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Greece

GALLERY

2026 2026 Fodor’s Go List Destination

A visit to the land of Homer, Aristotle, and Sophocles is a journey to the dawn of classical civilization, with archaeological splendors from Athens to Crete. The towering monasteries of Meteora and soaring Mt. Olympus inspire awe, while relaxing islands like Corfu and Santorini invite simple pleasures and a taste of the good life on the Aegean Sea. The Greek countryside presents the perfect coda with idyllic landscapes of cypress groves, vineyards, and olive trees, as well as dramatic coves with sparkling white sand and rugged mountains that plunge into the sea.

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Fodor's Essential Greece: with the Best of the Islands

Fodor's Essential Greece: with the Best of the Islands

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Fodor's Essential Greek Islands: with the Best of Athens

Fodor's Essential Greek Islands: with the Best of Athens

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Guidebooks for Every Journey

Fodor's Essential Greece: with the Best of the Islands

Fodor's Essential Greece: with the Best of the Islands

Easy Planning
Local Writers
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Fodor's Essential Greek Islands: with the Best of Athens

Fodor's Essential Greek Islands: with the Best of Athens

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The Cyclades

Named after the circle they form around the sacred isle of Delos, the two hundred and twenty or so Cyclades are the most Greek of...

Athens

It's no wonder that all roads lead to the fascinating and paradoxical metropolis of Athens. Lift your eyes 200 feet above the city to the...

The Peloponnese

Over the millennia the rugged terrain of the Peloponnese—a vast region that hangs like a large leaf from the stem of the Corinthian isthmus—has nourished...

Attica and Delphi

One of the great surprises of Athens is how much there is to see around it. The mountainous region of Attica (or Attikí), which incorporates...

Crete

Crete is a land of myth and imagination, where Theseus slayed the Minotaur, where Daedulus and Icarus set off on their ill-fated flight, and where...

Rhodes and the Dodecanese

Wrapped enticingly around the shores of Asia Minor, the Dodecanese are Greece’s easternmost island chain, edging the sunny fringes of the Aegean sea. A historic...

The Northern Aegean Islands

Quirky, seductive, fertile, sensual, faded, sunny, worldly, ravishing, long-suffering, hedonistic, luscious, mysterious, legendary—these adjectives only begin to describe the islands of the northeastern Aegean. This...

Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia

A land shaped by gods, warriors, and ghosts, Northern Greece sparkles with the sights, sounds, scents, and colors of its melting-pot history and epic geography...

Corfu

Temperate, multihued Corfu—of emerald mountains; turquoise waters lapping rocky coves; ocher and pink buildings; shimmering silver olive leaves; puffed red, yellow, and orange parasails; scarlet...

Santorini (Thira)

Undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, crescent-shaped Santorini remains a mandatory stop on the Cycladic tourist route—even if you must enjoy the sensational...

Thessaloniki

At the crossroads of East and West, where North blends into South, Thessaloniki (accent on the "ni") has seen the rise and fall of many...

Rhodes

The fourth-largest Greek island and, along with Sicily, Crete, and Cyprus, one of the great islands of the Mediterranean, Rhodes was long considered a bridge...

Lesvos

The Turks called Lesvos the "garden of the empire" for its fertility: in the east and center of the island, literally millions of olive trees...

Mykonos Town

Although the fishing boats still go out in good weather, Mykonos largely makes its living from tourism these days. The summer crowds have turned one...

Nafplion

Oraia (beautiful) is the word Greeks use to describe Nafplion. The town's old section lies on a peninsula jutting into the Gulf of Argolis, and...

Hydra

As the full length of Hydra stretches before you when you round the easternmost finger of the northern Peloponnese, your first reaction might not, in...

Chios

"Craggy Chios" is what local boy Homer, the island's first publicist, so to speak, called this starkly beautiful outcropping that almost touches Turkey's coast and...

Skiathos

Part sacred (scores of churches), part sin (lots of nightlife), the hilly, wooded island of Skiathos is the closest of the Sporades to the Pelion...

Skyros

Even among these unique isles, Skyros stands out. The rugged terrain resembles that of an island in the Dodecanese, and the spectacularly situated main town—occupied...

Rethymnon

Rethymnon is Crete's third-largest town, after Heraklion and Chania. The population (about 40,000) steadily increases as the town expands—a new quarter follows the coast to...

Agios Nikolaos

Ayios Nikolaos is clustered on a peninsula alongside the Gulf of Mirabello, a dramatic composition of bare mountains, islets, and deep blue sea. Behind the...

Patmos

For better or worse, it can be difficult to reach Patmos. For many travelers, this lack of access is definitely for the better, since the...

Olympia

Ancient Olympia, including the Sanctuary of Zeus, was famously the site of the ancient Olympic Games. Scenically located at the foot of the pine-covered Kronion...

Volos

A relatively new city by Greek standards, Volos and surrounding Magnesia are steeped in history and myth, with Neolithic settlements dating to 7000 BC and...

Kavala

With 27 centuries of history, this port city draws from deep roots. Long a center of the tobacco industry, Kavala now earns much of its...

Gythion

At the foot of the Taygettus range on the northeastern edge of the Mani, Gythion seems terribly cosmopolitan, compared to the stark countryside that surrounds...

Argostoli

...

Samos Town

Also known as Vathi, the capital is tucked into the head of a sharply deep bay on the northeast coast. Red-tile roofs sweep around the...

Agiassos

Agiassos village, the prettiest hill town on Lesvos, sits in an isolated valley amid thousands of olive trees, near the foot of Mt. Olympus, the...

Sigri

Sigri is built around a lovely cove with exceptional dark-sand beaches nearby...

Pella

Pella was Alexander's birthplace and the capital of the Macedonian state in the 4th century BC. The modern-day village is not the most alluring, (and...

Corfu Town

Corfu Town today is a vivid tapestry of cultures—a sophisticated weave, where charm, history, and natural beauty blend. Located about midway along the island's east...

Spetses

Spetses shows evidence of continuous habitation through all of antiquity. From the 16th century BC, settlers came over from the mainland and, as on Hydra...

The Sporades

Little mentioned in mythology or history, the Sporades confidently rely on their great natural beauty and cultural history to attract visitors. Some locals poetically claim...

Chania

Chania surrendered its role as capital of Crete to Heraklion in 1971, but this elegant city of eucalyptus-lined avenues, miles of waterfront promenades, and shady...

Vai

The appeal of the surrounding, fertile coastal plain was not lost on the ancient Minoans, who left behind ruins that are not as grand as...

Matala

Renowned in the 1960s as a stopover on the hippie trail, with Joni Mitchell immortalizing it in song, Matala today is a small, low-key beach...

Palace of Phaistos

On a steep hill overlooking olive groves and the sea on one side, and high mountain peaks on the other, the second-largest Minoan palace was...

Malia

In its effort to serve mass tourism, the town of Malia has submerged whatever character it might once have had. The sandy beach, overlooked by...

