Out of 3000 islands, 100 of them are inhabited

Tourist expert: I visited Greece 270 times... and wrote 70 travel guides about it

• The proportion of tourists in some Greek islands in the summer to 80% of the population.

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Of the more than 3,000 Greek islands, 100 are inhabited, most of which are visited by travel book author Klaus Pottig. “I know 87 islands in Greece, and each one has its own charm,” he says.

As an expert on everything related to Greece, he has written about 70 travel guides about the country located in the Mediterranean, about which he says: “He traveled to it about 270 times.”

And if one is to believe what the tour operators are saying, there are plenty of vacationers going there this summer, and the demand is rising.

Here are some of Buttigieg's special tips when visiting the Hellas Islands (the ancient name for Greece) for new tourists, as well as other tips for anyone else:

Kos Island

A first-class tourist island, where the ratio of tourists to local residents during the summer reaches 80% to 20%, according to Buttigieg estimates.

But for new visitors who have already vacationed in Italy or Spain and are going to Greece for the first time, Kos is an excellent travel destination.

It's also great for families, as Buttigieg says, "there are some very beautiful beaches, and the distances between them are short," which means kids don't have to stay in the car for long hours.

There are many places for vacationers to go to, from the ancient site of Esklipion, or the Zia Natural Zoo, to the Aquatica water park and the charming sandy beaches in the south of the island.

For those who prefer a more active holiday, they can explore Kos by bike. "It's the place where the best cycling routes in Greece are," says Buttigieg.

Corfu Island

The island in the far northwest of Greece offers some Italian flair, due to the people of Venice, who have ruled the place for a long time, and left their mark on the architecture there, which included the construction of the first theater in Greece.

The Venetians also left their mark on the landscape there because they needed oil to light their lamps, so they planted olive trees all over the island that still stand today, now hundreds of years old.

"They are old olive forests," Buttigieg says.

When it comes to beaches, Corfu is not ideal at all. Buttigieg says: “The beaches there are full of pebbles, especially in the places where most of the tourist hotels are located, and his advice is that the visitor is keen to bring in such beaches some shoes for use in the presence of water.

Rhodes Island

An island with wonderful beaches, in addition to the presence of many ancient green areas there, along with a wide range of sports, which include the presence of “the best horse riding stables in Greece”, according to the most important of Buttigieg’s recounts about the island, which he says: “There is something on it.” Fits everyone.

The same applies to the island's capital, which includes one of the largest and most conservative ancient cities in Europe.

secret advice

It is only natural that Buttigieg will be asked to reveal a secret tip for those wishing to visit Greece, thanks to his experience and knowledge of nearly 90 islands there.

And then Buttigieg decides to talk about Lemnos. "Only Greeks go there for holidays," he says of it, so the island is not very crowded.

"Limnos is relatively inexpensive, and its conditions are very good for those who want to practice skiing and cycling," Buttigieg says.

However, one can only get there after stopping in Athens or Thessaloniki, and then traveling thereafter either by domestic flight or by ferry.

“(Limnos) is inexpensive, and is considered very good for those who want to practice skiing and cycling.”

• Klaus Pottigieg: “I know 87 islands in Greece, and each of them has its own charm."

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