.

.

Athens and the surrounding districts are full of stunning sandy and pebble beaches, where visitors can partake of the many water-sport facilities offered. Most organized beaches provide for activities such as, volleyball, tennis, basketball, as well as, waterslides water tubes, and canoes. Several beaches also offer waterskiing and windsurfing lessons by qualified experts. They also provide changing rooms, umbrellas and deck chairs, playgrounds and eating areas. If you are a sports buff you may wish to watch the professional beach volleyball games at the Schinia, Palio Faliro and Palaia Fokia beaches.

Some of the main beaches in the Attica area to visit are Alepochori, Avlaki, Anavissos, Chalkoutsi, Glyfada, Kavouri, Kineta, Legraina, Loutsa, Mati, Megara, Nea Makri, Oropos, Porto Rafti, Rafina, Schinia, Sounion, Varkiza, Voula and Vouliagmeni.

The beneficial waters of Vouliagmeni Lake are ideal for a relaxing swim. It is believed the lake has therapeutic values because of the minerals in the water.

HISTORY OF SPORTS

The development of sport throughout history teaches us a great deal about social changes, and about the nature of sport itself. Sport seems to involve basic human skills being developed and exercised for their own sake, in parallel with being exercised for their usefulness. This suggests that sport is probably as old as the existence of people as purposive beings, and that it was a useful way of people learning and developing,l increasing their mastery of nature and the environment.

ANCIENT GREECE

A variety of sports were operationial at the time of the Ancient Greek Empire. Wrestling, running, boxing, javelin, discus throwing, and chariot racing were prevalent. This idea is because of the military culture of Greece and its influence on the development of its sports. The Olympic games were held every four years in Ancient Greece. The games were held not simply as a sporting event, but as a celebration of individual excellence, cultural and artistic variety, and a showplace for architectural and sculptural innovation. it was a time of thanks and respect for the Gods of the Greek religion. The games are named after Mount Olympus, a sacred place where the Gods were said to live. A time of truce was declared during the Olympic Games, as military actions and public executions were suspended. This  enabled  people to congregate peacefully and to compete in a civilised and respectful atmosphere.

DISABLE SPORTS

Generally, disabled sports means sports played by the physically or mentally disabled; more specifically, sports that have been devised or modified for this purpose. Organised competitions are believed to have begun after World War II, when large numbers of disabled war veterans where looking for some form of competitive activity. Large numbers of disabled people now take part in some form of sport, and elite competitions have begun. The most prestigious such competition in many sports is the Paralympic Games, a multi-sport event usually held in an Olympic host city a short time after the Olympic competition is completed. Most sports played by the able-bodied have been adapted to be played by people with varying types of disability. 

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

YACHTING IN GREECE

Yachting in Greece is very popular holiday activity and often visitors choose to spend their leisure time sailing around the islands rather than staying on land. You can cruise through the sparkling Aegean, visiting the bright and sunny Cyclades Islands, explore the coves and shores of the Dodecanese Islands, sail around the verdant Ionian Islands, discover the hidden beauties of the Cretan and Libyan Sea and take wonderful day trips yachting in the Sporades and Saronic Island clusters.

Yacht charter agencies can be found throughout Greece, especially in the seaside areas of Attica. They offer a wide range of cruises in Greece, including Greek Island cruises and sailing trips around the shoreline of the Peloponnese, which is absolutely stunning. Most sailing and motor yacht charter agencies in Greece offer discount cruises, depending on the season and the number of cruise participants, as well as all inclusive cruise deals that include a good selection of additional travel services. Luxury cruises in Greece are also available and provide participants with lavish, fully-crewed yachts and extra amenities.

In Greece, yachting aficionados will find a large variety of sailboats and motor yachts to choose from. Charter yacht fleets in Greece include bareboat charter and crewed yachts. If you have a sailing license, you can charter a yacht from a yacht broker and take to the Greek seas on your own. Family cruise vacations are very popular, as they offer exciting moments to both adults and children. Luxury yachts have become a favorite of honeymooners and couples who want to go on a romantic luxury cruise in Greece. Recently, gay cruising has become quite popular, as its makes it easy to hop from island to island that provide gay friendly facilities.

