Olympia

UNESCO listed Olympia as one of the most important archaeological sites of Greece. It was here in Olympia 776BC where they held the first Olympic Games. Olympia was also the main place for worshiping Zeus. It is from this that the city derived its name from.. Olympia is located in the Peloponnese region of Ilia.

Climate / When to go?
Location in the Mediterranean climate area the climate in Olympia is characterized by rainy, mild winters and hot, dry summers. The peak tourist season is in July and August. The summer months have the highest temperatures, and therefore are recommended for those who plan to devote their time to sunbathing and relaxing in the water; and fans of entertainment in clubs and discos. It is also the period of the most tourist traffic, so you should be prepared for a lot of busy roads and a crowded city. The more and more it’s out of the season the number of tourists decreases, so do the prices. A pleasant period to travel is April, May and September, when the temperatures are lower and the tourists are not as well represented in quantity. The coldest period is from December to March. There are less sunny days and rain is to be expected.

Time Zone
The time zone is GMT +2h.

Currency
The official currency is the Euro.

Language
Modern Greek (also known as Demotiki), which is the Greek spoken today, is a language derived from vulgar Greek and was made official in 1976. It is very different, both in pronunciation and vocabulary, from ancient Greek. In the main tourist resorts, hotels, restaurants and shops, people also speak English, French, German and Italian. You'll also find menus, directions and tourist brochures written in Italian, English, French and German.

Electrical outlets / phone coverage
Electrical current is 220 volts. In the case of different socket, you can buy an adapter locally or at the airport.

When you enter, your telephone will automatically connect to a Greek telephone operator.
For calls to Greece, the country code is +30, following with the local area code.

Culture
Olympians enjoy a small-town life. They are therefore not largely concerned with international events and live life their own way. Most of the young people leave this place to earn money or study in the cities of Greece or abroad. This leaves the older population in the town. However, most of the people return here to retire and live with their families and old time friends.

Traditions
Although tourism is very strong in Olympia and the region, the town has a folkloric side, keeping true to traditional Greek values and traditions of life. The Olympians are therefore very hospitable and friendly to strangers. They like a conversation and are never in a hurry. So punctuality is of no real importance, being late is a common thing and widely accepted.

Religion
Over 90% of the population is Greek Orthodox. Religious ceremonies are a very impressive performance, as the Orthodox liturgy is based on a number of rituals. In the country there are also minorities of Jews, Protestants, Catholics and Moslems.


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Culture

Olympians enjoy a small-town life. They are therefore not largely concerned
with international events and live life their own way. Most of the young people
leave this place to earn money or study in the cities of Greece or abroad. This
leaves the older population in the town. However, most of the people return
here to retire and live with their families and old time friends.



Traditions


Although
tourism is very strong in Olympia and the region, the town has a folkloric
side, keeping true to traditional Greek values and traditions of life. The
Olympians are therefore very hospitable and friendly to strangers. They like a
conversation and are never in a hurry. So punctuality is of no real importance,
being late is a common thing and widely accepted.



Religion


Over 90% of
the population is Greek Orthodox. Religious ceremonies are a very impressive
performance, as the Orthodox liturgy is based on a number of rituals. In the
country there are also minorities of Jews, Protestants, Catholics and Moslems.

Events
Apart from small time events, regular events celebrated are national holidays. Due to the size of Olympia it is a rather calm town. The most action is caused by the many tourists it attracts. Due to this it also has two nightclubs.

Culinary Specialities
In Olympia you can get many of the Greek specialties. Of course Ouzo and the accompanied Mezedes are also a must in Olympia. Also the popular seafood is well represented. However, as Olympia is a tourist place there are many restaurants, but finding a good one is a challenge.

Lifestyle
In general, Olympians live a calm and peaceful life. They have accustomed to the town being a tourist attraction. The closest city in the area is Pyrgos. A popular place for going shopping.

Sights
The main site in Olympia is obviously the Ancient Olympic Grounds. On these grounds the Ancient Greeks held their Olympic Games in honour to Zeus; the Father of gods and Men. They were held, like today, every four years or as they said back then every Olympiad. The Athletes came from all around the Ancient Greek Empire and its colonies. For that to happen there was an Olympic truce before, during and after the games so that the Athletes were able to travel safely.
Nowadays, the grounds of this famous place are in ruins and unfortunately the statue of Zeus which counted as one of the World wonders as well. It is still a marvellous place to visit.