Frommer's Greece

by Bowman, John S.; Golden, Fran Wenograd; Marker, Sherry; Meagher, Mark; Meagher, Robert E.; Bowman, John S.

• ISBN13: 9780764562679
• ISBN10: 0764562673
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Frommer

Summary

You2ll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer2s. It2s like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go -- they2ve done the legwork for you, and they2re not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer2s Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You2d be lost without us! Meticulously researched by an experienced team of experts, this in-depth guide is much more detailed and comprehensive than its major competition. You2ll find authoritative but fun-to-use coverage of all the classical sites, with valuable insights that will enrich your trip. We2ve provided all the background information you need to enjoy and appreciate what you2re seeing. Our authors have personally inspected and chosen wonderful hotels in every price cateogory; whether you want to stay in a rustic guesthouse or an exquisite beach resort, you can trust their opinions. They2ll take you to the most beautiful islands, where verdant hillsides tumble down to the blue waters of the Mediterranean. And since Greece can be a tricky place to travel, our guide is loaded with detailed city, regional, island, and town maps; it also features a handy language appendix, complete transportation information, and detailed directions for anything that2s hard to find. If you2re primarily interested in island-hopping, you might check out Frommer2s Greek Islands.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	ix
The Best of Greece	1	(10)
The Best Travel Experiences	1	(1)
The Best of Ancient Greece	2	(1)
The Best of Byzantine Greece	2	(1)
The Best Beaches	3	(1)
The Best Scenic Villages & Towns	4	(1)
The Best Islands	5	(1)
The Best Places to Get Away from It All	6	(1)
The Best Museums	6	(1)
The Best of Greece's Religious Treasures	7	(1)
The Best Resorts & Hotels	7	(2)
The Best Restaurants	9	(1)
The Best Nightlife	9	(1)
The Best Natural Wonders	10	(1)
Planning a Trip to Greece	11	(45)
The Regions in Brief	11	(6)
Greece on the Web	15	(2)
Visitor Information & Entry Requirements	17	(1)
Money	18	(3)
The Greek Drachma, the U.S. Dollar & the British Pound	19	(1)
What Things Cost in Athens	20	(1)
What Things Cost in Corfu	21	(1)
When to Go	21	(6)
Greece Calendar of Events	22	(5)
The Active Vacation Planner	27	(3)
Special-Interest Vacations	30	(1)
Health & Insurance	30	(2)
Tips for Travelers with Special Needs	32	(2)
Getting There	34	(3)
Getting Around	37	(19)
Taxi Tips	45	(2)
Fast Facts: Greece	47	(9)
Cruising the Greek Islands	56	(30)
Choosing the Right Cruise for You	56	(2)
Calculating the Cost	58	(1)
Cruising the Web	59	(1)
Booking Your Cruise	59	(2)
Cruise Preparation Practicalities	61	(2)
Embarkation	63	(1)
Dealing with Seasickness	64	(1)
End-of-Cruise Procedures	64	(1)
The Cruise Lines & Their Ships	65	(13)
Ships Visiting Greece on Longer Mediterranean Itineraries	78	(3)
Best Shore Excursions in the Ports of Call: Greece	81	(3)
