Evia & Sporades (Greece)

Evia & Sporades Information

Overview

Things to do

Country Info (Greece)

The Sporades (whose name means 'scattered ones') is an archipelago of beautiful green and wooded islands close to the Greek mainland, north of Athens. There are 11 of them, four of which - Skiathos, Skyros, Skopelos and Alonissos - are inhabited. In guidebooks they're always grouped together with neighbouring Evia, which, although technically an island is actually considered to be part of the mainland, to which it's connected by bridge.

The fact that they're so close to (and easy to reach from) the mainland means that they're popular holiday destinations for mainland Greeks as well as foreigners. Most popular are Skiathos and Skopelos, while Alonissos and Skyros are less developed.

The Sporades are not great sightseeing destinations, not having the same wealth of archaeological attractions as other islands. However, they're perfect holiday choices, with good beaches - pebble and sand, busy and quiet - and clear water. For the active, there's a range of watersports on offer and lovely countryside for walks, especially in spring when the wildflowers blossom.

The long, narrow island of Evia (also known as Euboea) is the second largest in Greece (after Crete) and lies stretched out along the coast of the mainland, only 80 miles north of Athens. It attracts more Greek tourists (many of whom have holiday homes here) than foreigners and is a popular weekend break destination for Athenians.

Wooded mountains run down its spine, providing recreation for climbers and, in winter, skiers. A fertile island, Evia is a major producer of grain, corn, vegetables and livestock. It also has pretty villages, medicinal springs (you'll find spas at Kamena Vourla and Ipati) and good sandy beaches on the west coast.

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Population: 10.668.400
Languages: Greek 99% (official), English, French
Currency: euro
Currency code: EUR
Local Times:
Greece - Athens

Country Dialling Code: +30
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 Parallel circular prongs

2 parallel circular prongs with an earth connector

2 parallel circular prongs with a female earth connector

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

Greece appeals to different types of tourist, and very few could fail to find somewhere to suit their taste. From bustling Athens to blindingly bright islands, ancient fragments abound - the belly button of the cosmos at Delphi, fallen columns galore on the sacred island of Delos, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete and even, quite possibly, the remnants of Atlantis at Santorini. Greeks are fierce guardians of tradition, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to have fun. In addition, hot sun and limpid seas conspire to make Greece a perfect place to relax. Whether you're supping in a beachside taverna , sipping coffee in a shady plateia or disco-dancing till dawn.

The Olympic Games were spawned in ancient classical Greece, along with democracy and the fundamentals of philosophy, science and mathematics. Modern Greece is better known as a great place to vacation rather than a centre of learning and culture. Today the country attracts by offering simple pleasures: delicious food at reasonable prices, local wine, beautiful beaches, sunshine, quaint villages, a seemingly endless lacework of coastline and little islands full of scenic surprises.

The country exudes traditional charm, particularly on its ever-popular islands, which cling to their stereotypical architecture and way of life despite being often over-run by tourists. Black-clad women still deliver vegetables to island tavernas on panniered donkeys, while bronzed, lined fishermen sit in the sun, drink thick coffee, and play dominoes or dice. The tourist infrastructure has intruded in many respects, but the timeless aspect of whitewashed buildings clustered on hillsides around narrow pebbled alleys has been retained. The myriad islands in the Aegean Sea are easily accessible from Piraeus, the historic harbour of Greece's mainland capital, Athens, by ferry or hydrofoil, offering a unique chance for 'island-hopping'. Many of the larger islands also have airports with connections to Athens or seasonally with major European cities.

On the mainland the city of Athens in the south is sprawling, overcrowded and polluted but nevertheless enthralls visitors, while Thessaloniki in the north is vibrant and modern with a Byzantine flavour. Athens is dominated by its major landmark, the Parthenon: the remains of other wonders of the ancient Greek classical world are to be found mainly on the Peloponnese Peninsula, south of Corinth, the gateway to a veritable treasure trove of history.

Greece and Greeks welcome with open arms the thousands of visitors that flock to admire their national assets every year - no-one leaves without having been warmed, both by the sun and the hospitality.