Pristine white sand beaches, ruins of ancient temples and history that precedes the rest of Europe – these phrases describe the essence of Greece. Most of us have binged on movies based on Greek warriors while finishing our bowl of Greek yogurt, but can we answer this simple question – where is Greece located?
The numerous islands of Greece are famous shooting locations for blockbusters as are their coastlines for romance. Greek cuisine is also hailed all over the world for its nutritive properties and ease of assembly.
Where is Greece Situated?
Also known as the Hellenic Republic, Greece is located in Southeast Europe. This country sits at the inflection point of Europe, Africa and Asia and rests on the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula.
Greece is bordered by Turkey to the northeast, Albania to the northwest, and Bulgaria and North Macedonia to the north. Apart from the land borders, this country is lined by the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Crete to its south, the Aegean Sea to its east and the Ionian Sea to its west.
Greece is spread between the geographical coordinates of 34 degrees and 42 degrees North (in terms of latitude) and 19 degrees and 30 degrees East (in terms of longitude). Aside from the mainland, this nation has more than 1,200 islands scattered all around it.
Greece occupies an area of about 131,957 square kilometers or 50,949 square miles. This nation follows the Eastern European Time (EET) which is 2 hours ahead of the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+2). In summers, Greece observes SDT (Daylight Saving Time) and changes its time zone to EEST (Eastern European Summer Time) which is 3 hours ahead of the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+3).
Greece Map from India
Greece is 5,775 kilometers away from India and is located to its west. There are a number of countries that separate Greece from India. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey fall directly in the path between India and Greece.
The aerial route is the only way one can travel between the two countries as the sea route and the roadways are not feasible either due to stringent border control requirements or the unreasonably long duration of the journey, apart from the associated cost and effort.
How to Reach Greece from India
It is possible to travel from India to Greece by air only. There are 15 international airports in the country – Alexandroupolis International Airport, Athens International Airport in Athens – the capital of Greece, Chania International Airport, Zakynthos Island International Airport, Corfu Island International Airport, Thessaloniki International Airport, Heraklion International Airport, Samos Island International Airport, Kalamata International Airport, Rhodes Island International Airport, Kavala International Airport, Mytilene Island International Airport, Kefalonia Island International Airport, Lemnos Island International Airport and Kos Island International Airport.
The most popular destinations in Greece for Indians are Corfu, Santorini and Mykonos. There are no direct flights between the two countries and at least one layover is the norm, if not more. Expect to spend at least 12 hours on a single journey which will cost you at least INR 14,000 for economy class for a person.
Greece vacation packages from India offer various airline options such as Air Arabia, Wizz Air, SWISS – the national carrier of Switzerland, Aegean Airlines – the flag carrier of Greece, Etihad – the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Lufthansa – the flag bearer of Germany, Gulf Air – the national carrier of Bahrain, Turkish Airlines – the flag carrier of Turkey, flydubai, Emirates, IndiGo, Qatar Airways – the national airline of Qatar, Go First, Arkia Israel Airlines, Vistara, Air India – the flag bearer of India, Ethiopian – the national carrier of Ethiopia, Air Dolomiti, Helvetic Airways, British Airways – the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – the national airline of the Netherlands, LOT Polish Airlines – the flag bearer of Poland, ITA Airways – the national carrier of Italy, EL Al – the flag carrier of Israel, Air France – the national airline of France, Middle East Airlines – the flag bearer of Lebanon and EgyptAir – the national carrier of Egypt.
The Best Time to Visit Greece from India
May to September is the tourist season in Greece. However, during these peak months, the crowds are also at their max. The best time happens to be in the shoulder seasons of late spring and fall, which are May and September to October, respectively.
The shoulder season takes care of the excess crowd and also offers pleasant temperatures devoid of any rains. September to November is the cheapest time to book flights. However, the winter months of November to March are a bit too cold for the beaches and see occasional rain.
Is Greece Good for Honeymoon?
Most activities to do in Greece are geared towards honeymooners, especially if you stay on one of the islands. The Greek isles are ideal for a honeymoon as they offer the chance to catch beautiful sunsets, go yachting and even party on the beach.
Greece is famous for its contribution to democracy and early philosophy. Western civilization also derives much of its glory from the past developments in this nation. We owe today’s progress in cartography, art, science, architecture, warfare, administration, medicine and even sports to the Greeks.
That said, Greece tour packages usually focus on its natural beauty. You can expect visits to the Mediterranean countryside, hiking trips to Mount Olympus or simply the chance to explore a vineyard for some Greek wine tasting.
Greece vacation packages also give you the opportunity to satiate your appetite with dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), moussaka (aubergine casserole) or kolokythokeftedes (zucchini and cheese balls) with tzatziki (cucumber, yogurt and garlic dip). You’ll have the chance to eat Greek salads tossed in olive oil and a generous sprinkling of olives as well.
You don’t need the body of a Greek goddess to be able to enjoy the sun-kissed shores of the Greek Islands or understand the history of the palaces that now stand in ruins. Pack your bags for an adventure that will take you along the white-washed walls of Santorini and to the wild parties in Mykonos.