There are not many countries in the world that have changed borders as often as Greece in their history. Initially, this Balkan state covered the vast territories of continental Europe and the peninsula of Asia Minor, but later reduced its territory to today's rather modest size. Modern Greece is located approximately in the same borders in which the great ancient culture of this country originally arose.
Greece is a surprisingly contrasting country, especially with regard to its geographic location. The Greek Republic is located in the south of the Balkan Peninsula, in which several more peninsulas can be distinguished, the largest of which will be the Peloponnese. The total area of the state is 131,000 square kilometers, which is approximately equal to the area of such subjects of the Russian Federation as the Vologda or Orenburg regions.
The Greek Republic is usually referred to the states of Southern Europe. It is worth remembering that this country is a member of the European Union and NATO. Greece has land borders with four states: Bulgaria, Macedonia, Turkey and Albania.
The attentive traveler will be able to notice the external similarity of the inhabitants of Bulgaria, Greece and Macedonia. But the point here is not the notorious Turkish yoke. It's just that the inhabitants of these countries have common ethnic roots.
Less than a thousand years ago, part of the territories of these states was part of the Byzantine Empire - an ancient state, the core of which was the Greek ethnos. Also, the Greeks had a number of settlements in different parts of the Mediterranean. For example, many of the modern cities of Crimea, as well as the Russian and Ukrainian sections of the Black Sea coast, were once founded by Greek settlers who organized powerful and well-governed communities.
The islands and the peninsular part of Greece are washed by the Ionian Sea from the west, the Aegean from the east, and the southern part of the country and the island of Crete have access to the Mediterranean Sea.
Where is Greece and how to get to this country
In total, Greece includes about 2,000 islands, many of which have airports. So, from the largest cities in Russia and Europe, you can fly to Crete, Corfu or Rhodes. Ferry connections operate with other islands. The ferry price is usually already included in the original ticket price. Travel time by plane from Moscow to the cities of Greece will be about 3 hours 40 minutes. The most popular holiday destinations in Greece are considered to be the islands of the Aegean Sea, due to the high purity and transparency of the local water.
If possible, it is worth taking a tour to the remote islands of the Aegean Sea, where tourists are delivered by small aircraft. The flight takes place at a low altitude, which means that you can enjoy magnificent views for 30-40 minutes.
The beaches and cities of Greece are adapted for recreation all year round, since the Balkan Mountains located in the north of the country prevent the penetration of cold air from the north of Europe, and the hot air from the Sahara, on the contrary, easily reaches the country.
How to get to Greece by land
Greece, despite the complexity of the relief surrounding the country, still has a developed overland communication with neighboring countries. Tourists from Istanbul will be able to reach the large city of Thessaloniki in eight hours. By bus from Bulgaria to the Greek border can be reached in three to four hours. Travel from Macedonia and Albania will take the same amount of time.