Lasithi Plateau

The Lasithi Plateau, 2,800 feet high and the biggest of the upland plains of Crete, lies behind a wall of barren mountains. Windmills for pumping...

Knossos

Paintings of bull-leapers, sculptures of bare-breasted snake charmers, myths of minotaurs, and the oldest throne in Europe are just a few of the wonders that...

Monemvasia

The eastern "finger" dangling off the southern edge of the Peloponnese is the dramatic setting for Monemvasia (meaning "single entrance"). This Byzantine town clings to...

Vori

Vori, the closest town to Phaistos and Ayia Triada, is a pleasant farming community of whitewashed houses on narrow lanes; you might enjoy stopping here...

Stemnitsa

Also called Ipsous, Stemnitsa is one of the most beautiful towns in southern Greece, wondrously perched 3,444 feet above sea level amid a forest of...

Vrisses

This appealing old village is famous throughout Crete for its thick, creamy yogurt—best eaten with a large spoonful of honey on top—that is served in...

Kaminia

A small fishing hamlet built around a shallow inlet, Kamini has much of Hydra Town's charm but none of its bustle—except on Orthodox Good Friday...

Epirus and Thessaly

...

Skyros Town

From the southern landscapes, amid brown, desolate outcrops with only an occasional goat as a sign of life, Skyros Town suddenly looms around a bend...

Dodona

The only thing to do, or see for that matter, at the somewhat isolated Dodona, are the ancient ruins. This archaeological site, steeped in history...

Panormos Bay

Panormos Bay, an unpretentious port once used for marble export, has ducks and geese, a row of seafood restaurants, and a good beach with a...

Ioannina

On the rocky promontory of Pamvotis Lake lies Ioannina, its fortress punctuated by mosques and minarets whose reflections, along with those of the snowy peaks...

Mesta

Pirgi may be the most unusual of the mastic villages, but Mesta is the island's best preserved: a labyrinth of twisting vaulted streets links two-story...

Kalambaka

Kalambaka may be dismissed as one more drab modern town, useful only as a base to explore the fabled Meteora complex north of town. Yet...

Mytilini

Built on the ruins of an ancient city, Mytilini (so important through history that many call Lesvos by the port's name alone) is, like Lesvos...

Metsovo

The quaintly traditional village of Metsovo cascades down a mountain at about 3,300 feet above sea level, below the 6,069-foot Katara pass, which is the...

Vatera

The village of Vatera is all about its 9-km-long (5½-mile-long) sandy strip of sparkling water, lined with tamarisk trees and framed by green hills. You...

The Meteora

As you drive through the mighty Pindos range, strange rock formations rise ever higher from the plain. Just beyond the dramatic sheer cliff that shelters...

Kalamata

...

Zagorohoria Region

One of the most beguiling and untamed sections of Greece is the region of Zagorohoria (pronounced zah-go-ro-hor-ee-ah), also known as Zagori or Zagoria, which comprises...

The Achilleion and Gastouri

...

Lavrion

After Sounion, the road twists and turns along the coast, winding past holiday homes, before hitting a rather dreary stretch by Lavrion's boatyard, where there...

Vouraikos Gorge

The Vouraikos Gorge is a fantastic landscape of towering pinnacles and precipitous rock walls that you can view on an exciting train ride. In addition...

Kos

Aglow with flowering oleanders and hibiscus, the island of Kos is the third largest in the Dodecanese. It certainly remains one of the most verdant...

Paliachora

The haunting remains of Aegina's medieval Paliachora (Old Town), built in the 9th century by islanders whose seaside town was the constant prey of pirates...

Arkadi

As you approach Arkadi from the north, through the rolling lands at the base of Mt. Ida, one of the contenders in the dispute over...

Ayia Marina

Ayia Marina is the most cosmopolitan beach on the island, so head here if you want to see and be seen...

Kanoni

The suburb of Kanoni was once one of the world's great beauty spots, made famous by countless pictures. Today the landscape has been engulfed by...

Panormos Bay

With a long beach and sheltered inner cove ideal for yachts, Panormos is fast becoming a holiday village, although so far this stretch of the...

Symi

The tiny island of Symi is an enchanting place, where life centers around sparkling Yialos Harbor and a 19th-century town of neoclassical mansions, known as...

Pelekas

Inland from the coast at Glyfada is Pelekas, an attractive hilltop village that overflows with tourists because of its much-touted lookout point, called Kaiser's Throne...

Asklepieion

The ruins of one of the great healing centers of antiquity still impress and fire the imagination, framed by a thick grove of cypress trees...

Isternia

The village of Isternia (Cisterns), lofty on the slopes of Mount Meroviglia, is verdant with lush gardens. Many of the marble plaques hung here over...

Castle of Antimacheia

This proud fortress standing high above the sea is not just a symbol of the former might of the Knights of St. John. These days...

Tinos Town

Civilization on Tinos is a millennium older than Tinos Town, or Chora, founded in the 5th century BC. On weekends and during festivals, Chora is...

Kamari

On Kefalos Bay, the little beach community of Kamari is pleasant and less frantic than the island's other seaside resorts though still plastered with tourist...

Samos

The southernmost of this group of three Northern Aegean islands lies the closest to Turkey of any Greek island, separated by only 3 km (2...

Kos Town

The modern town lies on a flat plain encircling spacious Mandraki Harbor and is a pleasant assemblage of low-lying buildings and shady lanes, with a...

Pirgi

Beginning in the 14th century, the Genoese founded 20 or so fortified inland villages in southern Chios. These villages shared a defensive design with double-thick...

Marmari

You won’t find much that’s authentically Greek in this unattractively overbuilt resort town surrounded by holiday villages. Even so, the surrounding beaches are beautiful, and...

Molyvos

Also known by its ancient name, Mythimna, this is a place that has attracted people since antiquity. Legend says that Achilles besieged the town until...

Chora

Atop a hill due south of Skala, the village of Chora, clustered around the walls of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, has become...

Pirgi Thermis

Pirgi Thermis is known for its tower mansions and for its 12th-century church, Panayia Tourlot, near the outskirts of town. The town's onetime big attractions—thermal...

Skala

Skala, the island's small but sophisticated main town, is where almost all the shops and restaurants are located. It's a popular port of call for...

Skala Sikaminias

At the northernmost point of Lesvos, past Pelopi, is the exceptionally lovely fishing port of Skala Sikaminias, a miniature gem—serene and real, with several good...

Epta Piges

...

Kokkari

A spectacular stretch of coast road west of Samos Town is lined with olive groves and vineyards and ends in the fishing village of Kokkari...

Gennadi and the South Coast

The area south of Lindos, with fewer beaches and less fertile soil, is traditionally not as well traveled as the stretch to its north but...

Heraklion

In Minoan times, Crete's largest city, the fifth-largest city in Greece, was a harbor for Knossos, the grandest palace and effective power center of prehistoric...

