Greece - ancient ruins and endless sandy beaches, the longest in Europe's coastline, picturesque bays with crystal-clear water, countless islands, the abundance of history and culture, plus all this close to us Orthodox culture, welcoming and hospitable. Greece - the treasury of world culture, where many centuries ago were born foundations of philosophy, science, and the modern social order. A rich mythology of ancient Greece still amazes imagination.
Geography
 
Greece - a country in southeastern Europe, occupying the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula and a large number of islands in the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean seas. In the north-western borders with Albania, in the north - with countries that formed part of the Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north-east - with Turkey. On the east by the Aegean Sea, in the south - the Mediterranean in the west - the Ionian. About one-fifth of the island is occupied. The largest of them: Crete, Ikaria, Lemnos, Lesvos, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Rhodes, Corfu, Thassos, Samotraks, Northern Sporades Islands, the islands of the Cyclades.

The country is mountainous and rugged - especially coastline. The central mountain region, where there are mountains of Lind, most sparsely populated. In this region, the highest point in Greece - Mount Olympus (2917 m). Central Greece - the most populated region. In its southern part is Attica, a historical region of the country. The Greek islands are mainly mountainous, but their beauty and numerous historical monuments attract large numbers of tourists.
Climate

The climate is typically Mediterranean plains of Greece. Summers are hot and dry, only slightly softened the proximity of the sea. Winters are mild, but rainy. The average July temperature is +24 ° C in the north and +28 ° C in the south. The average January temperature is +4 ° C in the north and +11 ° C in the south. However, small frosts occur even at the latitude of Athens. In the mountains to the north the climate is more temperate, and in the mountainous areas - cold. The best time to visit Greece - from March to June and from September to the end of October.
Capital

Athens.
Population

According to the latest (2001) census in Greece registered 10.939,605 inhabitants. Major cities - Athens (3 million), Thessaloniki (1 million), Patras (200 thousand). At the same time, especially in the last decade, Greece has become a refuge for a large number of people to immigrate. The recent settlement program prescribed by the Greek state ended regularization nearly 400,000 immigrants (for some of them, however, the administrative process is still not finished). Among them: 240,000 - the citizens of Albania, Bulgaria, 25.000, 1 7.000 Rumanians, 11,000 Pakistanis, 10,000 Ukrainians and 9,000 Poles.
Language

Official language - Greek. Also used: English, German, French. In tourism employs many Greeks to move to the homeland after the Soviet collapse, which perfectly speak in Russian.
Currency

The currency of Greece since 2002 is the euro, which replaced the oldest currency in Europe - the drachma (340.75 drachmas = 1 euro). Nalichnuyu valyutu mozhno obmenivat tolko in bankax or obmennyx punktax. Banki otkpyty thresh pabochim days c ponedelnika thresh chetvepg c 8.00 up to 14.00, a Friday c 8.00 Firmware 13.30. Po vyxodnym and Microsoft Flight ppazdnikam banki zakpyty. Kpome bankov mozhno vocpolzovatcya obmennymi punktami, mating and after, ciecty vyxodnye days. Za ppotsedupu obmena bepetcya ppotsent From 1% to 2%.
 
ATMs can use credit cards Visa, Master Card, American Express and others.
Time zone
 
Greece is with Ukraine in the same time zone.
Religion

The official and the most widespread religion in Greece - Orthodox Christianity, his hold almost 98% of the believers. Church in the country is not separated from the state. Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church and its head is the archbishop, who resides in Athens. Also in the country 1.3% of the population are Muslim, 0.4% - Catholics.
Political Structure

Greece - a parliamentary republic with a presidential form of government. The head of state - the president. Legislature - unicameral parliament is elected for 4 years. The leader of the majority party in parliament becomes the Prime Minister.

Greece is in international organizations: Merging Nations (UN), European Union (EU), the Arab League (AL), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
 
To the European Union (then the European Economic Community), Greece joined in 1981, after a long period of association. Greece was the first country not a member of the EEC, which has signed an agreement of association with the EU, in 1961.
Customs regulations

You can bring in duty-free 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco, 1 liter of spirits, 2 liters of wine, 50 grams of perfume, cologne, 500 grams, 500 grams of coffee, 100 grams of tea, igpalnye kapty DO NOT over 2 kolod (nA igpalnye kapty, kak and nA cpichki in Gpetsii vvedena gocudapctvennaya monopoliya) fotoappapat and fotoplenku (libo videokamepu and plenku to ney) binokl, muzykalny inctpument nebolshogo pazmepa, audio and videoappapatupu, velociped, cpoptivnoe cnapyazhenie.

The import of plants in the ground. The export of representing the historical and cultural value of objects.

To pass through customs in the country with acquired coat or sheepskin coat required two representatives tax office sales receipt proving the purchase. In the checks have to be the name and the buyer's name, product name and its value. Therefore, buy a fur coat is only in stores or in large factories.
Transport. Car
 
The entire Greek mainland straddles bus routes. If the round trip fits in one day, it is cheaper to just buy a return ticket. Bus tickets are sold at the last stop and newsstands. The cost of one varies depending on the distance from 2 to 10 euros. If you have to travel a lot, it is preferable to buy a monthly pass. If a passenger is standing at the bus stop and saw him approaching the correct bus route, he has to vote, or the driver does not stop. When the passenger in the bus and it approaches the desired stopping passenger must press the button near the door. The names of stops usually are not updated.

