This series of turquoise pools connected by pretty waterfalls is one of the top natural attractions in the Peloponnese and a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Hike along the scenic path through lush vegetation to see more than a dozen natural pools and step waterfalls, and brave a bracing dip in the icy waters.
If you prefer your beaches on the wild side, add Agios Santos Beach (Paralia Sostis) on the southern peninsula of Antiparos island to your itinerary. Unmanaged and unspoiled, the beach itself is a mere dash of golden sand, fronted by a startling turquoise sea with calm water, which is ideal for snorkeling away from the crowds.
A majestic fortress that dominates a hilltop opposite Navarino Old Fortress, Pylos Castle is also known as Pilos Niokastro, Pylos Neo Kastro, Pylos New Castle, Niokastro Fortress, and the New Navarino Fortress. Whatever you call it, it’s one of Greece’s best-preserved fortresses, built by the Ottomans in 1573 using imported design talent.
Completed in 1896, the Odontotos Rack Railway is a charming vintage railway running between the villages of Diakopto and Kalavryta in Greece’s northern Peloponnese region. Its train cars roll through the spectacular Vouraikos Gorge on a 13.5-mile (22-kilometer) climb, promising a scenic trip back in time.
Fresh fish, fruit, and vegetables fill the stands under the simple, unassuming structure of this farmers market, directly outside the giant Venetian walls of Corfu Old Town. Plenty of locals shop here, but tourists visit too, and are more likely to be tempted by the market’s selections of traditional sweets and souvenirs.
One of the Mediterranean’s largest bays, serene Mirabello Bay is a sight for sore eyes—and sore travelers. Lined with excellent beaches, pretty towns like Agios Nikolaos, and plenty of historic landmarks, Mirabello Bay offers a little bit of everything, with a sea breeze to top it off. If you’re anywhere near Mirabello Bay, you’re in luck.
A small, sandy, sheltered beach in the north of central Agios Nikolaos, Ammoudi Beach offers sunbeds, beach bars, and calm, clear waters. The views across Mirabello Bay are spectacular, while the water conditions are ideal for windsurfing, sea kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and the ever-popular pedalo paddleboats.
Saturated with history, Pnyx Hill is considered the birthplace of democracy: Athenians gathered on this rocky slope just west of the Acropolis to discuss issues around politics and governance as far back as the fifth century BC. Today, you can still spot the stone speakers’ platform where the great orators of the time would address the assembled (male) citizens.
Perched at the far end of Antiparos’ southern peninsula is Faneromeni Beach, a slip of sand hemmed in by a rocky cove, which feels truly far away from everything. Thanks to tricky access via a rocky dirt road, the small cove has nothing in the way of facilities, making it a great pick for travelers who are content with sea, sand, sun, and little else.
Set in the rolling hills of Crete’s Peza wine region, Domaine Paterianakis is a family-owned organic vineyard. The sisters who run it produce both natural and traditional wines, as well as tsikoudia, Crete’s answer to grappa. The winery and cellars are open to the public, while the glass-walled tasting room and restaurant offers sweeping views across the vines.
Stretching about half a mile (1 kilometer) along the northeast corner of Kos, Lambi Beach is a popular swimming and sunbathing spot near the island’s main town and port. Lined with sand and pebbles, the beach offers chairs and umbrellas for rent, water sports, restaurants and snack bars, and views facing the Turkish coastline.
Seafaring history buffs will find a trove of fascinating exhibits at the Aegean Maritime Museum, housed in a traditional 19th-century Myconian villa in the heart of Mykonos town. Admire model ships, nautical maps and navigational instruments, ancient coins, and a gigantic 19th-century lighthouse lantern, which stands in the museum garden.
On the southern tip of Rhodes, Prasonisi Beach is one of the most unique beaches on the island. Nestled between two sandy coves, it’s a long strip of sand that connects to Prasonisi Island. With the Aegean Sea on one side and the Mediterranean on the other, it’s a unique geographical phenomenon.
This stately residence set along Herodou Attikou Street—one of the most elegant thoroughfares in the capital—was transformed from the Royal Palace to the Presidential Mansion with the overthrow of the Greek monarchy in 1974. Its 19th-century neoclassical design and lush French-style gardens make it a must-see for architecture buffs, while the hourly changing of the guard is a perennial crowd-pleaser.
Fans of modern art are drawn to the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST), which showcases a permanent collection of Greek and international pieces, as well as temporary exhibitions. It is also a favorite with visiting architecture buffs—the museum is housed in the Fix building, a converted brewery that’s a landmark of industrial design. Many travelers claim that the on-site fine-dining restaurant is reason enough to visit, thanks to its Acropolis views, and it’s best to book ahead.
