A holiday guide to Greece

Famous as the cradle of Western Civilization, Greece is a country that has drawn visitors even in the most ancient days of tourism. The Romans were probably the first people who made a point of going to Greece to tour the monuments and enjoy the art, but they were hardly the last. Greece drew the Romantics to its shores and rocky hillsides, and the country became a fixture for well-to-do Americans and Europeans making their "Great Tour" of Europe. All of the things that made Greece such an attractive destination continue to entice and enthrall, only now they draw in a truly international audience. Each year, Greece receives roughly two visitors for each of its 11 million citizens.

History lovers do not need to be told that Greece is a major magnet for lovers of famous places and ancient ruins, of course. Athens, the most common entry point for most visitors to Greece, is packed with some of the most famous ruins in the Western world. Dominating the Athenian skyline is the Acropolis and the famed Parthenon. The Parthenon is currently undergoing a reconstruction effort to return it to its pre-1687 state, when an accidental explosion demolished part of the ruin. Visitors to the Parthenon will therefore find it is usually a busy, noisy work site, but impressive nonetheless. More tranquil and less mobbed with tourists is the south slope of the Acropolis, featuring such grand ruins as the Theater of Dionysius and the Odeon of Pericles. Here a visitor can quietly contemplate the ancient Athenians with only a scattered handful of fellow tourists and a small horde of stray cats for company. Elsewhere in the city are the expansive ruins of the Old and New Agoras (markets).

There is more to ancient Greece than just Athens, of course. Delphi is a famous example from ancient history. This was the place where the much-consulted Oracle of Apollo resided, and it was the practice of the cities and prominent individuals of Greece to erect temples, shrines and monuments here, in the one place where it was assured that Greeks from all corners of the region would see them. Modern Delphi is therefore one of the best sites for ancient Greek ruins to be found anywhere in the world. Older than classical Greece are the ruins of the Mycenae civilization, with the best preserved example being found at the town, palace and tomb ruins found 11 km north of the town of Argos. If the events of the Trojan War have any basis in fact, then some of the scenes involving King Agamemnon took place in Mycenae.

There is more to Greece than old piles of stone and bronze pieces in a museum, of course. As many people journey to Greece to enjoy the beaches as to view the country's ancient splendor. Indeed, renting a yacht to cruise the Aegean or Ionian Seas out to a villa on some lovely Greek island has been the stuff of travel commercials for decades. Arguably the best-known Greek island is Mykonos. As one of the Mediterranean's top "party islands," it has been drawing European youths to its sunny shores and throbbing dance clubs for years. Island chains like the Dodecanese and the Cyclades, or the great island of Crete, are popular with beach-goers of all ages and stripes.

Greek cuisine is now a familiar fixture around the world, and partaking of it in the land of its origin is one of the best parts about being in Greece. For a light meal, have a Greek salad (called a "country salad" in Greece) and enjoy the authentic feta cheese that goes with it, or perhaps a bowl of fakes (lentil soup with feta and vinegar). For a heartier meal, start with an appetizer of olives and either a well-known dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) or something more obscure, such as saganaki (pan-fried cheese). For the main entree, try the classic family meal of roast lamb with potatoes, souvlaki (meat or seafood grilled on a skewer) or stifado (game stew with pearl onions, vinegar, red wine and cinnamon). Alternatively, you could try an import like mousaka, a Turkish dish that resembles lasagna. Finally, don't forget to wash that meal down with Greek wine, and have a nice cup of ouzo as an after dinner drink.

Even though Greece is one of the world's most popular international tourist destinations, it is important to remember that it is a country of isolated coastal towns, farming valleys and small, forgotten islands. Even with so many visitors flocking to Greece every year, it is still very easy to escape mass tourism if you really want to. For example, those who want to see famous Sparta will find few ruins and a sleepy little town waiting for them. What they will find are numerous modest-but-fascinating sights, the lush valley of the River Eurotas and the rugged, and beautiful peaks of the Taygetos Mountains. They will also find that there are few visitors at any time of year, and they may even be the only foreigners in Sparta during their visit.

It can truly be said that because of the reasons for its popularity, Greece remains a travel destination that has something for all types of traveller. Whether you are seeking a luxurious getaway in a 5-star beach resort or a cross-country trek on a 3,000 year old goat path, Greece has what you are after.