CAPRI, Italy

10.4 km²; Peak season→ April - September 

  • In the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula, the south Island of the Gulf of Naples

  • Glamorous spot for holidays/honeymoon

  • 20 km off the Amalfi Coast

  • 2 beaches – Marina Grande and Marina Piccola

  • Anacapri- highest town

  • Extraordinary optical effect of the Blue grotto – a glowing sea cave

  • Spectacular views from Monte Solaro 

  • Wild hiking trails -the Pizzolungo, the Little Forts in Anacapri, 921 Phoenician stone steps

  • Delicious cuisine – Pizza, Chocolate cake, salads, ravioli capresi

  • World-class shopping

  • Caesar Augustus discovered it in 29 BC

  • Port of Marina Grande

                  • Boat to Bagni Tiberio – swimming while looking  at some Roman ruins

                  • Faraglioni-massive rock formation

                  • Languages: Italian (fluent), English (basics)

                  • Good to visit :April – mid-June,September – mid-October

HYDRA, Greece

64.4 km²; Peak Season→July - August 

  • In the Aegean Sea, between the Myrtoan Sea and the Argolic Gulf

  • Belong to Saronic Islands of Greece

  • One of the most beautiful Islands in Greece

  • Preserved stone architecture

  • Clear deep waters

  • 2 hours way from Athens by a ferry 

  • No cars. No scooters

  • Criss-crossing rural paths

  • Mules and donkeys as a unique and earthy transport

                  • Home of the Kamini Yacht Club

                  • Languages: Greek (fluent) ,English /German/ French /Italian  (basics)

                  • Good to visit: April 

SANTORINI, Greece

76.19 km²; Peak Season→ June - September

  • In the Aegean Sea, located between Ios and Anafi islands ,200 km southeast of Athens and 140 km north of Crete

  • Belong to Cyclades group of islands

  • Fabulous seascape of Aegean Sea

  • Submerged volcano

  • Volcanic/black lava cliffs

  • The lagoon-like waters

  • Blue-domed churches

  • Akrotíri Archaeological Site – The Ancient Minoan town of Akrotiri (“the Pompeii of Greece”)

  • Ancient name and officially called Thira

  • Black sand beach of Perissa

  • Sailing around volcanic sea cliffs 

  • Plateia Theotokopoulou (central square of Fira -capital of island)

                  • Fira and Oia trek – one of the most photographed locations in the world

                  • Pyrgos Kallistis village 

                  • Prophet Elias Monastery (highest point)

                  • Boutari Winery ( traditional village of Megalochori)

                  • Red Beach

                  • Sunset in the northern  village of Oia

                  • Lively nightspots in Fira

                  • Surfing is possible  

                  • Languages: Greek (fluent) ,English /German/ French /Italian  (basics)

                  • Better deals: April -May and September-October

MYKONOS, Greece

85.5 km²; Peak season→ July-August

  • In the southern part of the Aegean Sea, between Paros, Tinos, Syros and Naxos

  • Belongs to the Cycladic group of islands

  • Nightlife Island – “Party capital”

  • Paradise and Super Paradise beaches

  • Iconic landmarks with 16th-century windmills- “The Island of the Winds”

  • Massive dance clubs

  • Honeymoon destination; romantic resorts

  • Dining culture – Mediterranean cuisine, fresh seafood (kopanisti, spicy cheese, spicy pork, louza) 

  • Many Greek and European restaurants

                  • Ibiza of Greece

                  • Languages: Greek (fluent) ,English /German/ French /Italian  (basics)

                  • Good to visit: September -October

PAROS, Greece

196.3 km²; Peak season→ July-August

  • In the centre of Aegean Sea (arm of the Mediterranean Sea, connecting west of Greek peninsula with east of Turkey) ,between the islands of Naxos and Sifnos

  • Belongs to the Cycladic group of islands

  • Vivid Nightlife 

  • Naoussa- nightlife centre for all tastes 

  • Windsurfing and other beach activities 

  • Different types of  beaches – from sandy to mud beaches  

  • Impressive landscape – 120 km of coastline, verdant mountains and cliff-top villages galore, central Aegean islands ‘

                  • No direct flights from abroad– only domestic flights from Athens or by ferry from Mykonos or Santorini  

                  • Less expensive than other Island of Greece 

                  • In the past well-known for its white marble

                  • Languages: Greek (fluent) ,English /German/ French /Italian  (basics), Slav-Macedonian/Albanian/ Turkish(minorities)

                  •  Good to visit: April-May, September-October

MALTA

316 km²; Peak Season→July - August 

  • Set of 3 islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) in the Mediterranean Sea between south of Sicily and North Africa( east of Tunisia) on the continental platform

  • Full of architectural sites and ancient buildings

  • One of the most densely populated countries in the world (Population of 515,000 people on 316 km²)

  • Valletta is the capital – home of Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Barrakka Gardens 

  • Diving destination – dolphins, sea lions and more marine life 

  • Blue Lagoon beach (West coast of Comino) – vivid marine life 

  • Popular film location

  • Music Festivals destination

  • Colourful balconies

  • Magnificent cliffs and landscapes

  • Traditional Maltese food – Rabbit Stew, Kapunata, Bragioli Widow’s soup, Lampuki Pie, etc.

