12 Best Tourist Attractions Destination in Greece - Greece Travel Guide
Those interested in touring the ancient ruins and
historical sites will find many places in Greece. Although most people think of
the Ancient Acropolis of Athens, there are countless impressive sights
throughout the mainland and the islands. Delphi's cult site, Meteora's cliff
dwelling monasteries and Olympia's old site are just some of the main tourist
attractions. However, traveling anywhere in the country is hardly possible
without finding the remains of an old temple or historical structure.
Many people choose to hop on a ferry to some of the
most popular islands, such as Santorini, Crete or Corfu, for natural beauty and
general sightseeing. Mykonos, another of the most famous islands, has attracted
a younger crowd's attention for many years. While each one is unique, it is
equally enchanting with ancient architecture, great views over the
Mediterranean's sparkling blue waters and some with secluded beaches. Another
great place and home to places like Corinth, the fortified city of Mycenae and
the ancient Epidauros Theater is the Peloponnese Peninsula, south of Athens.
Travelers who have a little more time to explore
outside the main hot spots for tourists should also consider Northern Greece.
Although it receives less attention than the southern destinations in general,
there are many things to do and see. The main city in the north is Thessaloniki
(Salonica), but there are many small coastal towns. The mountains inland
provide hikers with a playground and a spectacular backdrop to small hillside
villages.
Greece is known for its fascinating history and
natural beauty. Ancient archeological sites, countless islands, sandy beaches
and a balmy Mediterranean climate make Greece one of the main tourist
destinations in Europe. Top things to see on the mainland in addition to the
capital, Athens, include Ancient Delphi and Meteora monasteries. But most
people come to the islands to catch a ferry; the most popular are Santorini,
Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu and Crete.
01. Acropolis,
Athens
Considered the symbol of Athens and Greece, and
indeed of Western civilization, the Acropolis is a rocky mountain rising in the
heart of modern Athens and crowned by three magnificent temples dating from the
5th century BC. The Parthenon, originally composed of 58 columns supporting a
roof and decorated with ornate pediments and a frieze, is the best known and
most distinctive. The so-called archeological promenade is a two-and-a-half
kilometer walkway that runs along the foot of the Acropolis and connects it to
the other main ancient attractions of the city-the Ancient Agora, the Roman
Forum, Kerameikos and the Olympian Zeus Temple.
02. Acropolis
Museum, Athens
The Acropolis Museum, opened in 2009, is now one of
the most visited tourist attractions in Athens. Designed by Swiss architect
Bernard Tschumi, it is a state-of - the-art glass and steel structure with
light and airy exhibition spaces specifically designed to display ancient
Acropolis findings. The most important things to see here are the Moschophoros
of the 6th century BC (a statue of a young man carrying a calf on his
shoulders), the Caryatids (sculptures of female figures holding the
Erechtheion) and the highly controversial Parthenon marbles. You can enjoy
amazing views of the Acropolis from the museum's café-restaurant terrace.
03. Santorini
Santorini, the most dramatic of all Greek islands,
is best known for the cliff-top towns of Fira and Oia, located on the west
coast, overlooking the deep, blue caldera of the sea. Fira and Oia are
considered romantic destinations, popular for weddings and honeymoons,
consisting of typical Cycladic whitewashed cubic buildings, many of which have
been converted into boutique hotels with infinity pools. Sunbathing and
swimming on the black volcanic sand beaches on the south and east coasts and
visiting the archeological site of Akrotiri, an ancient Minoan settlement
buried under lava after the volcanic eruption that created the caldera, some
3,600 years ago, are some of the things to do. The island has an airport and is
served by ferries and catamarans from Athens' port, Piraeus.
04. Mykonos
Mykonos is the most glamorous destination on the
island of Greece. After dark activities center in Mykonos Town, famous for its
chic boutique hotels, classy restaurants for seafood and live music venues.
Other attractions include Paraportiani (a whitewashed church in Mykonos Town)
and many sandy beaches along the southern coast of the island (which are served
by bus and taxi from Mykonos Town). The island is especially popular with world
famous people. Mykonos has an airport and is connected to the port of Athens,
Piraeus and Rafina by ferry and catamaran.
05. Delphi
Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Greek
mainland. Built on the lower slopes of Mount Parnassus, overlooking a dramatic
ravine, the site was holy to the ancients who came here on pilgrimages to
worship Apollo (the god of light, prophecy, music and healing) and to ask the
mythical Oracle for advice. It consists of the collapsing ruins of numerous
temples, a theater and a stadium dating back to the 8th and 2nd centuries BC.
