Greece: Geography & Regions

GEOGRAPHY

Greece is situated at the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula and is the only continental member of the European Union (EU) without a land frontier with another member. To the north, Greece borders Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Bulgaria, while to the east lies Turkey and the south of the country is surrounded by the Ionian and Aegean seas. Greece consists of a peninsula and more than 1,400 islands, around 150 of which are inhabited.

Around 80 per cent of the mainland is mountainous, with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands. Greece is a mountainous country with a highly indented and rugged coast, dotted with ancient fortifications. According to Greek mythology, when making the world the gods distributed the available soil to each country after sieving it and tossed the rejected stones over their shoulders – to make Greece! The Pindos range of mountains almost divides the country in two from north-west to south-east.

The capital of Greece is Athens, the country’s largest city with a population of 4.5 million and home to its principal port, Piraeus. The second-largest city is Thessaloniki, the capital of Macedonia, which has a population of around 800,000 and is itself an important seaport, providing a gateway to the Balkans. Greece is divided into ten regions or prefectures of which Macedonia is the largest. The mainland regions are Central Greece, Epiros, Macedonia, Peloponnese, Thessaly and Thrace, while the island groups are the Cyclades, Dodecanese, Ionian, North-Eastern Aegean, Saronic Gulf and Sporades. Crete and Evia don’t belong to any group and for administrative purposes are divided into prefectures or nomes (nomoi).

REGIONS

For the purpose of this document, Greece has been divided into the following 12 regions: Attica, central Greece, Crete, the Cyclades Islands, the Dodecanese Islands, Epirus and the west, Evia and the Sporades, the Ionian Islands, the North-Eastern Aegean Islands, northern Greece, Peloponnese and the Saronic Gulf Islands.

Attica

Nearest Airport – Athens (international).

The region of Attica lies at the south-eastern end of mainland Greece and includes the capital city of Athens. The Apollo coast is home to a number of crowded and overdeveloped resorts such as Glyfádha and Vouliagméni, which are popular with both visitors and Athenians at weekends, and home to a sizeable expatriate population. The famous historical sites of the Temple of Poseidon and Marathon are situated in Attica, while Mount Párnitha in the north has spectacular forests and rock scenery. The region is also noted for its extensive olive and grape production. The climate in Attica is temperate with hot summers, mild winters and low rainfall, although it can snow in Athens.

Athens (pop. 4.5m) is the oldest city in Europe and the birthplace of western civilisation and democracy, with a history dating back some 7,000 years. Many cultures have passed through Athens (named after the Greek goddess Athena), which in 1834 – soon after the end of Ottoman rule – was declared the capital of Greece. It remained a relatively small city until 1923, when a huge influx of refugees from Turkey forced a rapid expansion, and the city now covers some 450km2 (174mi2). In the intervening years Athens has grown from a population of less than 500,000 to 4.5 million, which has created considerable urban and environmental problems, although these have been reduced greatly in recent years. The city is largely a vast sprawl of virtually identical six-storey, cement apartment blocks known as ‘multiple dwellings’, hurriedly constructed to house the influx of immigrants, and is home to over two-thirds of the country’s cars.

The improvements made to the city for the 2004 Olympic Games transformed it into a ‘new’ Athens with vastly improved traffic systems (the nightmare traffic jams are almost a thing of the past), a cleaner environment, and new improved museums and cultural centres. Some Athenians claim the city is almost unrecognisable! Traffic jams have been reduced drastically by the new road network as has the thick, acrid smog (called néfos), a combination of traffic fumes and oppressive heat, which used to envelop Athens for days at a time during summer. The city is still extremely busy, however, and the cradle of Greek civilisation is visited by over 4 million tourists annually.

Athens has the best medical and education facilities in the country. The standard of living is also higher than in the rest of Greece and job opportunities are plentiful, as over half of the country’s industry is concentrated around the capital, which is the political, commercial and cultural hub of Greece. Athens is a fascinating amalgamation of cultures where east meets west in a vibrant, exciting ambience, with traditional coffee-houses and donkey carts vying for space with modern office blocks, deluxe hotels and the ubiquitous motor vehicles. Despite its rapid expansion, Athens is really a conglomeration of small villages, its people friendly and gregarious, with suburbs that are relatively calm and peaceful with beautiful restored 19th century mansions. You can also marvel at the Acropolis, which dominates the skyline from practically every street corner. When the hustle and bustle of Athens becomes too much to bear, an escape to the tranquillity of the surrounding mountains and countryside is never far away.

Communications are excellent in Athens and the city has comprehensive bus and metro services (three lines with connections to Piraeus and the airport), and a new and modern international airport at Spata, opened in 2001. Trains and buses leave the capital at regular intervals for the rest of the country. Piraeus, Athens’ port and one of the Mediterranean’s busiest, is also Greece’s ferry hub from where ferries and hydrofoils service most of the islands. Athens is connected by road to western and northern Greece by the E75 motorway.

In keeping with the high standard of living, house prices in Athens and the surrounding beach resorts are the highest in the country, where property is in high demand. Prices have risen nearly 50 per cent in most areas of the capital since 1997. Property in the leafy suburbs (e.g. Kifissia, Kolonaki and Plaka) with their spacious villas is highly sought-after and houses generally sell quickly. Expect to pay from ?80,000 for a small one-bedroom flat in a less desirable area to over ?400,000 for a new apartment in a good area. Houses range from €400,000 to over €5 million.