Lindos

Lindos, cradled between two harbors and dominated by its massive hilltop acropolis, is remarkably well preserved. Steep paths wind past its famous "captain's mansions," beautifully...

Laconia

The Laconian plain is surrounded on three sides by mountains and on one side by the sea. Perhaps it was the fear that enemies could...

Monolithos to Kameiros

Rhodes's west coast is more forested, with fewer notable beaches than its eastern side. But what it lacks in sun beds it more than makes...

Mystras

While little remains to attest to Spartan power and might, residents of the Byzantine capital just to the west left behind a treasure trove of...

Petaloudes

Shady lanes and babbling brooks winding through the forested grounds of a former Venetian estate would be quite enticing even without the presence of some...

Pylos

With the blue waters in its port and the bougainvillea-swathed, pristine white houses fanning up Mt. St. Nicholas, Pylos may remind you of an island...

Rhodes Town

Early travelers described Rhodes as a town of two parts: a castle or high town (Collachium) and a lower area (Bourgo). Today Rhodes Town—sometimes referred...

Tiryns

...

Chorio

It's a 10-minute walk from the main harbor of Yialos up to the hilltop town of Chorio, along a staircase of some 400 steps, known...

Aegina

The eastern side of Aegina is rugged and sparsely inhabited today, except for Ayia Marina, a former fishing hamlet now studded with hotels. The western...

Monastery of Taxiarchis Michael Panormitis

The tiny hamlet of Panormitis on the south end of the island is a remote and idyllic setting for this holy assemblage, a popular place...

Agia Marina

The small, somewhat-overrun port of Ayia Marina has many hotels, cafés, restaurants, and a family-friendly beach with shallow waters. On the opposite side of the...

Yialos

As the boat from Rhodes to Symi rounds the last of many rocky barren spurs, the port of Yialos, at the back of a deep...

Souvala

Souvala is a sleepy fishing village that comes to life in summer, as it is a favorite resort of many Athenians. The tamarisks and pine...

Glyfada

Gateway to the Athens Riviera and the Apollo Coast—which stretches from Pireaus south to Cape Sounion's famed Temple of Poseidon—Glyfada is loved for its palm-fringed...

Vlichos

From Kamini, the coastal track continues to Vlichos, another pretty village with tavernas, a historic bridge, and a gray-pebbled beach on a bay. It's a...

Antiparos

This smaller sister isle to Paros may have once been a well-kept secret, but thanks to celebrity resident Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson...

Spetses Town

By most visitors’ standards, Spetses Town is small—no larger than most city neighborhoods—yet it’s nevertheless divided into districts populated with many well-to-do neoclassical mansions and...

Delos

Arrive at the mythical, magical, and magnificent site of Delos and you might wonder how this barren islet, which has virtually no natural resources, became...

Paleokastritsa

To quote one recent traveler: "I’d rather go to Paleokastritsa than to Heaven." Considered by many to be the site of Homer’s city of the...

Folegandros

If Santorini is the Hollywood leading lady of the Greek islands, Folegandros is the demure, younger sister, star of off-beat independent cinema. Built between the...

Atsitsa

On the northwest coast, pine forests grow down the rocky shore at Atsitsa. The beaches north of town—Kalogriá and Kyra Panayia—are sheltered from the strong...

Mykonos

From backpackers to the super-rich, from day-trippers to yachties, from Joe Average to celebrities who head here by helicopter, Mykonos has become one of the...

Arachova

Gray-stone houses with red-tile roofs cling to the steep slopes of Mt. Parnassus, the highest mountain in Greece after Mt. Olympus, to form the small...

Naxos

"Great sweetness and tranquility" is how Nikos Kazantzakis, premier novelist of Greece, described Naxos, and indeed a tour of the island leaves you with an...

Mt. Olympus

To understand how the mountain must have impressed the ancient Greeks and caused them to shift their allegiance from the earth-rooted deities of the Mycenaeans...

Paros

In the classical age, the great sculptor Praxiteles prized the incomparably snowy marble that came from the quarries at Paros; his chief rival was the...

Osios Loukas

The monastic complex at Osios Loukas, still inhabited by a few monks, is notable for its exquisite mosaics and its dramatic location, looming on a...

Galaxidi

Unlike nearby Delphi, the history of Galaxidi tends more toward the modern. That's not to say it doesn't have a long past—settlements here date back...

Kionia

The little seaside town of Kionia is a short scenic drive, bike ride, or hike west of Tinos Town. A few simple tavernas and rooms...

Syros

The mercantile bustle of modern Ermoupoli—Syros’s port, capital, and the archipelago’s business hub since the 18th century—often makes people do a double take. Seen from...

Pirgos

The village of Pirgos, second in importance to Chora, is inland and up from the little harbor of Panormos. Tinos is famous for its marble...

Tinos

Tinos is among the most beautiful and most fascinating of the major Cyclades. The third largest of the island group after Naxos and Andros, with...

Delphi

Up in the mountains, modern Delphi is perched dramatically on the edge of a grove leading to the sea, west of an extraordinary ancient site...

Ano Meria

The island's paved road runs from the port, through Chora and along the backbone of the island to Ano Meria. Terraced fields where barley was...

Monastery of Daphni

Daphni means "laurel tree," a species that was sacred to the god Apollo. The myth says that Eros made Apollo fall in love with a...

Chora

As the boat approaches the dusty port of Karavostasi, bare, sun-scoured rocks offer little suggestion of the glory to come. After a steep 3-mile climb...

Chios Town

The main port and capital, Chios Town, or Chora, is a busy commercial settlement on the east coast, across from Turkey. It lacks the historic...

Ano Mera

Inland, the little town of Ano Mera has a couple of quiet tavernas and a monastery. The town only lights up during the monastery's festival...

Nea Moni

...

Ayios Stefanos

About a 45-minute walk north from Mykonos Town, Ayios Stefanos has water sports, restaurants, and umbrellas and lounge chairs for rent; kids love it, and...

Volissos

Homer's birthplace is thought to be here at Volissos, though Smyrna, Colophon, Salamis, Rhodes, Argos, and Athens also claim this honor. Once a bustling market...

Ermones

On the coast, 8 km (5 miles) north of Pelekas lies the small, low-key resort of Ermones, with pebbly sand beaches, heavily wooded cliffs, and...

Mandamados

Pretty Mandamados has stone houses, wood carvings, and the ruins of a medieval castle. The village is famous for its pottery, koumari urns (they keep...

North Coast

The beaches along the north coast are blessed with consistent winds suitable for windsurfing, and Ftelia is the island's center for the sport. Yet on...

Moria

On the coast as you head north from Mytilini, Moria is best known for its Roman aqueduct. But the town is also famed for its...

Ornos

Ornos has always been more popular with Mykonians than tourists. The locals like its relaxed atmosphere for a family swim and beachside dining. There are...

Pamfila

In the 19th century, Pamfila's traditional tower mansions were used by wealthy families as summer homes. The views across the straits to Turkey are wonderful...