When you look at the night sky you see constellations named for heroes and heroines of ancient Greek mythology - Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Orion,  You may live near a city that takes its name from ancient Greece, like Athens in Texas, Georgia, or New York. Nashville, Tennessee calls itself the "Athens of the South" and is home to an exact replica of the Parthenon, the 5th-century BC Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. Their NFL team is even called the Tennessee Titans, named for the first of the ancient Greek gods.

One of our most significant human accomplishments - manned flight to the moon - was named for the Greek god Apollo. Why are we fascinated with ancient Greece? Greek culture - its myths, theater, architecture, and sports - has influenced and inspired people for centuries, even millennia! We see the evidence of ancient Greece around us every day - in the constellations we identify in the heavens or the Olympic games held every four years; in the stories we tell and in the movies we see; in the architecture of our houses, churches, and public buildings and in our democratic system of government.

GOLF IN GREECE

Greece is not a traditionally golfing country, but the sport is definitely on the rise, and the country now feature six excellent golf clubs. Of course, none of the members of the your Greece Network of Great Small Hotels is large enough to operate its own golf course, but a few hotels are within easy driving distances from clubs where you can play. On Corfu, the Pelecas Country Club is situated about 6 km from the Corfu Golf Club at Ropa Valley. In the Old Town of Rhodes you can use the Marco Polo Mansion as a base for golfing holidays – at only about 15 km you can play at the Afandou Golf Course. In Crete, Villa Arhanes has a special cooperation with the Crete Golf Club at Hersonissos, situated at about 35 km from the hotel.

There are many things that Greece is famous for, but skiing and snowboarding are not among them. It is not surprising that a country with close to 14.000 km of coastline and over 2000 islands, and a wonderful Mediterranean climate to go with it, it is considered a place for summer holidays. Not many people realise though that 75% of Greece is covered by mountains, many of which reach over 2000 meters, and that there are 18 ski resorts in the country, usually operating from the end of December until mid-April. The snow is generally good quality, although by April, when the weather gets warmer, the snow tends to get a little slushy after midday.

Admittedly, Greek ski resorts can't compete with the bigger resorts in Northern Europe (some have just a handful of lifts and open only on weekends), but there are several where you can do some serious skiing, and they offer a totally different experience from what you are probably used to. For one, you get a lot of sunny weather. But also, imagine skiing in the morning and have some grilled fish for lunch on a terrace by the sea. That, you don’t get in Gstaad or Courchevel. In Greece you do. 

Greeks are not really into walking for recreational purposes. The joke that a Greek’s favorite walk is from the parking to the taverna may be a tad exaggerated, but truth of the matter is that the closest most Greeks come to going for a walk, is a leisurely stroll through the park in their Sunday best Even when town’s people walk their dog they usually don’t make it beyond the first street corner.

Greece is such a great country for walking and trekking. Wherever you are, you are never far from nature. Even from the centre of Athens, it only takes about a quarter of an hour to the mountains with beautiful trails to follow. Unpaved roads, paths and goat trails across the country side, and there is no more relaxing way to explore mountains, gorges, islands, flower-filled fields, forests and olive groves than on foot. 

HORSE RIDING

Horse riding is gaining in popularity in Greece and during your travels through the country, you will come across places and riding clubs where you can make excursions on horseback. Please be aware: the quality of those clubs varies significantly, and unless you are an experienced rider and you feel you can properly judge the situation, it may not be wise to go riding at the first place you come across. Keep in mind that places where you are not required to wear a helmet by definition are not insured.

ROCK CLIMBING

There are various sites in Greece both for beginners and for experienced rock climbing enthusiasts. The Meteora, a group of incredible rock formations with centuries-old monasteries perched on top, is certainly one of the most amazing places in the world for rock climbing. Trekking Hellas organises one-day programmes for all levels of difficulty. Depending on your experience they will recommend the appropriate route for you. For beginners, basic physical condition and lack of acrophobia are the only prerequisites. You should have comfortable clothes and if you are a beginner, a pair of athletic shoes. For summer time do not forget your hat, sun cream and sunglasses. A little backpack with some water and light snack is also necessary.

