traditions, the persons or services that have undertaken the burial of the deceased have to comply to the deceased’s wish.
To read more, please visit: Greek Reporter
To read more, please visit: Greek Reporter
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Local News
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Tuesday, 20 June 2017 07:00
'A Kilo Of String' By Rob Johnson
‘After living in Greece for thirteen years, writer and reluctant olive farmer Rob Johnson has got used to most of the things that he and his partner Penny found so bizarre at the beginning. Most, but not all.
A Kilo of String is the story-so-far of this not-particularly-plucky couple’s often bewildering experiences among the descendants of Sophocles, Plato and Nana Mouskouri with occasional digressions into total irrelevances.
This is a book which is almost guaranteed not to change your life, but what it will do is answer many of the fundamental questions about life in Greece.’
Please click HERE for more information and to purchase the book!
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Books
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Thursday, 22 March 2018 07:00
Athens International Airport Among The Best In Europe For 2017
Athens International Airport has recently been awarded 'Best Airport in Europe' in the 15-25 million passengers a year category, which was announced at the 2017 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards by the Airports Council International World.
Mumbai received first place for airports in the Asia-Pacific, Toronto Pearson received first place for North America, and Rome Fiumicino received first place for Europe, all serving over 40 million passengers a year. The winning airports were congratulated on their dedication to excellent customer service.
Athens International Airport saw a 6.5 percent increase in passenger traffic in February 2018, mainly from international arrivals. According to ACI World, in 2017 over half of the world’s 7.7 billion travelers passed through an ASQ airport. This year, sixteen airports were first time winners – with Athens Airport among them – delivering top-quality customer service.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Photo Credit: Greek Travel Pages
Photo Credit: Greek Travel Pages
Published in
Greece In The News
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Monday, 11 June 2018 18:53
May 29 - Inspiring Women Around Greece
What an exciting week dedicated to women! If you're having trouble with getting to know the beautiful city of Athens, you might want to take a glance at some tips from a foreign travel blogger living in the City, an exclusive Q&A with an aspiring portuguese theather performer who also made Athens her home and why not meet the two Greek women climbing some of the world's highest peaks?
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
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Newsletters
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Monday, 06 May 2019 00:05
Famous British Sculptor Puts 'Inhabitants' Back On The Sacred Island Of Delos
Delos is ancient Greece's most sacred island and one of the most visited archaeological sites in the country. The legacy of Delos is inversely proportional to its size; in fact, the tiny island is barely 5km long by 1.5km wide. Apart from being the birthplace of the ancient gods Apollo and Artemis, it was also one of the greatest ancient Greek sanctuaries.
Today, remarkably preserved ancient remains such as votive offerings, sculptures, and temples stand next to relics from the period when Delos was an important commercial center, attracting thousands of visitors each year!
It is on this unspoilt island that Greek authorities have undertaken an exciting and ambitious experiment. Sir Anthony Gormley, the famous British sculptor, has placed 'inhabitants' back on Delos. He has created 29 iron 'bodyforms', that are to be the first artworks to be erected on Delos since it was populated–more than 5,000 years ago!
"If this works, our hope is it will help change how people approach ancient monuments," says Dr Demetrios Athanasoulis, who heads the department of antiquities in the Cyclades. "There is no past without the present, and we live in times where there are any number of windows through which to view the past."
Before visitors even disembark from the ferry from Mykonos, they are greeted by one of Gormley's 'bodyforms'. On a rock at the water's edge stands a mysterious, lonesome figure, gazing toward the horizon. The invitation to exhibit his work in a place where no artist has set foot for thousands of years was both "an amazing privilege and extraordinary responsibility", "It's been a huge challenge but what a place to think about the human project," he says.
For Dr Athanasoulis, only time will tell whether the experiment has worked. "It's only natural that some won't like what they see in Sight," he quips. "It will end in October, and only then will we really know how successful this has been."
To read this article in full, please visit: The Guardian
Image Credit: The Guardian
Published in
Greece In The News
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Saturday, 22 February 2020 07:00
Upcoming Traffic Restrictions Due To The 6th Lycabettus Run
According to the Greek authorities, there will be traffic restrictions in Athens this Sunday, the 23rd of February. The restrictions will be set in place to ensure the safety of those participating in the 6th Lycabettus Run.
Starting at 9:00 A.M., certain roads in the center of Athens will be closed to drivers until the Run ends. To make sure that your Sunday plans don’t get delayed by the Run, we’ve compiled a list of the avenues being affected below.
Restrictions will apply to the entire length of the following avenues: Paligenesias, Daskalogianni, Sarantapihou, Ksanthipou, and Evelpidos Ragakou. These limits will not affect the two major intersections between the aforementioned avenues.
Koniari Avenue will be closed between its junctions with M. Merkouri Avenue and Nikotsara Avenue. This closure includes any intersections between these two points.
The entire length of Kleomenous Avenue and its adjoining intersections will also be closed off.
Finally, traffic will be restricted on M. Merkouri Avenue, between its junctions with An. Polemou Avenue and Lahitos Avenue, as well as any other intersections between these two points.
If you don’t have any Sunday plans, though, consider making your way down to the center to support the runners!
Originally posted on Athens Voice, translated by Xpat Athens
Published in
Local News
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Monday, 05 July 2021 07:36
Where To Go Out On The Athens Riviera
When the evenings start to warm up and stretch out every year in Athens, it’s the signal for the city’s legendary nightlife scene to spread its wings and fly down to the glitter strip known as the Athens Riviera. Whether you’re in the market for cocktails on the beach, a romantic dinner by the sea, or a flirty night out dancing under the stars, here are some quintessential Athens Riviera experiences.