South Coast

The popular south coast beaches stand on their own; hotels, restaurants, cafés, and beach bars have sprung up around them, drawn to their turquoise seas...

Plomari

Plomari, the second-largest town on Lesvos, is dramatically set in a cliff face overlooking a wide harbor and Aegean sunsets. This was once a major...

Ancient Corinth

The isthmus is where the Peloponnese begins. Were it not for this narrow neck of land less than 7 km (4½ miles) across, the waters...

Skala Eressou

The poet Sappho, according to unreliable records, was allegedly born here circa 612 BC. She most likely presided over a finishing school for marriageable young...

Ancient Nemea

This quiet little town, surrounded by undulating vineyards, was once as famous as Olympia, site of biennial games that attracted athletes from throughout ancient Greece...

Skalohori

Skalohori is set beautifully in a valley, with tiered houses facing west toward the Aegean sunsets. Until recently, wild horses roamed the volcanic northwestern part...

Argos

The city of Argos, set amid citrus groves on the western edge of the Argive plain, is the economic hub of the region, a workaday...

Ireo

Although Samos was a center for trade and commerce for a long time prior, it was Polycrates "the Tyrant" who really put the island on...

Epidauros

What is now a pleasant little agricultural village surrounded by orange and olive groves has been on the Greek map for millennia, and the ruins...

Pythagorio

Samos was a democratic state until 535 BC, when the town now called Pythagorio (formerly Tigani, or "frying pan") fell to the tyrant Polycrates (540–22...

Marathon

Athenians enter the fabled plain of Marathon to enjoy a break from the capital, visiting the freshwater lake created by the dam, or sunning at...

Southeast Coast

The southeastern beaches, the farthest beaches from Mykonos Town, are favorites for those looking for something calm, yet organized, such as Kalo Livadi. Water sports...

Elounda

From its origins as a sleepy fishing village, Elounda has transformed into the de rigueur destination for luxury resorts. The shores of the Gulf of...

Ancient Messene

The ruins of this remarkable fortified ancient city, about 20 km (12 miles) north of the modern town of the same name, are set amid...

Abram Village

The route through the mountains from Apeiranthos to the north is very scenic. Apollonas is a small resort with a couple of good beaches backed...

Areopolis

In Areopolis, the typical Maniote tower houses begin to appear in earnest as spooky sentinels amid the harsh landscape. The town was renamed after Ares...

Apeiranthos

Apeiranthos is very picturesque, with views and marble-paved streets running between the Venetian Bardani and Zevgoli towers. As you walk through the arcades and alleys...

Dimitsana

From the stone-built villages high above Lousios Gorge, a trail picks its way down to the river bed, passing medieval monasteries that dangle from the...

Ayia Anna

Ayia Anna is one of the island’s ideal beach towns, where long stretches of sand front a main road lined with tavernas, restaurants, and cafés...

Gerolimenas

Located at the end of a long natural harbor, Gerolimenas was an important port in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sleepy as it...

Ayios Mamas

South of Galanado, and a kilometer (½ mile) past a valley with unsurpassed views is one of the island's oldest churches (9th century), Ayios Mamas...

Isthmus

...

Chalki

You are now entering the heart of the lush Tragaia Valley, where in spring the air is heavily scented with honeysuckle, roses, and lemon blossoms...

Kardamyli

The gateway to the Mani on the Messenian side is Kardamyli, considered part of the outer Mani (or Exo Mani), an area less bleak and...

Filoti

Filoti, a peaceful village on the lower slopes of Mt. Zas, is the interior's largest. A three-day festival celebrating the Dormition starts on August 14...

Methoni

Methoni, a small fishing and farming village on a cape south of Pylos, has long cast a spell over visitors. It was one of the...

Galanado

On a hill, Galando’s village streets offer a pretty view toward Naxos Town. It’s an agricultural village that is famous for the landmark Tower of...

Mycenae

The ancient citadel of Mycenae, which Homer wrote was "rich in gold and once ruled much of the Mediterranean world," stands on a low hill...

Mikri Vigla

Mikri Vigla is a small village known for its nearby pristine beaches. Several small room rentals and a few cafés and beach bars dot the...

Vouliagmeni

If Glyfada is all about credit cards and consumer bustle, Vouliagmeni showcases another side to the Athens Riviera. This classy seaside residential suburb is Athens's...

Moni

Off the fine asphalt Chalkiou-Keramotis road, Moni ("monastery") remains high in the mountains overlooking Naxos's greenest valley and has become a popular place for a...

Patras

Like all respectable Greek cities, Patras has the kind of storied history that puts even European capitals in the shade. Off the harbor in 429...

Naxos Town

As your ferry sweeps into the harbor, you see before you the white houses of Naxos Town (Chora) on a hill crowned by the one...

Sparta

...

Sangri

Sangri is the center of an area with so many monuments and ruins spanning the Archaic to the Venetian periods it is sometimes called little...

Temple of Apollo at Bassae

Typically seen as part of a day trip from either Olympia or Kalamata (it's about 1½ hours from both), the winding mountain roads here morph...

Lefkes

Rampant piracy in the 17th century forced thousands of people to move inland from the coastal regions; thus, for many years the scenic village of...

Tripoli

History, along with the practicalities of the road network in this part of Greece, makes it very likely that you'll at least pass through the...

Marathi

During the classical period, the island of Paros had an estimated 150,000 residents, many of them slaves who worked the ancient marble quarries in Marathi...

The Saronic Gulf Islands

Only have a few days in Greece but need a taste of island life? Hopping over to one of the Saronic isles is the perfect...

Naousa

Quaint fishing village no longer, Naousa (also Niaoussa) long ago discovered the benefits of tourism, and its outskirts are mushrooming with villas and hotels that...

Sounion

Poised at the edge of a rugged 195-foot cliff, the Temple of Poseidon hovers between sea and sky, its "marbled steep, where nothing, save the...

Paros Town

First impressions of Paroikía (Paros Town. sometimes spelt Parikia), pretty as it is, may not necessarily be positive. The port flashes too much concrete, too...

Aegina Town

As you approach from the sea, your first view of Aegina Town takes in the sweep of the harbor, punctuated by the tiny white chapel...

Pounta

Pounta is not even a village, just a few houses, a handful of restaurants, and a tiny harbor from which ferries leave for Antiparos. The...

Marathonas

This small village a few miles south of Aegina Town is reachable by bicycle or bus. The beach is just beyond...

Akrotiri

This village is most famous for its ancient ruins, but the little collection of houses surrounded by gardens and fields is a pleasant place in...

Perdika

Follow the lead of the locals and visiting Athenians and, for an excursion, take a bus (a 25-minute ride from Ethneyersias Square) to the pretty...

Fira

Tourism is Santorini's major industry and adds more than 1 million visitors per year to a population of 15,500. As a result, Fira, the capital...

Hydra Town

Even though Hydra’s beautiful harbor is flush with bars and boutiques, Hydra Town seems as fresh and innocent as when it was "discovered." The two-...

