Greece is located in south-eastern Europe, on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula (Haemus peninsula); It lies at the meeting point of three continents – Europe, Asia and Africa. Greece borders to the North on Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M.), to the Northwest on Albania, to the Northeast on Turkey; to the West it is washed by the Ionian Sea; to the South by the Mediterranean Sea and to the East by the Aegean Sea.

Government type: Parliamentary Republic

Capital: Athens

Administrative divisions:51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*; Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos

Executive Branch:
Chief of state: President
Head of government: Prime Minister
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

Legal System: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Population: 10,749,943 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 75

Ethnic Origin:population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census)
Note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity

Area total: 131,957 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 96
Land: 130,647 sq km
Water: 1,310 sq km

Natural Resources:lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnetite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

Greece has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, wet winter and hot, dry summer, long sunshine duration almost all the year and a limited amount of rainfall. Due to the country's geographical position, distribution between the mainland and the sea, there is great variation in Greece's climate.

The cold and rainy period lasting from the mid of October until the end of March, and the warm and none rain season lasting from April till September. During the winter the coldest months are January and February, with averages temperature ranging between 5 -10 C near the coasts, and 0 - 5 over mainland areas. The warmest period is the last ten-day period of July and the first one of August, when the maximum temperature lies in the range of 29.0 and 35.0 C.

Import:

Tobacco products
200 cigarettes or
100 cigarillos or
50 cigars or
250 grams of tobacco

Alcohol:
1 liter of spirits over 22 % vol. or
2 liters of fortified wine or sparkling wine
2 liters of still wine

Perfume: 50 Grams
Eau de toilette: 250 ml
Other goods: Up to a value of 175 Euro

Restricted Imports:

Products of animal origin:
Apart from some exceptions the Community rules do not allow the importation of meat, meat products, milk and milk products by travellers.

Prohibitions and restrictions in the following areas are covered by national legislation
-Drugs
-Medicines
-Weapons
-Explosive Material
-Pornographic Materials

1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
15 Feb Orthodox Shrove Monday.
25 Mar Greek Independence Day
1 Apr Greek Cypriot National Day
2 Apr Greek Orthodox Good Friday.
5 Apr Greek Orthodox Easter Monday
1 May Labour Day.
24 May Pentecost (Kataklysmos)
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Oct Cyprus Independence Day.
28 Oct Greek National Day (Ochi Day)
24 Dec
26 Dec Christmas.

Greece is a very safe holiday destination by world standards, with no major travel warnings at present.

The Greek National Health system holds a reciprocal agreement with the British NHS for basic medical care. Each member of the family should take with them a European Health Insurance Card, which replaced the old E111 forms in 2005.

Doctors and medical facilities are plentiful and of good quality on the Greek mainland, but may be slightly more limited on the islands. The number of ambulances available on the islands is also significantly less. Virtually all doctors in Greece can speak English and other European languages.

You don't need any particular form of vaccination to enter the country at all. Holiday insurance is quick and easy to purchase before you go on holiday and can save you a myriad of worries further down the line for the sake of a few pounds.

There's also the chance that your luggage could get lost or stolen - but with a solid insurance policy you needn't worry about these things at all. The best travel insurance for you depends on what you need - would you rather pay up front and get your expenses reimbursed, or have the company pay your bills directly?