A beautiful destination, full of dreamlike landscapes and interesting landmarks. Greece is a country steeped in history, art and culture and is one of the most visited places in Europe. With an incredible variety of natural spaces and cities, Greece welcomes travellers with its famous cuisine and unique travel experiences. Discover its mythological traditions and exciting history, immerse yourself in the blue waters of the Mediterranean and get to know its magical natural phenomena. Don’t miss this list of the most popular cities and islands to visit during your trip to Greece.
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Cities to visit in Greece
Athens
A city steeped in history, art and culture, Athens is the capital of Greece and the centre of the country’s economic, political and cultural life. The birthplace of great artists and philosophers, the city of Athens played an essential role in the development of democracy and its essence lives on in every street.
The Acropolis of Athens is the most important and iconic site in all of Greece. Strategically positioned overlooking every inch of the city, it is on a peak 156 metres above sea level and can be seen from almost every part of Athens.
Another must-see in Greece is the Parthenon. Erected between 447 and 438 BC, it is one of the most important monuments of ancient Greek civilisation. Dedicated to the goddess Athena Parthenos, the Parthenon, built in white marble from Mount Pentelicus, was designed to house the gold and ivory image of Athena Parthenos.
Meteora
Meteroa is one of the most special places in the world and a good reason to visit Greece. Located in the Thessaly plain, Meteora is a group of rocks that formed under the sea 30 million years ago. They were exposed when the sea level dropped.
If there is something more surprising than the natural formations themselves, it’s the monasteries that crown some of the crags. The morphological structure and perhaps their proximity to the sky made many monks consider this an ideal place for meditation. Today 13 of the original 24 monasteries are still standing, 6 of which can be visited.
Olympia
Known for being the city where the Olympic Games began almost 3,000 years ago, Olympia has become one of the must-see places in Greece when travelling around the Peloponnese. It is a place of great archaeological and historical importance that will transport you back in time.
Visiting the original stadium where the competitions were held almost 3,000 years ago is an experience you cannot miss. In the area you can also see the remains of the Temple of Zeus, the studio of Phidias, the gymnasium where the athletes trained and much more.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Islands to visit in Greece
Santorini, the island to see in Greece
Santorini, the quintessential Greek island and a traveller’s dream. It is one of the most iconic images of Greece, a unique postcard of the country and an island full of treasures to discover. From charming villages, paradise beaches and a rich history, find out all there is to do on this small Mediterranean island.
Don’t miss the views from Fira and the beautiful sunsets, always facing the caldera of the extinct volcano. Oia is also famous for its typical houses with whitewashed walls and a domed roof painted blue, the most symbolic image of Santorini. It is the most famous village on the island thanks to its sunsets. Its location overlooking the west and its spectacular cliffs make it the perfect place to watch the sunset.
Mykonos
This small island in Greece is one of the tiniest islands in the Cyclades archipelago. It is certainly one of the country’s star destinations and one of the most visited islands in the Mediterranean. Mykonos is undeniably beautiful, with its picturesque narrow white streets, characteristic windmills and stunning beaches.
The old town of Mykonos is striking for its whitewashed houses. It is a place you must stroll around, admiring the white façades of the little houses with their typical Cycladic architecture, with beautiful flowers almost always adorning their balconies. The Little Venice of Mykonos, also known as Alevkandra, is one of the most photographed areas of the island. It is located in the lower part of the capital and its beauty is due to the group of houses built over the water, like in Venice.
Corfu
Corfu is a beautiful Greek island in the Ionian sea. Its Greek name is Kerkyra which comes from mythology. Legend has it that Poseidon fell in love with Korkyra, daughter of Asopo and the nymph Metope, abducted her and as a wedding gift offered Korkyra an island which he named after her. But apart from this, Corfu has a lot of history. It has been the scene of many battles and has beautiful fortresses that tourists and locals can now enjoy.
The capital’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and when you walk through its narrow, colourful streets with their decadent air and pastel shutters, you understand why. Corfu also has wonderful beaches with the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea. Sidari, a pretty fishing village surrounded by green forests, is 36 kilometres from the capital. Very close to Sidari is the incredible Channel of Love, a series of rock formations that create uniquely spectacular coves and channels.
How to get to Greece?
- Air travel is the fastest and cheapest way to get to Greece. Athens has an international airport, Athens International Airport – Eleftherios Venizelos, which receives flights from all major European cities. Athens international airport is 20 kilometres from the city and is well connected to the city centre by bus, metro or taxi.
- Also, the easiest ways to get to Greece by boat are from Venice, Bari, Ancona or Brindisi.
What to eat in Greece?
Traditional Greek cuisine stands out above all for the use of high quality ingredients traditional of the Mediterranean diet, using spices and aromatic herbs. Some of the most typical recipes are Tzatziki, Spanakotiropites, mousakka (a dish made with minced lamb, aubergines and tomatoes) and gyros (pita bread stuffed with roast meat, tomato, onion and sauce).
Where to eat in Greece?
Take a look at this list of some of the most famous restaurants in the capital, so you can try all these incredible traditional recipes.
- Liondi Traditional Greek Restaurant is one of the most recommended restaurants in Athens, serving a wide variety of traditional recipes of excellent quality. The price is around 12 euros for a tasting menu with an incredible selection of the city’s most typical dishes.
- Phaedra Hotel is located just a few minutes’ walk from the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus. In addition to its fantastic location and unique views of the Acropolis, it has 24-hour reception and one of the best value for money in the city.
- All that Jazz is a restaurant located in the Monastiraki neighbourhood and is known to be one of the most recommended restaurants in Athens. The restaurant also has a very nice terrace where you can eat while watching the atmosphere of the street. The price is around 25 euros.
- Arcadia Restaurant is located very close to the Acropolis and has an extensive menu, with many typical Greek dishes. The price is around 10 euros per person including drinks.
Tips for your trip to Greece
- For safety, walk with your backpack or bag in front of you and watch out for pickpockets in tourist areas.
- Athens is a busy city so take care when crossing major avenues.
- The tap water in Athens is safe to drink.
- Wear comfortable shoes, as Athens is mainly a walking city.
- The city bus operates 24 hours a day.
- Most public museums are closed on Mondays, so please bear this in mind when organising your visit.
- Power sockets in Greece are the same as the rest of Europe.
How to organise what to see in Greece?
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- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.
If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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