General information

Greece is located on the Balkan Peninsula and numerous islands. On land, Greece shares borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Greece is washed by the Aegean Sea in the east, the Ionian - in the west, the Mediterranean and Cretan Seas - in the south.

Greece consists of more than two thousand islands. The islands occupy one-fifth of the entire country. All the islands are divided into the following groups: the Ionian Islands, the Northern Aegean Islands, the Northern Sporades and the island of Euboea, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese group of islands and the largest island of the country - Crete.

The climate of Greece is divided into three types: Mediterranean, Alpine and temperate. Summer in Greece is mostly warm and even hot, precipitation is rare. Summer is most comfortable on the coast and islands. Winter in Greece is mild, cold snaps are rare.

The most pleasant winter in Crete and the islands of the Aegean Sea, the coolest - in the mountainous part of Greece. The average summer temperature is +32 °C, winter - +10 °C. The seas in Greece warm up quite late - by June, but remain warm for a long time - until the end of November.

The Greek economy is based on services and tourism. Tourism provides more than 15% of the country's GDP, 16.5% of the population of Greece is employed in tourism. Industry and agriculture also make a significant contribution to the country's budget.

Since 2009, the Greek economy has been in crisis, but since 2017 the trend has changed - the country's economy began to grow. Greece exports petroleum products, medicines, aluminium, fresh fish and olive oil.

Greece is well connected. There are 15 international and 20 regional airports. It is also easy to move between the islands due to the large number of ports and moorings (more than 110).

Greece has a railway network stretching from the Peloponnese to Thrace. The road infrastructure is well developed throughout the country, there are motorways.

Greece is one of the countries with the cleanest sea water in Europe. The mild climate, tasty and healthy products, clean air - all this contributes to the high life expectancy of the local population. So, for 2020, the life expectancy of an average resident of Greece was 81.7 years.

The nature of Greece is unusually picturesque. The forests of Greece can be divided into two large groups: temperate hardwood forests and Mediterranean forests. 

Each of the forests is distinguished by its unique flora and fauna, each is beautiful in its own way. In addition to forests, there are mountains, lakes and rivers, plains and even swamps in Greece. Underwater life is amazing and diverse, so diving enthusiasts also visit Greece.

The Aegean Sea is the most popular among divers, as not far from the coast, under the waters of the sea, there are rocky reefs that serve as a home and shelter for marine life.

The warm climate, gentle waters and rich cultural and historical heritage attract thousands of tourists to Greece - this is one of the most visited countries in the world. Life in Greece is calm and safe, there is a low crime rate. The local population is friendly and open people. At the same time, 97% of the population of Greece are Orthodox.

In the list of countries according to the Human Development Index for 2020, Greece ranks 32nd in the world ranking. Greece has a good level of medical care. The state invests in healthcare, opens new clinics and purchases modern equipment. Hospitals in major cities in Greece correspond to the average European level.

Greece has a rich cultural heritage. Ancient Greek culture formed the basis for the development of the entire Western civilization. Democracy, philosophy, physical and mathematical sciences, oratory, theater, the Olympic Games - all this originated and developed in ancient Greece.

The Acropolis of Athens is an outstanding architectural monument that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. The Acropolis is a 156-meter hill with a gentle top, on which the remains of the Parthenon temple and other ancient buildings rest. The Acropolis was the main residence of the king. Also on the territory of the Acropolis there were many temples in which prayers were offered to the gods and sacrifices were made.

In addition to the Acropolis in Greece, there are many remains of temples, stadiums, palaces, which allow the modern visitor to see firsthand the power and strength of the culture of ancient Greece. We list only a few of the most important, because the list is endless.

The huge Panathinaikos stadium and the Temple of Zeus in Athens, the Palace of Knossos on the island of Crete, the temple of Apollo in the city of Delphi, the monasteries of Meteora, towering on stone pillars in the city of Kalambaka, Ancient Olympia - the birthplace of the Olympic Games on the Peloponnese peninsula.

The island of Santorini is considered to be One of the most beautiful Greek islands. Everyone probably remembers how the famous white houses with blue roofs look against the backdrop of the azure sea. Mount Olympus on the shores of the Aegean Sea is one of the most picturesque sights. And the beach of Navagio on the island of Zakynthos is the pearl of the local region.

A huge plus in getting higher education in Greece is that it is either free or inexpensive. At the same time, the graduate receives a European diploma.

Interestingly, in Greece, all universities are state-owned. Private universities, however, also exist, but are not considered accredited.

Public education in Greece is free not only for the local population, but also for foreigners.

For admission to the university entrance exams are not required, it is enough to provide the average score of the certificate. You can choose up to 20 faculties of different universities. To do this, simply attach the list of faculties to the certificate of secondary education.