                  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, Valletta; 7 megalithic temples –the oldest free-standing structures in the world

                  • The British colony in the past, gained independence 1964

                  • Malta Freeport – main maritime transhipment logistic centre (Mediterranean region) 

                  • Languages: Maltese and English

                  • Good to visit : April – June

CORFU, Greece

585.3 km²; Peak season→ July - August 

corfu

  • Greece’s northwest coast in the Ionian Sea 

  • 2nd largest of the Ionian Islands (after Kefalonia)  – 7th biggest island in Greece

  • Rugged mountains 

  • Could be considered as the greenest Island in Greece 

  • Resort-studded shoreline 

  • Rocky coast

  • Large number of churches -37

  • More than 2 million olive trees 

                  • Was under Venetian, French and British rule until 1864

                  • Founded the first university of Greece as well as the first modern theater and opera of Greece

                  • Languages: Hellenic/Greek (official) , English  (basics),German and Italian (basics) 

                  • Good to visit : April – May , September – November

AZORES, Portugal 

2,346 km²; Peak Season→ July - August 

  • An Oceanic archipelago located in the Macaronesia region of the North Atlantic Ocean

  • Exceptional landscapes  that offer a walk inside the volcanoes

  • Fishing villages

  • Snorkeling, diving, surfing

  • Outdoor activities destination

  • Whale and dolphin spotting 

  • Tea lovers destination (Gorreana Tea Plantation)

  • Delicious food cooked using volcanic rock and steam

  • Cozy hotels

  • No famous resorts 

  • Rocky and black sand beaches

  • 1,000 miles from mainland Portugal

  • 9 major islands

  • Sao Miguel is arguably the best Island of Azores for first -time visitors

                  • Restless Volcanic activity

                  • Giant Volcanic Crater – Sete Cidades

                  • Mount Pico is Volcano (highest point of Portugal -2,351 m)

                  • Top tallest mountains on the planet – Mount Pico is 8000 m tall mountain (base is at bottom of the ocean)

                  • Languages: Portuguese  (official) , English (basics)

                  • Good to visit: June – August

CREETE, Greece

8,450 km2 ; Peak season→ July - September

  • The largest Island of Greece and the 5th in the Mediterranean Sea

  • Located in southern part of the Aegean Sea 

  • Ancient sites and Heraklion Archaeological Museum – Ideon Cave(birthplace of Zeus), housing Minoan artifacts and The Palace of Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement and many more… 

  • Magnificent beaches – at Elafonisi to the White Mountains

  • An atmospheric old towns and villages – Chania

  • Hiking trails at Samaria Gorge

  • Delicious traditional food

                  • The north coast is more  developed – all the major  towns and cities on the north coast 

                  • Beach of Sougia is the closest part to  to Africa’s continent – if you there to notice  the light from  Africa  

                  • Place where Zeus, King of the Greek gods, was born

                  • Island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea 

                  • In 1669, the island was under the Ottoman rule  until 1897

                  • Languages: Greek (official), Englich (basics)

                  • Good to visit: mid-May – June, September – October

ICELAND

103,000 km²; Peak season→ July - August 

  • Island country that placed below the Arctic Circle  between North America and mainland Europe

  • Stunning landscape filled with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields

  • “Land of Fire and Ice”

  • Reykjavík is the capital – halfway between New York and Moscow (its precise location) 

  • Katla, Askja, Krafla, Holuhraun (Brilliant attractions

  • The Blue Lagoon and Dettifoss Waterfall – Natural wonders 

  • Northern lights -September-October, February-March

  • National parks

  • Surfing (summer-winter),Hiking trails – Nautastígur- “the path of the bull” 

  • Norse mythology and rich cultural history

                  • The oldest running parliament in the world- Alþingi (Althing) (930 AD )

                  • No official family names

                  • Lava, snow, Atlantic ocean – symbolise the flag colours

                  • The glacial river Jökulsá á Fjollum

                  • Black sand beaches -lava fragments, ash and other minerals (Reynisfjara beach, Black Lava Pearl Beach)

                  • Rekiyavik-  one of the world’s  greenest, cleanest and safest cities 

                  • Fermented shark or puffin heart as  delicacies 

                  • English as a second language but some can also speak Danish , Spanish ,French German 