Sundowners on the Athens Riviera
No night out on the Athens Riviera is complete without a sunset cocktail by the sea. With its parquet floors, high ceilings, and potted palms, Ark on Glyfada’s Asteras Beach has a country club charm (minus the steep membership fees). If in doubt about what to order, go for one of their cocktails with a Greek twist such as the Mai Tai with kumquat from Corfu and bergamot from the Peloponnese, or the margarita made with smoked salt and bee pollen.
Photo Credit: Ark Glyfada
For equally smashing sunsets all year round, head to the next venue along the Glyfada coast, Balux House Project where you’ll find a Miami beach party groove that spills over from the glass-fronted clubhouse onto the sand, with DJ sets and regular theme parties. Next door, its seasonal sister venue, Balux Pool Seaside, has a more chilled, barefoot appeal. You can sprawl on bean bags on the lawn or inside the thatched, tiki-style bar. After sunset, they light lanterns along the shore.
Photo Credit: Balux Cafe
Photo Credit: Balux Cafe
Seaside dining in Vouliagmeni
Seagulls wheeling against a setting sun. Wicker lanterns swaying to subtle bouzouki music. Occasional sea spray on your toes. Taverna 37 at the Four Seasons Astir Palace nails most people’s fantasy of seaside dining in Greece. Set apart from the main resort on a stretch of boardwalk just inches from the water, this contemporary taverna is perfect for a serene dinner date. The menu is refreshingly unshowy, given the location. There’s nothing you won’t find at your average neighborhood taverna; what sets this place apart are the impeccable ingredients, smiling service, and sensational setting.
Photo Credit: @bokbokeh
Seagulls wheeling against a setting sun. Wicker lanterns swaying to subtle bouzouki music. Occasional sea spray on your toes. Taverna 37 at the Four Seasons Astir Palace nails most people’s fantasy of seaside dining in Greece. Set apart from the main resort on a stretch of boardwalk just inches from the water, this contemporary taverna is perfect for a serene dinner date. The menu is refreshingly unshowy, given the location. There’s nothing you won’t find at your average neighborhood taverna; what sets this place apart are the impeccable ingredients, smiling service, and sensational setting.
Photo Credit: @bokbokeh
It may not be exactly by the sea, but the swoony setting of Nerõ, on the shore of Vouliagmeni Lake ranks sky high on the romance-o-meter. Savor sophisticated seafood (like red mullet tartare with caviar or roasted scallops with feta cream) on the smart teak deck that flanks this spectacular, mineral-rich lake. The water glows like liquid gold after dark, illuminated by the lit-up limestone cliffs behind it. From spring to autumn, you might also catch a live jazz or classical music performance to enhance your evening.
Photo Credit: Nero Vouliagmeni Lake
Photo Credit: Nero Vouliagmeni Lake
Bar-hopping in Glyfada
If Vouliagmeni is the place for romantic waterfront dining, Glyfada is Riviera’s late-night playground. There’s no sea view. You go for the entertaining optics of the image-conscious locals gathering nightly to see and be seen on mood-lit pavements and in leafy courtyards. At times, it feels like one big film set. Especially on fashionable Kiprou Street, which runs parallel to the main shopping strip of Metaxa Street.
If Vouliagmeni is the place for romantic waterfront dining, Glyfada is Riviera’s late-night playground. There’s no sea view. You go for the entertaining optics of the image-conscious locals gathering nightly to see and be seen on mood-lit pavements and in leafy courtyards. At times, it feels like one big film set. Especially on fashionable Kiprou Street, which runs parallel to the main shopping strip of Metaxa Street.
Ease into your evening at Su Casa, a stylish haunt on Nymfeon Square that’s hip but still homey. Go around 8 pm: a mellow window before most Greeks head out. Once a dilapidated house with overgrown scrub swallowing the footpath, it’s now one of Glyfada’s most atmospheric spots. It can be tough deciding where to sit. Outside on the street or garden patio, framed by fig trees and candlelight? It’s the kind of place where lovers and locals meet to catch up on each other’s news or round off a day’s shopping, and the music is accordingly chilled. There are pages and pages of cocktails, mocktails, and premium spirits, ranging from the summery applesecco spritz to margarita pesto with black pepper. If eating is on the agenda, migrate to the restaurant and try the excellent spaghetti with crab leg.
Photo Credit: Su Casa
Photo Credit: Su Casa
Party on the beach in Varkiza
In fact, if beach parties are more your bag, head down to Yabanaki Beach where the post-sunset scene has taken off. There’s a whole swag of affordable seaside dining options—from burgers to Italian, sushi, or Greek - and pop-up Latin dance parties all summer long. Yabanaki is open from May to October and entry to the resort is free after 7 pm, so take your swimmers. For many Greeks, this is the best time of day to hit the water.
Photo Credit: Varkiza Resort
Photo Credit: Varkiza Resort
To read this article in full and discover more places in the Athens Riviera, please visit: thisisathens.org
Whether you've just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share!
This is Athens is the official guide to this captivating city of ancient energies and booming urban culture. Compiled by a team of specialist local writers, This is Athens brings you an authentic and intimate portrait of a living Athens beyond the guidebooks – along with daily curated listings of all the best events and great weekend inspiration all-year round. From must-know neighbourhoods and emerging art hubs, to gourmet hotspots, cool shopping and the buzziest bars, This is Athens will help you to get the most out of living in Athens!
Thank you This is Athens for your contribution as an XpatAthens Partner.
Published in
City Discovery
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