Nearby is the Archeological Museum of the Delphi Museum, which shows an impressive
collection of the site's finds. Delphi is located 180 km northwest of Athens.
06. Meteora
Monasteries
One of the most unusual things to see in Greece is
the Thessaly Plain, where the centuries-old monasteries of Meteora are
surrounded by bizarre rocky outcrops. Six of the monasteries are open to the
public on the UNESCO World Heritage list. You have to climb several flights of
stone steps carved into the rocks to reach each monastery, and there are
flickering candles, religious icons, Byzantine frescoes and burning incense
inside. Opening hours vary, and you have to spend at least one day in the area
to see all six monasteries. Kalambaka is the closest town.
07. Rhodes Town
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands,
located on the Aegean Sea, near Turkey. Its capital, Rhodes Town, listed by
UNESCO, is one of the top tourist destinations in Greece. It is surrounded by
an impressive fortification system, including monumental towers and gates built
in the 14th century by the Knights of St. John. The old town's car-free paved
streets are a pleasure to explore on foot. Nearby attractions include the
beautiful coastal town of Lindos on the hillside and the Turkish coast of
Marmaris, which can be visited by boat. Rhodes is served by an airport and
regular ferries from the port of Athens, Piraeus.
08. Corfu Town
Corfu is one of the country's most visited island
destinations on the Ionian Sea, off the west coast of mainland Greece. Thanks
to its elegant Italianate architecture, the capital, Corfu Town, is a UNESCO
World Heritage site-it has been ruled by the Venetians for several centuries.
Explore its romantic streets only for pedestrians to discover two fortresses
from the 16th century and the arcaded Liston, lined by old-fashioned cafes.
Corfu Town is a popular charter base for Ionian yachts and excursion boats
offering sightseeing tours in nearby Albania to Saranda and Butrint. Corfu is
served on the Greek mainland by an airport and ferries from Igoumenitsa and
Patras. In summer, ferries sailing from Ancona and Venice also stop here.
09. Samaria Gorge
The Samaria Gorge is a top attraction for outdoor
lovers on the island of Crete. It is 16 kilometers long and only four meters
wide at its narrowest point, from Omalos (1,250 meters) down to Agia Roumeli on
the Libyan Sea in the White Mountains. It will take five to seven hours to walk
depending on your fitness level. It's steep and rocky in parts, so wear good
walking shoes and carry plenty of water. The gorge is on the UNESCO tentative
list in the Samaria National Park. Organized tours leave Chania and Rethymnon
through the summer.
10. Nafplio
Nafplio is often referred to as the most beautiful
city in Greece and is a popular weekend destination for rich Athenians. Built
on a small peninsula on the east coast of the Peloponnese, it became modern
Greece's first capital in 1828 before Athens took over in 1834. The car-free
old town is full of neo-classical mansions and proud churches overlooked by the
Palamidi Fortress of the 18th century. Tiryns, the Epidaurus Theater and
Ancient Corinth are nearby attractions.
11. Zagorohoria
& the Ancient Ruins of Kassope and Nikopolis
The remote region of Zagori is known for its
amazingly dramatic landscapes crossed by hiking trails in the Pindus Mountains
in Epirus in northwestern Greece, near Ioannina. You will find Zagorohoria,
some 46 old stone villages, the best known of which are Papingo and Monodendri,
where cottages have been restored for use as holiday homes and traditional
hotels with antique furniture and open fireplaces. Zagorohoria's main
attraction is hiking down Vikos Gorge, but mountain biking and paragliding as
well as canyoning and rafting down Voidomatis Gorge are other things to do in
the area.
A little further away, archeological buffs will
enjoy a visit to the ancient city of Kassope, one of the best examples of a
city built according to the Hippodamian plan's grid-like pattern. Kassope was
abandoned in 31 BC and its inhabitants eventually established a Nikopolis
settlement. Visitors can now explore the Nikopolis Museum with finds from the
ancient ruins and cemetery of the city.
12. Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (Salonica) overlooks the Aegean Sea in
northern Greece and is the second largest city in the country after Athens.
Founded in 316 BC, it has always been a crossroads of different cultures and
religions due to its position near both Bulgaria and Turkey. Its main
attractions are its Byzantine churches, which are listed by UNESCO, but there
are also several Roman monuments (including the Arch of the Triumph of Galerius
and the Rotunda of the 4th century), the White Tower of the 15th century on the
seafront and an excellent Byzantine museum.
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