Central Greece

Nearest Airports – Athens and Vólos (international), Kythira (domestic).

The land of the mythical centaur, central Greece is home to flourishing fruit orchards and dense oak and beech forests. The region is dotted with some of the prettiest villages in Greece, including Makrinítsa with its stunning churches and monasteries. Local architecture is a unique blend of whitewashed, half-timbered houses, which are often decorated with intricate frescoes. The Aegean-facing east coast has some excellent beaches and popular resorts such as Platanías and Áfissos. The area is much cooler in summer than the rest of mainland Greece, which, when added to its natural charm, makes it extremely popular in summer and more expensive than many other areas.

Communications are quite good between the main towns, most of which are served by trains and buses and have reasonable roads. Outside the main areas, however, there are narrow mountain roads and infrequent bus services, particularly outside the summer season, when private transport is a must. Kythira has a domestic airport serving a limited number of routes.

Central Greece comprises two large regions: Stereá Ellhada and Thessaly, and offer some of the country’s most varied scenery.

Stereá Ellhada, situated north-west of Athens, was the only independent Greek territory during the 19th century and encompasses a vast expanse of wild, mountainous countryside punctuated by small towns (the region was largely depopulated in the 20th century). Its most famous sights are at Delphi, Greece’s most ancient oracle with its unique amphitheatre and Temple of Apollo, and Mount Parnassós, site of two ski resorts. Seismic activity in this area is among the highest in the country.

Thessaly lies to the north of Stereá Ellhada and consists of a vast, rich agricultural plain surrounded on three sides by mountain ranges, including Mount Olympus to the north. The region’s main towns include Larissa, a busy market centre, Vólos (see below), and Kalambáka, a modern town which is the base for visitors to the nearby spectacular Metéora rock monasteries. The earliest Orthodox religious communities made their homes on the black pinnacles of the naturally sculptured rock, which is one of the most spectacular sights on the Greek mainland.

Vólos, situated just west of the Pelion peninsula, is a rapidly expanding industrial area and home to Greece’s third-largest port, which has excellent hydrofoil and ferry connections to the nearby Sporades. The airport (Nea Aghialos) has some charter flights from the UK. The town has been largely rebuilt since 1957 when it was ruined by an earthquake and it now has an attractive new marina. Vólos is nationally famous for its potent tispouro, the local version of ouzo (an acquired taste!).

The Pelion peninsula, crowned by Mount Pliassidi (1,650m/5,445ft) in the north, has lush fruit orchards, picturesque mountain villages, dense forests and fine beaches, and is popular with both Greeks and foreigners. Resorts such as Aghios Ioannis, Kala Nera and Mikro are busy for much of the year, and the Pelion peninsula offers excellent bird watching and trekking possibilities, as well as ski-ing in the winter. Local buses run services throughout the area, although services are infrequent on some routes and therefore private transport is essential. Road conditions vary greatly and some roads are extremely windy. The property market has taken off in this area and prices are high. Two-bedroom apartments are available from €150,000, villas from €200,000 and typical stone mansions from €250,000. In the Pagastic Gulf, unique island bungalows can be purchased from €72,000 for one bedroom and from €117,000 for two bedrooms. The rental market is buoyant, therefore property is potentially a good investment.

In the north of Thessaly, near Larissa, is the Vale of Témbi, one of the country’s most famous and popular beauty spots, which meanders 10km (6mi) through a spectacular mountain gorge carved by the River Pinio. The coastline beyond Témbi has been heavily developed and is popular with Greek tourists. North of Larissa is Mount Olympus National Park containing the country’s highest peak, Mount Olympus (2,972m/9,751ft), legendary home of the gods. It’s snow-capped for much of the year and offers spectacular hiking in a unique terrain carpeted with wild flowers.

Crete

Nearest Airports – Heráklion and Chania (international), Sitia (domestic).

Crete (pop. 578,250) is the largest Greek island (almost a country on its own) and the fifth-largest in the Mediterranean; for many it’s the quintessential Greek island. It’s noted for its mild winter climate, beautiful beaches, hospitable people, and as a botanical and ornithological paradise (it’s a great place for walkers). These attractions have made Crete the destination of a quarter of all tourists visiting Greece and the most popular region for holiday homes – consequently it has a large number of resident expatriates. It was home to Europe’s first civilisation, the Minoans, and their ancient sites are scattered throughout the island. Crete has a flourishing agricultural economy and is one of the few places in Greece that could survive without the tourist trade, although much of the coast has been developed as resort areas. Crete is an island of contrasts – inland and away from the packed resort areas are small villages almost completely untouched by modernity. The island is divided into four administrative prefectures: Chania, Heráklion, Lassithi and Rethimnon.

Heráklion, the capital, lies on the north coast of the island and is the fifth-largest city in Greece and home to nearly half the island’s population. It has the highest per capita income in the country, although its wealth isn’t reflected in the infrastructure. The city has a glorious past, particularly during the Middle Ages, a splendour that’s reflected in its Venetian architecture and city walls. Heráklion is a busy city with a vibrant night-life. Knossos, the main Minoan site and largest palace, is situated close to the city.

To the east of the capital is the area known as the ‘Cretan Riviera’, packed with popular resorts such as Hersonissos, Malia and Stalidha, and bustling beaches. Aghios Nikolaos (known as ‘Ag Nik’) was once the ‘St. Tropez of Crete’ and has the best and most expensive hotels on the island. Inland is the rich agricultural plain of Lasithi, famous for its windmills that are used for irrigation.

