Greece attractions

Built around the ruins of the Roman Agora, Plaka is one of the oldest residential areas in Athens—and its cobbled streets are essentially an open-air archaeological site. Here you’ll find Cycladic-style white-washed homes, characteristic architecture dating back to Byzantine and Ottoman times, and narrow alleyways with views of the Acropolis perched on the hill above. Once you’ve visited Plaka’s monuments and museums, sit at a sidewalk taverna to see its charm on full display.

The Santorini volcano exploded around 1600 BC, blowing away more than half the island of Thera and creating a submerged caldera. That caldera is now surrounded by the Santorini archipelago in the Cyclades island group, which includes the famous bow-shaped island of Santorini, plus the volcanic islets Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni—where travelers visit to see rocky, volcanic craters that continue to puff steam.

The sheer cliffs, sweeping views, epic sunsets, and photogenic ruins of Cape Sounion (also written Cape Sounio) form one of the most popular Athens day trips. Built around 444–440 BC, the Temple of Poseidon and its elegant white-marble columns are the star of the show, but there’s a small beach below and a wealth of dining options nearby.

One of the most striking landmarks in Athens is the massive neoclassical Parliament Building (Vouli) that takes up the east side of the city’s main Syntagma Square. Home to the Greek parliament, government halls, and archives, the building stands above the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where crowds gather every hour, on the hour, to watch the Changing of the Guard.

Named after a small monastery that once stood on Monastiraki Square, the vibrant Monastiraki neighborhood in downtown Athens brims with energy night and day. Its bustling streets are crammed with shops and stalls selling everything from inexpensive trinkets to handcrafted leather goods and antique treasures, as well as people-packed rooftop bars and terraces. Ancient highlights include Hadrian’s Library, and the Ancient Agora of Athens is close by.

This picturesque hillside village is set on a volcanic crater at the highest point on Santorini, offering panoramic views over the island. With whitewashed Cycladic architecture, Byzantine churches, and small winding cobblestone lanes, Pyrgos (Pyrgos Kallistis offers the historic charm of the Greek islands without the tourist crowds.

The word propylaeum means “porch” or “gatehouse”, and the ancient Propylaea was once the monumental gateway to the Acropolis. Almost 2,400 years after it was built, its colonnaded facade still makes a powerful impression. One of Athens’ premier ancient treasures, the Propylaea boasts massive columns hewn from the same marble as the Parthenon, plus remains of its original wings on each side.

Set on the southern slope of Athens’ ancient Acropolis citadel, the Theatre of Dionysus is the open-air theater that gave the world drama as we know it. The theater was established in the sixth century BC and dedicated to Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. (The earliest Greek dramas formed part of his festival.) A couple of centuries later, the theater was rebuilt in stone, the ruins of which you can see today.

The Theatre of Epidaurus is a well-preserved 4th-century BC theater built on a hillside that overlooks the Sanctuary of Asclepius. Its extraordinary acoustics meant that all 14,000 spectators could hear performances perfectly.

Downtown Athens] highest point, Mt. Lycabettus (also known as Lykavittos) looms 909 feet (277 meters) over the urban sprawl of Greece’s capital. Views from the top are unmatched and come with the bonus of having far fewer crowds than better-known hilltop attractions, such as the Acropolis. A couple of restaurants, a theater, and two chapels (one in a cave) add to the hill’s charms.

Mycenae was the major settlement of the powerful Mycenaean civilization, which held political and cultural sway over the Eastern Mediterranean between roughly 1500 and 1200 BC. The Bronze Age city is believed to have been home to King Agamemnon and is recognized by UNESCO for its profound influence on Greek civilization.

Tucked away on the south coast of Santorini, White Beach (Aspri Paralia) is sheltered by chalk-grey cliffs. This minuscule strand is actually composed of coarse black—not white—sand, and liberally peppered with grey and white pebbles as well as massive white volcanic boulders.

Since 1932, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has presided over Athens’ Syntagma Square, honoring the Greek soldiers who lost their lives in battle. The monument is inscribed with the names of significant conflicts and battles, with a relief of a fallen Greek soldier at its center. Every day, crowds come to witness the famed Changing of the Guard ceremony, one of the most popular spectacles in Athens.

Site of the first Olympic Games, which date back to at least 776 BC, the UNESCO World Heritage–listed ruins of Ancient Olympia are one of the archaeological highlights of the Peloponnese. Explore the excellent museum and vast complex to admire the remains of temples, altars, and council buildings, plus the stadium, hippodrome, wrestling school, and gymnasium where Olympic athletes trained.

One third of the Hansen brothers’ neoclassical Athenian Trilogy, the National Library (Vallianeion) is inspired by a Doric temple, fronted by twin winding staircases, and an utter delight for architecture enthusiasts. While the 2-million strong collection has now moved to a new modernist building designed by Renzo Piano, the building continues to serve as a reading room.

