Greece is a country with numerous contributions to modern civilization, perhaps more than any country. It is the cradle of democracy, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and home to many of the most brilliant philosophers, scientists, writers and artists that the world has ever produced, such as Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Archimedes, Euclid, Euripedes and Praxiteles. True, most of these contributions may not be tangible. However, those that are can only be seen or best experienced when you visit Greece.

1. Ancient Monuments

The ancient city-state of Athens was one of the most powerful cities of its time and although Athens has changed a lot over the past centuries, it still has ruins of many ancient monuments that are reminders of its glorious age - which are all must-see attractions when you visit Greece. The most popular ones, of course, can be found on the Acropolis, like the Parthenon, the Erectheion, the Propylaea and the Temple of Athena Nike, while other impressive ones, like the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Poseidon, the Kerameikos necropolis and the Theatre of Dionysius are scattered throughout the city.

If you are truly interested in archaeology, you shouldn’t stop at Athens, though, since there are many impressive sites and monuments in other cities, as well. In fact, some cities like Delphi, Delos and Olympia are archaeological sites in themselves. Some of the most remarkable monuments outside Athens include the Temple of Demeter at Naxos, the Temple of Epicurian Apollo at Vassae and the ruins of the Knossos Palace in Crete.

While most of these monuments are in ruins, you can see the artifacts, like the statues they originally contained at various archaeological museums in Greece. Most of these museums are located near or even on the site itself, although the finest and most important artifacts can be found in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the largest in Greece.

2. Beaches

One of the reasons why Greece is considered to be such a romantic destination is because it has a long coastline dotted with idyllic beaches, most of which offer white sand and warm, crystal waters, while some are backed by dramatic cliffs and villas. Many of these are Blue Flag beaches, too, with the best ones found in Kefalonia and Zakynthos, while nudism is acceptable almost everywhere, but most particularly on Banana Beach in Skiathos and Eresos Beach in Lesvos. There are many great diving spots, too, and several sea caves to explore.

3. Gastronomy

Greek food is often described as healthy, so make sure you get your fill when you visit Greece. This is because olives and olive oil are widely used, most of which are grown and produced in Kalamata and Crete. There are many vegetable dishes, too, such as Greek Salad, baked beans and cabbage rolls, although meat dishes like oven-baked lamb, Gyros (roasted meat) and Souvlaki (skewered meat) are also popular. As for desserts, many are made with nuts and honey, the most popular one being Baklava, while wine is the most common drink. In fact, there are some that say wine originated in Greece.

4. Greece After Dark

Greece is a country that comes to life at night, as you will see when you visit Greece. This is especially true in Athens, Corfu, Skiathos and Mykonos, which have a large concentration of night clubs and bars that play all types of music - whether pop, rock, jazz, trance or the traditional music of the bouzouki - up until dawn or even seven in the morning. In the summer, you will find many seaside parties, too, which start right after sunset and go on until sunrise.

5. Movie Locations in Greece

With its beautiful scenery, it comes as no surprise that film crews and celebrities visit Greece to shoot their movies, and if you’re lucky, you might catch them in the middle of the filming. Don’t be upset if you don’t, though, since there are still many movie locations you can visit like the Aghia Triatha monastery at Meteora where scenes from the Bond film ‘For Your Eyes Only’ took place or Skopelos, where some scenes from ‘Mamma Mia!’ were filmed.

Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has been to global tourist destinations like Greece. To book your car rental Greece or learn more about car hire deals worldwide, visit Zencarhire.com.

Caribbean holidays are charming for everyone: grownups, children, and the disabled. These islands are inexplicably beautiful and interesting that nobody would ever grow bored of this place. The Caribbean islands are famous worldwide for the exciting and thrilling water sports. It comprises of more than 7000 islands, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. It is adorned with white-sand beaches, sparkling clear water, beautiful scenery and the palm trees that sway with the breeze. The place welcomes the tourists warm-heartedly.

The Caribbean holidays are ideal for experiencing the best water sports in the world. Disabled visitors might not be able to take part in such activities, but they can still feel the thrill and adventure of watching others doing jet skiing, parasailing etc. If they have only visual or hearing impairment, then they can enjoy lighter sports activities like canoeing and banana boat. The guides and instructors are very helpful, and they can help the disabled visitors to enjoy in water with lighter current.

Wheel chairs are available almost everywhere from the flights and airports and at most of the hotels. Efforts have been made to make extra arrangements for disabled visitors. Most tour operators, hotels and cruise ships have to comply with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) to ensure great comfort for visitors with disabilities.

The most exciting and thrilling part of the holidays for disabled visitors is to go on a cruise. Many cruises have specially designed their ships to accommodate wheel chairs easily. The alleys and the doorframes are wider and ramps are provided everywhere near the stairs/steps. These ships have flat thresholds, in-shower wheels, elevators and other accessible activities for the disabled visitors.

Disabled visitors should always be cautious about any holiday plan they make. Their travel agents should advise them about undertaking a particular journey or not. Unfortunately, they will not get as much fun and excitement out of their Caribbean holiday, nonetheless, it is worth a visit.

Apart from the water-based activities, a plenty of other things that the disabled visitors can do during their stay in the Caribbean are there. They can get a visual treat of waterfalls, caves, watching birds, volcanoes and rain forests etc. Going on a day safari or to an amusement park would make great alternate options.

Else, they can go to art galleries and aquariums or go for horse riding or golf. Visiting a spa is necessary during your stay in the Caribbean, which the disabled visitors will find extremely pleasurable. Different carnivals and festivals take place in this region throughout the year, which must be attended to feel the spirit of the Caribbean!