8 of the Most Popular Tourist Destinations in Greece

While Greece is home to many out-of-the-way locations more frequented by locals than tourists, many visitors come to Greece to see its most famous sites and views. If you want your itinerary to include Greece’s hot spots, here’s a list of the country’s destinations you shouldn’t miss.

1. The Acropolis

There’s no symbol of Greece more famous than the Acropolis, which is perched high on a rocky hill in Athens. One of the world’s most breathtaking archaeological sites, the Acropolis is home to the Parthenon, which Pericles built in the 5th century BCE to commemorate Athens’ cultural and political achievements. The 2.5-kilometer Archaeological Promenade, a walkway around the bottom of the Acropolis, connects to other significant ancient sites including the Roman forum, the Ancient Agora (a market), and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Before you leave, however, be sure to take in the expansive views of the city of Athens, the Saronic Gulf, and the mountains of the Peloponnese.

2. Santorini

The contrasting blue seas and whitewashed houses on this Greek island are featured around the world on book covers, calendars, posters, and souvenirs. This volcanic island is even more stunning in person — every sunset seems more dramatic than the last and it can be hard to decide whether the beaches or the mountains are more beautiful. Fira, Santorini’s capital, is filled with shops and tavernas, and some of its hotels and cafés offer exceptional views of the caldera, a 4-mile-wide basin. Visitors can enjoy everything from sunning on Santorini’s black sand beaches to touring the ancient Minoan settlement at Akrotiri.

3. Meteora

One of the most unusual sites in Greece is the Meteora, six monasteries perched atop massive rock pillars on the Plain of Thessaly. The religious structures are centuries old, and monks — who had been living in rock caves along the cliffs for centuries — climbed even higher and built in these hard-to-reach places to keep safe from invaders. The surreal outcroppings, which are a UNESCO World Heritage site, are open to the public and can be reached by climbing a series of rock steps. It takes about a day to visit all six monasteries.

4. Delphi

About 180 kilometers north of Athens in the Peloponnese, Delphi was one of ancient Greece’s most sacred religious sites. It is said to have been the home of the oracle of Apollo, whom pilgrims visited to ask advice. The ruins that remain, including the famous 5,000-seat theatre, are built on the foot of Mount Parnassus, overlooking a ravine. Visitors can see numerous temples, a stadium, and other ruins built between the 8th century BCE and 2nd century ADE, and many artifacts from the site are on display at the Delphi Archaeological Museum.

5. Mykonos

There’s no better place to get a taste of Greece’s nightlife than the island of Mykonos. By day, you can wander the quaint streets of Cycladic town, eat at local seafood restaurants, visit the Church of Panagia Paraportiani, or sunbathe on the gorgeous beaches. At night, the island’s cosmopolitan bars and nightclubs come to life. You’ll find most of the action in Mykonos Town, where you may even spot an international celebrity.

6. Samaria Gorge

For outdoors enthusiasts, the Samaria Gorge on the island of Crete is a must-see. The 16-kilometer gorge, which welcomes about 250,000 tourists annually, takes between four and seven hours (depending on your fitness level) and leads you through a smorgasbord of terrains. The Samaria gorge trail begins at Omalos in the White Mountains, cutting through forests of ancient cypress trees and high cliffs before ending at the Libyan Sea. Some of the terrain is steep and rocky, so sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.

7. Rhodes

This Greek island in the Aegean Sea is home to some of Greece’s most famous ancient towns. In Rhodes Town, the island’s capital, visitors can still see the fortification system of tower and gates that the Knights of St. John built in the 14th century. Many visitors enjoy strolling the cobblestone streets of Lindos, a quintessential Greek village, as well as visiting the island’s famous beach where St. Paul is said to have landed when he arrived to spread Christianity to the local people.

8. Corfu

This island off Greece’s west coast is a testament to the Venetians, who ruled it for several centuries. Corfu Town, the capital, is filled with Italian architecture, palaces, and two 16th-century fortresses. Corfu’s mild weather and breathtaking scenery make it a year-round destination.

Corfu has a long history with education and the arts. It was the birthplace of the Ionian Academy, Greece’s first university, as well as the country’s first philharmonic orchestra and school of fine arts. Some highlights for visitors include Old Corfu Town’s kantounia, or narrow cobbled streets, that are reminiscent of Naples or Genoa; the French architecture of Corfu’s Spianada Square, the largest town square in the Balkans; and Liston, an arcade found on the northern half of the Spianada.