Are you thinking about booking a trip to Greece for later this year or into the next? If so, then you might already have a jam-packed itinerary. I’ve listed some of the best Greece Tourist Attractions for you to hit up on your next visit to Greece.
Greece is a country in southeastern Europe with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. Influential in ancient times, it’s often called the cradle of Western civilization. Athens, its capital, retains landmarks including the 5th-century B.C. Acropolis citadel with the Parthenon temple.
Or, you could be planning a completely relaxing vacation. There are certainly many wonderful places around this country where you can while the hours away and enjoy the sun. However, you will be missing out on some fantastic experiences. Greece is also known for its beaches, from the black sands of Santorini to the party resorts of Mykonos.
Here are some of the incredible Greece tourist attractions that you might want to consider.
If you on a bigger trip exploring more of Europe check out my guides to France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom.
Contents
11 Greece Tourist Attractions
1. Climb Mount Olympus
You might think we’re joking around, but Mount Olympus is indeed a real place. Once you see it in person, you’ll soon understand why they thought this was the home of the Gods. The peak of the mountain is nearly completely concealed by cloud cover most days. Indeed, it certainly looks like a mythological location.
To climb this mountain, you need to make sure that you are planning a trip to Litochoro. Depending on your level of ability, you might just be able to trek all the way to the top of the mountain. Or, you could need to stop at a midway point.
Either way, you’re sure to be dazzled by the view that awaits you. The best part of climbing this mountain is that you can think about all the stories connected to the mountain itself. You will also be able to discover some incredible beauty spots.
Make sure to research the best time to climb the mountain. According to the experts, the ideal time through the year is between June and September. However, you can expect some scorching temperatures at the midway point through the day.
2. Hire A Boat
If you want the best way to view Greece in all its glory, then it’s well worth taking to the ocean. You will find a variety of places around the islands and indeed the mainland where you will be able to get your hands on a boat for the day. There are also possibilities for every type of budget.
So, if you want to go all out then you can think about chartering a yacht. You’ll need at least a few thousand in your holiday budget for this option. Alternatively, for a couple hundred, you can take a boat off the shore for a few hours.
If you are opting for the latter option, make sure that you know your boundaries. You need to guarantee that you don’t travel further than the boat can manage on the fuel you have. This is easier to do than you might think because it’s about understanding the coastline and reading the maps.
One of the benefits of hiring a boat is that you will be able to reach points of the coast that are otherwise completely inaccessible. It’s an incredibly cool option and you can probably drop anchor virtually anywhere. You might be tempted to simply swim in the ocean water.
However, this can be dangerous, particularly if you are travelling alone or if you don’t have experience with this type of swimming.
If you are thinking about hiring a boat, then it’s also often worth checking the reviews. You need to make sure that you’re dealing with a company that you can trust.
3. Explore Acropolis
If you are visiting the mainland and Athens, the capital city of Greece, then it’s definitely worth booking a trip to Acropolis. This is a key part of the skyline and looks truly stunning. Many people would consider this the absolute number one attraction that the country has to offer.
There used to be a statue of Athena here, the goddess of Athens. It’s a wonderful place to explore if you have even the slightest interest in ancient architecture. You’ll be dazzled by the Doris Columns here as well as the incredible temples.
The highlight will, of course, be the Parthenon and it is worth looking into some guided tours if you want to make sure that you don’t miss any key details as you wander through this location.
Just don’t wear high heels to the Acropolis. One of the many interesting facts about Greece is that it’s against the law to wear high heels to historic sites for fear of damaging them.
Check out this blog post for some of the best places to visit in Greece.
4. Visit Santorini
There are many incredible places that you can visit throughout Greece including some truly stunning islands. Santorini is definitely a standout and a visit to the black sands of Santorini is a must. The island has a unique shape due to volcanic activity and provides sweeping, breathtaking views of the sea that stretches out for miles.
You can choose to stay in one of the towns such as Fira. These are perched perfectly on the coast so that you can, if you choose the right accommodation, wake up every day to some breathtakingly beautiful views and some of the best Greek food.
If you are looking for a location that would be perfect for a romantic retreat in Greece, then Santorini is the ideal choice. Indeed, it’s even become incredibly popular for those planning and booking their weddings. After all, there’s probably no better backdrop for wedding photos in the world.
By Alex Azabache from Pexels
5. Hit The Beach
There are 6000 different islands around the Hellenic Sea. That’s why you might struggle to find the perfect place to enjoy the sun and the sand. If you’re stuck for choices, then we suggest that you consider Skopelos.
Ever wondered where they shot Mamma Mia? It’s right here that the actors and actresses spent months dancing away and it’s not hard to understand why. The gorgeous scenery here is impossible to resist and more than 67% of this island is covered with pine trees.
So unlike some of the other locations, this doesn’t look like a desert dune. Indeed, the greenery here seems to glow and the crystal clear waters are impossible to resist.
There are also wonderful shallow shores that are absolutely ideal for swimming. One of the best parts about visiting Greece through the summer is that the water will always be warm enough for a dip, even early in the morning.
