Easy Access

Greece is located on the southeastern edge of Europe by the Mediterranean, adjoining Europe with Asia and Africa. The mainland can be found among Ionian Sea, Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in Greece having the longest coastline in the Mediterranean along with a notable naval tradition and a developed shipping industry. Many ports and harbours link islands to the continental part of the country, while sailing is also very popular. The main ports of Greece provide transport to neighbouring countries (i.e. Italy, Turkey), while cruises around the Mediterranean are also organised.

Accessibility via air is very easy as Greece is connected to all major global destinations, either through direct charter flights or by way of Athens International Airport. The majority of European cities are reachable within approximately three hours from Athens, while all in-country destinations are located within a range of a maximum of one hour flight. Almost all islands, including remote ones, possess an airport or a heliport not only to offer public transport but also to ensure that medical health will be provided in case of an emergency.

The road and rail network have been modernised during the last decades, offering a unique travelling experience across the mainland, while the road network is still incurring local improvements (i.e. construction of tunnels) aiming to decrease even more the travel time among major cities. The Rio-Antirrio Bridge that links Central Greece with Peloponnese started operating in 2004 and is considered the longest suspension cable bridge in Europe.

Information and communications infrastructure are highly developed, offering ADSL telephone lines of excellent quality in all locations as well as an outspread cellular network. Additionally, satellites support the operation of GPS devices all over the country.

Natural Beauty

Greece is an all-inclusive destination. Its landscape’s diversity offers the luxury of not having to choose between a mountainous and a maritime destination, as everything is there for the visitor to experience.

Mount Olympus, the Mountain of Ancient Gods, located in Central Greece is the highest mountain in the country. Together with the mountain ranges of Pindus and Rhodope, as well as the leafy peninsula of Pelion, they shape an engaging mountainous scenery that ravishes all senses. At the same time, more than twenty lakes are hidden in secret plateaus among the mountaintops, waiting to reveal themselves to visitors who will find their way to them. Fully organised skiing resorts can be found all over the mainland, while canyon and nature lovers are attracted by the gorges of Vikos and Samaria, the rock summits of Meteora, as well as the many national parks of the country.

Greek islands are famous all over the world for their sun, their picturesque villages, their crystal clear seas and their luscious gastronomy. Apart from the renowned islands of Mykonos and Santorini, Greece has thousands of islands, both habited and inhabited, creating a unique mosaic of landscapes. The Cyclades depict the wild beauty of the Aegean Sea, Ionian Islands offer a calm and relaxing scenery, while islands of the Saronic Gulf project an exclusive, cosmopolitan aura. Beaches of sand or cobble, sea caves and secret coves, meeting points for young and famous people, shopping streets, nightlife and tranquillity all coexist in a balanced environment.

Wildlife is being protected all over the country, inviting volunteers to take care of various species, i.e. the Mediterranean seal “Monachus Monachus” in the island of Alonissos, the sea turtle “Caretta Caretta” in the island of Zakynthos (Zante), or even bears, wolves and Greek sheepdogs in the mountains of Florina.

Rich Heritage

Greece bears a huge historical heritage and an extraordinary wealth of respective monuments. Drawing from ancient times, the whole country could be considered an endless archaeological site. The Acropolis, Delphi, Mycenae, Sounio, Aigai (Vergina), Olympia and Knossos are only the most famous among all archaeological sites of Greece. Respective museums display analytical aspects of history, while the visitor can also wander about the ancient ruins. Ancient history is there to touch also in legendary battlefields, such as Thermopylae, Marathon and Salamis, and still operating ancient theatres, such as Epidaurus Theater.

Being a part of the Roman Empire and subsequently the Byzantine Empire, Greece possesses a lot of respective monuments. Indicatively, one could mention the Roman Agora in Athens, as well as the plethora of small Byzantine churches spread all over the country. Venetian possession has affected architecture mainly of the Ionian Islands and the Dodecanese, while the Ottoman rule resulted to the Greek War of Independence of 1821 and gave birth to many heroes, who are honoured today through local customs.

Finally, the period of kingship in Greece commended to future generations many edifices of the famous architecture Ernst Moritz Theodor Ziller, who designed many royal and municipal buildings not only in Athens but also in other major Greek cities.

Healthy Climate

Greece has been known since antiquity for its healthy climate and sunny weather. The climate is mainly Mediterranean, characterised by mild winters and hot summers. However, the diversity of the landscape results in a variety of microclimates across the country. More specifically, most islands have hot, sunny and windy summers followed by mild and wet winters. Especially in August, winds coming from the west, named “meltemi”, cool the air and balance the heat, creating a unique, pleasant environment.

The mainland has a temperate climate, while the mountainous regions face a lot of snowfalls during the winter. However, low-temperature periods do not last long, as even during the winter sunshine is present on a daily basis.

Quality of Life

Since ancient times, the Greek mentality is inextricably linked to hospitality and respect towards guests. In Greek mythology, Zeus, the king of gods, was also called Xenios, an epithet meaning hospitable. Throughout its history as well as nowadays Greek society is very receptive to foreigners, embracing them to friends in a very short period of time. Neighbours often visit each other with no reason, invitations among friends occur more than once on a weekly basis and people in need of assistance always find a helping hand offered to them.

In small villages, the rhythm of life is very relaxed, as there is no stress, no traffic, and no hurry. Children are playing outdoors, forests or beaches are nearby and crime rates are extremely low. Many foreigners have become permanent or seasonal residents of Greece, peacefully coexisting with the locals, within the framework of mutual respect and appreciation.

Music and dance are deeply embedded in Greek culture. All sentiments are expressed and celebrated openly, in community or family fests. Tradition and customs are safeguarded, so almost every day has a special meaning to explore. Most places have special local customs that are worth not only to witness but also to become a part of.

Great Value for Money

Greece is one of the world’s favourite tourist destinations, attracting visitors from all over the world. Apart from its hospitality and transport infrastructure, Greece offers its visitors and residents great value for money, comparing its prices to those of other Mediterranean countries.

In the aftermath of the country’s economic crisis, the property market has transformed to a unique opportunity for prospective buyers, who would like to take advantage of the special pricing and taxing circumstances, before market forces balance at a higher benchmark.

The decrease of construction activity during the last decade, along with the limited number of luxurious properties available, further enhances the value of selected residences against global demand for a property in Greece, stimulated by the country’s natural beauty, rich heritage, healthy climate and authentic lifestyle.

The Greek land registries together with the country’s strict building regulations ensure an easy and safe purchase procedure.