Travel to Greece offers an experience that every traveler will love. Greece and the Greek Islands are ranked as one of the most popular travel destinations in the world and are located in Southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. With over 4,000 years of history to explore, the birthplace of comedy, drama, philosophy and the Olympics ensures that those who travel to Greece can view ancient art, ruins, monuments to the Greek gods and more of the countries long and varied history. Travel to Greece also offers a chance to relax on its beautiful and extensive beaches, try local cuisine and soothe away stress in Greek spas and resorts.

Even with its small size, Greece has a very diverse natural environment such as coastlines, rocky mountains, lakes, rivers, gorges, waterfalls, forests, and islands. Greece’s environment makes for a great country for extreme sports such as rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, hang gliding, bungee jumping, hiking, and more. The marine parks near the islands Alonissos and Zakynthos make an interesting stop on your tour. The Greek countryside is home to a rich floral life.

What comes to mind very quickly when thinking of a vacation to Greece is visiting the many historical monuments. And no one would be disappointed. Greece is riddled with historic sites, churches, stadiums, monasteries, and old cities from many an era. And with so much enticing history in Greece, the country has over 300 museums. From Archaeological Museums, Greek Art, Theater Museums, Music, Natural History, to Science and Technology Museums; there is something for everyone.

Greece’s food has been refined through tradition and influence for over 4,000 years. With Greece’s mild climate, most vegetation is grown outdoors; and is therefore fresh, natural, and aromatic; which adds a lot of vibrant flavor to Greek dishes. Most herbs in Greece are collected in the mountains and in the countryside, such as oregano, rosemary and thyme. Then of course high quality olive oil enriches almost every Greek dish.

A spa visit is also a worthwhile addition to any travel guide to Greece. Natural springs, both cold and hot, dot Greece and have spas built around them for therapeutic treatment and just to relax. Another way to enrich your visit is to indulge in Greece’s Agro tourism. Tour local products, traditional cuisine, agricultural areas, experience tradition and participate in rural activities.

Greece holds a variety of events; especially during summertime. Open-air cinemas, cultural events, carnivals, and sports events included. The Athens Festival, the Epidaurus Festival, and “Musical July” are considered among the most important art festivals in the whole of the European continent. Theaters such as the National Theatre of Greece stage a variety of plays. The International Thessaloniki Film Festival has become a major regional festival.

Including the mountains or oceans in your Greek holiday is something to consider as well. Water sports, cruises, skiing, and hiking are all at your fingertips in traveling to Greece. Or visit one or more of the secluded islands for a quiet getaway.

Portugal is the most westerly country on the European mainland, so the nearest to the USA after Ireland and the UK. Your flight destination will be the capital, Lisbon, sitting on the River Tagus. Portugal is historically the closest country to Britain with regard to political alliances (their 1373 alliance is the oldest standing in the world). It supported Britain during the Peninsular and Napoleonic wars, and they still regard themselves as being closer to Britain than to Spain.

The secret of a memorable trip to Portugal remains on trying to escape the crowds and look for the out-of-the-way places. Many tourists still see Portugal as synonymous with Lisbon and the Algarve. However, there is so much more to see that you will lose half of the country’s enchantment and mystery if you stick to the busy places. Here are tips on how to make the most out of your trip to Portugal:

1. Rent a car and drive around the country. It is possible to travel the entire length of the country by motorway (“A” roads), which is a great advantage for drivers. Motorways are not free and you will have to pay a toll. Also, be careful not to get onto the “Via Verde” lane as you join the motorway as these are only for “subscribed” drivers. The advantage is that you will be able to discover the country at your own pace and get away from the crowds.

2. Avoid weekends and public holidays when visiting major touristic sites, such as Sintra, Óbidos and others. These will likely be packed with people and you will have little chance of getting to know the “real” place. Remember that many Portuguese people take advantage of weekends and holidays to visit the country themselves.

3. While in Portugal, avoid all companies that advertise sightseeing tours at bargain or extremely attractive prices. You will likely spend a whole day stuck in a coach, stopping for 5 minutes for a quick photo, and travelling miles and miles. Many of these companies will try to impress you by the quantity of places you visit on a single day. The typical Lisbon – Óbidos – Alcobaça – Batalha – Nazaré – Leiria – Lisbon tour is simply too much and will wear you out! In addition, there is often no precise information about the size of the bus/ number of seats/number of languages spoken on tour! Get advice from Tourist Offices or other reliable sources.

4. Keep away from the déjà vu, clichéd sights. Although some of more historic, famous sights are unavoidable, you can find out hidden treasures. Some hints on places to discover:
• Historical Villages of Portugal – They are villages built in stone (essentially granite and sometimes schist), usually located on high mountain tops where the Portuguese could defend themselves against the Moors, the Spanish and even the French invaders. They are found in the Serra da Estrela area and near the border with Spain. Many stand inside castle walls and preserve traces of medieval times. They are villages where time has stopped, places that take us back to a far distant past: Piódão, Belmonte, Castelo Novo, Idanha-a-Velha, Monsanto, Almeida, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Rodrigo, Linhares da Beira, Marialva, Sortelha and Trancoso.

• Portuguese Nature Parks – Though not very well-known, these Parks are protected areas where the human presence is not very common and you can appreciate Nature’s appeal in all its magnitude. Go to Parque Natural da Arrábida (40 km from Lisbon) for walks or jeep tours ; Go to Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês (in the North) where you will find a wild and impressive landscape; Go to Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado (near Setúbal) if you are particularly keen on dolphin or bird watching; Go to Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, a region graced with a wild beauty that is extremely popular for water sports, particularly surfing and body boarding.

5. Hire a bike and discover the country while you keep fit: Cycle along Aveiro’s streets with a BUGA, a bicycle that can be hired for 1€ ; Ride a bike on the Guincho bicycle lane, a 5km lane that extends from the Casa da Guia, in Cascais town, to Guincho beach; Ramal de Mora lane in Évora, Alentejo, is a 20 km track available for walkers or cyclists, starting from Chafariz d’El Rei in Évora. Well, you will need to go to Portugal in order to discover all the cycle lanes available to sports lovers.

6. Go for a coffee in one of the historic, charming cafés of Portugal:

• A Brasileira, in Braga.
• Café Majestic in Porto, boasting an Art Nouveau façade, a luxurious tea room and huge Art Nouveau mirrors.
• Café Santa Cruz in Coimbra, a beautiful building with domed ceiling and stained glass windows.
• The renowned cafés of Lisbon: Café Nicola, in Rossio, with its Art Nouveau façade; Café Benárd, with a more classical decoration, and homemade confectionary specialities; A Brasileira , where you may sit next to the great poet Fernando Pessoa, sculpted in bronze as a mundane man having a little cup of coffee.

7. Visit Lisbon in May, when the city is covered with violet… The Jacaranda tree, an ornamental tree of Middle Eastern origin, blooms in an abundant, gorgeous manner all over Lisbon , painting it with a myriad of little violet flowers. This magnificent spectacle lasts for two to three weeks.

8. Visit the Alentejo region during spring time. The fields will be thickly covered with lovely, brilliantly-colored flowers and the plains, dotted with cork oak and olive trees, will create a wonderful opportunity to unwind and relax.