                  • Languages: Icelandic (kind of  North Germanic language similar to  Norwegian and Faroese); English (widely used)

                  • Good to visit: July- August, September -October/February – March

UNITED KINGDOM

242,495 km²; Peak season→ July - August

  • Island nation in Northwestern Europe

  • Built of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

  • London is the capital 

  • The lush green of countryside

  • 1600 km of coastline and 100 of beaches -Blackpool South Beach ,Barafundle Bay, Compton Bay, Bamburgh Beach, Rhossili Beach… 

  • Neolithic Stonehenge – a prehistoric stone circle monument (built about 5,000 years ago)

  • 32 recognised sites of UNESCO World Heritage in the UK

  • Bath’s Roman spa

  • London is the capital and globally influential centre of finance and culture

  • Globally recognised Universities-Oxford and Cambridge

  • Highest mountain Scafell Pike – 978 meters above the sea

  • 23 April is a National Day – St George’s day

  • Part of a constitutional monarchy – The government is led by the Prime minister

  • The most widely spoken language in the world

  • Winchester – first capital of England

  • York was the first English city to become settled permanently by the Danish Vikings (in 867) and the last to remain under Viking rule (until 954)

  • Windsor Castle – the oldest royal residence that is still in use

  • Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)

  • Premier League football teams

  • More than 200 all sorts of Festivals (annually) 

  • Spotted Dick, Bangers and Mash, and Toad in the Hole – popular English dishes

  • Beer, Whiskey, Gin have been produced in UK for hundreds of years 

  • Cheese rolling competition (annually)

                  • Six Dynasties : Normans, Plantagenets (the longest), Tudors, Stuarts, Hanoverians, and Windsors

                  • Aethelstan– king of Wessexand the 1st real king of all England (year 927)

                  • From 1066 till 1362 French was an official language of Englan – its about  300 years

                  • Illegal to die in the House of Commons –primary chamber of the Parliament 

                  • To stick a postage stamp upside down for envelope is a criminal offence

                  • Protestant Christianity – the official religion of the UK

                  • Consumption of tea per capita by English people is more than anywhere else in the world

                  • The most common names – David (male) and Susan (female) 

                  • Stephen Hawking, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin – English scientists

                  • Robin Hood was a real person ,different from the movies; Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh is based on a real person

                  • Brexit has been voted but to some level is still as a member of EU

                  • NATO member 

                  • 166 countries that have been part of the British Empire since 1708

                  • Currently 50 independent countries in its membership

                  • Rainy weather(more the North) 

                  • Languages: English (Official)

                  • Good to visit: December, January and February – coldest months

GREENLAND, Denmark

2.166 million km²; Peak season→ June - September and February - April

  • World’s biggest Island 

  • Placed in the North Atlantic Ocean – remote and isolated island

  • 80% covered in ice, snow and glaciers

  • Vast tundra and huge glaciers- The Sermeq Kujalleq glacier (fastest moving in the world), Ilulissat Icefjord World Heritage site

  • Midnight sun (Summer treat – mid-May and late July)

  • Northern Lights/ Aurora Borealis (Winter treat – end of September – March / April)

  • Large towns -Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat and Qaqortoq 

  • Tourism is relatively a new thing

  • Greenland cruise tour

  • Helicopter rides over the glaciers 

  • Sailing tours through icebergs, Iceberg watching, ice cap treks and climbing ,sea kayaking through glacial lagoons, skiing trips and dog sledding tours (winter treats ), fishing

  • Norse ruins hiking trail

  • Wildlife spotting – humpbacks, minke, narwhals and beluga whales  (Until September),musk oxen, walruses, reindeer, sea eagles and polar bears 

  • Ilulissat Icefjord World Heritage site

  • Number of hot springs – between 37° C/98-100°F 

  • The Ice Golf World Championships in Uummannaq – mid-March  

  • Adventure seekers destination

  • The Arctic nation with an arctic climate with average temperatures of 10° C/50°F

                  • Grønland in Danish

                  • Population of 56,000 (17,000 in capital Nuuk) 

                  • The primary sources of income for inhabitants is – fishing  and grants from Denmark 

                  • Constitutional monarchy with – the nominal head of the state is the Danish Queen   

                  • Considered to be part of the North American continent

                  • More than 2.5 million years ago the island was apparently  green ,based on scientific data

                  • Viking History 

                  • Danish is an official language till 2009 – Greenlandic an official language since then

                  • Danish krone is the currency

                  • More than 10 billion tons of ice  a year the northeast Greenland has lost since 2003 (Nature Climate Change study)  

                  • Languages: Greenlandic/Kalaallisut and Danish/ Scandinavi (official); English (widely used) 

                  • Good to visit: June – September (summer), September – April (winter)