Southeast Europe.

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

131,957 sq km (50,949 sq miles).

11 million (UN estimate 2005).

83.4 per sq km.

Athens. Population: 750,000 (2004 estimate); Greater Athens 3.3 million (2004 estimate).

Greece is situated in southeast Europe on the Mediterranean. The mainland consists of the following regions: Central Greece, Peloponnese, Thessaly (east/central), Epirus (west), Macedonia (north/northwest) and Thrace (northwest). Euboea, the second-largest of the Greek islands, lying to the east of the central region, is also considered to be part of the mainland region. The Peloponnese peninsula is separated from the northern mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth. The northern mainland is dissected by high mountains (such as the Pindus) that extend southwards towards a landscape of fertile plains, pine-forested uplands and craggy, scrub-covered foothills. The islands account for one-fifth of the land area of the country. The majority are thickly clustered in the Aegean between the Greek and Turkish coasts. The Ionian Islands are the exception; they are scattered along the west coast in the Ionian Sea. The Aegean archipelago includes the Dodecanese, lying off the Turkish coast, of which Rhodes is the best known; the Northeast Aegean group, including Chios, Ikaria, Lemnos, Lesvos and Samos; the Sporades, off the central mainland; and the Cyclades, comprising 39 islands (of which only 24 are inhabited). Crete, the largest island, is not included in any formal grouping. For fuller descriptions of these regions and islands, see Top Things To See/Do.

Greece is a unicameral parliamentary democracy. The 300-member parliament is elected for a maximum four-year term by adult suffrage. The Prime Minister is the leader of the largest party. The President is Head of State and is elected for a five-year term but has no executive powers.

Republic. Head of State: President Karolos Papoulias since May 2005. Head of Government: Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis since March 2004. Recent history: The Greek conservative New Democracy Party led by Costas Karamanlis took over the reins of government from the Pan Hellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) in elections in early March 2004. Pasok had been in Government for over 10 years. Since he came to power, Mr Karamanlis has faced industrial action due to high unemployment and rising inflation as well as government plans for pension and labour reforms. He is also under pressure from the European authorities to cut the budget deficit which is in excess of the level permitted under the euro zone stability pact. Despite common membership of NATO, bilateral relations between Turkey and Greece have historically been among the worst between any two European countries. The principal causes are the continuing division of Cyprus (see Cyprus section) and control of territorial waters in the Aegean Sea.

Greek (Ellenika). Most people connected with tourism and those of a younger generation will speak some English, French, German or Italian.

98 per cent Greek Orthodox, with Muslim, Roman Catholic and Jewish minorities.

Visitors to Greece will find the Greeks to be well aware of a strong historical and cultural heritage. Traditions and customs differ throughout Greece, but overall a strong sense of unity prevails. The Greek Orthodox Church has a strong traditional influence on the Greek way of life, especially in more rural areas. The throwing back of the head is a negative gesture. Dress is generally casual. Smoking is prohibited on public transport and in public buildings.

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are used.