Firostefani

Firostefani used to be a separate village, but now it comprises the quieter, more pleasant northern end of Fira. The name derives from Fira +...

Mandraki

The only sandy beach on Hydra is an activity-centered beach by the Miramare Hotel, near Mandraki, which is currently closed (but you can still visit...

Skopelos

This triangular island's name means "a sharp rock" or "a reef"—a fitting description for the dramatic terrain on the northern shore. It's an hour and...

Ayia Anargyroi

With plenty of water-sports options, this popular beach is set against a luscious green backdrop, offering the added prospect of seeing the nearby Bekiris cave...

Kastro

The ruins that are also known as the Old Town perch on a forbidding promontory high above the water, accessible only by steps. Skiathians founded...

Ayia Paraskevi

In a sheltered cove and easily accessible by bus or water taxi, this is a favorite with locals and visitors alike. In the height of...

Skiathos Town

The harbor is especially picturesque at sunset, when violet-orange lights cast a soft glow and houses on the hills behind the quay begin to glimmer...

Zogeria

A pine-edged cove with deep sapphire waters, Zogeria has a gorgeous natural setting that more than makes up for the lack of amenities—there's just a...

Agnonda

Used as an alternative port by hydrofoils and ferryboats during bad weather, Agnonda has numerous tavernas along its pebbled beach. It's named after a local...

Ia

At the tip of the northern horn of the island sits Ia (or Oia), Santorini's second-largest town and the Aegean's most-photographed village. Ia is more...

Kontokali

Kontokali is best known for providing the main entry point to Corfu's biggest marina, a delightful place to stroll and admire the yachts, especially in...

Imerovigli

Set on the highest point of the caldera's rim, Imerovigli (the name means "watchtower") is quiet, traditional, and less expensive than other places on the...

Kamari

Santorini’s most popular beach resort is just that—a long line of hotels and tavernas strung out along a stretch of red-and-black sand on the island’s...

Kalamaki Peninsula

On the least-developed part of the south coast, villas are tucked above tiny, isolated coves. Access to most of the shoreline is by boat only...

Megalochori

Megalochori is a picturesque, half-abandoned town. Many of the village's buildings were actually canavas, wine-making facilities. The tiny main square is still lively in the...

Lalaria

The much-photographed, lovely Lalaria Beach, on the north coast, is flanked by a majestic, arched limestone promontory. The polished limestone and marble add extra sparkle...

Pyrgos

Though today Pyrgos has only 500 inhabitants, until the early 1800s it was the capital of the island. Medieval houses are stacked on top of...

Troullos

West of the Kalamaki Peninsula the coast road rounds Troullos Bay and comes to Koukounaries Beach—famous and beautiful but not a remote hideaway...

Ano Syros

One of the two towering peaks that rise over town, Ano Syros was greatly expanded in the 13th century by Venetians, who erected a walled...

Glossa

Delightful Glossa is the island's second-largest settlement, where whitewashed, red-roof houses are clustered on the steep hillside above the harbor of Loutraki. Venetian towers and...

Vergina

The modern city of Vergina wasn't established in its present form until 1922, but the ancient city of Aigai, the original capital of Macedonia, was...

Skopelos Town

Idyllic Skopelos Town, the administrative center of the Sporades, overlooks a sparkling turquoise bay on the north coast. Three- and four-story white-washed houses rise virtually...

Depot

The Depot neighborhood was once where the wealthy, mainly Jewish, merchants lived in impressive 19th-century villas. Very close to the port and the city center...

Magazia and Molos

Coastal expansions of the main town, these two resort areas are the places to stay if you love to swim. Magazia, where the residents of...

Ladakika

...

Vouno

In the mountainous southern half of Skyros, a passable dirt road heads south at the eastern end of the isthmus, from Aspous to Ahilli. The...

Eleusis

The growing city of Athens has long-since co-opted the land around what was Eleusis (now a modern city known as Elefsina), placing shipyards in the...

Dion

At the foothills of Mount Olympus lies ancient Dion. Even before Zeus and the Olympian gods, the mountain was home to the Muses and Orpheus...

Poseidonia

This small village has a few whitewashed taverns, cafés, and churches, which serve as a backdrop to a popular beach. Other good beaches are to...

Mt. Athos

The third peninsula of Halkidiki, Mt. Athos is called Ayion Oros (Holy Mountain) in Greek, although it does not become a mountain until its southernmost...

Vari

Vari is a small beach town on a sheltered bay on the south side of the island. Its location attracts visitors who seek the low-key...

Ouranoupolis

Meaning "heaven's city" in Greek, Ouranoupolis (also spelled Ouranopolis) is an appealing cul-de-sac on the final point of land that separates the secular world from...

Ayios Ioannis Bay

Heading east from Tinos Town, you’ll travel on a winding road surrounded by bare, rocky Cycladic island landscapes. It eventually slopes down into Ayios Ioannis...

Ermoupoli

Ermoupoli spills like multicolored lava from the twin colonial hills of Ano Syros and Vrodado, topped respectively by churches—Roman Catholic (St. George) on the left-hand...

Mt. Parnitha

The summit of Mt. Parnitha (1,413 m [4,635 feet]), Attica's highest mountain, affords splendid views of the plain of Athens. Sadly, large swaths of its...

Ano Polis

Ano Polis, where many fortified towers once bristled along the city's upper walls, is what remains of 19th-century Thessaloniki. It's filled with timber-framed houses with...

Galissas

The village of Galissas has a selection of tavernas and beach bar-cafés as well as room rentals and the Dolphin Bay Family Beach Resort. Since...

Kentro

The lively shopping streets, bustling markets, and cafés of the Kentro (City Center) and adjacent areas reward you with the unexpected encounters and sensual treats...

Kini

This small village on the island's west coast has a couple of good beaches, a selection of tavernas and cafés, and a few places to...

Sfageia

...

Mega Yialos

Megas Yialos has slowly grown into one of the island’s more popular beach towns and is accessible by bus from Ermoupoli. Its nearby beaches, including...

The Cyclades

Named after the circle they form around the sacred isle of Delos, the two hundred and twenty or so Cyclades are the most Greek of...

Athens

It's no wonder that all roads lead to the fascinating and paradoxical metropolis of Athens. Lift your eyes 200 feet above the city to the...

The Peloponnese

Over the millennia the rugged terrain of the Peloponnese—a vast region that hangs like a large leaf from the stem of the Corinthian isthmus—has nourished...

Attica and Delphi

One of the great surprises of Athens is how much there is to see around it. The mountainous region of Attica (or Attikí), which incorporates...

Crete

Crete is a land of myth and imagination, where Theseus slayed the Minotaur, where Daedulus and Icarus set off on their ill-fated flight, and where...

Rhodes and the Dodecanese

Wrapped enticingly around the shores of Asia Minor, the Dodecanese are Greece’s easternmost island chain, edging the sunny fringes of the Aegean sea. A historic...

