Facts About Greece

Where in the world is Greece?

Bulgaria
Greece is a country in the south-east of Europe. North.

Albania
Macedonia
It has borders with four other countries: North
Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Albania.

Greece has a very long coastline, with over 2000

Greece
Turkey
islands and rocky outcrops. The Aegean, Ionian
and Mediterranean Seas flow around the islands,
the largest of which is Crete. Being beside the sea
makes Greece a popular holiday destination.

What is the
weather like in Greece?
Most people consider Greece to be a summer
holiday destination, although there are also
popular ski resorts in the mountainous regions
to the north of Athens. Greece has hot, dry
summers and mild, rainy winters. Because
of the sunny climate, more than 25 million
tourists visit Greece each year!

What is the capital city of Greece?

The capital city of Greece is Athens. Athens is
one of the oldest cities in Europe, having been
established more than 7000 years ago. It is said
to be the birthplace of democracy and is named
after the ancient Greek goddess Athena.

Facts about Greece

• Greece enjoys more than 250 days of sunshine a
year! (The UK gets around half of that.)
• Mount Olympus is the highest peak in Greece,
measuring 9754 feet high.
• In 2015, 26.5 million tourists visited Greece -
that’s more than the entire population of Greece!
• Greek houses are often painted white to reflect the heat from the summer sun.
• Around 40% of the entire population of Greece live in Athens - that’s almost
half of all the people in Greece!

Page 1 of 1
 Questions
1. What continent is Greece located in?


2. Which of these countries does not border Greece? Tick one.

Turkey

North Macedonia

Belarus

Albania
3. Where are ski resorts located in Greece? Tick one.

north

south

east

west
4. Match the fact to the correct number. One has been done for you.

Number of days of sunshine in Greece. 7000

Number of tourists that visited Greece in 2015. 250

Number of years ago Athens was founded. 9754

The height of Mount Olympus in feet. 26.5 million

5. Around what percentage of the Greek population live in Athens? Tick one.

10%

20%

30%

40%

Page 1 of 2
 Questions

6. Why are many houses in Greece painted white?



7. Why do you think Greece is a popular holiday destination? Use evidence from the text to
explain your answer.




Page 2 of 2
 Answers
1. What continent is Greece located in?
Europe

2. Which of these countries does not border Greece? Tick one.

Turkey

North Macedonia

Belarus

Albania
3. Where are ski resorts located in Greece? Tick one.

north

south

east

west
4. Match the fact to the correct number. One has been done for you.

Number of days of sunshine in Greece. 7000

Number of tourists that visited Greece in 2015. 250

Number of years ago Athens was founded. 9754

The height of Mount Olympus in feet. 26.5 million

5. Around what percentage of the Greek population live in Athens? Tick one.

10%

20%

30%

40%
 Answers

6. Why are many houses in Greece painted white?

Houses in Greece are painted white to reflect the heat from the summer sun.

7. Why do you think Greece is a popular holiday destination? Use evidence from the text to
explain your answer.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I think Greece is a popular holiday destination because
it has a warm and sunny climate, with lots of days of sunshine each year. It also has a
lot of history, including Athens, which is one of the oldest cities in Europe and different
places to visit, like ski resorts in the mountains.
 Facts About Greece
Where in the world is Greece?
Bulgaria
Greece is a country in the south-east of Europe. North.

Albania
Macedonia
It has borders with four other countries: North
Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Albania.

Greece has 8479 miles of coastline, with as

Greece
Turkey
many as 2000 rocky outcrops and islands.
Around 170 islands are populated with the
largest island being Crete, a popular holiday
destination for tourists.

What is the weather like in Greece?

Greece has a typically Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and
mild, rainy winters. Most people consider Greece to be a summer holiday
destination, although there are also popular ski resorts in the mountainous
regions to the north of Athens.

Average summer temperature: 33°C Average winter temperature: 10°C

Because of the sunny climate, more than 25

million tourists visit Greece each year!

What is the capital city of Greece?

The capital city of Greece is Athens. Athens is
one of the oldest cities in Europe, having been
established more than 7000 years ago. It is
said to be the birthplace of democracy. Around
40% of the entire population of Greece live here
- that’s almost half of all the people in Greece!

How has Greece influenced the world today?

Theatre
Ancient Greeks valued the power of the spoken word and writers, such as Homer,
wrote long poems to be performed.

Olympic Games
The Greek Olympics first took place in 776 BC and were held in honour of Zeus,
king of the Greek gods.

Page 1 of 2
 Facts About Greece

Maths
Ancient Greeks, such as Pythagoras, studied maths and number, helping to
develop the number system we know and use today.

Facts About Greece

• Greece enjoys more than 250 days of sunshine a year!

• Mount Olympus is the highest peak in Greece, measuring 9754 feet high.

• In 2015, 26.5 million tourists visited Greece - that’s more than the entire
population of Greece!

• Greek houses are often painted white to reflect the heat from the summer sun.

Page 2 of 2
 Questions
1. How many miles of coastline does Greece have? Tick one.
four

170

2000

8479

2. Which is the largest island in the coastline around Greece? Tick one.
Crete

Athens

Turkey

Albania

3. Match the historical figure to their role in Greece’s history.

Homer king of the Greek gods

Zeus a writer and poet

Pythagoras a mathematician

4. When did the first Olympics take place? Tick one.

7000 years ago

776 BC

AD 776

AD 2015

5. W
hat type of climate does Greece have?


6. Fill in the missing words.

Most people consider Greece to be a summer holiday , although there
are also popular ski resorts in the regions to the north of Athens.