On the east coast, Sitia has a busy port and is the site of a number of new residential developments, although this part of the island is relatively unspoilt. Europe’s only palm tree forest is at Vái on the east coast. In the south, the numerous gorges and cliffs mean there are few towns, although Mátala has a well-known beach and Arvi’s microclimate permits the cultivation of bananas and pineapples. Samariá Gorge in the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) is the longest ravine in Europe and one of Greece’s most visited natural spots (open from May to October).

The west of the island is the least inhabited and although there are a number of resorts, they’re less developed than those in the east. Rethimnon, a town of many contrasts, is the smallest of Crete’s four major towns and the least visited. It has an attractive Venetian harbour surrounded by fish restaurants and a handsome old town with a wealth of Venetian buildings from the 13th to 17th centuries. Crete’s second-largest city Chania – like Rethimnon a former Venetian town – was the island’s capital until 1971 and the old city around the Venetian harbour has retained its unique charm. It’s a bustling harbour town with many attractive townhouse properties (home to many expatriates) and offers good amenities and services. Around 15,000 Britons live on Crete, most of whom are concentrated around the areas of Apokoranos in the west and Elounda in the east.

Communications in the north of the island are excellent, with international airports at Heráklion and Chania (Haniá), and a small domestic airport at Sitia, where a new runway is currently under construction. There are six ferry ports with frequent, fast services in summer and a reduced service during the winter months. The north of the island has good communications, including a dual carriageway running along the north coast linking the main cities and resorts, and there’s a good bus service. In the south, however, there are few roads and infrequent buses (private transport is usually essential here). Note also that it takes around five hours to drive from the east side of the island to the west, and many towns in the south-east are easier to reach by boat from one of the ports.

Crete’s climate is mild in winter with almost guaranteed sunshine, although there’s often snow on the highest peaks. Summers are hot, with the highest temperatures in Greece (which is very hot!). In general, property on the island is more expensive than other parts of Greece, but there’s an abundance of cheaper, secluded rural properties available, although many require complete restoration. The south-east corner of the island currently offers particularly good value for money. Property is generally a good investment and prices are currently rising at around 8 per cent a year.

In general, apartments start at €70,000 and villas from €100,000, although you can expect to pay at least twice as much in or near resort areas. Exclusive new developments are even more expensive, e.g. from €350,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Remote village houses start at €75,000. There are several companies on Crete specialising in property restoration packages. Experts generally agree that the best time to look for property is in the winter, when prices are generally lower.

The Cyclades Islands

Nearest Airports – Mykonos and Santorini (international), Naxos and Paros (domestic).

The Cyclades (pop. 113,000), a group of 56 islands (of which 24 are inhabited), are one of the most popular locations for holiday homes in Greece. Their name derives from the circle they form around the island of Delos, the birthplace of Apollo and once the centre of religion and commerce in the central Mediterranean. The islands form a disparate group and are mostly different in character, yet small and close enough to allow easy ‘island hopping’. They all share the characteristic Greek whitewashed houses, blue domed churches and the warm hospitality of the inhabitants.

The Cyclades enjoy mild winters, although they experience strong winds virtually all year round. The summer meltémi can sometimes disrupt ferry schedules, although it reduces the heat, and in winter strong north winds often make ferry travel impossible. Rainfall can be scarce and water shortages are commonplace.

Communications with mainland Greece and between the islands is mainly by ferry, where Paros is the main port of call for most inter-island services. During the summer there are frequent ferry services linking the islands, although services are severely curtailed in winter and can be suspended altogether when the weather is bad. Six islands have airports, although only two, Mykonos and Santorini, cater for international flights (charter only). Bus services are provided on most islands, although the quality of buses and frequency of services varies considerably, and the inaccessibility of some areas means private transport is often essential.

There’s a good choice of resale and new property on the islands, particularly Mykonos, Naxos and Paros. Small village houses can be bought from €60,000, farmhouses requiring restoration from €70,000, restored farmhouses from €160,000 and new maisonettes (100m2) from €170,000. Land typically costs from €18 to €50 per m2 depending on the location. Typical Cyclades windmill properties are also available, e.g. €300,000 for windmill, house and an 8,000m2 plot.

The most popular islands include the following:

Ios (pop. 1,800) is especially popular with the younger generation and has a reputation as the ‘party capital’ of the Cyclades, although there’s more to the island than nightclubs and bars. Ios is attempting to attract more upmarket tourism and boasts several excellent beaches and the supposed site of Homer’s tomb. Ios is quiet out of season.

Mykonos (pop. 9,360) receives around a million visitors a year, who come to enjoy a hedonistic lifestyle, and is the most expensive of all the Greek islands. Its capital, Mykonos Town, is one of the most attractive, with ‘sugar-cube’ architecture and numerous churches and shrines, although it’s extremely busy and commercial with a lively nightlife. Beaches are generally excellent and resort areas are concentrated on the south side – the north side is windy and therefore less developed. Property is expensive here, but there’s good rental potential.

Naxos (pop. 18,100) is the largest and most fertile of the Cyclades and is largely self-sufficient. It’s also the most scenic of the islands and has their highest mountain, Mount Zas, and excellent beaches.