The Northern Aegean Islands

Quirky, seductive, fertile, sensual, faded, sunny, worldly, ravishing, long-suffering, hedonistic, luscious, mysterious, legendary—these adjectives only begin to describe the islands of the northeastern Aegean. This...

Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia

A land shaped by gods, warriors, and ghosts, Northern Greece sparkles with the sights, sounds, scents, and colors of its melting-pot history and epic geography...

Corfu

Temperate, multihued Corfu—of emerald mountains; turquoise waters lapping rocky coves; ocher and pink buildings; shimmering silver olive leaves; puffed red, yellow, and orange parasails; scarlet...

Santorini (Thira)

Undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, crescent-shaped Santorini remains a mandatory stop on the Cycladic tourist route—even if you must enjoy the sensational...

Thessaloniki

At the crossroads of East and West, where North blends into South, Thessaloniki (accent on the "ni") has seen the rise and fall of many...

Rhodes

The fourth-largest Greek island and, along with Sicily, Crete, and Cyprus, one of the great islands of the Mediterranean, Rhodes was long considered a bridge...

Lesvos

The Turks called Lesvos the "garden of the empire" for its fertility: in the east and center of the island, literally millions of olive trees...

Mykonos Town

Although the fishing boats still go out in good weather, Mykonos largely makes its living from tourism these days. The summer crowds have turned one...

Nafplion

Oraia (beautiful) is the word Greeks use to describe Nafplion. The town's old section lies on a peninsula jutting into the Gulf of Argolis, and...

Hydra

As the full length of Hydra stretches before you when you round the easternmost finger of the northern Peloponnese, your first reaction might not, in...

Chios

"Craggy Chios" is what local boy Homer, the island's first publicist, so to speak, called this starkly beautiful outcropping that almost touches Turkey's coast and...

Skiathos

Part sacred (scores of churches), part sin (lots of nightlife), the hilly, wooded island of Skiathos is the closest of the Sporades to the Pelion...

Skyros

Even among these unique isles, Skyros stands out. The rugged terrain resembles that of an island in the Dodecanese, and the spectacularly situated main town—occupied...

Rethymnon

Rethymnon is Crete's third-largest town, after Heraklion and Chania. The population (about 40,000) steadily increases as the town expands—a new quarter follows the coast to...

Agios Nikolaos

Ayios Nikolaos is clustered on a peninsula alongside the Gulf of Mirabello, a dramatic composition of bare mountains, islets, and deep blue sea. Behind the...

Patmos

For better or worse, it can be difficult to reach Patmos. For many travelers, this lack of access is definitely for the better, since the...

Olympia

Ancient Olympia, including the Sanctuary of Zeus, was famously the site of the ancient Olympic Games. Scenically located at the foot of the pine-covered Kronion...

Volos

A relatively new city by Greek standards, Volos and surrounding Magnesia are steeped in history and myth, with Neolithic settlements dating to 7000 BC and...

Kavala

With 27 centuries of history, this port city draws from deep roots. Long a center of the tobacco industry, Kavala now earns much of its...

Gythion

At the foot of the Taygettus range on the northeastern edge of the Mani, Gythion seems terribly cosmopolitan, compared to the stark countryside that surrounds...

Argostoli

...

Samos Town

Also known as Vathi, the capital is tucked into the head of a sharply deep bay on the northeast coast. Red-tile roofs sweep around the...

Agiassos

Agiassos village, the prettiest hill town on Lesvos, sits in an isolated valley amid thousands of olive trees, near the foot of Mt. Olympus, the...

Sigri

Sigri is built around a lovely cove with exceptional dark-sand beaches nearby...

Pella

Pella was Alexander's birthplace and the capital of the Macedonian state in the 4th century BC. The modern-day village is not the most alluring, (and...

Corfu Town

Corfu Town today is a vivid tapestry of cultures—a sophisticated weave, where charm, history, and natural beauty blend. Located about midway along the island's east...

Spetses

Spetses shows evidence of continuous habitation through all of antiquity. From the 16th century BC, settlers came over from the mainland and, as on Hydra...

The Sporades

Little mentioned in mythology or history, the Sporades confidently rely on their great natural beauty and cultural history to attract visitors. Some locals poetically claim...

Chania

Chania surrendered its role as capital of Crete to Heraklion in 1971, but this elegant city of eucalyptus-lined avenues, miles of waterfront promenades, and shady...

Vai

The appeal of the surrounding, fertile coastal plain was not lost on the ancient Minoans, who left behind ruins that are not as grand as...

Matala

Renowned in the 1960s as a stopover on the hippie trail, with Joni Mitchell immortalizing it in song, Matala today is a small, low-key beach...

Palace of Phaistos

On a steep hill overlooking olive groves and the sea on one side, and high mountain peaks on the other, the second-largest Minoan palace was...

Malia

In its effort to serve mass tourism, the town of Malia has submerged whatever character it might once have had. The sandy beach, overlooked by...

Lasithi Plateau

The Lasithi Plateau, 2,800 feet high and the biggest of the upland plains of Crete, lies behind a wall of barren mountains. Windmills for pumping...

Knossos

Paintings of bull-leapers, sculptures of bare-breasted snake charmers, myths of minotaurs, and the oldest throne in Europe are just a few of the wonders that...

Monemvasia

The eastern "finger" dangling off the southern edge of the Peloponnese is the dramatic setting for Monemvasia (meaning "single entrance"). This Byzantine town clings to...

Vori

Vori, the closest town to Phaistos and Ayia Triada, is a pleasant farming community of whitewashed houses on narrow lanes; you might enjoy stopping here...

Stemnitsa

Also called Ipsous, Stemnitsa is one of the most beautiful towns in southern Greece, wondrously perched 3,444 feet above sea level amid a forest of...

Vrisses

This appealing old village is famous throughout Crete for its thick, creamy yogurt—best eaten with a large spoonful of honey on top—that is served in...

Kaminia

A small fishing hamlet built around a shallow inlet, Kamini has much of Hydra Town's charm but none of its bustle—except on Orthodox Good Friday...

Epirus and Thessaly

...

Skyros Town

From the southern landscapes, amid brown, desolate outcrops with only an occasional goat as a sign of life, Skyros Town suddenly looms around a bend...

Dodona

The only thing to do, or see for that matter, at the somewhat isolated Dodona, are the ancient ruins. This archaeological site, steeped in history...

Panormos Bay

Panormos Bay, an unpretentious port once used for marble export, has ducks and geese, a row of seafood restaurants, and a good beach with a...

Ioannina

On the rocky promontory of Pamvotis Lake lies Ioannina, its fortress punctuated by mosques and minarets whose reflections, along with those of the snowy peaks...

Mesta

Pirgi may be the most unusual of the mastic villages, but Mesta is the island's best preserved: a labyrinth of twisting vaulted streets links two-story...

Kalambaka

Kalambaka may be dismissed as one more drab modern town, useful only as a base to explore the fabled Meteora complex north of town. Yet...

