On the coast, find bustling, umbrella-peppered beaches and secluded sandy coves, washed by turquoise waters and regularly doused in sunshine. Off shore, Greece’s 1400 islands, such as party-hard Mykonos and picturesque Santorini, offer a rainbow of paradisiacal settings for an idyllic island-hopping adventure.

The majority are thickly clustered in the Aegean between the Greek and Turkish coasts. The Ionian Islands are the exception; they are scattered along the west coast in the Ionian Sea, looking (both geographically and culturally) towards Italy. The Aegean archipelago includes the Dodecanese, lying off the Turkish coast, of which Rhodes is the best known; the northeast Aegean group, including Chios, Ikaria, Lemnos, Lesvos and Samos; the Sporades, off the central mainland; and the Cyclades, comprising 39 islands (of which only 24 are inhabited). Crete, the largest island (with an astounding 1,000km of coastline and a population of some 650,000), is not included in any formal grouping.

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2, 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are used.

General business opening hours

Mon-Fri 0830-1700.

2018

New Year’s Day: 1 January 2018
Epiphany: 6 January 2018
Start of orthodox Lent: 19 February 2018
Independence Day: 25 March 2018
Orthodox Good Friday: 6 April 2018
Orthodox Easter Sunday: 8 April 2018
Orthodox Easter Monday: 9 April 2018
Labour Day: 1 May 2018
Orthodox Whit Sunday: 27 May 2018
Orthodox Whit Monday: 28 May 2018
Assumption: 15 August 2018
Ochi Day: 28 October 2018
Christmas: 25 and 26 December 2018

All information subject to change.

Dedicated entirely to documentary filmmaking, this festival screens a thought-provoking selection of movies under a number of different categories, such as ‘Views of the World’, ‘Stories to Tell’ and ‘Human Rights’. Masterclasses, kids’ documentaries and glitzy parties are always on the agenda too.

In a one-day celebration of street culture, graffiti artists create eye-catching murals and DJs spin tunes to bouncing revellers. Street dance shows and breakdancing battles draw cheering crowds, while crazy parkour stunts leave onlookers gasping in disbelief. Live bands play on stage late into the evening.

Over 200,000 visitors flock to this annual fair promoting every Greek industry conceivable, from furniture to the farming sector to e-gaming. Visitors can browse new publications in the book market, check out the latest car models and listen to top Greek bands live on stage.

Held in odd years, Thessaloniki’s bienniale celebrates the Mediterranean, its culture and its people through art exhibitions, kids’ activities and guided tours. Numerous galleries, museums and places of worship play host to an exciting assortment of paintings, photos and sculptures.

This audio-visual festival showcases an eclectic mix of international and Greek contemporary music and artists, with a particular focus on new trends. Live concerts, visual art displays and buzzing club nights draw a cool crowd, with events running from late evening until dawn each day.

For a month each autumn, this hugely popular cultural festival stages around 50 different arts events. Classical concerts, theatrical productions, dance shows and art exhibitions all combine to make a world-class celebration which has become the second largest festival in Greece.

This half marathon is a race with a difference – it takes place after dark. More than 10,000 runners pound the streets beneath the city lights in both a half marathon and a 5k race, with crowds lining the pavements to cheer them on and DJs spinning tunes at the end.

International and Greek films are in the running for awards at this highly esteemed film festival, which is now well into its sixth decade. Movie fans can enjoy a fabulous programme of independent cinema, along with star appearances, dynamic discussions and masterclasses.

Held in the trendy Block 33 creative space, Greece’s biggest hip hop festival has been going strong for over a decade, attracting international acts such as British group Foreign Beggars and French producer Wax Tailor. Fans can also watch MC and DJ battles and take part in workshops.