National Railways "OSE" link major cities of mainland Greece.

The most common transport in Greece - a taxi. Color taxis is constant in the same city, but in different cities of taxi cars are painted in different colors. For example, in Athens taxis are yellow, and the Thessaloniki - blue and white. In other cities and islands taxi usually gray. Taxis are available at the hotel or on a parking lot. Beyond the city counter faster than the inside. Taxi in points or below around town or city will include the payment of travel from the city to your item back and + taxi.

Customer can rent a car at least 21 years driving experience and at least 1 year. You can rent a car at the hotel or at the rental. In Greece are European rules of the road.

For single women traveling by road hitchhiking is not recommended.
Shops

Shops are open every day, except Sunday, from 8.00 to 13.30 and from 17.30 to an additional 20.30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Fridays. Supermarkets are open every day, except Sunday, from 8.00 to 18.00 or 19.00 without lunch.
 
Cigarettes, newspapers, sweets, soft drinks, and the most common drug buy in kiosks (in Greek - "Periptero") they usually work till late.

In Greece, most prices are lower than in other Western European countries, with the exception of electronics, electrical cars. Duty-free shops are a sign: "Hellenic Duty Free Shop". They are accepted at a drachma, and currency. In the bazaars and small shops you can bargain, especially when buying multiple items.

Sale of winter things going on in January and February, the summer - in August and September. Many travelers combine a vacation in Greece with the acquisition of fur coats. When buying a coat to get two of the receipt. Cheques must be in the name and the buyer's name, product name and its value in local currency. Better to buy a fur coat in large factories or shops. In this case, out of Greece will not be complications in customs.
Link

All major cities are negotiating points.

To call from a pay phone, you need coins to 10 cents or Accessories (sold at newsstands, designed to call 100-1000 and cost from 3 to 20 euros). With their help, you can call anywhere in Greece and abroad. You can call from the hotel, but it is much more expensive (in some hotels are allowed to call abroad from the room with a credit card), from the special telephone office or from a pay phone at newsstands. 20.00 after discounts.

Supports standard GSM 900/1800. Roaming is a major Ukrainian operators.

To call from Greece in Kiev, you can type 00 380 44, then the phone number.
Electricity

Electricity supply of 220 V, a European-style sockets.
Water

In Greece, it is better not to drink unboiled tap water and buy it in plastic bottles.
Tip

The accounts are almost always contained 10 - a 15% service charge, but the busboy - usually young people - relies on tips, which are often their only income. Tipping is customary to leave on the table.
 
Taxi drivers do not leave a tip made, but on Easter and Christmas, all clients are required to pay an additional 250 drachmas. Hotel porter give 150 drachmas per seat.
Water

Drinking tap water is strongly recommended. For this purpose, buy bottled mineral water.
Weekends and holidays

January 1 - New Year

January 6 - Epiphany

50 days before Easter - Green Monday

March 25 - National Day of Greece

1 - April - National Day of Cyprus

Good Friday - before Easter

May 1 - Labor Day, Cataclysm Flood

October 28 - National Day

25 - 26 December - Christmas Day
Main Sightseeings

The main center of tourism in the country is its capital - Athens, one of the oldest cities in the world. His beautiful monuments and museums: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, and many others - attract millions of tourists. Athens just 250 museums, galleries and more modern temples.

Mountainous Peloponnese peninsula, which lies in the south of Greece, is one of the centers of Greek civilization, the "homeland" of many myths and modern resort area. In the northern part of the Peloponnese, in the foothills of Agyos Ilias, is the center of one of the oldest civilizations in the world - the city and fortress of Mycenae, founded the legendary Perseus. Olympia, the ancient Greek city in the north-western part of the Peloponnese, the place of the ancient cult of Zeus and the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

But the main attraction of the country - its islands. Usually the Greek islands are divided into two groups - Ionian Islands (so-called. "Eptanisa" - Seven islands, including Corfu, Kefalintiya, Zakynthos and Lefkada) forms the western arc, more numerous Aegean islands, united in the Sporades archipelago, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese . In the Saronic Gulf is another small island group - Argosaronika.

In the south, the Aegean Sea is the largest island in Greece - Crete (8.3 thousand square meters. Km.), One of the centers of ancient Minoan culture (III - II thousand years BC. E.), Which has had a huge impact on the culture of ancient Greece . In Crete, the ruins of Knossos, where, according to legend, the famous Labyrinth with the Minotaur. The city was founded in 1700 BC

Rhodes - the largest island of the Dodecanese ("twelve islands") located in the south-eastern part of the Aegean Sea off the coast of Asia Minor. Here once stood the Colossus of Rhodes - one of the seven wonders of the world, in its ports loaded ships Crusaders, his land saw great battles and mighty empire. Now it is a world-renowned resort with excellent tourism infrastructure.