Greece

GREECE is a marvelous country in southeastern Europe with thousands of ISLANDS throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. GREEK NATURE is rich in mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, lagoons, and so forth. The large interconnected ecosystem of flora and fauna makes it ideal for conscious travellers to embrace nature. Don’t forget to visit ATHENS and HERAKLION to experience the history and local culture. 

Not sure where to go?

The map below features a selection of Good Travel Experiences (GTEs) numbered in blue. It also highlights certified or verified businesses in yellow, all very close to each other, so zoom in very closely in the map below.

GOOD TRAVEL EXPERIENCES

A Good Travel Experience is a tourism activity that creates real benefits for local people and communities, while keeping its impact on nature, culture, and the climate lower than similar activities.  Learn more about each Good Travel Experience:

GOOD TRAVEL BUSINESSES

Discover accommodations, restaurants, shops and activities that are committed to sustainability. Their efforts are summarised in a SCORECARD (click on the picture). For the Good Travel Seal, the higher the number of stars or the level (level 3 is the highest), the more aspects of sustainability are checked by an independent auditor.

GOOD PRACTICE STORIES

Get inspired with stories from places and people that are acting for a fair and responsible tourism

Athens

A historic neighborhood in Athens was at risk of falling apart due to the youth leaving the region. To revive this culturally important area, a project was implemented with the aim of bringing the neighborhood back to life. The project proved to have a lot of success. Kypseli Agora was reborn and now offers a public space for the whole community raising the life of quality again and furthermore leading to the City of Athens becoming the European Capital of Innovation in 2018.
KNOW THEIR STORY THEIR SCORE CARD

Heraklion

Traffic and congestion in the streets was a big issue Heraklion was facing. To combat this the city has introduced new bus lines free of charge, on of which goes directly through the city and along popular tourist attraction and runs on fully electric buses to reduce pollution in the air. The implementation of this was very welcomed by inhabitants and residents alike who are very satisfied with the new buses.
KNOW THEIR STORY THEIR SCORE CARD

Sustainability

Sustainability in Greece is becoming an increasingly important focus as the country strives to protect its beautiful natural landscapes and cultural heritage. With new laws that have clarified environmental protection rules and changed land use regulations, more green investment is likely. Regarding tourism, the country has made significant efforts in recent years to promote eco-friendly practices in popular destinations like Santorini and Crete.

Travel tips from our editors

Getting around

Greece’s efficient public transportation system, including buses and ferries, provides convenient connections between major cities and islands. In urban areas like Athens and Thessaloniki, you’ll find good metro systems and buses for easy city travel.

Tourism & People

Greece welcomes millions of international visitors each year, making it a significant contributor to the country’s GDP. Popular destinations, especially the stunning islands, can become crowded during the summer months and peak seasons like Easter and August. Nevertheless, the country’s vast and diverse landscapes offer numerous off-the-beaten-path destinations to explore. Greece’s rich cultural heritage, including its historical sites, vibrant traditions and tasty cuisine, adds depth to the tourism experience. Greeks are known for their warm hospitality and friendliness toward foreign tourists. While English is widely understood in tourist areas, making an effort to speak a few words in Greek can enhance your experience and foster positive interactions with the locals.

Nature & Wildlife

The Greek countryside is rich in diversity, with 80% of a mountainous landscape, it is home to a large variety of flora and fauna, making it ideal for travelling amongst the green embrace of nature. The country’s wildlife is as diverse as its landscapes, with chamois, deer, and brown bears in the mountains and dolphins, monk seals, and a variety of fish species inhabiting the Mediterranean waters.

Sustainability Recognitions

Brazil has 9 destinations featured in the Top 100 Sustainable Destinations 2021.

Other sustainability certifications can be seen here (English) and here (Portuguese).

Fernanda Rodak | Page Editor

“Brazil is a worldwide known hotspot for biodiversity as well as home to a multitude of cultural expressions. The natural and cultural heritage and immense variety of tourism experiences in the country are valuable assets for its competitiveness. Yet, as we envision a post Covid-19 era, sustainability in tourism becomes crucial to build resilience and guarantee the long-lasting health of Brazil’s ecosystems and well-being of the hosting communities. This would also ensure an active contribution of the country’s tourism sector to the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Visit other destinations nearby?

Republic of North Macedonia
Albania