Paros (pop. 12,800) is the third-largest of the Clyclades islands and the hub of its ferry services. Its main resorts include Naoussa and Parikia, with excellent beaches and a hectic nightlife. Paros attracts many foreign homebuyers, particularly the British.

Santorini (pop. 13,400), the most spectacular of all Greek islands, is a partly submerged volcanic crater thought to be the legendary city of Atlantis. It’s an important port of call for cruise ships and is famous for its black sand beaches and capital Fira, situated on top of a steep cliff reached via 500 steps cut into it. Property here is very expensive.

Tinos (pop. 8,500), with its charming traditional villages and famous ‘lacework’ dovecotes, is the Greek Lourdes with its church of Panayia Evangelistria and its miraculous icon attracting thousands of Greek Orthodox pilgrims each year. Tinos offers excellent hiking.

Syros (pop. 16,800), the most densely populated of the Cyclades Islands, also contains its administrative centre, the attractive town of Ermoúpolis. Syros, Andros, Kéa and Kythnos are popular with Athenians for weekend breaks and summer holidays.

The islands of Anafi, Folégandros, Milos and Sikinos are barely populated and practically untouched by tourism, and therefore good places to experience the ‘real’ Greece.

The Dodecanese Islands

Nearest Airports – Kos and Rhodes (international), Leros (domestic).

The Dodecanese (pop. 162,000) form an archipelago of 12 main islands off the west coast of Turkey and are Greece’s southernmost and most recent territorial acquisition. The islands’ history and architecture reflect their previous occupants who range from the Knights of St John and the Ottomans to the Italians, although each island has a distinctive landscape. Many are popular with tourists, particularly Rhodes and Kos, while others are barely touched by modern life and many of the local women still wear traditional dress. The islands are a paradise for water-sport lovers and divers, although scuba diving is strictly controlled in some areas.

As with all Greek islands, transportation is mainly by boat, and services are frequent in summer but few and far between in winter, or cancelled altogether when the weather is bad. Rhodes is the hub of the inter-island ferries, which also serve the mainland. The islands have three international airports, on Rhodes, Karpathos and Kos, which also have domestic connections. The larger islands have good bus services, but these are limited on the smaller islands. Private transport can be useful, although some of the islands have poor to non-existent roads.

Rhodes (pop. 68,000) is an alluring mixture of sun, sea and beautiful landscapes, and is the best known of the islands and the most popular with tourists and holiday homebuyers. Rhodes is less popular as a package tour destination nowadays and has done much to shake off its ‘lager lout’ image. It enjoys a unique climate with over 300 days of sunshine annually (it’s the sunniest spot in Greece) and excellent beaches on the east coast. Most of the island has been heavily developed for the flourishing tourist trade, although Rhodes Town, a World Heritage Site, remains one of the architectural treasures of the Mediterranean with its medieval walls and monuments, and blend of churches, mosques and synagogues. It also has an exciting nightlife. The city of Lindos – with its stunning Acropolis – in the south-east is an attractive car-free resort. Rhodes has strict building regulations and there’s little apartment-type property available. Prices start at €140,000 for a two-bedroom townhouse and from €90,000 for a village house. Property here is a good investment and there’s excellent rental potential.

Kos (pop. 21,500), birthplace of Hippocrates the father of medicine, has the second-largest population in the Dodacanese islands. It’s one of Greece’s most beautiful islands, essentially flat and fertile with some of the country’s best beaches. It’s popular with tourists and has many resorts, although it isn’t as developed as Rhodes. Property prices on Kos are higher than on the other Dodecanese islands, although it’s a good investment.

Other islands of note in the group include Karpathos with its excellent beaches; Kálymnos (reached by boat from Kos), a centre of sponge fishing with its attractive port of Póthia and increasingly popular with foreign property buyers; Symi, known as the ‘jewel of the Dodecanese’ due to its well-preserved, 19th century, neo-classical architecture and good beaches; Tílos with fine beaches and excellent hiking; and Níssyros, one of the most fertile islands thanks to its dormant volcano.

Epirus & the West

Nearest Airport – Ioannina (domestic).

The regions of Epirus and Western Macedonia share their borders with Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and their scenery provides a stark contrast to ‘tourist’ Greece. This is a land of rocky peaks, deep river gorges (including Vikos Gorge, the world’s deepest), lakes and forests, where poor roads and transportation links mean that much of the area is barely inhabited. However, extensive government investment in recent years has improved communications and many villages and towns have been restored and offer quality tourism for hikers and nature lovers. There are several national parks in the area with unique wildlife, including bears, wolves and lynx, and excellent hiking. Communications away from the coast remain limited and private transport is essential. The west is the wettest region of the country and the winters are very cold with heavy snowfalls. The coastal area in the north-west around Parga is heavily developed with many hotels and several villages are popular tourist and hiking centres. However, the region isn’t popular with holiday homebuyers and unless you’re looking for a remote rural dwelling to restore, it’s of little interest.

Evia & the Sporades

Nearest Airports – Athens, Skiathos and Skyros (international).

The island of Evia (pop. 165,000), the second-largest in Greece after Crete, lies just off the coast of mainland Greece – to which it’s joined by a suspension bridge – north of Athens. The main town, Halkída, is a big industrial centre and port and is of little interest to visitors. There are some beautiful villages in the centre and north of the island, including Stení, the starting point for the climb to the top of Mount Dirfys (1,743m/5,718ft), Evia’s highest mountain. The south of the island has a number of resorts, although they’re generally more popular with Greeks than foreigners. There are some good beaches to the north and east. Property prices vary hugely from ?30,000 for a village ruin to over ?1 million for a luxury villa. Rental potential is good, particularly if you cater for the Greek market.