6. Visit The Different Islands
You might be wondering, is it safe to travel to Greece? After all, a lot of locations are currently dealing with new outbreaks of COVID-19. You might be thinking about putting off this trip for a couple of years.
But, there’s really no need and right now Greece is one of the countries with the lowest number of cases. While the government is being selective about which countries it forms air bridges with for tourism, if you live in the right location, then you could certainly safely travel to Greece.
If you are worried about the current health pandemic or even the political issues that Greece is currently facing, then it’s probably best to visit one of the Greek islands. Greek has many beautiful islands that you can explore and there are direct flights to many of these locations.
As such, you never have to visit the mainland if that’s not something that you’re interested in. This is always going to depend on the experience that you want. Obviously, there are some tourist attractions that are only accessible if you visit the mainland itself.
You also need to choose the islands that you visit carefully. Some are more likely than others. If you want to spend your holiday or vacation partying through the night, then there are places in Greece perfect for this.
On the other hand, there is also islands ideal for relaxing, filled with beautiful villas and wonderful places to stay that you are sure to love. Cephalonia is a beautiful location and one of the most secluded, peaceful islands that Greece has to offer.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels
7. Dive Into The Past
One of the greatest reasons for visiting Greece beyond the beautiful landscapes is certainly going to be a chance to dive into the stories of the past. From architectural monuments to forgotten villages, there are various places you can do this.
However, one of the best is the National Archeological Museum. This is packed full of exhibits that must be seen to be believed, many of which do date back to ancient times. This is another location deep in the heart of Athens and a key reason to visit the capital city.
It’s impossible to select which displays should be viewed. So, our recommendation is that you try to see as many as possible. You’ll find that the inside is something similar to a maze with multiple different rooms that you need to travel through.
his is why it’s another great place where a guide can come in handy. Luckily, there are options here for hiring a guide and they are even reasonably priced. It can ensure that you don’t miss any crucial parts of the museum and that you don’t end up travelling around in circles. Ideally, you should be planning your schedule so that you can spend at least five hours wandering this museum.
8. Meteora
The Meteora is a rock formation in central Greece hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, second in importance only to Mount Athos.
The six monasteries are built on immense natural pillars and hill-like rounded boulders that dominate the local area. It is located near the town of Kalambaka at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and the Pindus Mountains.
Meteora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List under criteria I, II, IV, V, and VII. The name means “lofty”, “elevated”, and is etymologically related to the meteor.
Photo by Valdemaras D. from Pexels
9. Melissani Cave
10. The archaeological site of Mycenae
Mycenae is an archaeological site near Mykines in Argolis, north-eastern Peloponnese, Greece. It is located about 120 kilometres south-west of Athens; 11 kilometres north of Argos; and 48 kilometres south of Corinth.
The site is 19 kilometres inland from the Saronic Gulf and built upon a hill rising 900 feet above sea level. In the second millennium BC, Mycenae was one of the major centres of Greek civilization, a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece, Crete, the Cyclades and parts of southwest Anatolia. The period of Greek history from about 1600 BC to about 1100 BC is called Mycenaean in reference to Mycenae. At its peak in 1350 BC, the citadel and lower town had a population of 30,000 and an area of 32 hectares.
The first correct identification of Mycenae in modern literature was during a survey conducted by Francesco Grimani, commissioned by the Provveditore Generale of the Kingdom of the Morea in 1700, who used Pausanias’s description of the Lion Gate to identify the ruins of Mycenae.
11. Knossos
Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and has been called Europe’s oldest city. Settled as early as the Neolithic period, the name Knossos survives from ancient Greek references to the major city of Crete. The palace of Knossos eventually became the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture.
The palace was abandoned at some unknown time at the end of the Late Bronze Age, c. 1,380–1,100 BC. The reason why is unknown, but one of the many disasters that befell the palace is generally put forward. In the First Palace Period, the urban area reached a size of as many as 18,000 people.
In its peak, the palace and surrounding city boasted a population of 100,000 people shortly after 1,700 BC.
We hope this helps you understand some of the incredible sights and experiences that you could discover on your own trip to Greece. It’s certainly an incredible location to visit and explore for yourself.
Do make sure that you avoid some travel guides before you fly over there though. This will guarantee that you get the best experience possible from what could be the trip of a lifetime.
My Travel Tips and Recommendations
Flights
To book flights, I always use flight search engine, Skyscanner, I regularly use the Everywhere tool to find the cheapest places to travel. It’s how I get to travel so much all around the world. I find it the easiest way to compare flight prices across airlines and get the best deals.
Accommodation
For accommodation, I usually book most of my hotels or hostels through Booking.com. I love using this platform as it provides me with some amazing deals for accommodation all around the world. Or if you prefer, I also recommend using Airbnb. If you haven’t signed up with Airbnb already, you can use this link to get £25 off your first visit!
Photography and Technology
Here is a list of the technology I always travel with:
- Canon G7X Mark II
- Canon EOS M50 and lens
- GoPro Hero Black 7
- DJI Mavic Pro
- RØDE VideoMic GO On Microphone
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Thank you for reading and as always happy adventuring! If you have any questions about the destination please leave these in the comments below.
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Sophie X
