I SBN 978 -1 -74220 -226 -6

9 781742 202266

99425

2ND EDITIONPublished May 2012First Published Nov 2010

USA $24.99UK £16.99

p51

Athens &Around

p101Peloponnese,

Corfu &Kefallonia

p147

Delphi, Meteora &Thessaloniki

p195

Santorini,Mykonos &the Cyclades

p233Crete

p277

Rhodes &the Dodecanese

Our promiseYou can trust our travel information because Lonely Planet authors visit the places we write about, each and every edition. We never accept freebies for positive coverage so you can rely on us to tell it like it is.

Experience the best of GreeceThe Acropolis, Ancient Delphi, sunset on Santorini – we’ve selected the most iconic sights and incredible places so you can enjoy the real Greece with the minimum fuss.

puts the streets of Athens in your pocket

PULL-OUT MAP

recommend what not to miss

LOCAL EXPERTS

ITINERARIESmake planning your trip simpler than ever

reveal the must-see attractions and unbeatable experiences

HIGHLIGHTS

Experience the best of Greece

Discover

GreecePULL-OUT MAP

HIGHLIGHTS

LOCAL EXPERTS

ITINERARIES

Greece

Discover

WITHPULL-OUT

MAP

discover-greece-2-cover.indd 1 20/01/2012 2:06:15 PM

Discover

1 Sights

5 Eating

6 Drinking

4 Sleeping

8 Information

ContentsI

Throughout this book, we use these icons to highlight special recommendations:

These icons help you quickly identify reviews in the text and on the map:

Don’t MissA must-see – don’t go home until you’ve been there

If you like…Lesser-known alternatives to world-famous attractions

Local experts reveal their top picks and secret highlights

DetourSpecial places a little off the beaten track

The Best…Lists for everything from bars to wildlife – to make sure you don’t miss out

This edition written and researched by

Korina MillerKate Armstrong, Alexis Averbuck, Michael Stamatios Clark,

Chris Deliso, Des Hannigan, Victoria Kyriakopoulos, Andrea Schulte-Peevers, Richard Waters

Greece

01a-title-dc-gre2.indd 1 17/01/2012 3:09:40 PM

p51

Athens &Around

p101Peloponnese,

Corfu &Kefallonia

p147

Delphi, Meteora &Thessaloniki

p195

Santorini,Mykonos &the Cyclades

p233Crete

p277

Rhodes &the Dodecanese

Athens & AroundHighlights ...............................54

Acropolis

Hellenic & Athens Festival

Acropolis Museum

Historical Meanderings

Evening Pursuits

Hydra

Temple of Poseidon

Peloponnese, Corfu & KefalloniaHighlights .............................. 104

Exploring Ancient Olympia

Kayaking on Kefallonia

Magical Monemvasia

Enchanting Nafplio

The Mani

Corfu Town

Serene Paxi

Delphi, Meteora & ThessalonikiHighlights .............................. 150

Ancient Delphi

Meteora

Sightseeing in Thessaloniki

Theatre of Dodoni

Lively Ioannina

Zagorohoria Villages

Cross-cultural Cuisine

CreteHighlights ..............................236

Peza Wine Region

Legendary Knossos

Samaria Gorge

Rethymno’s Old Quarter

Elafonisi

Rugged Anogia

Rhodes & the DodecaneseHighlights ..............................280

Rhodes Old Town

Spiritual Patmos

Beach Bumming on Kos

Charming Lindos

Steaming Nisyros

Colourful Gialos

Patmos’ Hora

01b-contents-dc-gre2.indd 2 20/01/2012 1:43:11 PM

Contents

This is Greece .................6

Greece Map .....................8

Greece’s Top Experiences ..................10

Greece’s Top Itineraries ......................32

Greece Month by Month ...................... 42

Get Inspired ..................47

Need to Know .............. 48

Athens & Around 51Highlights ..................... 54

Best… ............................ 62

Walking Tour ................ 64

Athens ........................... 66

Excursions .....................93Piraeus............................ 93Temple of Poseidon .....97Peania & Around .......... 98Hydra .............................. 98

Peloponnese, Corfu & Kefallonia 101Highlights ................... 104

Best… ........................... 110

Itineraries .....................112

Peloponnese ............... 114Ancient Mycenae ........ 114Nafplio ........................... 115Epidavros ......................119Mystras..........................119Monemvasia & Gefyra ............................ 121Gythio ........................... 122The Mani .......................124Langada Pass .............. 125Kardamyll ......................127Olympia .........................127

Santorini, Mykonos & the CycladesHighlights .............................198

Santorini Boat Trips

Ancient Delos

Mykonos After Dark

Oia

Naxos

Beaches

On the RoadPlan Your Trip

01b-contents-dc-gre2.indd 3 20/01/2012 1:43:17 PM

Contents

Anogia ...........................258Moni Preveli .................258Moni Arkadiou ............. 259Hania .............................260Samaria Gorge ............268Elafonisi ........................269Agios Nikolaos ............270Spinalonga Island ...... 273Sitia ............................... 273

Rhodes & the Dodecanese 277Highlights ...................280

Best… .......................... 286

Itineraries ................... 288Rhodes .........................290Rhodes Town ..............291Kalithea Thermi ......... 298Eastern Rhodes ......... 299Western Rhodes & the Interior ............. 302

Symi ...............................303Gialos ............................303Moni Taxiarhou Mihail Panormiti .....................304

