The first image of Greece that springs to mind is the azure sea, sandy beaches and deep blue sky, but Greece has so much more to offer, especially ancient history which is evident in its capital Athens, the base from which to explore your choice of islands. Then there’s the lively atmosphere you’ll find in the summer months, the superb food, the friendliness of the locals… a holiday in Greece is a joyous, sensory adventure. Here you will find the ten most popular attractions in Greece!
10. Acropolis of Lindos & Village of Lindos
flickr/Alessandra Kocman
Located on the island of Rhodes, the village of Lindos is a bus ride away. It’s home to an ancient Acropolis – smaller than you’ll find in Athens, but just as fascinating and charming to explore. This ancient Acropolis dates back to the 4th Century BC and is still being excavated. But you will be able to see sites such as the Temple of Athena Lindia, The Castle of the Knights of St John and the remains of a Roman temple.
9. Paleokastritsa Beach
flickr/Marie Therese Magnan
The island of Corfu is a magical place, famous for its olive groves and hidden bays. Paleokastritsa Beach is hidden along the coastline, but when you find it, you will never want to leave. The beach is a mix of rocks and sand, but the water is so clear here that you can easily see the bottom of the ocean floor. This is a little slice of paradise that once seen, will never be forgotten.
8. Rhodes Old Town
flickr/Stefano Desmo
Rhodes’ Old Town is full of fascinating historic attractions, with buildings and monuments that date back thousands of years. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this medieval town is full of cobbled streets, paved courtyards, Gothic windows and traditional street lamps.
Enter the Old Town through one of its many gates, including the most popular starting point for a walk, Eleftheria, or Liberty Gate. You’ll find yourself in Simi Square, home to the ruins of the Temple of Venus, first built in the 3rd Century BC. Stroll along Knights Avenue to the Palace of the Prince Grand Master, where you’ll find items that date all the way back to the 13th Century, when the Crusaders first landed on Rhodes. Wherever you go in Rhodes’ Old Town you’ll be steeped in history and atmosphere. It really is like stepping back in time.
7. St. Paul’s Bay
flickr/esther**
Located just a little way south of Lindos Beach you’ll find St Paul’s Bay. Here, the only building is the former little chapel on the hillside overlooking two beaches, one manmade with golden sand, and the other, a natural beach at the northern end of the bay that is a combination of gravel and sand. The beaches are named after St Paul who apparently landed here in 51AD to preach Christianity to the islanders. This picturesque beach offers an idyllic setting as well as magnificent views of the bay itself.
6. Elafonissos beaches
flickr/Andrea Corbo
The Peloponese island off Elafonissos is located just off the coast of Cape Malea and Vatika. It’s the largest inhabited island in the Peloponese and is famous for its beautiful bays, endless stretches of white sand beaches, and dotted with sand dunes and cedar trees. The most famous of Elafonissos’ beaches is Simos Beach, but any of these exquisite stretches of sand are worth spending time relaxing on.
5. Plaka
flickr/Panoramas
Located at the bottom of the Acropolis, the old neighbourhood of Plaka is a joy to explore. Here, in its narrow maze of streets you’ll find charming old buildings that have been transformed into shops and restaurants where you can pick up souvenirs before savouring traditional local cuisine washed down with retsina, the local wine. And then it’s time to party into the wee hours.
4. Meteora
flickr/sermatimati
Located in Thessaly in Central Greece, Meteora is a complex of 24 Orthodox monasteries built from the 11th Century onwards on top of extraordinary rocky cliffs overlooking the plain below. You can explore six of these monasteries, which are open to the public, to get an idea of how the monks lived and worked in bygone days, and see their magnificent late Byzantine decorations and fresco paintings.
3. Mount Olympus
flickr/Nikolaos Fardis
Located on the border between the areas of Pierria and Larissa, Mount Olympus is famous for being the home of the 12 mythological Greek Gods of Ancient Greece. The mountain, the tallest in the country, is famous for its rich flora and fauna, and has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You can explore the little villages on the mountain slopes as well as the surrounding areas, where you’ll find the monastery of Olimplotissa in Elassona village.
2. Santorini island
flickr/Pedro Szekely
This breathtakingly beautiful volcanic island in the Cyclades forms part of the remains of a vast crater left by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history. It signifies everything that the stunning Greek islands stand for, with its stark white buildings that stand out against the brilliant blue sky as they climb the rock cliff to the town of Thira on the top. Santorini is the most popular island in Greece, and with good reason – its idyllic setting and unusual formation offers the most spectacular scenery. Sit sipping something cool while the sun sets and you’ll feel as if you’ve finally found heaven on earth.
1. The Acropolis and the Parthenon
flickr/Arrano
The highlight of any trip to Greece is to explore the magnificent Acropolis, which is the most important ancient site in the Western world. It’s crowned by the Parthenon and stands looking over the city of Athens below it. Perched on a flat-topped rock above the city, the Acropolis, which dates back to the 5th Century BC, symbolises where Greek civilisation started. The Parthenon, which is located here, is the greatest surviving example of Doric architecture. Explore the museum on the Acropolis to see some carvings and friezes that were uncovered during archaeological excavations.
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