Patras, the third largest city in Greece with a population of 200.000, is a major Mediterranean port and the country's main Gate to the West - a modern financial, commercial and cultural centre. Amongst other places of interest, the city has a wide variety of monuments bearing witness to its long historical journey.
Bits and pieces of its recent history are reflected in Patras' daily life and are easily accessible to the visitor, therefore adding to the city's character and beauty. The arcades in the central streets, the three stairs leading from the contemporary to the upper (old) city, where one can admire the neoclassical buildings, once the mansions of the currant merchants, the many fountains and statues that can be seen on the central squares, as well as the famous English mansions out of Patras dated from the same period - known as "Egglezika"- are the exact elements that combine the city's past with its present.
At the same time, the modern city offers all necessary banking, transportation and accommodation facilities and caters for cultural and entertainment needs. The city hosts a University, an Institution of Higher Technological Education, the Greek Open University(Student's total number: 40.000), several hospitals (University hospital, Regional State hospital, Regional Children's hospital etc.), a regional two-stage theatre, a classical music orchestra, a municipal and many privately owned galleries with numerous seasonal exhibitions, as well as museums, municipal and university libraries, conference centres, stadiums, courts and swimming pools.
In addition, the city has numerous cafes, patisseries, bars, restaurants and live music clubs (all these either in pedestrianized entertainment areas or around the city's numerous large squares), as well as entertainment and cinema complexes and a casino.
The countryside and the beaches nearby are easily accessible. The area around the city is scattered with spots of natural beauty and historical monuments, which render it an ideal destination for eco-tourism and outdoor activities. The countryside and the Gulf of Patras provide the authentic ingredients you can taste in the local cuisine and all that at moderate prices, as Patras is, as far as alimentation and shopping is concerned, one of the cheapest cities in Greece.
