This part of our guide to holidays in Greece covers the cuisine of the country…

Greece offers a wide range of experiences, landscapes and activities. It is famous for its natural beauty, historical sites and nightlife, and of course for its reliably sunny summers and the many beautiful beaches on its islands and coastline, which stretches along the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas.

These features attract more than 15 million visitors each year, making this southern European country one of the world’s top 20 tourist destinations. While 90% of its tourists come from other European countries, in recent years there have been growing numbers of visitors from other parts of the world too.

Athens and islands such as Corfu, Crete and Rhodes are the major destinations, but other parts of Greece are also rewarding. Travelers wanting a quieter holiday can escape large-scale tourism in many attractive places.

The great majority of travellers arrive in the summer months – April through October, with the season’s peak being July and August. Outside this period, most of the Greek tourist infrastructure, particularly on the islands, slips into hibernation.

The majority of scheduled international flights go via Athens and Thessalonki. But in the tourism season, charter and low-budget flights flying from numerous European cities arrive daily at a range of popular island destinations and smaller mainland cities.

A valid passport is required on entry and a visa may also need to obtained by residents of non-EU countries. However, citizens of select non-EU countries (including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States) are allowed a 90-day visa-free stay.

It’s considered a safe country to visit (in terms of occurrences of theft and violence against visitors) and no immunization vaccinations are required or advised prior to traveling there.