Greece has between 1,200 and 6,000 islands depending on the measure used to establish an island vs an islet. Approximately 1.2 million people live in the Peloponnese and 1.3 million on the Greek islands. The vast majority of Greeks live in Mainland Greece. The five largest cities in Greece are Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Larissa, and Heraklion. Some estimates put the current population as high as 10,600,000. The population of Greece was estimated by the United Nations to be 10,445,365 in 2021. Sharing its northern land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey, Greece is positioned at a historically rich crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Greece has a land area of over 50,000 square miles and comprises a large mainland peninsula between the Ionian and Aegean seas, surrounded by an archipelago of about 6,000 islands and islets.

Greece is located in southeastern Europe, at the southernmost tip of the Balkan Peninsula. See Also: Greece: Tips & Information for First-Timers Where is Greece? The fantastic Calilo Hotel in Ios is one of our favorite new beach resorts in Greece. Best Time to Visit Greece & Greek Islands.The magical Greek islands are perfectly scattered for island hopping and adventure, while mainland Greece is packed with ancient cities and less-visited regions that will surprise and reward the unhurried traveler. It’s loaded with great beaches ( Naxos, Mykonos, and Paros have the best sand and swimming), fantastic historical sites ( Athens, Crete, and Delphi top the list), and stunning natural beauty ( Santorini, Milos, and the Meteora are my favs).

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