Sea & Sand of Greece
The wealth and diversity of the Greek seas, the endless kilometers of the Greek coast and the thousands of Greek islands, the protected sea areas covering thousands of square kilometers, the mild climate, the high percentage of sunshine and its interesting and varying landscape make Greece the ideal destination for the development of sea tourism activities.
This advantage is strengthened both by thousands of years of marine tradition and by conditions favorable for sea travelling: the Greek seas are considered safe, distances between coasts are small, while conditions related to wind strength, ambient and sea temperatures are equally favorable.
In Greece sea tourism started in the ‘60s and since then has been developing at a fast pace, especially in recent years.
Cruise ships under Greek flag organizing short or longer cruises to Greek ports and ports of other countries of the Eastern Mediterranean amount to more than 160,000 GRT units and have a total capacity of over 10,000 passengers. Greek ports, however, are also visited by cruise ships under foreign flags, which annually bring more than 500,000 passengers into the country by sea.
Beaches in Greece
Greece has one of the longest coastlines in the world – almost 16.000km. The mainland and island areas end in a myriad variety of coastlines, with countless beautiful small beaches, charming bays and coves. Half of the aforementioned length includes the thousands of Greek islands scattered through the Greek seas, while the rest extends along the mainland.
The Greek shores are world-famous and exceedingly popular because they are known for their crystal clean and clear waters, as well as for their unique diversity. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy beaches stretching along over many kilometers, sheltered bays and coves, golden stretches of sand with dunes, pebble beaches, coastal caves with steep rocks and dark sand typical of volcanic soil.
Cosmopolitan destinations with a high level of infrastructure and services, family units at reasonable prices but with high standards, and lonely beaches, totally unspoiled, satisfy every need. Peaceful coves, where one can swim and fish, endless beaches with waves big enough for windsurfing, beaches with a variety of services to offer, promising absolute pleasure (where, apart from swimming, you can enjoy water sports – water skiing, windsurfing, diving, as well as other means of having fun in the water, such as the parasailing, “inner tubes”, “bananas”, wakeboard, jet ski) urban beaches a stone’s throw from cities, all allow the visitor to enjoy the rejuvenating power of the Greek seas.
Every year hundreds of beaches and marinas in Greece are awarded with the Blue Flag. The Blue Flag award to a beach is an international institution that began in 1987. The criteria a beach must meet in order to receive a Blue Flag are very strict, both from an environmental viewpoint as well as from the aspect of services provided to bathers and safety. In Greece about 400 beaches and 9 marinas have been awarded the Blue Flag; this number rises each year, a true indication of the Greeks’ love and regard for the sea.
Cruises
Every one of the 3,000 Greek islands is a travelling experience in itself. But if you want to briefly experience the charming Greek islands and at the same time enjoy the comfort and luxury of a cruise-ship, book a cabin on a cruise-ship to the islands. A travelling experience that will surely remain unforgettable!
The new, luxurious, completely safe and state of the art technology Greek and foreign owned cruise-ships promise to make even the weekend memorable!
Travel agencies can provide you with all-inclusive programs that combine guided tours of the majority of the archaeological sites found on the Greek islands, purchases and strolls in traditional settlements, swimming in captivating beaches, sceneries and places that will remain with you forever.
Greece is an idyllic place for short or longer cruises, as it has many islands and ports which you can visit, as well as an ideal climate allowing for pleasant travelling conditions nearly all year round.
Moreover, a cruise on the Greek seas gives you the opportunity to visit important archaeological sites, unique churches and monasteries, monuments of more recent periods, extremely interesting museums and traditional settlements and villages as well as to enjoy the natural beauties in many of the country’s regions.
There are many Greek companies, as well as quite a few foreign agencies, that organize cruises on the Greek seas and to the islands.
Yachting in Greece
Greece is the ideal place for a surreal escape to the endless blue. Its seas and islands need no further introduction. By sailboat or motorized craft, inflatable or even by boat – the choices are endless. Deserted beaches that cannot be reached by land are in abundance. Escaping to the blue by boat has its own unique charm that is linked to man’s primordial need to become an integral part of nature.
Dozens of companies rent out recreational boats. Known for their professionalism and large experience, they are a guarantee for safe, economical and unforgettable holidays for the group or family who decide to try this one-of-a-kind and memorable experience. The Greek seas and coasts, with their many comparative advantages, have made yachting a very popular activity, among both the Greek people and foreign visitors.
A trip on the calm Greek waters, on your own or a chartered yacht, offers you the possibility to sail among extremely beautiful clusters of islands, to anchor in naturally protected bays of rare beauty, to visit inaccessible beaches and to swim with safety in exceptionally clear and transparent waters.
Arrival on a privately owned vessel (foreign flag)
Before arriving in Greece on your own vessel bearing a foreign flag, you should obtain information on the basic regulations in force concerning entry and exit, as well as the formalities required.