Sometimes translated as Constitution Square, Syntagma Square (Plateia Syntagmatos) is a huge public plaza stretching out in front of Athens’ Parliament Building (Vouli). Gleaming with white marble statues and anchored by a fountain, it’s a great place for people-watching. Many of the city's most important streets begin here, including Ermou Street and Vassilissis Sofias Avenue.

From the sea, the sun sparkles off the jumble of whitewashed houses and churches lining a maze of narrow, winding streets in Mykonos Town (Chora Mykonos). This picturesque Cycladic town, perched on a harbor in the middle of a wide bay, serves as the island’s commercial hub—its traditional buildings now occupied by shops, cafés, galleries, and Greek restaurants.

On the Athens Riviera, Lake Vouliagmeni is a striking cliff-backed pool fed by mineral-rich underground springs that keep the waters balmy, with an average temperature of 71°F (20°C) at its coldest in winter. The lake is said to have curative properties, so many people come here to enjoy spa activities and nibbles from the resident doctor fish. You can also sunbathe, swim, eat, and drink amid lush lawns and elegant decks.

The Minoan settlement of Akrotiri came to an abrupt end around 1600 BC in a catastrophic volcanic eruption that buried it in a carpet of ash and blew apart the island of Thera. Excavations revealed buildings, drainage systems, pottery, and frescoes, but no human remains, indicating residents had time to flee before disaster hit. Today, the village’s ruins are a historic highlight of Santorini.

Once the glorious capital of Minoan Crete and one of the most powerful cities in the eastern Mediterranean, ancient Knossos is a place steeped in legend. Crowned by the hilltop Palace of Knossos, which dates back at least 4,000 years, today, it’s Crete’s largest and most important archaeological site. Recognized with UNESCO World Heritage status, its remains tell a story that dates all the way back to the earliest European civilizations.

Built in honor of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century, this monumental gateway is one of the most striking remnants of ancient Athens. The 60-foot (18-meter) Roman-style arch once stood on a road between the Agora and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and is remarkably well-preserved. Today, it's a must-see for history buffs, and is conveniently close to many of Athens' other timeless attractions.

Delos (Dilos), an island in the Cyclades archipelago near Mykonos, is a great place for travelers to discover archaeological ruins and learn about ancient Greek history. Known as the mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, Delos was once an important religious and cultural center, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site today. Visit to see the ruins—including a theater, temples, monuments, private homes, and markets—considered some of the most important in Greece.

The Monastery of Profitis Ilias (Moni Profitou Iliou is perched on the mountain of the same name, the highest point on the southern half of Santorini. Built in the early 18th century, the complex is now home to a fine collection of Greek Orthodox icons and religious items, and the resident monks hold demonstrations of artisan crafts.

Before it was called the National Gardens of Athens, this refreshing getaway was named after Queen Amalia, the German princess who presided over the Kingdom of Greece in the 19th century. She commissioned the garden, and was said to have lovingly tended to its thousands of trees, flowers, and plants after its construction in 1840. Today, the gardens span nearly 60 acres of greenery and contain lakes, a conservatory, and children’s library.

Hailed as one of Greece’s prettiest islands, Symi is characterized by pastel-colored town houses and a quaint harbor full of wooden fishing boats. Restaurants serving fresh seafood and Greek delicacies line the seafront, while the heavily forested inland offers an abundance of walking and cycling trails.

Established in 1829, Athens’ Hellenic National Archaeological Museum is the go-to museum for Greek artifacts worldwide. It houses umpteen treasures unearthed from Greece’s myriad archaeological sites, dating from prehistory to the late classical period. The expansive neoclassical building holds sculptures, bronzes, ceramics, and jewelry from Mycenae, Santorini, ancient Egypt, and beyond. It's considered one of the world's top archeological museums.

Centered around a rugged volcanic crater, the small island of Nea Kameni offers a dramatic landscape, with dark cliffs sculpted from lava rock and orange-tinged natural thermal waters. The island’s striking landscape and natural hot springs make it a popular destination for day cruises from Santorini.

At this museum, a collection of objects unearthed from Ancient Olympia—where the very first Olympic Games were held in 800 BC—help you gain a better understanding of the adjacent ruins. Museum highlights include statues recovered from temples, carved pediments, votive offerings, and a scale model of Olympia.

Bridging the gap between the Gramvousa Peninsula and Cape Tigani in Crete’s far west, Balos Beach and Lagoon is a pocket of paradise. Framed by a backdrop of steep cliffs and rocks, as well as pale gold and pink sand, the startlingly blue lagoon offers visitors an idyllic waterfront escape that’s prime for relaxation. Unsurprisingly, Balos Beach is one of Crete’s most-photographed natural beaches.

The University of Athens (the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, to give it its full title) forms part of the triumvirate of neighboring neoclassical buildings—including the Academy of Athens and the old National Library of Greece building—that are known as the “Athenian Trilogy”. With its elegant, column-lined facade, the imposing 19th-century building is one of the city’s architectural treasures.