Greece attractions

Before a violent volcanic eruption in 1650 BC, Thirassia was part of Santorini’s mainland and now the pretty islet lies just off its western coast. With small pretty beaches, blue-domed churches, ancient stone villages and a population of only about 200, the little island is a perfectly serene spot to visit.

An important site in ancient Greece, the Acropolis of Lindos is one of the most important historical monuments on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese Islands. Parts of the site were built more than 2,500 years ago, and this remarkably well-preserved ruin draws tourists from all over the world.

Perched on a hilltop on the western edge of the ancient Agora of Athens, the Temple of Hephaestus dates from the fifth century BC, likely around the same time as the Parthenon. Used as a Christian church during the Middle Ages, it preserves a spectacular range of original features, including friezes, columns, and even its roof. Many consider it the most intact Greek temple in all of Greece.

Anthony Quinn Bay, named after the actor who filmed The Guns of Navarone on Rhodes in 1961, is one of the most popular spots on the island for sun seekers. The picturesque pebble beach features shallow emerald green water—perfect for swimming—framed by dramatic coastal rocks that form underwater reefs teeming with fish.

With shallow waters, pale pink-tinted sands, and sweeping dunes, Elafonisi is frequently listed among Europe’s—and the world’s—top beaches. As the tide shifts, the beach is intermittently connected to a protected island nature reserve, which is home to a variety of rare plants and animals, including loggerhead sea turtles.

One of a trio of UNESCO-listed Greek monasteries, the Hosios Loukas Monastery (Moni Osios Loukas—now preserved as a museum—is an exquisite example of Byzantine-era monastic architecture. Founded in the early 10th century, the complex comprises two beautifully conserved churches on the wooded slopes of Mount Helicon.

With artifacts covering thousands of years, from the Neolithic era (c. 7000 BC) through to Roman times (c. AD 300), the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in Crete is second only in size and importance to Athens’ National Archaeological Museum. It’s also widely regarded as one of the most important historical museums in Europe.

Santorini’s hot springs are on the tiny, uninhabited islet of Palea Kameni—making them slightly less crowded than their on-island neighbors. Continuous volcanic activity underground maintains the springs’ temperature between 86ºF and 95ºF (30°C and 35°C). The sulfuric, orange-tinged spring waters that bubble up into a shallow cove off the islet’s coast are said to be curative for the skin and joints.

Situated in Chora Mykonos (aka Mykonos Town), the waterfront quarter of Little Venice is one of the island’s top sunset-viewing spots. Rows of whitewashed old fishermen’s houses—now occupied by bars, shops, and restaurants—back onto the seafront, their brightly painted red and blue balconies jutting out over the water.

The flower-bedecked Church of Panagia Paraportiani is a highlight of your walk through Mykonos’ picture-perfect Little Venice. Built between the 14th and 17th centuries, the island’s most photographed church is comprised of five whitewashed chapels across two floors that once guarded the entrance to the town’s castle.

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 Piraeus cruise terminal is an important historical port in Greece and one of the largest cruise ship docks in Europe. While known by cruisers as a gateway to the ancient city of Athens, the Aegean Islands, and other destinations in the Mediterranean, the city of Piraeus—with its traditional center, cafés, and harbor—also merits a visit.

A regular on lists of the world’s best beaches, Myrtos Beach (Paralía Mirtos) is a 0.5-mile (700-meter) expanse of gleaming white sand curving between two high promontories on Cephalonia’s north coast. While the stunning color comes from rounded pebbles and coarse sand, not fine powder, the view from the blue Ionian Sea is spectacular.

In use since ancient times, Mandraki Harbour was reportedly the site of the Colossus of Rhodes. Today, statues of Elafos and Elafina, symbols of the city, mark the entrance to the harbor, which is used by yachts and boats cruising to nearby islands, while a jetty is home to three historic windmills and the Fort of St. Nicholas.

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.

The 13th-century fortified village of Mystras (Mistras perched on Mount Taygetos is one of the most picturesque spots on the Peloponnese peninsula. Occupied by the Byzantines, Turks, and Venetians before being abandoned in the 1830s, the ruins of this UNESCO-listed town include a clutch of churches and monasteries, a fortress, and a palace.

