Why choose Greece? | About Greece | Where in Greece | Athens | Crete | Santorini |
Mykonos | Rhodes | Corfu
Why choose Greece?
Once you visit Greece, this question will be answered.
Greece has many beautiful and unique destinations. It is a country with a very rich history that is more than 4000 years old, a history that is filled with the presence of some of the greatest civilizations ever. Aside from the history, modern Greece has much to show to the visitor. From the sandy beaches to fine restaurants and exquisite night life with people that are warm and friendly and most importantly, multilingual, especially English and French.
Ease of arrival
Most major international airports have direct flights to Greece. From the USA for there are daily flights from JFK International Airport. If there are no direct flights, one can find a connecting flight from most major European cities where there are multiple flights to Greece on a daily basis.
From the east cost of the USA, the direct flight time to Greece is about 8 hours. From Europe flight times vary from 1 to 3.5 hours. In addition large ferry boats and cruise ships connect most of southern Europe with ports in Greece. Once in Greece, one can easily travel to any destination via Train, Bus, Metro, Aeroplane, or if you are heading for the islands, the inter-island ferries are an excellent way to travel.
Airports
The new Eleftherios Venizelos airport outside Athens receives the bulk of international flights. Airports at Thessaloniki and Heraklion also serve international flights through out the year. Many other international airports in Greece accommodate mostly charter flights from Western Europe and the Americas. Airports on the islands of Mykonos, Corfu, Hania, Kos serve national flights.
Selection of venues
Greece has much to offer to the conference and incentive customer with many experts in the organization, management and operation of events, incentives and conferences. Over the past decade, the country's infrastructure has been rebuilt both because of the country's EU membership as well as the 2004 Olympic Games which resulted in new and totally renovated venues and hotels of the highest standard.
Landscapes
All you ever dreamed to discover can be found in Greece.
Natural landscapes such as the Santorini's volcano, the Olympos mountain, Meteora, Pylio, as well as the many beautiful islands are a nature lovers dream.
Urban landscapes such as: the Rion-Antirion bridge (the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, connecting Peloponese with the mainland), the Corinth Canal, the Olympic Stadium, the largest and newest Omni-theatre, the Athens Music Hall and the Athens Metro which is not only the newest metro but also a museum of ancient greek history displaying at major stations all ancient artifacts discovered during the excavations for the Metro make your stay in and around Athens very exciting.
Ancient landscapes such as the Parthenon, Delphi, Olympia, the sacred island of Delos, Vergina and so many others combined with more than 240 museums make Greece a "must" for everyone wishing to discover the roots of western civilization.
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About Greece
Facts
Capital: Athens (approximately 5 million inhabitants)
Area: 50,949 square miles (131,957 square kilometers)
System of Government: Parliamentary Republic
Population: 11 million
Language
The official language of Greece is Modern Greek. English and French are widely spoken and many other languages are commonly spoken in tourist locations.
Climate
The climate in Greece is typical of the Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry with extended periods of sunshine throughout most of the year. The winters are relatively mild and rainy, with temperatures rarely dropping to freezing point, mainly in the north.
Food
Greece is famous for its mezedes, appetizers accompanied with ouzo, tsipouro or wine served in small plates usually meant to be shared, based on the Greek culture of sharing food and wine with friends. Another popular plate is the Greek Salad (Horiatiki Salata) a mix of fresh tomatoes, olives, cucumber, onion, green pepper, feta cheese, olive oil and oregano. Since one fifth of Greece consists of islands, it is natural for seafood to be very common and popular part of Greek cuisine. Poultry, beef, lamb and pork are also popular and can be found in a variety of dishes.
Climate
The climate in Greece is typical of the Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry with extended periods of sunshine throughout most of the year. The winters are relatively mild and rainy, with temperatures rarely dropping to freezing point, mainly in the north.
Currency
The Greek currency until 2002 was the Drachma which was then replaced by the Euro, now the valid currency in Greece and 11 other European countries. Most major banks are present in Greece and offer currency exchange, traveller's cheques, major credit card transactions and ATMs that are part of international banking networks.
VAT and Tax Refunds
The Premier Tax Free tax refund system is straight forward, efficient and innovative.
In order to be eligible for a Premier Tax Free refund, the following conditions apply:
- The tourist must be a non resident of the country in which the purchase is made
- The tourist must spend a minimum amount to qualify
- The tourist must export the goods within 2 to 3 months of the date of purchase, depending on the country of purchase
- The tourist must obtain a valid Customs stamp on final departure from the visited jurisdiction
The simple steps below indicate how a tax refund can be easily obtained.
- The tourist buys goods eligible for a tax free refund.
- The shop gives the tourist a Premier Tax Free export declaration form which indicates: description of goods, price paid including tax, refund amount.
- The tourist brings the Premier Tax Free form and merchandise to the customs office at the last point of departure from the visited jurisdiction and where the form will be stamped. The form can either be mailed back to Premier Tax Free for a refund through credit card (Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Diners), cheque or bank transfer.
VAT rates and minimum purchases required to qualify for refunds
| VAT rate |
Minimum purchase in Euro |
Minimum purchase in U.S. dollars |
| 19% |
Euro 120,00 |
US$ 120,00 |
Opening Hours
General Trade Stores (Summer Months) |
| Mondays – Wednesday |
09:00 – |
15:00 hrs |
| Tuesday – Thursdays – Fridays |
09:00 – |
14:00 & 17:30 - 20:30 hrs |
| Saturdays |
09:00 – |
15:00 hrs |
| Sundays |
Closed |
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Pharmacies |
| Mondays, Wednesdays |
09:00 – |
14:30 hrs |
| Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays |
09:00 – |
14:00 & 17:30 - 20:30 hrs |
| Saturdays, Sundays |
Closed |
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Popular Art & Gift Shops (all year round) |
| Daily |
09:00 – |
21:00 hrs |
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| Supermarkets |
| Mondays – Fridays |
09:00 – |
20.30 hrs |
| Saturday |
09:00 – |
18:00 hrs |
| Sundays |
Closed |
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| Banks |
| Mondays – Thursdays |
09:00 – |
14:00 hrs |
| Friday |
09:00 – |
13:30 hrs |
| Saturdays, Sundays |
Closed |
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Electrical Current
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. A variety of plugs are in use including the European-style two-pin and the round three-pin.
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Where in Greece
Cities/destinations offered
Let us give you the reasons why you should choose Athens, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Mykonos or Santorini for your next Conference, Congress, Symposium, Meeting, Incentive, etc...
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