Places To Visit In Greece

Greece is one of the most famous travel destinations in the world. From its beautiful sandy beaches to the peaks of its mythical mountains, every place offers a unique beauty and a rich tradition! In the land of myth, every step on its soil is a journey through time, a beautiful journey of compositions and contrasts. Greece is known as the cradle of Western Civilisation and the birthplace of democracy, theatre, the Olympic Games, and much more.

Where is Greece?

Greece is a country in southeastern Europe, with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. The Hellenic Republic, the official name of Greece. The country is bordered by Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia. Greece shares maritime borders with Italy, Cyprus, Egypt, and Libya. Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece.

What to see in Athens?

The capital of Greece is a mix of ancient monuments, bazaars from the east, dense traffic, and green parks. Athens is full of landmarks, so it’s best to jump on a hop-on-hop-off bus to get to know everything properly, so you can decide which areas you want to focus on when exploring the city. There are free guided tours in the old town. Don’t forget to climb up to the Acropolis of Athens to admire the majestic Temple of Athena Nike. A great idea on how to spend an evening is to watch the magical sunset from the nearby Temple of Poseidon.

10 Best places to visit in Greece

1. Athens

The capital of Greece is one of the most interesting places in the world, and a must-visit place in Greece.
With a history spanning over 3,000 years, Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities. Top attractions include the Acropolis, Daphni Monastery, and the National Archaeological Museum. Don’t miss dining in charming restaurants or shopping in Monastiraki, where narrow streets are lined with shops selling Greek jewelry, trinkets, and more.

2. Delphi

Reckoned as the ‘Centre of Earth’, the beautiful place of Delphi has forever been a center of cultural and religious activities and is symbolic of unity in Greece. Nestled amidst lush mountains, Delphi is one of the top tourist attractions in Greece that captivates tourists with spectacular vistas and tranquil vibes. An ideal place to discover the ancient past of Greece, Delphi is dotted with many famous archaeological sites such as Oracle, Treasury, Stoa of the Athenians, Castalian Spring, Temple of Apollo, Temple of Athena, Theatre which is a point of attraction for many tourists and history buffs from all across the world. Delphi also offers an enduring hiking experience at Corycian Cave, which is thrilling for adventure enthusiasts.

3. Corfu – Storybook Land

Corfu is another one of the beautiful islands of the country that joins the Albanian Adriatic coast to the Ionian Sea. This beautiful and historic island is located in the Ionian Sea and is easily included in the list of one of the best places to visit in Greece. Italianate villages, ornate palaces, and romantic beaches are on the cards if you visit the lush island where the Durrell family once lived. With its sundry influences left by past invaders, Corfu is a place where you can drink ginger ale with your Greek salad, stroll streets packed with Byzantine and Venetian architecture, and meet modern-day monks in Paleokastritsa’s spectacular medieval monastery. And after a hard day’s sightseeing and stuffing your face, you’ll want to jump straight into the Ionian Sea – never not a stunning shade of turquoise-blue.

4. Meteora

One of the most surreal places to visit in Greece has got to be Meteora, which means “suspended in the air”, and is a sight to behold! Located on top of a rock formation, the Ancient Meteora Monasteries were a refuge for the monks and people who wanted to live away from civilization.

Geologists believe Meteora’s towering rock formations were formed from river stones and limestone over millions of years. After geological shifts and water recession, the landscape rose, creating the dramatic 400-meter-high cliffs seen today. Adding to its surreal beauty are the monasteries perched atop the rocks, appearing as natural extensions of them.

The wild and inaccessible landscape of Meteora became a refuge for Christians during the Ottoman occupation, and many monks settled in the area, slowly creating beautiful monasteries. These rocks, which appear to have come from the sky, are located above the towns of Kalambaka and Kastraki, in the Thessalian plain, in the center of mainland Greece. In Kalambaka, in the shade of the rocks, you will find restaurants, taverns, and cafés. Don’t miss the old town and the local cuisine!

5. Zakynthos – With Pristine Beaches

Better known as Zante, Zakynthos draws a party-ready crowd to its notorious Laganas nightlife strip, but this sunstruck Ionian isle – known by the Venetians as ‘the flower of the East’ – is also blessed with some of the Med’s most beautiful scenery. This includes the spectacular Shipwreck Beach, whose bright-blue waters hemmed in by sheer white cliffs can only be reached by boat, and Zakynthos Marine Park, home to slippery seals and savvy turtles. It’s truly wild – in multiple senses of the word.

6. Thessaloniki

Once the second city of the Byzantine Empire – and later a thriving Ottoman port city connecting east and west – Thessaloniki has only been part of Greece since 1912. And that shows. This place doesn’t feel like Greece you see in tourist brochures: its central market, Kapani, has all the color and chaos of an Istanbul bazaar, and much Ottoman architecture remains throughout the city center – you can even visit the house where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the father of modern Turkey, was born.

The harbourside Ladadika area hums with some of the wildest, most fun nightlife in the whole Balkan peninsula, with most bars and clubs open until 6 am and beyond. The old town is perfect for the aimless morning-after mooch, and the ouzo and Bougatsa breakfast pastries in these parts are unrivaled.

7. Mykonos

The top party hub of Greece, Mykonos, is popular for its electrifying parties. One of the most loved tourist places in Greece, Mykonos is dotted with shimmering beaches like Ornos, Paradise, Paraga, picture-perfect windmills, historical ruins, and stunning vistas of the Caldera. Other famous attractions of Mykonos are the Archaeological Museum, Folklore Museum, Lena’s House Museum, and Panagia Paraportiani Church, where one can catch sight of the rich Greek heritage. Apart from exploring these places in Mykonos, one can indulge in a romantic cruise, night parties, watching the sun go down, and gorging on traditional delicacies. In Mykonos,
The fun never ends!

