Travel

Greece is known as a romantic country with many beautiful people. It also has a wealth of historical and cultural heritage, with contributions such as democracy and the Olympic games and famous citizens such as Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Hippocrates, Archimedes, Euripedes and Herodotus. These should be enough reasons to visit Greece but if you want more, here are five great reasons why you should make Greece your next holiday destination.

1. Greek Archaeology

Many people visit Greece just for its ancient monuments, which, for the civilization they represent, is reason enough. Indeed, though in ruins, each monument holds a charm of its own, transporting visitors back to a glorious age of gods and heroes. The most impressive and important monument of ancient Greece, the Parthenon, can be found in the Athens Acropolis, where you can also find the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erectheion, while the largest Greek temple, the Olympeion or Temple of Olympian Zeus can be found just outside. You will also find the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion in southern Athens.

If you are truly interested in archaeology, you shouldn’t stop at Athens, though, since there are many impressive sites and monuments in other cities, as well. In fact, some cities like Delphi, Delos and Olympia are archaeological sites in themselves. Some of the most remarkable monuments outside Athens include the Temple of Demeter at Naxos, the Temple of Epicurian Apollo at Vassae and the ruins of the Knossos Palace in Crete.

While most of these monuments are in ruins, you can see the artifacts, like the statues they originally contained at various archaeological museums in Greece. Most of these museums are located near or even on the site itself, although the finest and most important artifacts can be found in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the largest in Greece.

2. Beaches

One of the reasons why Greece is considered to be such a romantic destination is because it has a long coastline dotted with idyllic beaches, most of which offer white sand and warm, crystal waters, while some are backed by dramatic cliffs and villas. Many of these are Blue Flag beaches, too, with the best ones found in Kefalonia and Zakynthos, while nudism is acceptable almost everywhere, but most particularly on Banana Beach in Skiathos and Eresos Beach in Lesvos. There are many great diving spots, too, and several sea caves to explore.

3. Dining in Greece

If you’ve eaten at a Greek restaurant before, you probably have an idea of what you will eat when you visit Greece, although the dishes you will find here are of course, tastier and more authentic. Many dishes are made with olives or olive oil, like the traditional Greek Salad, cabbage salad and spinach stew, while some are served with feta cheese – both of which are popular Greek products. Meat lovers won’t be disappointed, either, since Gyros, Souvlaki and oven-baked lamb can be found almost anywhere and the same goes for Greek wine and beer.

4. Greece by Night

While Greece is a country steeped in history, it definitely does not live in the past, as you will see for yourself when you visit Greece. In contrast to the quiet of its ancient monuments, Greece has a large number of clubs and bars where you can dance, drink or simply listen to all types of great music all night, even until seven in the morning if you want, especially in Athens, Mykonos, Skiathos, Rhodes and Samos.

5. Movie Locations in Greece

Zorba the Greek. Shirley Valentine. For Your Eyes Only. Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. These are just movies which has scenes filmed in various Greek locations like Santorini, Meteora, Kefalonia and Mykonos, and you can even visit the exact places where they were shot when you visit Greece. After all, there is quite nothing like reliving your favorite film or imagining yourself in one.

Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has been to global tourist destinations like Greece. To book your car hire in Greece or learn more about car hire worldwide, visit Zencarhire.com.

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Why visit Slovakia? Slovakia is considered one of Europe’s hidden gems, with a trove of spectacular attractions like those listed below.

Bratislava

The city of Bratislava in itself is one of Slovakia’s major attractions. Indeed, many visit Slovakia just to spend a night or two here. The Bratislava Castle, which overlooks the city, serves as its main landmark and a symbol of its rich history, while other architectural marvels like the Primate’s Palace, Mirbach Palace, St. Martin’s Cathedral and Michael’s Tower are all worth seeing. If you want to relax, you can also do so at one of the spacious parks of the city, like the park surrounding Rusovce Mansion or the forests just nearby, while a trip to museums like the Slovak National Museum provides insights into the history of the entire Slovak Republic.

Aside from Bratislava, make sure you visit Banska Bystrica, too, which is just as beautiful, and other interesting cities like Kosice, Levoca, Trencin and Nitra, which have their own jewels for you to discover.

Tatra National Park

Next to Bratislava, the region of the Vysoke Tatry or High Tatras draws the most tourists each year. This is because it offers a wonderful alpine climate, amazing views and various opportunities for recreation. For those who love the outdoors, a climb up Krivan, its most beautiful peak, is recommended, or a hike along one of the many winding, scenic trails during summer, while facilities for skiing and other winter sports are available in winter. For those who simply want to relax, just sit back and savor the views from the train or one of the cable cars. If you’re lucky, you might spot chamois and rare birds in the distance.

Caves

Out of Slovakia’s roughly 4,000 caves, only– may be open to the public, but each one is definitely worth visiting. Some of them have even been included in the list of World Heritage Sites, like the Ochtinska Cave, the largest aragonite cave in the world, the Dobsinska Ice Cave, the Domica Cave, the Gombasecka Cave and the Jasovska Cave, all of which have many chambers and halls full of remarkable rock formations. The Demanovska Liberty Cave, is the most popular, though, because of its colorful stalactites – in shades of red, orange, yellow and black – and stunning lakes.

Architecture

Slovakia has its share of romantic castles and chateaux, headed by Spis Castle, which is a World Heritage Site and one of the largest castles in Central Europe. It is a popular film location, too, especially for movies with a fantasy or medieval setting. The same goes for Orava Castle, which was featured in the film adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, while the castles at Bojnice, Trencin and Nitra are more renowned for their historical significance. In fact, Nitra Castle was once the seat of the Moravian Empire. If you want to spend the night in a castle, there are some that offer this chance, too, like Hradok Castle.

In contrast, you will also find many humble wooden churches when you visit Slovakia, particularly in the Svidnik province, which are just as worth seeing. One of the largest wooden structures in Central Europe can be found in the country, too – the Wooden Lutheran Church – while Podbiel has a collection of more than 70 well-preserved rustic houses. Although not entirely wooden, St. Jacob’s Church in Levoca has the highest wooden altar in the world.

Handicrafts

You won’t have a hard time looking for unique souvenirs when you visit Slovakia, since you will find many that reflect its rich culture. Popular examples include the crpak (an ornamented wooden cup), fujara (a long, woodwind instrument), valaska (traditional axe), kraslice (decorated eggs), dolls in national costumes, the Slovakian national waistband and ceramics from the town of Modra, which are usually blue and white. If you want to take home something edible, try medovniky (decorated cookies) or tatranky (wafers).

Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has been to global tourist destinations like Slovakia. To book your slovakia car rental or learn more about car hire deals worldwide, visit Zencarhire.com.

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