Nature & Environment

Greece surprises: 80% of the land area is mountainous. Mount Olympus (2,917 m) is the highest mountain, but dozens of mountain ranges over 2,000 m cross the country — Pindos, Taygetos, Parnassus, Idi (Crete). The mainland is rugged, the coastline so intricately shaped that no point in the country is more than 137 km from the sea.

The numbers are impressive:

• 131,957 km² land area (about the size of Bavaria + Baden-Württemberg)
• 13,676 km coastline — the longest in Europe, the eleventh longest worldwide
• 6,000+ islands, about 227 inhabited
• 5 island groups: Cyclades, Dodecanese, Ionian Islands, North Aegean Islands, Sporades
• Crete is the largest island (8,450 km²), followed by Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes, and Chios

Geologically, Greece is highly active: The country lies on the junction of the European and African plates. Earthquakes are frequent (the last severe ones: Lesbos 2017, Kos 2017, Thessaly 2021), and there is volcanic activity on Santorini (the volcano is active!), Nisyros, and Milos. The hot springs on Lesbos, Ikaria, and Kythnos are a result of this tectonics.

Greece has a Mediterranean climate — hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. However, the differences between regions are significant:

The Meltemi is the notorious north wind of the Aegean, blowing from June to September — sometimes at 7-8 Beaufort. It pleasantly cools the Cyclades (Mykonos, Paros, Naxos) but can halt ferries and ruin beach days. Surfers and kite surfers love it (Naxos, Paros, Karpathos are hotspots). Bathing on the leeward side of an island is the trick — the north coast has waves, the south coast is calm.

Best travel time: May-June and September-October. Warm enough for swimming, but without the extreme heat, crowds, and prices of high summer. April is ideal for hikers and culture enthusiasts, November for brave solo travelers.

Greece has 12 national parks and numerous nature reserves. The infrastructure for hikers is modest (compared to Alpine countries) — marked trails, but few huts. However, you often have nature all to yourself.

The Most Important Parks

• Olympus National Park: The mountain of the gods (2,917 m). Climbable in 2 days from Litochoro — overnight at the Spilios Agapitos hut (2,100 m), then to the Mytikas summit. Challenging but unforgettable. The summit zone is alpine with spectacular gorges.
• Samaria Gorge (Crete): The longest gorge in Europe (16 km hike). Accessible from May to October. Start at 1,250 m, end at the sea in Agia Roumeli. Strenuous (5-7 hours downhill!), but the scenery is breathtaking. Start early to avoid the crowds.
• Vikos Gorge & Zagori (Epirus): The (according to Guinness) deepest gorge in the world (relative to width). The Zagori area with its 46 stone villages (Zagorochoria) and old stone bridges is one of Greece's best-kept secrets — hiking, rafting, whitewater, and hardly any tourists.
• Prespa Lakes (Northern Greece): Two lakes at the border with Albania and North Macedonia — home to rare pelicans (Dalmatian pelican!), 1,500 plant species, and ancient Byzantine hermitages in rock caves.
• National Marine Park of Zakynthos: A sanctuary for Caretta-Caretta sea turtles in the Bay of Laganas. Strict beach protection during the nesting season (May-October).
• Pindos National Park (Valia Kalda): "Warm Valley" — the only place in Greece where brown bears still live (about 450 animals). Dense black pine forests, almost no tourist infrastructure, true wilderness.

Greece's wildlife is surprisingly diverse — from the brown bear in Northern Greece to the sea turtle off Zakynthos.

On Land

• Brown bears: About 450 animals in the Pindos Mountains and at the Bulgarian border. The Arcturos bear sanctuary near Florina rescues orphaned and mistreated bears.
• Wolves: About 1,000 animals in Northern Greece. Shy, sightings are extremely rare.
• Jackals: Golden jackals are spreading in Northern Greece — nocturnal, harmless.
• Kri-Kri wild goats: Endemic wild goat species on Crete — only about 2,500 animals left, mainly in the Samaria Gorge and on small offshore islands.
• Turtles: Greek tortoises are found everywhere in the countryside — on hiking trails, in olive groves, along roadsides. Be careful when driving!
• Birds of prey: Griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures, golden eagles — especially in the gorges of Crete and Zagori.

In the Sea

• Caretta-Caretta: The loggerhead sea turtle nests on Greek beaches (Zakynthos, Peloponnese, Crete, Kefalonia). The nesting beaches are strictly protected — no lights, no noise, no sunbeds after sunset.
• Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus): One of the rarest mammals in the world — only about 700 animals left, about half of them in Greek waters. The Northern Sporades (Alonnisos Marine Park) are their most important refuge.
• Dolphins: Common dolphins, striped dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins — sightings are frequent, especially between the islands.

Greece is a botanical paradise with over 6,000 plant species, about 1,000 of which are endemic (found nowhere else in the world). The diversity arises from the extreme topography — from sea level to 2,900 m, from the rainy Ionian Islands to the dry Aegean.

• Olive trees: Over 120 million olive trees shape the landscape — on Crete, some are over 3,000 years old (the oldest in Vouves is estimated to be 4,000 years old and still bears fruit!).
• Wildflowers: In spring (March-May), Greece bursts into color — poppies, anemones, orchids (over 200 orchid species!), asphodels. Crete alone has over 170 endemic plants.
• Herbs: Wild thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage — the hills literally smell fragrant. Greek mountain tea (Sideritis, "Tsai tou vounou") grows wild in the mountains and is considered a cure-all.
• Mastic: The resin of the mastic tree grows ONLY on Chios — an EU-protected product, used in chewing gum, liqueur, cosmetics, and cuisine. The mastic villages in southern Chios are UNESCO candidates.
• Phrygana: The typical Greek maquis — low, aromatic bushes, dwarf palms, thorny shrubs. It looks barren but is one of the richest ecosystems in Europe.

Greece's nature is under pressure — and tourism is part of the problem:

Wildfires

The most pressing environmental issue: wildfires are becoming more frequent and devastating due to climate change. The fire on Euboea in 2021 was the largest in EU history, and the fires near Alexandroupoli in 2023 broke all records. In summer (July-September), large parts of the country are at high risk of fire. Arson (for building land) is a chronic problem that authorities cannot get under control.

Overtourism

Santorini received over 3.5 million visitors in 2024 — on an island with 15,000 inhabitants. The infrastructure (water, sewage, waste) is overwhelmed. Similar situations occur on Mykonos and in parts of Crete. The government has begun to limit cruise ships and promote alternative destinations.

Plastic & Waste

Single-use plastic was banned in 2021, but implementation is patchy. Remote beaches still have waste. Illegal dumps on smaller islands are a problem — waste disposal infrastructure on the islands is often inadequate.

What you can do

• Travel in the off-season: May-June and September-October are more pleasant, cheaper, and more sustainable.
• Alternative islands: Instead of Santorini, go to Milos; instead of Mykonos, go to Serifos; instead of Kos, go to Leros. Similarly beautiful, a fraction of the tourists.
• Save water: Freshwater is scarce in the Cyclades — it is delivered by tanker. Take short showers, reuse towels.
• Eat and shop locally: In the taverna instead of the hotel restaurant, buy olive oil from the farmer, not the souvenir shop.
• Ferries instead of flights: Take ferries between the islands when possible — slower, but more climate-friendly and beautiful.