CANNONING

Greece, with its massive mountain ranges, hides numerous gorges that are absolutely great for canyoning.  There are routes of varying difficulty with rappels from 10 up to 70 meters' height. The best time of the year for this sport is between June and October.

SCUBA DIVING

If you think that the best thing about Greece is sunbathing on sandy beaches and swimming in crystal blue waters, think deeper. Most of this sun stricken land’s marine beauty lies under the surface, some 10 or 20 meters below. Even if you are not an experienced scuba diver and the words buoyancy and regulator don’t mean anything to you, you can still add this unique experience to the ones you will take home when your holidays in Greece are over.

Things used to be hard for scuba diving in Greece. Until not long ago, Greek laws allowed diving only in a few restricted centre. Numerous antiquities are hidden at the depths of the Greek seas and authorities were concerned that amateur divers might end up dragging amphorae and statues up to the surface and taking them home as souvenirs! But a law voted in February 2006 finally allows scuba diving all around Greece with a few exceptions.

Greece has many talented well trained instructors who enjoy their work and are keen to teach others what they know, and pass on their knowledge of the world under the sea. They can offer you a brief get-to-know-how-it-feels-to-be-a-fish, or one or more scuba certifications, depending on the time you can spare and how interested you are.

The people who don’t belong to the scuba diving family might think it takes a lot to find yourself surrounded by nothing but water, 20 meters below the surface with a regulator in your mouth, watching the fish swim by. This is not actually the case. All you need is a qualified, experienced instructor to teach you all you need to know - which is not all that much, really - and the desire to go for it. Once you scuba dive, just swimming on the surface will never be enough.

For people who are experienced divers, Greece is a scuba destination you must make a note of in your diary You can wreck dive, cave dive, night dive… You can enjoy the Mediterranean marine life and you may even stumble upon some amphorae… And once you surface, you can dive in the Greek lifestyle, hospitality, fun and cuisine

The average water temperature 12° Celsius in the winter and 25° Celsius in the summer. The average visibility is 15 meters. Note this is average. In the sites you will most probably be diving, the visibility will amaze you. Best time to dive is the summer although with the correct wet suit it’s very enjoyable in winter to.

RAFTING

Greece has numerous densely vegetated rivers giving us amazing rafting opportunities. Experience is unnecessary unless you go for a high difficulty level); the only requirements are swimming knowledge, a basic physical condition and a bit of yearning for fun and adventure. The instructions you get in the raft are always simple: all you need to understand is the difference between left and right.

There are 6 (internationally accepted) levels of difficulty, ranging from ‘easy’  to ‘foolish to attempt’.  rafting descents on various rivers in Greece. Most are suitable for beginners and are still challenging for the more experienced Children over 14 years old are welcome to participate whilst during summer time children over 8 years old, can participate in the easy descents.

ROCK CLIMBING

There are numerous sites in Greece suitable for beginners and for experienced rock climbing enthusiasts. The Meteora, a group of incredible rock formations with centuries-old monasteries perched on top, is certainly one of the most amazing places in the world for rock climbing. u. For beginners, basic physical condition and lack of acrophobia are the only prerequisites. You should have comfortable clothes and if you are a beginner, a pair of athletic shoes. For summer time do not forget your hat, sun cream and sunglasses. A little backpack with some water and light snack is also necessary.

CULTURAL ARTS CRAFTS

When you come on holidays in Greece you will find it easy to understand that the amazing scenery, the richness of the colours, the abundance of sunlight and the gentle rhythms of life never fail to inspire painters, mosaic artists, photographers, writers, musicians, poets and sculptors, Greeks and foreigners alike. For many, no matter where they are from, Greece is the place they return to every summer, to write poetry, to draw, to take photographs, to paint or to play music. Many have made Greece their second home, and some even decided to stay all year round.

