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Greece Travel Guide

Ancient cities rich in history, archaeology and mythology heritage, picturesque white painted houses on top of steep cliffs and gorgeous islands full of sun and fun. From Plato and Socrates to the Olympics and the souvlaki, Greece is a mezze of different flavours ready to be explored and enjoyed.

Practice your haggling skills when you spot a beautiful antique in the Athens’ markets, explore mysteriously magnificent museums and let your hair down in the local Taverna - enjoying fine wines and mouth-watering cuisine. Make sure you spend 8 January near a village in the north. Gynaikratia is a day of role reversal, when women spend the day drinking and gossiping in cafés while men stay at home to do housework.

Full Name

Hellenic Republic

Former Name

Kingdom of Greece

Capital City

Athens

Government Type

Parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

Area Size

131,957 sq km 50,949 sq miles

Time Zone

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October)

Climate

Temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers.

Geography

Strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands.

Languages

Greek 99% (official), English, French

History

Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz

Emergency Numbers

Ambulance: 199 or 166, Fire: 199 or 100, Police: 199 or 100

Athens

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