With endless days of sunshine, amazing beaches, beautiful countryside and a wealth of history spanning thousands of years, it is no wonder that Greece and its islands are a popular destination for package holidays. Offering something for everyone, Greece is the ideal holiday choice for families, couples and groups of people who want a break in the sun along with some fascinating historical sites to explore.

Kassandra peninsula

With sandy beaches, rolling green hillside, quaint unspoilt villages and lively nightlife, the Kassandra peninsula is the most popular mainland area. Resorts like Athens, Halkidiki and Thessalonika are among the favourites.

Thessalonika is among the oldest cities in Europe and was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1917. Here the old blends nicely with the new, including Byzantine churches and traditional tavernas to modern shopping malls and trendy nightclubs. Read more »

The Parga region of mainland Greece is made-up of peaceful traditional villages which sit on the north-west coast. Secluded beaches, a green mountainous interior, olive groves and fruit orchards make Parga the perfect destination for a relaxing holiday where the traditional Greek way of life has not been affected by tourism. The beautiful villages of the region offer quiet tavernas, restaurants serving exceptionally fresh seafood, cafes and bars and make an ideal base for exploring Parga’s magnificent beaches and mountainous interior.

Parga

The Parga region beaches along the Epirus coast are great for families on their cheap holidays to Greece as they are relatively uncrowded. There are lots of small secluded bays which can be reached by water taxi. The beaches around Parga offer excellent snorkelling conditions and watersports such as swimming, diving, windsurfing, jet-skiing and water-skiing. Read more »

Located in the south-west corner of mainland Greece, Kalamata is the capital and main port of the Messinia region of the Peloponnese. It has the best road, air and sea connections for holidays on the Mani Peninsula and the Messinian Bay. The Kalamata region is popular with those looking for relaxing beach holidays, visitors looking to explore the area and train enthusiasts wishing to explore the areas amazing narrow-gauge railways. Kalamata is the gateway to Olympia (the site of the original Olympic Games) and the site of ancient Messini, making it very popular with ancient history enthusiasts. Other historic sites to visit include the Caves of Diros, the Byzantine capital Mystras and the castle of Methoni.

Kalamata

The Kalamata area offers a vast diversity of landscapes including mountains, green valleys, rivers and ravines. There are fishing villages, mountain villages, cliff top coastal walks, secluded coves and ancient sites waiting to be explored. There are some lovely village resorts full of Greek character in the area surrounding Kalamata. These include the quaint fishing village of Finikounda which has three great beaches, the small harbour village of Pylos with its well-preserved fortress and Methoni fishing village with its cliff top castle. Other places to stay in the area include the town of Koroni on the tip of the Messinia Peninsula, the small resort of Yialova which has a wonderful large sandy beach surrounded by hills, olive groves and vineyards, and Stoupa on the Mani Peninsula which is an ideal location for lazing on the beach and exploring the surrounding area. Spring enjoys temperatures ranging from 16-20C and is a great time to explore the surrounding countryside and coastal trails, either on foot, by bicycle or on horse-back. Wander along the ancient mule tracks from village to village taking in the beautiful scenery, wild flowers and wildlife.

Pylos

The Blue Flag beaches in the Kalamata region are regarded as some of the best in Greece, with golden stretches of sandy beaches in attractive bays which gently slope to the tranquil warm blue sea. During the summer months the crystal-clear waters remain at a constant 25C, making them perfect for swimming, scuba-diving and snorkelling.

Kalamata itself is well known for its 13th century castle, museums and world-famous black olives, not to be missed on your last minute holiday deals to Greece. The old town has a lively main square and cosmopolitan town centre with plenty of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops and not forgetting its busy harbour. The marina offers various boat trips and other activities including windsurfing, sailing and fishing. The gentle breezes coming down from the Taygetos Mountains make sailing conditions in the Aegean and Ionian Sea ideal. During the summer months the castle plays host to many cultural events including a traditional folk festival, dance festival and film festival along with concerts and theatrical plays.

A great day out for the family on their holiday deals to Kalamata is a ferry trip from the port to Crete.

Kalamata enjoys long hot summers and mild winters. The summer season enjoys June temperatures of around 24C, rising to 26-27C during July and August.

The Pelion Peninsula is a beautiful unspoilt region of mainland Greece. This narrow peninsula is located north of Athens and has many small holiday resorts on it’s east and west coast. The west coast resorts enjoy the blue crystal clear waters of the Pagasitikos Gulf and the unspoilt east coast has secluded beaches and coves set amongst rocky inlets, caves and cliffs. The

Pelion beach

best beaches are found on the east coast and when you need a change from lazing on the beach there are plenty of watersports for you to try including diving, water-skiing, jet-skiing, wind surfing, sailing, canoeing and fishing. A great way to view the Pelion coastline and mountains is by boat, you can even visit the neighbouring Sporades Islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos and the off shore islands of Prassouthas and Alatas.