According to legend, the Greek village of Paleokastritsa (Palaiokastritsa) is where Odysseus was shipwrecked and met Nausicaa in Homer’s epic tale theOdyssey. It’s a suitable setting for mythical romance, with a string of beaches, olive groves, and cypress forests set against the glittering Mediterranean Sea.

Looming over the waterfront, Thessaloniki’s 15th-century White Tower (Lefkós Pýrgos) is one of the city’s most famous attractions and the star of sightseeing tours. This imposing tower was originally built by the Ottomans as part of the city’s fortifications and was later used by Turkish invaders for public executions.

With its stark white tower perched atop the Cape Armenistis cliffs and views stretching out over the sea, the Armenistis Lighthouse (Faros Armenistis) feels a world away from the lively streets of nearby Mykonos town. Though the lighthouse is no longer in use, it remains an impressive landmark and a popular spot to admire the sunset.

The whitewashed windmills lined up on a hill overlooking Mykonos Town are a signature island sight. Capped with wood and straw, the 3-story conical windmills were built in the 16th century to mill flour. Out of the 16 preserved windmills on the island, seven are found in the area of Kato Mili overlooking the Chora Mykonos harbor.

Keeping watch over the northeastern tip of the island, the remains of the ancient Acropolis of Rhodes dominate the Dodecanese capital's skyline from atop Monte Smith hill. Highlights of the active archaeological complex include the exquisitely restored and partially reconstructed Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Pythian Apollo.

Perched on the northern slope of the Acropolis and peeking above the rooftops of neighboring Plaka, Anafiotika is a tiny, picturesque enclave in Athens. Known for its steep, cobbled alleyways lined with pocket-sized whitewashed houses—many of which feel reminiscent of villages on the Greek islands—the neighborhood was once home to the city's laborers. Today, it's become one of the most charming corners of the Greek capital.

Covering the period from 1453 to the 1940s, Athens’ National History Museum (Ethnikó Istorikó Mouseío takes visitors from the Ottoman years to the Greek-Italian War. Weaponry, folk costumes, decorative arts, war medals, and statuary are exhibited in chronological order through galleries surrounding the original parliamentary chamber.

Situated in southwestern Crete, the Samaria Gorge is the longest canyon in Europe. A popular hiking destination and a favorite with walkers, the rugged river valley trail runs 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Xyloskalo in the White Mountains to the coastal village of Agia Roumeli. The gorge is part of Samaria Gorge National Park, located along the Libyan Sea coast, and visiting it is a must-do for adventurers visiting Crete.

Once the capital and heart of the Greek island of Corfu, today Kanoni is a quarter of Corfu town, the island’s modern-day capital. Kanoni has just two beaches but there is plenty else worth seeing, including the 17th-century church of Panagia Vlacherna, Mon Repos Palace, and the Byzantine Church of St. Jason and St. Sosipatros.

One of the homes of the Muses in myth, 8,061-foot (2,457-meter) Mount Parnassus (Parnassos) is one of the star attractions of Parnassos National Park. Activities on offer run the gamut from skiing and snowmobiling to hiking, climbing, and mountain biking, but most travelers experience it only on a visit to the ancient site of Delphi.

Standing at 2,619 feet (798 meters, the pine-clad peak of Profitis Ilias is one of the highest on Rhodes and offers sweeping views over the island's Aegean coastline. Head to the top to admire the scenery and explore the hiking trails, drink from the Koskinsiti spring, and visit the Monastery of Fountoukli’s historic St. Nikolaos Chapel.

With white sand and marble cliffs, Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) makes a striking setting. Set on sun-soaked Zakynthos island off the coast of Greece, the cove off of Navagio Beach is a popular boat tour destination, though access to the beach itself is closed due to the risk of landslides. The centerpiece is a long-abandoned freighter—the remains of a smuggler’s shipwreck—that still languishes on the sands, and the turquoise waters are ideal for a dip.

The cruise port of Mykonos offers easy access to both the town itself, called Chora, as well as the rest of the island and its sun-drenched beaches. Take time to get a little lost in the town’s maze of charming streets and traditional buildings full of shops, cafés, and restaurants before heading back to the ship or hotel.

Though originally constructed in the 14th century by the Knights of St. John, the current Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes is a Mussolini-era reconstruction built after the original was destroyed by a 19th-century explosion. The lavish palace now serves as a museum displaying furniture, statues, and ancient mosaics.