Archive for 'Pretty Views in Greece'

If you need to get rid of the cobwebs, relax, and unwind a vacation rental in the South Aegean and a visit to Santorini is a good idea. It is a famously beautiful destination full of pretty whitewashed seaside towns, blue domes, incredible pastel sunsets over crystal clear waters, chic boutiques, pretty restaurants, and much more besides that act as a feast for the eyes. For a picture-perfect holiday, it is the place to pick for your next getaway.

When you are on the island, if you find yourself in the old port and looking to get to the capital of Santorini, Fira then you should definitely take the opportunity to experience the
Santorini Cable Car for yourself.

Crete is always the destination to choose if you are interested in a seaside location that boasts beaches that seem too beautiful to be real. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Crete and are exploring her incredible beaches, pretty towns, and strikingly beautiful landscape, we might suggest setting aside some time to head to the beaches of Elafonisi, in particular.

Previously a hidden gem that was only popular among locals on Crete, Elafonisi was named one of the world's top 25 beaches on TripAdvisor in 2014 and has been all over Instagram and Pinterest in the years since. As such, it is absolutely crowded during the high season in the summer months (up to 2,500 people visit daily during July and August) but it is still worth visiting as there is a very good reason that it became so famous: it is utterly stunning, with saturated hues that seem photoshopped (and often are but are no less impressive in real life all the same), wildflowers, intriguing rock formations, pink sands, and waters so crystal clear that you can perfectly observe any wildlife that you come into contact with. Plus, if you visit outside of the busiest times of the year for tourists (when it is generally still warm and pleasant) then you will most likely have little to no crowds to contend with at all.

Greece might encourage you to stay still and it is definitely a perfect holiday destination for those who are looking to relax and unwind in a picture-perfect setting. However, once you have found a vacation rental in Greece, we would encourage you to look past her perfect beaches, pretty seaside towns, ancient ruins, and welcoming tavernas for a moment and go and discover the towering mountains, otherworldly rock formations, monasteries and convents keeping ancient traditions alive, incredible thermal springs, lunar landscapes, lush woods, valleys full of butterflies, the UNESCO-awarded monumental Metéora rock formations topped by monasteries, underwater lakes, and other incredible surprises that await all across the country. There is much more to Greece than many people are aware of and so much of it is spectacular, breath-taking and surprising. If you have a penchant for adventure, Greece is actually a perfect travel destination.

We have recently noted and written about the great natural beauty of Greece that often goes quite a bit beyond the typical coastal landscapes that are characterised by a specific kind of beach – with soft white sands and unreal blue waters – which people seem to conjure when thinking of the country. There is a lot more to Greece, beautiful as that kind of scenery can be, and a lot more to be discovered. One of these incredible and unique places is Cape Matapan, a small landmass located at the end of the Mani Peninsula, that is home to a legendary surprise.

An intriguingly suggestive and atmospheric beauty, the cape is characterised by rugged hillsides featuring tufted grasses and rolling slopes that curve down to meet the sea. This is also where you will find the Caves of Cape Matapan, which are legendary natural creations that are steeped in Greece’s myths. If you have found a vacation rental in Peloponnese and are exploring the area, come take in these pretty seaside peaks (particularly lovely during Golden Hour before sunset) and the mysterious caves that are hidden within them.

Greece is famously beautiful, though most conjure a particular image of only one type of charm the land boasts: pretty beaches, glittering water in rich azure and teal shades, and villages perched atop sheer, dramatic cliffs. However, there is a wealth of other landscapes and views to take in across the region that are far more unexpected to most travellers: from skiing resorts blanketed in snow to towering peaks in verdant valleys topped by monasteries like something from a fantasy novel to tall old forests filled with butterflies. Even amongst these utterly stunning gems, one of the most utterly picturesque spots in Greece, however, has to be Drakolimni. If you have found a vacation rental in Greece and are up for an adventure, then pencil in a visit to this incredibly beautiful place and see it with your own two eyes.

Drakolimni is the name given to a group of lakes in Greece’s Epirus region, though two are especially famous. One is located on Mount Tymfi and the other on Mount Smolikas, a few kilometres away. Steeped in legend and strikingly beautiful, these glassy lakes are located in panoramic spots atop these two mountains, set in stone and grassy surroundings. Bare and striking, they look almost manmade and futuristic.

The name of the lakes actually translates to “Dragon Lake” and is named for a local legend that says two dragons once warred in the area. One lived at the lake on Mount Tymfi and the other lived at the lake on Mount Smolikas. They threw stones at each other and it is said that this is why the shores of the Tymfi Lake are black with white stones and the shores of the Smolikas lake are white with black stones, having tainted each others’ homes.