The Sporades lie to the north and east of Evia and are a collection of 11 islands, of which four are inhabited: Alonnisos, Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros.

Alonnisos (pop 2,700) is a green island and the least developed of the four, with many natural harbours (no mooring fees). The surrounding waters are a ‘marine conservation park’ with some of the cleanest waters in the Aegean – a paradise for divers. This is a quiet, peaceful island with little nightlife and a reputation for excellent food. The island isn’t easy to get to and only has one road. There’s a shortage of building land, but available plots range from €60,000 to over €100,000 and a new two-bedroom house costs from €150,000.

Skiathos (pop 6,160) is one of Greece’s most attractive islands with an abundance of dense woods, rugged mountains, golden-sand beaches, azure seas and enchanting villages – many believe it’s the most beautiful island in the Aegean. Koukounaries Bay in the south-west lays claim to one of the best beaches. It’s a popular (and busy) tourist destination and home to a relatively large expatriate population, although it’s also one of Greece’s most expensive islands. The property market is somewhat limited and prices start at €160,000 for apartments, €250,000 for townhouses and €280,000 for small villas.

Skopelos (pop 4,700) is extensively cultivated and less developed due to its pebbly beaches, although the island is popular with hikers. The capital, Skopelos Town, is one of the prettiest towns in the Aegean and the island is more of a retreat than a resort – not for nothing are there more than 125 churches! There’s a good choice of property on the island, with prices starting at €70,000 for a traditional house and €50,000 for a 100m2 plot in town with permission to build up to 160m2.

Skyros (pop 2,600) is different from the other Sporades islands and more reminiscent of the Cyclades in its architecture. Its capital, Skyros Town, boasts some extremely attractive traditional architecture. The north of the island is green and fertile, while the south is generally barren. Skyros is home to many artists and offers numerous holiday courses ranging from cooking to Reiki. This creative island isn’t easy to get to and the airport has no flights from the UK.

Communications in the region vary considerably, although as would be expected, Evia has good road and rail connections with the mainland, and regular local bus and ferry services. Skiathos and Skyros both have international airports, although flights are infrequent outside the summer tourist season. There’s a regular ferry service between the islands and the mainland in summer, but this is much reduced in winter. Although there are bus services on the islands, private transport is often essential.

The Ionian Islands

Nearest Airports – Corfu, Kefallonia and Zakynthos (international), and Kythira (domestic).

The Ionian Islands (pop. 214,900) consist of seven main islands – Corfu, Ithaki, Kefallonia, Kythira, Lefkas, Paxos and Zakynthos – situated off the west coast of mainland Greece. Thanks to the abundant rainfall, they are the greenest and most verdant of all Greek islands, and among the most beautiful, with superb beaches. Their culture and cuisine are quite different from other parts of Greece, with a distinct Venetian character.

The Ionian climate is the wettest in Greece, particularly Corfu, and outside the summer season the weather is often unsettled with heavy rainfall. Winters can be very damp and cool, and shouldn’t be underestimated, while summers can be extremely hot, as unlike many other islands they don’t benefit from cooling winds. However, in late spring and early autumn the weather is usually perfect.

Communications are generally excellent and Corfu, Kefallonia and Zakynthos all have international airports and good connections with Athens. In the summer there are frequent ferry services between the islands and the mainland, which, although severely curtailed in winter, remain reasonable. Bus services on Corfu and Zakynthos are good, but poor on Kefallonia (although improving), and private transport is advantageous on all the islands.

Corfu (pop. 110,000) is the most popular of all the Greek islands and synonymous with package holidays; it’s over-developed in parts, although due to its size it’s easy to escape the tourist hordes. It’s the greenest of the Greek islands (dubbed the ‘emerald isle’) thanks to its abundance of ancient olive groves and fir trees, with tiny fishing villages in sheltered coves on the east coast and sandy beaches on the west. The capital, Corfu Town, is one of the country’s most charming and sophisticated island capitals, with an elegant blend of Venetian, French and Greek architecture.

Paleokastrítsa on the west coast is a picturesque, unspoilt resort, while the main family resorts tend to be on the north side. Further to the east between Kassiopi and Barbati are some favourite hideaways (the gem is San Stefano) of the expatriate population (around 11,000), mainly British, where there’s an abundance of villas. There are beautiful sandy beaches on the west coast and the Korísson Lagoon in the south is a large nature reserve and a paradise for ornithologists. Corfu also has several attractive satellite islands. It has been called ‘the bridge connecting Greece with the rest of Europe’ and is served by both international and domestic flights, plus ferries from Ancona, Brindisi and Trieste (Italy), and Patra and Igoumenitsa on the mainland.

The property market is buoyant in Corfu and has grown steadily over the last few years, helped by publicity generated from British property and relocation television programmes. Prices are reasonable by Greek standards and are currently increasing at around 5 per cent a year. Popular areas with expatriate buyers (the majority are British) include Corfu Town, San Stefano and Agios Ionnes in the north, and the villages of Gardelelades near Palaiokastritsa and Nyfes situated in the mountains in the north. Prices for a two-bedroom apartment in a resort area start at €95,000 (from €140,000 in town), €90,000 for a small renovated townhouse, €45,000 for a village house needing restoration and €30,000 for a ruin.