Traditional and authentic, the Pelion region is blessed with forests, fruit orchards, lush green valleys and meandering streams. The resort of Koropi is probaly the most tranquil of all the Pelion Peninsula resorts and is set in wonderful olive groves and pear orchards. Other resorts include the family favourites of Kala Nera, Horton, Koropi, Volos, the slightly livelier Milina and the even more lively Agios Ioannis.

Pelion olive grove

Walking holidays are very popular in Pelion and are best taken in the spring and autumn. There are no end of cobbled paths, trails and tracks which criss cross the peninsula, taking you through the forest clad mountains to quaint villages and to the amazing beaches. Explore the wonderful countryside on horseback, the best way to discover the hidden beauty off the beaten track.

Many visitors use the Pelion resorts as a base for exploring romantic little Greek villages like Milies, Makrinitsa, Vizitsa and Tsangarada which all have a unique atmosphere for you to enjoy a meal and drink or two in a traditional village.

Pelion steam train

The whole family will love a ride up Mount Pelion on the steam train. Passing through little mountain villages, olive groves and over intriguing bridges this trip is not to be missed on your bargain holidays to the Pelion region. Don’t forget your camera as you will have the chance to take some spectacular photos of the coastal views and the beautiful surrounding countryside.

The local villages in Pelion hold panygiras or summer festivals in the town squares with music, dancing and plenty of drinking which makes a welcome break from laying on the beach whilst on your direct holidays to Greece. The region also has lots of cultural events for you to enjoy including concerts, theatrical performances and exhibitions.

The resort of Porto Heli is located on the eastern coastline of The Peloponnese in Greece. The resort is about a two and a half hour drive from Athens.

Porto Heli

Porto Heli has a natural harbour which overlooks the Saronic Gulf and is close to lots of really nice beaches, including those at Ververoda, Hinitsa and Maistraki. These excellent beaches offer all kinds of watersports, including swimming, snorkelling, boating, windsurfing and water-skiing.

The resort offers plenty of restaurants and tavernas serving local and international cuisine, cafes, bars, nightclubs, open air cinemas, shops and boutiques. For children there is a large funfair and the Nemo fun park complete with sports facilities, bouncy castles and amusements.

With plenty of historical sites in the area visitors can spend many days out

Epidauros

 sightseeing. Great excursions include visits to Epidauros which has an amphitheatre and shrine dedicated to Ascelepios (the Greek God of healing), the quaint fishing village of Ermioni and the ruins of Halieis which are just a short walk from the resort. Halieis was a city here over 2500 years ago and you can still make out parts of the homes, the baths and olive press which were all part of the city.
The nearby islands of Spetses, Hydra and Poros can be reached by ferry or water taxi, making an enjoyable day out for the whole family. The island of Monemvasia is steeped in history, with more than 30 Byzantine churches for visitors to explore.

Spetses

Porto Heli enjoys long hot summers and cool wet winters with plenty of sunshine all year round. Temperatures peak at around 33C in July and August with up to 12 hours of sunshine a day. Winter temperatures drop to around 14C with around 6 hours of sunshine a day.

The facilities at the resort attract families who take advantage of the many summer holiday packages to Greece which are on offer throughout the internet.

Spring is the best time to take one of the last minute holiday deals as the weather is just right for exploring the beautiful countryside, sightseeing and taking part in the outdoor pursuits on offer here in Porto Heli.

Thessaloniki, Greeces’ second largest city, is an ideal destination for a great cultural city break. Sitting on the coast the city has a bustling harbour which faces the Bay of Thermaikos.

Thessaloniki

Situated in the Macedonia region of mainland Greece, Thessaloniki brims with history and culture. Here in the city you will find intriguing historical sites, fascinating architecture, museums, Byzantine churches which are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, squares and parks.  Archaeological sites in the area include the Roman Forum and baths, the Palace of Galerius, the Nymphion and the Vergina group of sites which includes the tomb of Alexander the Greats father.  Museums include the White Tower Museum, the Byzantine Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the State Museum of Contemporary Art.

Much of the city was destroyed by a fire in 1917 but it has since been rebuilt and is now a mix of old and new.  Parts of the Byzantine walls that seperated the old Jewish quarter and the famous White Tower are still standing.

White Tower

Mount Olympus, which is the highest mountain in Greece and the birthplace of the gods is just 48 miles from the city and worthy of a visit.

The beaches at Halkidiki are just 45 minutes from Thessaloniki, offering some great watersports or just a quiet relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of this great city.

Thessaloniki has a vibrant nightlife with clubs, discos, bazouki halls and fine dining and traditional restaurants. For those looking for quieter evenings there are some great bars and cafes along the waterfront and in the two main squares down in the harbour.

Halkidiki

The climate here is typically Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and cooler winters. July and August are the hottest months with temperatures reaching 27C and more than 10 hours of sunshine a day. October, November and December are the wettest and coldest months with temperatures often dropping as low as 7C.

For great city breaks to Thessaloniki watch out for the many travel deals that are available throughout the internet.

Bargain holidays to mainland Greece and the Greek Islands are always on offer for the whole family to enjoy a break in the sun.