Greece by timea

1) Snorkelling/Scuba Diving

There isn’t any one location we’d recommend for this. The Mediterranean is particularly shallow around the Greek islands, and rich in salt, making it particularly suitable for snorkelling. What’s more, the sea life in this part of the world is simply incredible. Snorkel in water that comes up to your waist, and you’re still guaranteed to see many bright and beautiful fish.

If you’re feeling more adventurous you could try scuba diving. As well as stunning subaquatic wildlife, the Greek coastline is home to fascinating ruins, from submerged temples dating back to ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, through to more modern day shipwrecks!

2) Visit a Volcano

Many of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, in the eastern Med, and closer to mainland Turkey than Greece, were formed by volcanic eruptions over the fault line between the European and African continental plates. While most of the volcanos are now dormant a handful are active, including Nisyros, an hour’s boat journey from the more tourist-friendly island of Kos. After a hair-raising bus journey into the mountains you can walk down into the caldera itself!

Nisyros – Caldera, Greece by David Llewellyn

3) Rock Climbing

Greece is a beautiful place, but few places are as striking and breath-taking as Meteora, in the north of the country. This craggy landscape of towering rocks and pinnacles is home to a vast complex of Eastern Orthodox Monasteries, and some incredible opportunities for rock climbing. Be aware, though, that much of the rock climbing in Meteora is not for beginners!

Meteora, Greece by Trevor Leyenhorst

4) Walking Tours

If climbing cliff-faces sounds a little white knuckle, perhaps a more gentle mountain walk would be more to your taste. Less than an hour’s drive from the centre of Athens, Mount Parnitha offers a wide range of routes for hiker, walkers and ramblers of all abilities, from beginners to the more advanced! As you might expect, the scenery here is the stuff of picture post cards, so remember to bring your camera!

5) Cherry Picking

If Greece is famous for anything, it’s food. Whether its seafood, olives, honey or feta cheese, a holiday to Greece is never anything less than mouth-watering. Greece’s cherries are, without a doubt, among the sweetest and tastiest grown anywhere in the world, and the Peloponnese region, in the south, is famous for its cherry orchards. Picking cherries makes a great day out for all the family, but if all that sounds like too much hard work, fear not! There’s every chance you’ll get to eat as many cherries as you pick!

Author Bio
David Llewellyn writes about travel and tourism for Life Is Good.

The post 5 Great Outdoor Activities in Greece appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Arian Zwegers

The rocks, on which monasteries are located, were formed about 30 million years ago. Initially there was a sea that constantly washed a sand, and finally created these strange formations. The sea finally receded and allowed the rocks to excel in all their glory. Since the beginning the rocky peaks are considered to be some kind of a magical place.

The first monastery called Megalo Meteoro was built by the monk Athanasios in 1336 on a cliff top at an altitude of 534 m. He moved here from Mount Athos and cave, where he lived before is now visible at the entrance to the monastery. Athanasios inspired other monks to the construction of monasteries and already in the 16th century there were 24 monasteries.

The decline of the Metéora monasteries began in the 18th century, when many church officials moved to the monk’s republic Athos. Unfortunately during the World War II, monasteries were bombed, and many of them were destroyed and others were vandalized. Only thirteen monasteries survived, six of which are open to the public, however monks and nuns are still living there. Therefore there are the exact opening hours determined, which change frequently.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Alexandre Van de Sande

Monasteries were decorated with beautiful icons, including the icons by Theophanes the Cretan and furnished with precious furniture. In the monasteries you can still see many rare wall frescoes and relics.

Metéora is popular not only as cultural and religious center but also as a renowned climbing area. Local high, smooth walls are a challenge for many climbing enthusiasts. In these places, you can meet the best climbing groups. But the local rocks must be approached with respect, and can in fact be very dangerous.

Monasteries are particularly popular destination for excursions, the tour with expert commentary is primarily a male monastery Varlaam and a female monastery Roussanou founded in the 1288. During the visit, you need to pay attention to certain strict regulation. Women must have skirts that cover their knees, and men need to have trousers. All need to have covered shoulders.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Domenico Salvagnin

The rock monasteries of Metéora are among the most visited monuments in Greece, attracting thousands of visitors each year. They are often visited by tourists, who spend their holidays on the Olympic Riviera. Just below the rocky cliffs there are the ancient towns of Kalambaka and Kastraki. Kalambaka is a tourist base for visitors to Metéora. Kastraki picturesque village is located between the rocks. Its history dates back to the days of Turkish domination and was founded by the Greeks, who’ve fled here from the Albania’s bloodthirsty ruler Ali Pasha.

View Meteora mountain in Greece in a larger map

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