A rare example of Ottoman architecture in Athens, the newly restored 17th-century Fethiye Mosque is only open to the public for special exhibitions and cultural events. Its tiled domes, arched portico, marble columns, and other architectural details are visible from the outside, however, and easy to admire along with the neighboring Tower of the Winds.
The Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia is a cluster of ruined temples and subsidiary buildings that once welcomed pilgrims to Delphi, and is now home to the site’s most-photographed spot: the circular “tholos” temple with its three remaining columns and a fragment of frieze. The tholos looks spectacular framed against the rugged mountain backdrop.
Perched in the mountains with sweeping views along a gorge, Kera Kardiotissa Monastery is one of Crete’s most important monasteries. It’s known for its 14th-century frescoes and revered icon of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus near to her heart. Despite its heritage as a monastery, it is nuns, rather than monks, who live in the complex today.
Dominating an airy, palm-fringed square in the heart of Heraklion, the Orthodox St. Titus Church (Church of Agios Titos) is the latest place of worship to reside here—the site has hosted a Byzantine church, a Catholic church, and a mosque. Today, visitors come here to see the skull of St. Titus, who many believe brought Christianity to Crete almost 2,000 years ago.
If your ideas of ancient Greece centered on gods, heroes, and perhaps philosophers, the Herakleidon Museum will turn everything you thought you knew upside down. Exhibits explore ancient science and technology, including “automatic” gates, a “robot” slave girl, the Antikythera Mechanism “computer”, and a wealth of military and naval innovations.
Walls of underwater tanks are home to an abundance of Mediterranean sea life at the Corfu Aquarium in Paleokastritsa. Displays showcase fish and sea creatures from the region’s waters, including octopuses, seahorses, and sea urchins, that are highly likely to entertain visitors of all ages. Reptiles and amphibians feature too, as do far-flung creatures, such as the adorable axolotl.
Housed in the old captain’s house on the seafront of Mykonos town, the Mykonos Folklore Museum transports visitors back to the 1800s, offering a unique glimpse into 19th-century life on the island. Take a peek at a typical period bedroom, kitchen, and sitting room, decked out with traditional oil lamps and vintage furniture.
An airy modern winery set in the hills behind Heraklion, the Scalarea Estate crafts award-winning wines that fall under the PDO Archanes. The tasting room features floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views and alfresco seating. In addition to touring, tasting, and eating, you can stay amid the vineyards in one of three houses within the grounds.
A deep cut through the mountains of northwestern Greece, Vikos Gorge is one of the country’s most spectacular natural attractions. The gorge reaches depths of roughly 2,900 feet (900 meters) and has narrow sections where its cliffs appear to close in, creating a dramatic setting for hikers. To reach it, follow a scenic yet challenging trail with traditional villages and freshwater springs.
Located on the east coast of Rhodes, Agathi Beach sits within a picturesque and secluded cove hemmed in by rocky hills. Considered one of the area’s prettiest beaches, Agathi features fine, golden sands and typically calm, clear sea. It is a lovely place to soak up the sun, swim, and snorkel.
Located in southwestern Crete, Kedrodasos Beach is a scenic and secluded beach with a long stretch of white sand, scattered rocks, and clear turquoise waters backed by juniper trees (despite its name of cedar forest). Ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling, the beach is also popular with naturists, windsurfers, and kiteboarders.
Located on the western coast of Corfu, the resort town of Agios Gordios is a paradise of pastel-colored buildings surrounded by rugged mountains, olive groves, and cypress trees. Known for its sandy beaches, Agios Gordios is also a convenient jumping-off point for exploring nearby villages on foot, by bike, or by car.
Stoupa’s sandiest beach, Kalogria Beach (Paralia Kalogria), has more to offer than silica alone. Cool springs provide welcome blasts of chill in the high-season heat; a handful of beach bars and tavernas serve food and drinks; and sun beds and umbrellas are available for rent at warmer times of the year.
Blanketing a wild stretch of western coastline on Naxos, the Cedar Forest of Alyko is one of the most unspoiled corners of this Cyclades island. Thick tangles of cedar, juniper, heather, wild thyme, and other Mediterranean flora cover these protected dunes bordering golden sand beaches, and the water here is a dozen shades of blue. The peninsula is ideal for walkers and swimmers seeking a quiet break far from the tourist crowds.
One of the trendiest neighborhoods in central Athens, hip Koukaki is known for its independent shops and eateries, vibrant art scene, and buzzy cafés that are more focused on locals than the touristy pubs in neighboring Plaka. Set just below the Acropolis, this charming district offers a taste of local life steps from the city’s main sights.