Mytilini

Built on the ruins of an ancient city, Mytilini (so important through history that many call Lesvos by the port's name alone) is, like Lesvos...

Metsovo

The quaintly traditional village of Metsovo cascades down a mountain at about 3,300 feet above sea level, below the 6,069-foot Katara pass, which is the...

Vatera

The village of Vatera is all about its 9-km-long (5½-mile-long) sandy strip of sparkling water, lined with tamarisk trees and framed by green hills. You...

The Meteora

As you drive through the mighty Pindos range, strange rock formations rise ever higher from the plain. Just beyond the dramatic sheer cliff that shelters...

Kalamata

...

Zagorohoria Region

One of the most beguiling and untamed sections of Greece is the region of Zagorohoria (pronounced zah-go-ro-hor-ee-ah), also known as Zagori or Zagoria, which comprises...

The Achilleion and Gastouri

...

Lavrion

After Sounion, the road twists and turns along the coast, winding past holiday homes, before hitting a rather dreary stretch by Lavrion's boatyard, where there...

Vouraikos Gorge

The Vouraikos Gorge is a fantastic landscape of towering pinnacles and precipitous rock walls that you can view on an exciting train ride. In addition...

Kos

Aglow with flowering oleanders and hibiscus, the island of Kos is the third largest in the Dodecanese. It certainly remains one of the most verdant...

Paliachora

The haunting remains of Aegina's medieval Paliachora (Old Town), built in the 9th century by islanders whose seaside town was the constant prey of pirates...

Arkadi

As you approach Arkadi from the north, through the rolling lands at the base of Mt. Ida, one of the contenders in the dispute over...

Ayia Marina

Ayia Marina is the most cosmopolitan beach on the island, so head here if you want to see and be seen...

Kanoni

The suburb of Kanoni was once one of the world's great beauty spots, made famous by countless pictures. Today the landscape has been engulfed by...

Panormos Bay

With a long beach and sheltered inner cove ideal for yachts, Panormos is fast becoming a holiday village, although so far this stretch of the...

Symi

The tiny island of Symi is an enchanting place, where life centers around sparkling Yialos Harbor and a 19th-century town of neoclassical mansions, known as...

Pelekas

Inland from the coast at Glyfada is Pelekas, an attractive hilltop village that overflows with tourists because of its much-touted lookout point, called Kaiser's Throne...

Asklepieion

The ruins of one of the great healing centers of antiquity still impress and fire the imagination, framed by a thick grove of cypress trees...

Isternia

The village of Isternia (Cisterns), lofty on the slopes of Mount Meroviglia, is verdant with lush gardens. Many of the marble plaques hung here over...

Castle of Antimacheia

This proud fortress standing high above the sea is not just a symbol of the former might of the Knights of St. John. These days...

Tinos Town

Civilization on Tinos is a millennium older than Tinos Town, or Chora, founded in the 5th century BC. On weekends and during festivals, Chora is...

Kamari

On Kefalos Bay, the little beach community of Kamari is pleasant and less frantic than the island's other seaside resorts though still plastered with tourist...

Samos

The southernmost of this group of three Northern Aegean islands lies the closest to Turkey of any Greek island, separated by only 3 km (2...

Kos Town

The modern town lies on a flat plain encircling spacious Mandraki Harbor and is a pleasant assemblage of low-lying buildings and shady lanes, with a...

Pirgi

Beginning in the 14th century, the Genoese founded 20 or so fortified inland villages in southern Chios. These villages shared a defensive design with double-thick...

Marmari

You won’t find much that’s authentically Greek in this unattractively overbuilt resort town surrounded by holiday villages. Even so, the surrounding beaches are beautiful, and...

Molyvos

Also known by its ancient name, Mythimna, this is a place that has attracted people since antiquity. Legend says that Achilles besieged the town until...

Chora

Atop a hill due south of Skala, the village of Chora, clustered around the walls of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, has become...

Pirgi Thermis

Pirgi Thermis is known for its tower mansions and for its 12th-century church, Panayia Tourlot, near the outskirts of town. The town's onetime big attractions—thermal...

Skala

Skala, the island's small but sophisticated main town, is where almost all the shops and restaurants are located. It's a popular port of call for...

Skala Sikaminias

At the northernmost point of Lesvos, past Pelopi, is the exceptionally lovely fishing port of Skala Sikaminias, a miniature gem—serene and real, with several good...

Epta Piges

...

Kokkari

A spectacular stretch of coast road west of Samos Town is lined with olive groves and vineyards and ends in the fishing village of Kokkari...

Gennadi and the South Coast

The area south of Lindos, with fewer beaches and less fertile soil, is traditionally not as well traveled as the stretch to its north but...

Heraklion

In Minoan times, Crete's largest city, the fifth-largest city in Greece, was a harbor for Knossos, the grandest palace and effective power center of prehistoric...

Lindos

Lindos, cradled between two harbors and dominated by its massive hilltop acropolis, is remarkably well preserved. Steep paths wind past its famous "captain's mansions," beautifully...

Laconia

The Laconian plain is surrounded on three sides by mountains and on one side by the sea. Perhaps it was the fear that enemies could...

Monolithos to Kameiros

Rhodes's west coast is more forested, with fewer notable beaches than its eastern side. But what it lacks in sun beds it more than makes...

Mystras

While little remains to attest to Spartan power and might, residents of the Byzantine capital just to the west left behind a treasure trove of...

Petaloudes

Shady lanes and babbling brooks winding through the forested grounds of a former Venetian estate would be quite enticing even without the presence of some...

Pylos

With the blue waters in its port and the bougainvillea-swathed, pristine white houses fanning up Mt. St. Nicholas, Pylos may remind you of an island...

Rhodes Town

Early travelers described Rhodes as a town of two parts: a castle or high town (Collachium) and a lower area (Bourgo). Today Rhodes Town—sometimes referred...

Tiryns

...

Chorio

It's a 10-minute walk from the main harbor of Yialos up to the hilltop town of Chorio, along a staircase of some 400 steps, known...

Aegina

The eastern side of Aegina is rugged and sparsely inhabited today, except for Ayia Marina, a former fishing hamlet now studded with hotels. The western...

Monastery of Taxiarchis Michael Panormitis

The tiny hamlet of Panormitis on the south end of the island is a remote and idyllic setting for this holy assemblage, a popular place...

Agia Marina

The small, somewhat-overrun port of Ayia Marina has many hotels, cafés, restaurants, and a family-friendly beach with shallow waters. On the opposite side of the...

Yialos

As the boat from Rhodes to Symi rounds the last of many rocky barren spurs, the port of Yialos, at the back of a deep...

Souvala

Souvala is a sleepy fishing village that comes to life in summer, as it is a favorite resort of many Athenians. The tamarisks and pine...

Glyfada

Gateway to the Athens Riviera and the Apollo Coast—which stretches from Pireaus south to Cape Sounion's famed Temple of Poseidon—Glyfada is loved for its palm-fringed...