Best Shore Excursions in the Ports of Call: Turkey	84	(2)
Settling into Athens	86	(43)
Orientation	87	(12)
Neighborhoods in Brief	93	(3)
The Plaka	96	(3)
Getting Around	99	(7)
Athens's New Metro Finally Gets Moving	100	(2)
Fast Facts: Athens	102	(4)
Accommodations	106	(10)
Dining	116	(13)
Quick Bites in Syntagma	123	(4)
Rising Stars in the Psirri District	127	(2)
Exploring Athens	129	(43)
Suggested Itineraries for First-Time Visitors	129	(4)
The Top Attractions	133	(9)
More Museums & Galleries	142	(2)
Ancient Monuments	144	(1)
Historic Buildings	145	(1)
Churches & Synagogues	145	(1)
Parks & Gardens	146	(2)
Especially for Kids	148	(1)
Organized Tours	149	(1)
Spectator Sports	150	(1)
Shopping	150	(5)
Athens After Dark	155	(4)
Piraeus: A Jumping-Off Point to the Islands	159	(4)
Day Trips from Athens	163	(9)
The Saronic Gulf Islands	172	(19)
Aegina	174	(4)
Poros	178	(3)
Hydra (Idra)	181	(5)
Spetses	186	(5)
The Peloponnese	191	(56)
Corinth	194	(5)
Nafplion	199	(9)
Mycenae	208	(2)
Epidaurus	210	(3)
Nemea	213	(2)
Argos	215	(4)
Sparta (Sparti)	219	(4)
Vassae & Andritsena	223	(3)
Monemvassia	226	(2)
The Mani	228	(4)
Pylos (Pilo/Navarino)	232	(4)
Messene (Ithomi/Mavromati)	236	(1)
Olympia	237	(6)
The Ancient Olympic Games	238	(5)
Patras (Patra)	243	(4)
Crete	247	(38)
Iraklion (Iraklio)	248	(14)
Chania (Hania/Xania/Canea)	262	(9)
Rethymnon (Rethimno)	271	(6)
Ayios Nikolaos	277	(8)
The Cyclades	285	(77)
Santorini (Thira)	286	(17)
Folegandros	303	(4)
Sifnos	307	(7)
Paros	314	(12)
The Cave of Andiparos	319	(7)
Naxos	326	(9)
Mykonos (Mikonos)	335	(11)
Delos	346	(3)
Tinos	349	(6)
Siros (Syros)	355	(7)
The Dodecanese	362	(49)
Rhodes (Rodos)	364	(23)
Simi	387	(5)
Kos	392	(9)
Patmos	401	(10)
Central Greece	411	(25)
Delphi	411	(9)
Thebes	420	(1)
Two Famous Battlefields: Thermopylae & Chaironeia	421	(1)
The Vale of Tempe & Ambelakia	422	(2)
The Wildflowers of Greece	423	(1)
Mount Olympus	424	(2)
The Meteora	426	(5)
Pelion	431	(5)
The Sporades	436	(25)
Skiathos	436	(11)
Skopelos	447	(6)
Skyros (Skiros)	453	(8)
Highlights of Western Greece: Epirus & Ioannina	461	(16)
Ioannina	464	(6)
Side Trips from Ioannina	470	(7)
Trekking into the Vikos Gorge	475	(2)
The Ionian Islands	477	(22)
Corfu (Kerkira)	478	(14)
Kefalonia (Cephalonia)	492	(7)
Highlights of Northern Greece: Thessaloniki, Mount Athos, & the Philip & Alexander Sites	499	(46)
Thessaloniki (Salonika)	499	(34)
Fast Facts: Thessaloniki	507	(1)
Suggested Itineraries	508	(19)
The Food of Thessaloniki	527	(6)
In the Footsteps of Philip of Macedon & Alexander the Great	533	(7)
Philip & Alexander	536	(4)
Mount Athos (The Holy Mountain)	540	(5)
The Northeastern Aegean Islands	545	(30)
Samos	546	(11)
Hios (Chios)	557	(6)
Lesvos (Mitilini)	563	(8)
Limnos (Lemnos)	571	(4)
Appendix A: Greece in Depth	575	(19)
1 History 101	575	(9)
Dateline	576	(8)
2 A Legacy of Art & Architecture	584	(5)
Principal Olympian Gods & Goddesses	587	(2)
3 The Greek People	589	(1)
4 A Taste of Greece	589	(3)
5 Recommended Books & Films	592	(2)
Appendix B: The Greek Language	594	(7)
1 Making Your Way in Greek	594	(3)
2 Useful Words & Phrases	597	(4)
Index	601