Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization for its many contributions. In politics, it is the birthplace of democracy and even political science. In sports, it is where the Olympic Games originated. In science and philosophy, it produced unparalleled minds like Euclid, Hippocrates, Archimedes, Pythagoras, Thales, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, among others. Even in art and literature, Greece has much to show for. And if these are not enough to convince you to visit Greece, here are five reasons that surely will.

1. Greek Archaeology

Greece is synonymous with archaeology, with many ancient temples and other monuments, which is one of the main reasons to visit Greece. Many of these monuments can be found in the Acropolis of Athens, like the world-famous Parthenon, the largest Doric temple in the world and the most important monument of classical Greece still remaining, as well as the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erectheion, although you can find some in other parts of the city, too, like the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest temple in ancient Greece. The archaeological sites of Kerameikos and Ancient Agora are worth visiting, too.

Aside from the ancient monuments in Athens, you will also find equally interesting ones in other cities, like the Temple of Demeter at Naxos, the Temple of Apollo at Gortyna and Delphi and the Knossos Palace in Crete. In fact, wherever you go in Greece, you are sure to see a remarkable archaeological site just nearby.

If you’d rather just see ancient Greek sculptures, though, or the artifacts that were excavated from these sites, you should visit the archaeological museums in Greece, starting with the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, which has the finest collection, including the Mask of Agamemnon and Praxiteles’ statue of Aphrodite.

2. Beaches

One of the reasons why Greece is considered to be such a romantic destination is because it has a long coastline dotted with idyllic beaches, most of which offer white sand and warm, crystal waters, while some are backed by dramatic cliffs and villas. Many of these are Blue Flag beaches, too, with the best ones found in Kefalonia and Zakynthos, while nudism is acceptable almost everywhere, but most particularly on Banana Beach in Skiathos and Eresos Beach in Lesvos. There are many great diving spots, too, and several sea caves to explore.

3. Gastronomy

Greek cuisine is one of the healthiest in the world, with olive oil, wine, feta cheese and vegetables like eggplant and zucchini as the most popular ingredients, although seafood, meat and poultry dishes are abundant, too. Popular Greek specialties include Gyros (roasted meat), Souvlaki (meat on skewers), Baklava (phyllo pastry dessert), oven-baked lamb with potatoes and Greek Salad, which is basically a tomato salad with feta cheese, olives, red onions, cucumber and olive oil dressing, while wine and beer are common drinks – all of which you can sample at various restaurants when you visit Greece.

4. Greece by Night

Partying all night is another reason to visit Greece. Indeed, Greece is well-known for its vibrant nightlife, particularly in its capital city, Athens, and in the islands of Mykonos, Skiathos, Corfu and Samos, where the party can go on until seven in the morning. During the summer, most of the parties take place at the seaside, where you can start the evening with a stroll and cap it with watching the glorious sunrise…if you’re still on your feet, that is.

5. Movie Locations in Greece

Are you a movie buff? If so, you should definitely visit Greece, where several great movies were filmed. These include the James Bond movie ‘For Your Eyes Only’ which featured the spectacular Aghia Triatha monastery at Meteora, ‘Shirley Valentine’ which was filmed mostly on Mykonos, ‘Zorba the Greek’ which has scenes filmed in Crete and recently, ‘Mamma Mia!’ with some scenes shot on Skopelos and the Pelion coast of mainland Greece.

Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has been to world wide tourist destinations like Greece. To book your car hire in Greece or learn more about discount car hire worldwide, visit Zencarhire.com.

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