Nisyros ..........................305Halki ..............................305 Nikea & Emborios ......306

Kos ................................... 30Kos Town .................... 308The Volcano .................309Around Kos .................314

Patmos ..........................290

Santorini, Mykonos & the Cyclades 195Highlights ....................198

Best… .......................... 202

Itineraries ...................204

Mykonos .......................206Hora (Mykonos) ..........207Around Mykonos ........213

Delos ...............................215

Naxos ..............................215Hora (Naxos) ................216Ancient Delos .............. 217Around Naxos ............ 220

Santorini (Thira) ........ 222Panagia Drosiani .........223 Fira ................................223Oia ................................. 227Ancient Thira .............. 230Around Santorini ....... 230

Crete 233Highlights ................... 236

Best… ..........................240

Itineraries ................... 242Iraklio ............................245Knossos .........................251Cretaquarium .............. 251Rethymno ....................254Agreco Farm .............. 255

Corfu ............................. 130Corfu Town ................. 131South of Corfu Town ..138West Coast..................138Paxi ................................ 138

Kefallonia ......................139Argostoli ....................... 140Assos ............................ 143Around Argostoli ........144Fiskardo........................ 144

Delphi, Meteora & Thessaloniki 147Highlights ....................150

Best… ...........................156

Itineraries ....................158

Delphi ............................ 160Mt Parnassos ............. 163Pelion Peninsula ..........164

Meteora .........................165Kalambaka ....................167Kastraki ........................ 169

Thessaloniki .................170Moni Megalou Meteorou ......................171Halkidiki ........................ 182Litohoro ........................ 185Petralona Cave ............185Mt Olympus ..................186Ioannina.........................187Dodoni .......................... 190The Zagorohoria .......... 191The Island ......................192

01b-contents-dc-gre2.indd 4 20/01/2012 1:43:18 PM

Directory .................... 358Accommodation ........ 358Business Hours ......... 359Climate ....................... 360Customs Regulations ................ 360Discount Cards .......... 360Electricity ....................361Embassies & Consulates ..................361Gay & Lesbian Travellers .....................361Health ......................... 362Internet Access ......... 362Legal Matters............. 362Money ......................... 363Public Holidays .......... 363Safe Travel ................. 364Smoking ..................... 364Telephone .................. 364Time ............................ 365Toilets ......................... 365Tourist Information ... 365Travellers with Disabilities.................. 365Visas ........................... 365Women Travellers ..... 366

Transport ....................366Getting There & Away ........................... 366Getting Around .......... 367

Language .....................374

Behind the Scenes.....375

Index ............................ 382

How to Use This Book ............................390

Our Writers ................. 392

Greece Today ............. 322

History ........................ 324

Family Travel .............. 335

The Ancient Greeks ...337

Lifestyle & Culture ...340

Architecture & Art ....344

Cuisine ........................348

Outdoor Activities .... 352

Skala ............................ 315Kefalos Bay ...................316Monastery of St John the Theologian ........... 318Hora .............................. 318North of Skala ............319South of Skala ............319

Survival GuideIn Focus

01b-contents-dc-gre2.indd 5 20/01/2012 1:43:18 PM

This Is Greece

Wide-open skies;

dramatic, plunging

coastlines; and

mysterious ancient ruins

beckon…

It’s easy to understand how so many myths of gods and gi-ants originated in this varied landscape. Wide-open skies; dramatic, plunging coastlines; and mysterious ancient ruins beckon with the promise of stories yet to be discov-ered. Walled medieval towns and hill-top villages transport you to long-ago eras, remote beaches tell epic tales of many-oared ships, and city life overflows with creativity as vibrant as Apollo’s and a passion as pure as Aphrodite’s.

Let the Greece you’ve been imagining fill your senses. Whether it’s through the pulsing nightclubs of Mykonos or the solemnity of Meteora; the grandeur of Delphi or the earthiness of Metsovo; the rug-ged Cretan hillsides and the lush wildflowers of spring, it’s not difficult to find the Greece you were hoping for.

Greece embraces the past passion-ately while simultaneously welcoming the future. You’ll quickly become acquainted with the melancholic throb of rembetika (blues songs) and the ability of the ancient sights to unleash an imagination you might not have realised you had. You’ll also encounter thought-provoking modern art and a vivacious contemporary music scene, stumbling across galleries, impressively modern mu-seums, and live-music acts in the most unexpected places.

Stretch your legs and your love of the outdoors. Greece offers endless activities and is a magnet for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. Wan-der along cobbled Byzantine footpaths, hike volcanoes, watch for dolphins and sea turtles, and cycle through lush forests. Greece also offers some of the world’s top kitesurfing, diving and rock-climbing locations.

Greece is essentially a laid-back place. Lounge endlessly at cafes over coffee, stroll along the seafront, park yourself on a beach, take your time over meals and you’ll fit right in. Greeks know how to enjoy life and are renowned as some of the most hospitable people on the globe. Their generosity and warmth is as genuine as the soft sand between your toes and the glow of the Aegean sun.

Hillside town of Oia (p227)PHOTOGRAPHER: SHANIA SHEGEDYN/LONELY PLANET IMAGES ©

6

01b-this-is-greece-dc-gre-2.indd 6 17/01/2012 3:23:19 PM

01b-this-is-greece-dc-gre-2.indd 7 17/01/2012 3:23:23 PM