Page 1 of 2
 Questions

7. Which of the three influences Greece has had on the world do you think is the most
important? Explain your answer.




8. Why do you think Greece is a popular holiday destination? Use evidence from the text to
explain your answer.




Page 2 of 2
 Answers
1. How many miles of coastline does Greece have? Tick one.
four

170

2000

8479

2. Which is the largest island in the coastline around Greece? Tick one.
Crete

Athens

Turkey

Albania

3. Match the historical figure to their role in Greece’s history.

Homer king of the Greek gods

Zeus a writer and poet

Pythagoras a mathematician

4. When did the first Olympics take place? Tick one.

7000 years ago

776 BC

AD 776

AD 2015

5. W
hat type of climate does Greece have?
Greece has a Mediterranean climate.

6. F
ill in the missing words.
Most people consider Greece to be a summer holiday destination, although there are also
popular ski resorts in the mountainous regions to the north of Athens.
 Answers

7. Which of the three influences Greece has had on the world do you think is the most
important? Explain your answer.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I think Pythagoras is the most important influence as
he helped to develop the number system that we still use today and the use of numbers
is important in every country around the world.

8. Why do you think Greece is a popular holiday destination? Use evidence from the text to
explain your answer.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I think Greece is a popular holiday destination because
it has a warm and sunny climate, with lots of days of sunshine each year. It also has a
lot of history, including Athens which is one of the oldest cities in Europe and different
places to visit, like ski resorts in the mountains.
 Facts About Greece
Greece is a country in the south-east of
Bulgaria
Europe. Mainland Greece shares its borders North.

Albania
Macedonia
with Albania, Turkey, North Macedonia and
Bulgaria It is often referred to as a crossroads
between Europe, Asia and Africa.

Greece
Turkey
Greece enjoys 8479 miles of coastline, with
a vast number of islands dotted throughout
the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas.
The largest island is Crete, which is a popular
holiday destination for tourists.

Average summer temperature: 33°C Average winter temperature: 10°C

Average summer rainfall: 6mm Average winter rainfall: 65mm

Greece has a warm, sunny climate and

enjoys more than 250 days of sunshine
a year on average. It has a typically
Mediterranean climate with hot, dry
summers and mild, rainy winters. Most
people consider Greece to be a summer
holiday destination, although there are
also popular ski resorts in the mountainous
regions to the north of Athens.

Eighty percent of Greece consists of mountains or

hills, making it one of the most mountainous areas
in Europe. Mount Olympus is the highest peak in
Greece, measuring 9754 feet high. According to
Greek legend, when God created the world, He
sifted the earth through a strainer. After giving
each country good soil, he threw the stones that
were left over his shoulder and created Greece.

Page 1 of 2
 Facts About Greece

The capital city of Greece is

Athens. Athens is one of the
oldest cities in Europe, having
been inhabited continuously for
more than 7000 years. Around
40% of the entire population of
Greece live here.

Greece is known as the ‘cradle of

Western civilisation’, introducing
democracy, maths, science and
language ideas that still influence us today. The Parthenon is situated on the
Acropolis of Athens, an ancient citadel on a rocky outcrop above the city of
Athens, and is one of the most recognised symbols of classical Greece. Athens
is said to be named after the Greek Goddess Athena, who presented a gift of an
olive tree to the citizens. The Parthenon is a temple dedicated to Athena.

Page 2 of 2
 Questions
1. What continent is Greece in? Tick one.
Asia

Europe

Africa

America

2. How many miles of coastline does Greece have?



3. Match the value to the fact.

Average summer temperature 65mm

Average winter temperature 10°C

Average summer rainfall 6mm

Average winter rainfall 33°C

4. Name one of the seas that has Greek islands in it.



5. What does the word inhabited mean?



6. I n your own words, explain why Greece is known as the ‘cradle of civilisation’.




7. How did Athens get its name?





8. Why do you think Greece is a popular holiday destination? Use evidence from the text to
explain your answer.




Page 1 of 1
 Answers
1. What continent is Greece in? Tick one.
Asia

Europe

Africa

America

2. How many miles of coastline does Greece have?

Greece has 8479 miles of coastline.

3. Match the value to the fact.

Average summer temperature 65mm

Average winter temperature 10°C

Average summer rainfall 6mm

Average winter rainfall 33°C

4. Name one of the seas that has Greek islands in it.

Accept any one of Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea or Mediterranean Sea.

hat does the word inhabited mean?

5. W
Accept definitions of the word that relate to people living there.

6. I n your own words, explain why Greece is known as the ‘cradle of civilisation’.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: Greece is known as the ‘cradle of civilisation’ because it
was the place where people came up with new ideas for democracy, maths, science and
languages that still have an influence on the world today.

7. How did Athens get its name?

Athens got its name because it is named after the goddess Athena. She is said to have
presented a gift of an olive tree to the city’s citizens and they named the city after her.

8. Why do you think Greece is a popular holiday destination? Use evidence from the text to
explain your answer.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I think Greece is a popular holiday destination because
it has a warm and sunny climate, with lots of days of sunshine each year. It also has a
lot of history, including Athens which is one of the oldest cities in Europe and different
places to visit, like ski resorts in the mountains.