DK Eyewitness - DK Eyewitness Greece, Athens and the Mainland

First edition 1997

Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited,
80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL

Published in the United States by DK Publishing,
1450 Broadway, Suite 801, New York, NY 10018

Copyright 1997, 2020 Dorling Kindersley Limited
A Penguin Random House Company

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the British Library.

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN: 9780241409367
eISBN: 9780744025842

www.dk.com

INSPIRE / PLAN / DISCOVER / EXPERIENCE

Discover

Welcome to Greece

Reasons to Love Greece

Explore Greece

Greece Itineraries

NATURAL BEAUTY

FLAVOURFUL FOOD

UNEARTHING THE PAST

ON THE COAST

FAMILY ADVENTURES

RAISE A GLASS

AFTER DARK

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

MUSIC AND DANCE

ART LOVERS

A Year in Greece

A Brief History

Experience

Athens

Central Athens North

Central Athens South

Around Athens

Greece

The Peloponnese

Central and Western Greece

Northern Greece

Need to Know

Before You Go

Getting Around

Practical Information

KEY TO MAIN ICONS

PRICE GUIDE

KEY TO MAPS

Phrase Book

Acknowledgments

g

key to main icons

g

price guide

Throughout the guide the following price categories have been applied:

On a budget
Mid-range
Splurge

g

key to maps

g

t Moni Rousnou amidst rocky pinnacles, Metora

g

t The ancient theatre at Epidaurus, still in use today.

Taverna-lined city streets and buzzing bars. Ancient temples, mountains that were home to the gods, and museums crammed with treasures. Idyllic stretches of golden sand lapped by turquoise waters. Whatever your dream trip to Athens and mainland Greece includes, this DK Eyewitness Guide is the perfect companion.

Kissed by three seas and stretching from the barren peaks of the northern Pindos to the sunny vineyards of Attica and the Peloponnese, mainland Greece is stunningly diverse. Sun-worshippers can bask on the sandy beaches of Halkidik, while outdoor adventurers can trek the Vkos and Losios gorges and climb the craggy peaks of Mount Olympos. Iconic archaeological sites such as Delphi and Olympia attract vast numbers of visitors, but Greece is also rich in lesser known relics of the ancient world at Dodona and Dion, as well as romantic castles and imposing fortresses from later epochs such as those at Mystrs and Monemvasi.

The cities, too, will not disappoint. The serene marble columns of the Parthenon, silhouetted above Athens as the sun sinks, sum up Greece for many visitors. This is Europes oldest city, but it also offers a youthful vibe and buzzing nightlife, where upmarket restaurants stand alongside traditional grill eateries and old-school ouzeris jostle with the trendy cocktail bars of newly hip urban neighbourhoods. Thessalonki, Greeces second city, is similarly vibrant. It seduces visitors with its array of Byzantine churches, an impressive roster of great museums and authentic street food.

This guide divides Athens and mainland Greece into easily navigable chapters, with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge and colourful, comprehensive maps to help you plan the perfect trip. Whether youre staying for a weekend, a week or longer, this Eyewitness guide will ensure that you experience the very best that Greeces capital and its hinterland have to offer.

A caf and taverna in Athenss Plka district.

Locals enjoying a hearty traditional meal.

A beach on the Sithonia peninsula, Halkidiki.

g

Magnificent temples, forbidding fortresses, the serene hush of centuries-old monasteries, exquisite local cuisine and wines, gold-sand beaches and breathtaking mountain scenery there are so many reasons why visitors fall in love with mainland Greece. Here are some of our favourites.

t A visit to Greeces monasteries should be on any visitors itinerary, from the extra-ordinary clifftop structures of with its magnificent mosaics.

Discover Greece: Athens and the Mainland

t Standing watch over Athens, the is a land-mark of Western civilization. The great marble masterpieces on the Sacred Rock epitomize Athens in all its glory.

Discover Greece: Athens and the Mainland

t From traditional grills and fresh fish and seafood to meze sharing plates and a plethora of cheeses, Greek cuisine uses seasonal produce from Aegean shores, village gardens and mountain pastures.