8. Kalamata

The city of Kalamata in the Peloponnese is home to the ancient ruins of Messenia, the picturesque Navarino Lagoon beach, and also those very famous olives you may recognize the name from. Few tourists venture to these parts, which is great news for you. To explore the wider region, base yourself at the Ant Farm – a beautiful farmhouse just outside the city, where you can stay in one of ten treehouses nestled within the olive trees.

9. Chania Town – Cobbled And Narrow Streets

Chania blends old-world charm, stunning cathedrals, and beautiful beaches like Elafonisi, Falasarna, and Balos. With vibrant nightlife, great food, and scenic spots, it’s a perfect place to relax and explore with family and friends.

10. Santorini – Hues Of Blue And White

Another top destination in Greece is Santorini that is considered one of the most romantic destinations in the world. This place is so majestic, and almost everyone will have seen photos that are used on many websites.

Santorini is among the Cyclades, a group of Greek islands. In the 16th century BC, a volcanic eruption shaped Santorini’s rugged landscape. The village houses overlooking the sea, coupled with the picture-perfect sunset, seem more like a dream than reality. Its beaches with red, white, and black sand surround the deep blue water, providing a spectacle that is a sight for sore eyes. Santorini is home to its active volcano with its crater in the sea. The island is also a culinary paradise. You can enjoy some famous traditional products like white eggplants, cherry tomatoes, fava beans, and capers.

Best time to visit Greece

The Greek climate, while largely Mediterranean, is a bit varied. Due to the many different landforms, it is difficult to pinpoint the best time to visit Greece.

Best time: May and September are the best months, climate-wise. The Months between June to August are a part of a busy tourist season so you will find it crowded. June will be very warm but the weather is never very bad. This whole period of spring-summer is definitely the best time to visit. Even autumn which is late September and early October is a decent time to visit.

Winters: The winters are short, but it can get pretty cold from November, try not to visit at this time. Most importantly, the beaches will be too cold to swim in so unless you want to spend most of your time in museums avoid it. It might also rain.

How To Reach Greece

By Air

With 15 international airports, flying to Greece is relatively easy. The Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, commonly referred to as ATH, is the largest international airport in the country. It is 30 kilometers/19 miles by road from the center of Athens, the capital of Greece.

Direct flights from New York take under 10 hours, while travelers from the West Coast can expect 15+ hours with connections via Europe.</p>

By Rail

There are no trains from Mumbai or Delhi to Greece, but you sure have lots of trains going into Greece from neighboring European countries like Turkey, Croatia, the Net

herlands, and Italy. Traveling by train can be old-fashioned and slower, but the experience is magical. With rolls of scenery to soak in, you might just not want to get off when you reach your destination. What’s more is, train tickets are slightly cheaper and can be bought at lots of discounted prices, especially if you are a student.

<h4>By Sea

Greek Cruises are all the rage. If you are not planning to sail to Greece from India, you must consider a tour of the obscure Greek Islands by signing u

p for one of the Greek or Mediterranean cruises. Most tourist-friendly Greek Islands are connected by these cruises and welcome guests with open arms. Some of the best small ships that sail across include Classical Greece, The Adriatic Odyssey, Jewels of the Cyclades, and Voyage to Antiquity. Sea Cloud, Sea Dream, and Galileo are special Greek island cruises.</p>

By Road

A road trip from India to Greece is not impossible; that is to say, you will have to cross the borders of c

ountries like Pakistan, Iran, and Turk

ey to get to Greece. It makes for a long, hassle-filled, tiring journey of around 15 day

s, and not much worth it if you are not that passionate about it. A road trip, however, is great if undertaken from Turkey or Bulgaria, or Romania, into Greece. The roads are very well made and maintained, winding through stunning scenery and idyllic little villages with thatched-roof houses and wicker basket industries.

Map of Greece

Things to know before traveling to Greece

The country is facing debt and recession. Political turmoil is also on the scene. Be aware and be safe. But the people of Greece have never changed. They are warm, kind-hearted, welcoming, and to put it frankly, loud. The loudness, however, makes them very endearing. Expect locals to ask a lot of questions about you. The Greeks have been curious creatures since ancient times, and that trend continues to date. Prices for most things have increased, so be careful about this. It is best to use cash and be extremely careful while storing it. Credit Cards and Traveler’s checks are fine too.

Where is the most beautiful place in Greece?

Top places to visit in Greece include Santorini, Corfu, Nafplio, Knossos, Rhodes, and Meteora—must-visit places for a memorable trip.

What should one wear in Greece?

Pack sunglasses, sunscreen, and bright summer outfits like tank tops, shorts, and light dresses to match the season.

Also read: Punta Cana Travel Guide: All You Need To Know

Interesting Facts about Greece

• 80% of Greece is made up of mountains
• The capital of Greece is named after the goddess Athena
• Greece is the third-largest producer of olives
• The Greek alphabet was the first to use vowels
• Greece is home to 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Greece has an impressive coastline… about 16,000 kilometers
• Marathons came from Ancient Greek times!
• The juries were huge!
• Greeks called themselves ‘Hellenes’
• They also invented the first alarm clock!
• Name Days are more widely celebrated than birthdays
• Greece is one of the sunniest places in the world

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