Ithaki (pop. 3,100) off the north-east of Kefallonia, was Odysseus’ long lost home (ancient Ithaca) and is one of the least spoilt islands in Greece. Most boats dock at the main town of Vathi, situated at the end of a deep bay, which was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1953 but has since been rebuilt in the old style.

Kefallonia (pop. 35,600) is increasingly popular as a tourist destination (mainly thanks to its Captain Corelli fame) and is the largest and most mountainous of the group, where Mount Enos is the highest peak on the islands. Much of the island’s towns and villages were destroyed in an earthquake in 1953, but have since been rebuilt. Its capital, Argostóli, is a large thriving town and Sami is its main port. The north and west coasts have excellent sandy beaches and there are several expatriate developments, particularly around Argostóli. Property is currently a good investment on the island where prices are rising because of increased foreign interest. Prices start at €75,000 for a one-bedroom apartment (€105,000 for two bedrooms) and €250,000 for a luxury villa. There’s currently plenty of new development on the island.

Kythira (pop. 3,000), around 30km (19mi) long and 18km (11mi) wide, is an island of some 600 churches. It’s essentially a bleak plateau crossed by well-watered ravines and forms part of a sunken land bridge between the Peloponnese and Crete. Geographically it’s an extension of the Peloponnese, but historically it’s part of the Ionian archipelago. Kythira Town is one of the best preserved capital towns of the Ionian, with fine medieval mansions and Venetian fortifications. Until recently Kythira was little visited by tourists and is consequently unspoilt, but is becoming more popular and property is a good investment.

Lefkas (pop. 22,500) is connected to the mainland by a long causeway through lagoons and hardly feels like an island at all. It’s reached from mainland Greece via a floating drawbridge over a canal that was dug by the Corinthians in the seventh century (historically it has always been an important strategic site). It’s a fertile island and the main industry is agriculture rather than tourism, although the resort of Vassilikí in the south is reputedly Europe’s largest windsurfing centre and Nidrhí in the east has good beaches. Property here is a good investment and has good rental potential if you cater for the Greek market.

Paxos (pop. 2,000) is the smallest of the main Ionian islands and the least developed. It has no sandy beaches or historical sites, few hotels and a serious water shortage, despite which it’s extremely popular in summer. Paxos is also a favourite stopping-off point for visiting yachts, which has helped make it one of the most expensive islands in the group.

Zakynthos (pop. 39,000), also called Zante, like Corfu, features heavily on the package tour circuit, although the island is less developed. It’s exceptionally beautiful – the Venetians called it ‘the flower of the east’ – with some of the best beaches in Greece. Main resort areas are Alykes, Argasi and Laganas.

The North-eastern Aegean Islands

Nearest Airports – Samos (international), Chios, Ikaria, Lesbos, Limnos and Thassos (domestic).

The North-Eastern Aegean islands are a collection of seven major islands that are grouped together for convenience rather than any administrative or historical reason. Nearly all the islands are closer to Turkey than Greece and are less visited than the Cyclades and Dodecanese islands. The scenery on the islands is mountainous and forested, and hiking is a popular pastime.

All the North-Eastern Aegean islands except Samothraki have airports, with good domestic and international connections, although the latter are infrequent in winter. Samos is the ferry hub of the north-eastern Aegean, with frequent services during the summer. There are also boats to mainland Greece, and several islands have (relatively expensive) connections with Turkey. Road transport varies considerably on the islands, and public transport is limited in the more remote parts.

The property market on the islands varies from buoyant, with a good choice on some islands, to limited on others. Two-bedroom apartments are available from €100,000, typical village houses from €50,000 and land can be bought from €20 per m2.

Chios (pop. 50,800) is a relatively large island (reputedly the birthplace of Homer and Christopher Columbus) that has traditionally been the home of Greek ship-owners, and therefore less dependent on tourism. In the south is the Mastihohoria area, noted for its mastic gum production and characteristic architecture of white lime and black sand decoration, which is particularly vibrant at Pyrgi, one of the most extraordinary villages in Greece. Off the north-east coast lie nine tiny islets, the Inousses, home to many wealthy ship-owners who have built luxury villas there. Chios is more expensive than other islands in the group.

Ikaria (pop. 8,200) is a fertile, mainly agricultural island, famous for its spa resort, Therma, with its therapeutic radioactive springs. It’s mainly mountainous and little developed. Tourism on this very traditional island is low-key and as a consequence the property market is limited, although properties are cheap, e.g. from €50,000 for a traditional village house.

Lesbos (pop. 110,000) is largely influenced by its proximity to Turkey and is known as the ‘Garden of the Aegean’ thanks to its fertile soil that produces the best olive oil in Greece (it also claims to make the finest ouzo). Trekking and bird-watching are popular activities on Greece’s third-largest island, which has one of only two fossilised forests in the world (on the west side). Lesbos is popular with Greek holidaymakers, who particularly favour Molivos, a beautiful resort in the north of the island.

Limnos (pop. 18,100) is one of the Aegean’s best kept secrets and is largely unspoilt with many fine beaches, despite having a large military air base. (Limnos is close to Turkey.) The capital, Myrina, is the main port, with an impressive Byzantine fortress. One of the drawbacks is that Limnos regularly suffers water shortages.