You can also turn your stay in Greece into a creative escape. It can be as simple as looking around you and taking pictures or making drawings, turning pieces of driftwood found on a beach into a little sculpture or dancing to the enchanting rhythms of Greek traditional music, or you can be more serious about it and enroll in art courses or workshops. Or a course in photography.

ECO ARGO HOBBIES

If you are looking for a real escape from your ‘normal’ life, then Greece is the place for you. Athens and the well-known tourist destinations are, interesting and entertaining .but there is still plenty of areas where you can get away from it all.

A deserted beach on a remote little island is what many dream of. It still exists, though in the middle of the summer you will find that wherever the ferryboats go, quite a few other people go as well, and that they have exactly that same beach in mind. But there are other destinations in Greece which are totally off the beaten track. Mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, wetlands, gorges, wild-life sanctuaries offer amazing opportunities for anyone looking for an escape in nature. They are a paradise for outdoor  activities  like hiking and trekking, rafting, river trekking, mountain climbing, kayaking and canoeing.

You can stay in little villages and mingle with the locals, while taking full advantage of the beauty of the nature surrounding you. You can visit wildlife sanctuaries, go bird watching, or get a local guide to teach you about the flora and fauna. There are even a few spots where you can stay in places that are in the midst of nature and run in a fully sustainable manner, offering a complete eco-tourism experience.

A  stay in a more rural area can also be a wonderful way to experience a different way of life. t there are quite a few warm, welcoming and comfortable guesthouses on agricultural estates that will bring you in contact with traditional Greek ways of farming and, if you so wish, even be part of it.

SPARS

Greece is synonymous with spa and well-being. Relaxation? Spread your towel on a sandy beach and let the sun warm your body, there is no better way to relax. Rejuvenation? An occasional dip in the sea will do the trick. Aroma therapy? How about the fragrances of thyme and blossoming jasmine filling the summer air? Weight loss or detoxification? Follow the simple Greek diet and you are already halfway. Thalassotherapy? Infinite supplies of crystal clear seawater are at your disposal. Therapeutic steam baths? You can take your pick of hundreds of natural warm spas all over Greece.

But maybe you want to indulge in aromatherapy massage, shiatsu, Reiki, yoga in the open-air, a beauty treatment, sauna or a body mask. Several  towns have their own small spa and beauty centre where you will be treated as professionally in any big, glam spa resort. Some cooperate with highly qualified yoga teachers, or can arrange for an appointment with a shiatsu practitioner.

 Athens today has the superabundance of theatre groups and buildings? In Athens only, there are more than 100 theatre groups and the number in all or the University theatre groups that make their presence more powerful and prominent into the theatre world. After 1981, in almost every town outside Athens metro area, Municipal Theatres were set up with talented directors and actors, some of them protagonists of the main Athenian stages.

The new theatrical currents are now more "arty" and sophisticated, and some groups present their work to appeal to the special and experimental views that seem to respond to current audience taste. Finally, one should mention that many years ago (and to a larger extent today) has began a co-operation between theatre groups abroad and theatre groups in Greece.

ENTERTAINMENT

Greece is famous for its original lifestyle. All visitors may have an excellent stay and experience a lot of pleasant activities. Apart from getting to know the culture, the idyllic countryside, the Greek gastronomy, visitors should meet the tingling Greek life style.

NIGHTLIFE

Greece has lot of theatres, music cafes, trendy shops, music stages, cinemas, bars, night clubs, dancing clubs, funky restaurants, classy meeting points, casinos and after hours is easy to access everywhere in Greece, all year round. Usually, all nightclubs opening hours are from 10.00p.m until dawn. Nevertheless, it is easy to find places for entertainment during the daylight as well. People of all ages may find a suitable place to have fun and to get to know the famous Greek life style. Almost everywhere you choose to go you will have the opportunity to discover their places of interest and feel warmly welcomed.

CULTURAL ENTRAINMENT

Cultural infrastructure also includes the existing concert halls, theatrical scenes, art halls and the ancient theatres. The non-tangible cultural heritage traditional music, customs and folklore festivities etc plays an important part of cultural resources .in the summer you can visit one of the open air cinemas or one of the many multi screened cinemas most of the films are shown in English with Greek subtitles.