Samos (pop. 33,800) is situated just 3km from the Turkish mainland and is the closest Greek island to Turkey. It’s the most visited island in the group and the east coast is particularly well developed with many resorts. Its verdant landscape is famous for its vines and orchids, which give it an exotic flavour, and makes the island a popular destination for ramblers and hikers. Samos was devastated by a forest fire in July 2000, which destroyed a vast area of woodland. The property market is buoyant and rental potential good.

Samothraki (pop. 3,000) is a small island but scenically one of the most dramatic, with dense forests dominated by Mount Fengari, the highest peak in the Aegean. The island is mainly agricultural and one of the most ecologically conscious in Greece. The island only caters for visitors during July and August, outside of which it’s very quiet. It’s also difficult to get to.

Thassos (pop. 16,000), 175km (110mi) from Thessaloniki, is a relatively unknown island outside Greece, although it has plenty to offer in terms of wild, wooded countryside and fine beaches. The climate is milder than the other islands in the group, cooler in summer and warmer in winter. There are strict building regulations on the island and new properties must conform to traditional styles and proportions. A wide range of new and old property is available on the island and prices are generally low, e.g. from €100,000 for a new villa on a small plot. This island only really caters for visitors during July and August and is quiet for the remainder of the year.

Northern Greece

Nearest Airports – Kavala, Preveza and Thessaloniki (international), Alexandroupolis (domestic).

Northern Greece comprises two regions, Macedonia and Thrace, and is the least visited part of the country. The region’s climate is quite different from the rest of Greece: the short summers are hot and humid, the winters very cold, and there’s less rainfall than in most other areas. Communications between Macedonia and the rest of mainland Greece are excellent, with well-maintained, fast roads and frequent bus and coach services linking the major towns. Thessaloniki has an international airport and there are smaller airports at Kavala and Preveza with limited international services. There’s also a regular train service between most towns, although journeys are slower than by bus. In the more remote areas, private transport is essential.

Macedonia is the largest prefecture in Greece and its capital is Thessaloniki (pop. 796,175), a lively, sophisticated Byzantine city set on the edge of the Thermaic Gulf, whose port is the natural gateway to the Balkans. The area’s three highlights are Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, Vergina, site of the royal tombs of several Macedonian monarchs, and Dion, Macedonia’s sacred city. In the north-west are the attractive Prespa lakes and in the south Mount Olympus (see Thessaly above), surrounded by a large national park with excellent hiking.

To the south of Thessaloniki and separated by two large lakes lies the region of Halkidiki, whose south coast consists of three peninsulas: Cassandra, Sithonia and Athos. The peninsulas have a coastline of over 500km (312mi) and superb sandy beaches, making them a popular resort area, but note that the area all but shuts down outside July and August. Cassandra is the favourite among package tourists and includes Greece’s largest resort, Sani Beach. Sithonia is greener and less developed, although it has an abundance of villas and its resorts of Neos Marmatas and Porto Karrás are two of Greece’s largest holiday complexes. The third peninsula, Athos, is where the Virgin Mary is said to have landed and declared it her garden, and Mount Athos is the holiest of places for the Orthodox religion. Nowadays it’s a semi-autonomous, ‘theocratic republic’ run by Orthodox monks, who live in some 20 monasteries with access strictly controlled and restricted to men.

The property market on Halkidiki is growing fast and foreign buyers are on the increase. Infrastructure in the area is improving and property prices are expected to rise significantly in the near future. Prices start at €75,000 for an apartment or small house. Land is available from €15 per m2 in a rural location to €300 per m2 in a front line beach position.

Thrace is Greece’s most recent acquisition (1923) and is something of a backwater, being tucked away in the north-east corner of the country. The architecture and culture of the region are largely Turkish. The area’s main towns are Kavala, the principal port for northern Greece and one of the most attractive Greek cities; Komotini, where the population is half Greek and half Turkish; and Alexandroupolis, an important military garrison. The country’s vast tobacco industry is centred in Thrace, where sunflower oil and cotton are also produced. Close to the border with Turkey, the Evros Delta is one of Europe’s most important wetlands, and Dhadhiá Forest is an important nature reserve.

The Peloponnese

Nearest Airports – Athens and Kalamata (international).

The Peloponnese peninsula (pop. 1.17 million) is the southernmost part of the Greek mainland, lying south-east of Athens. The Peloponnese is practically an island, joined to the Greek mainland by the man-made Corinth canal crossing the narrow isthmus in the north-west. The peninsula takes its name from the legendary Greek hero, Pelops, and is reputed to have the best of everything Greek. It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty with high, snow-capped mountains and some of the most famous archaeological sites in Greece, notably the ancient citadel of Mycenae, the sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia (where the first recorded games were held in 776BC), and the theatre at Epidaurus. Parts of the east and north coasts are fast developing into resort areas, although the peninsula as a whole remains more popular with Greeks than with foreigners. The beaches on the relatively undeveloped west coast are among the best in the country.

The climate in the Peloponnese varies considerably. The west has hot and dry summers, but rainfall is among the highest in the country and its winters are less severe than other parts of mainland Greece. The mountains in the central Peloponnese are snow-covered for much of the winter, and the nights can be cold even in summer. The east experiences very hot summers and is influenced by the strong north wind, the meltémi.

Communications in the northern Peloponnese are among the best in Greece. The north and west coasts as far as Olympia and south to the city of Tripoli (soon to be extended to Kalamata) are served by motorways and there are frequent bus and train services to most destinations in the north of the peninsula and to the rest of the mainland. The world’s longest cable suspension bridge, the Rio-Antirrio (road and rail) with a length of 2.3km (1.4mi), has recently been completed joining the Peloponnese with the mainland.

Getting around in the southern part of the Peloponnese is more difficult, and private transport is essential if you wish to travel at a reasonable speed. Kalamata in the south-west has an international airport with limited connections – charter flights from the UK are usually only available during the summer, although budget airlines have recently shown an interest in the route and may include it in their schedule in the near future. The journey from Athens airport to the popular Maní peninsula in the south takes around two and a half hours.

There’s a buoyant property market on the Peloponnese where prices have increased sharply over the last few years (by up to 20 per cent) and interest from foreign buyers is strong. There’s plenty of property for sale and you can choose between rural dwellings requiring total restoration from around €50,000, modern apartments from around €100,000 and villas in resort areas starting from around €150,000. Traditional stone houses are also available from €150,000. Areas popular with property buyers are the resorts around the Gulf of Corinth, where prices are among the highest in Greece, and the Maní peninsula in the south (one of the most popular areas in Greece with expatriate residents).

The Peloponnese is divided into seven prefectures and there are several important cities in the region. Corinth, at the canal entrance to the Peloponnese, is a busy city famous world-wide for its currents. South of Corinth is the vast plain of Argos, where much of the Peloponnese’s agricultural production of citrus fruits, grapes and olives is concentrated. On the Argos coast are some of the most popular resorts on the peninsula, including Killini and Porto Heli, which have some of the most expensive property in Greece. Nearby are Náfplio, one of the most beautiful towns in the Peloponnese, Epidauros with its spectacular Greek theatre, and the ancient town of Mycenae. Further south is the prefecture of Lakonia with its dramatic, harsh landscape. The famous town of Sparta is also located here as well as the remote region of Maní, noted for its fierce opposition to both foreign and home rule. Off the southern tip of Lakonia is the island of Kythira, a relatively expensive island with excellent beaches and developing resorts.

In the south-west is Messinia, one of the least-known and least developed regions of Greece, although this is changing and new development is taking place including a large golf course-complex near Finikounda. Kalamata, the capital town of Messinia, is essentially a military town and has the Peloponnese’s main airport. On the west coast are some of the best beaches in Greece, although their remoteness and the general lack of development in the area make them rather inaccessible. Inland at Arcadia, as the name suggests, is the best agricultural land in Greece, surrounded by mountains and medieval villages. In the north-west lies the city of Patra (pop. 150,000), Greece’s third-largest city and a major port serving the western Mediterranean, particularly Italy.

The Saronic Gulf Islands

Nearest Airport – Athens (international).

The Saronic Gulf Islands form a rocky, volcanic chain, known as the ‘Athenian Riviera’, running south of the mainland and east of the Peloponnese peninsula. They’re the closest islands to the capital and popular with wealthy Greeks, particularly Athenians, many of whom own second homes there. The Saronic Gulf Islands have good communications with the mainland and with each other through frequent ferry and hydrofoil services. The climate is temperate with hot summers and mild winters. The five main islands in the group are:

Aegina (pop. 11,000) is the largest island in the Saronic Gulf group and lies close enough to the mainland to be a popular commuter base and to be packed with Athenians at weekends. Due to its ideal strategic position, the island has a glorious past and was briefly the capital of Greece – Aegina is the site of the Temple of Aphaia, one of the most complete ancient buildings in Greece. It’s a verdant and beautiful island blessed with magnificent mountain scenery and many secluded rocky coves. Property here tends to consist mainly of luxury villas.

Hydra (pop. 3,000), a popular venue with artists and writers during the ’60s, is a national monument and one of the most popular and expensive resorts in Greece. Hydra Town has an attractive waterfront and gracious stone mansions, a legacy of its wealthy shipbuilding past, and has a sizeable expatriate population. Motorised vehicles are banned on the island, where the only means of transport is the donkey. Property here is expensive, but has the advantage of holding its value.

Poros (pop. 4,000) is a forested island close to the Peloponnese peninsula, separated from the mainland at Galatas by a narrow channel of water. Most inhabitants live in Poros Town, the only settlement apart from the many tourist hotels around the island. It’s a popular holiday destination, particularly with the British and its population swells to over 15,000 in the summer months. Around 300 expatriates live here.

Salamis (pop. 23,000), birthplace of one of the great Greek playwrights, Euripedes, is barely 1km from Piraeus and consequently is almost an extension of Athens. As a result the island is heavily developed and industrialised.

Spétses (pop. 3,750) is a pine covered island with small coves and the best beaches in the Saronic Gulf islands, and is popular with foreign holidaymakers and Athenians. It’s less spoilt than its neighbours and, like Hydra, is car-free. Only certain vehicles are allowed on the island (buses, motorbikes and horse-drawn carriages), so there’s little traffic. Spétses is one of the more expensive islands in Greece, with prices starting at around €150,000 for a three-bedroom property.

Property in the Saronic Gulf islands is generally more expensive than in other parts of Greece but rental potential is good, particularly if you cater for the Greek market.

© Survival Books Limited 2005

“Buying a Home in Greece” 3rd Edition, Joanna Styles.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on buying a home in Greece can be found in “Buying a Home in Greece” 3rd edition, by Joanna Styles.

For extensive information about buying a property in Greece, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net