Vlichos

From Kamini, the coastal track continues to Vlichos, another pretty village with tavernas, a historic bridge, and a gray-pebbled beach on a bay. It's a...

Antiparos

This smaller sister isle to Paros may have once been a well-kept secret, but thanks to celebrity resident Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson...

Spetses Town

By most visitors’ standards, Spetses Town is small—no larger than most city neighborhoods—yet it’s nevertheless divided into districts populated with many well-to-do neoclassical mansions and...

Delos

Arrive at the mythical, magical, and magnificent site of Delos and you might wonder how this barren islet, which has virtually no natural resources, became...

Paleokastritsa

To quote one recent traveler: "I’d rather go to Paleokastritsa than to Heaven." Considered by many to be the site of Homer’s city of the...

Folegandros

If Santorini is the Hollywood leading lady of the Greek islands, Folegandros is the demure, younger sister, star of off-beat independent cinema. Built between the...

Atsitsa

On the northwest coast, pine forests grow down the rocky shore at Atsitsa. The beaches north of town—Kalogriá and Kyra Panayia—are sheltered from the strong...

Mykonos

From backpackers to the super-rich, from day-trippers to yachties, from Joe Average to celebrities who head here by helicopter, Mykonos has become one of the...

Arachova

Gray-stone houses with red-tile roofs cling to the steep slopes of Mt. Parnassus, the highest mountain in Greece after Mt. Olympus, to form the small...

Naxos

"Great sweetness and tranquility" is how Nikos Kazantzakis, premier novelist of Greece, described Naxos, and indeed a tour of the island leaves you with an...

Mt. Olympus

To understand how the mountain must have impressed the ancient Greeks and caused them to shift their allegiance from the earth-rooted deities of the Mycenaeans...

Paros

In the classical age, the great sculptor Praxiteles prized the incomparably snowy marble that came from the quarries at Paros; his chief rival was the...

Osios Loukas

The monastic complex at Osios Loukas, still inhabited by a few monks, is notable for its exquisite mosaics and its dramatic location, looming on a...

Galaxidi

Unlike nearby Delphi, the history of Galaxidi tends more toward the modern. That's not to say it doesn't have a long past—settlements here date back...

Kionia

The little seaside town of Kionia is a short scenic drive, bike ride, or hike west of Tinos Town. A few simple tavernas and rooms...

Syros

The mercantile bustle of modern Ermoupoli—Syros’s port, capital, and the archipelago’s business hub since the 18th century—often makes people do a double take. Seen from...

Pirgos

The village of Pirgos, second in importance to Chora, is inland and up from the little harbor of Panormos. Tinos is famous for its marble...

Tinos

Tinos is among the most beautiful and most fascinating of the major Cyclades. The third largest of the island group after Naxos and Andros, with...

Delphi

Up in the mountains, modern Delphi is perched dramatically on the edge of a grove leading to the sea, west of an extraordinary ancient site...

Ano Meria

The island's paved road runs from the port, through Chora and along the backbone of the island to Ano Meria. Terraced fields where barley was...

Monastery of Daphni

Daphni means "laurel tree," a species that was sacred to the god Apollo. The myth says that Eros made Apollo fall in love with a...

Chora

As the boat approaches the dusty port of Karavostasi, bare, sun-scoured rocks offer little suggestion of the glory to come. After a steep 3-mile climb...

Chios Town

The main port and capital, Chios Town, or Chora, is a busy commercial settlement on the east coast, across from Turkey. It lacks the historic...

Ano Mera

Inland, the little town of Ano Mera has a couple of quiet tavernas and a monastery. The town only lights up during the monastery's festival...

Nea Moni

...

Ayios Stefanos

About a 45-minute walk north from Mykonos Town, Ayios Stefanos has water sports, restaurants, and umbrellas and lounge chairs for rent; kids love it, and...

Volissos

Homer's birthplace is thought to be here at Volissos, though Smyrna, Colophon, Salamis, Rhodes, Argos, and Athens also claim this honor. Once a bustling market...

Ermones

On the coast, 8 km (5 miles) north of Pelekas lies the small, low-key resort of Ermones, with pebbly sand beaches, heavily wooded cliffs, and...

Mandamados

Pretty Mandamados has stone houses, wood carvings, and the ruins of a medieval castle. The village is famous for its pottery, koumari urns (they keep...

North Coast

The beaches along the north coast are blessed with consistent winds suitable for windsurfing, and Ftelia is the island's center for the sport. Yet on...

Moria

On the coast as you head north from Mytilini, Moria is best known for its Roman aqueduct. But the town is also famed for its...

Ornos

Ornos has always been more popular with Mykonians than tourists. The locals like its relaxed atmosphere for a family swim and beachside dining. There are...

Pamfila

In the 19th century, Pamfila's traditional tower mansions were used by wealthy families as summer homes. The views across the straits to Turkey are wonderful...

South Coast

The popular south coast beaches stand on their own; hotels, restaurants, cafés, and beach bars have sprung up around them, drawn to their turquoise seas...

Plomari

Plomari, the second-largest town on Lesvos, is dramatically set in a cliff face overlooking a wide harbor and Aegean sunsets. This was once a major...

Ancient Corinth

The isthmus is where the Peloponnese begins. Were it not for this narrow neck of land less than 7 km (4½ miles) across, the waters...

Skala Eressou

The poet Sappho, according to unreliable records, was allegedly born here circa 612 BC. She most likely presided over a finishing school for marriageable young...

Ancient Nemea

This quiet little town, surrounded by undulating vineyards, was once as famous as Olympia, site of biennial games that attracted athletes from throughout ancient Greece...

Skalohori

Skalohori is set beautifully in a valley, with tiered houses facing west toward the Aegean sunsets. Until recently, wild horses roamed the volcanic northwestern part...

Argos

The city of Argos, set amid citrus groves on the western edge of the Argive plain, is the economic hub of the region, a workaday...

Ireo

Although Samos was a center for trade and commerce for a long time prior, it was Polycrates "the Tyrant" who really put the island on...

Epidauros

What is now a pleasant little agricultural village surrounded by orange and olive groves has been on the Greek map for millennia, and the ruins...

Pythagorio

Samos was a democratic state until 535 BC, when the town now called Pythagorio (formerly Tigani, or "frying pan") fell to the tyrant Polycrates (540–22...

Marathon

Athenians enter the fabled plain of Marathon to enjoy a break from the capital, visiting the freshwater lake created by the dam, or sunning at...

Southeast Coast

The southeastern beaches, the farthest beaches from Mykonos Town, are favorites for those looking for something calm, yet organized, such as Kalo Livadi. Water sports...

Elounda

From its origins as a sleepy fishing village, Elounda has transformed into the de rigueur destination for luxury resorts. The shores of the Gulf of...

Ancient Messene

The ruins of this remarkable fortified ancient city, about 20 km (12 miles) north of the modern town of the same name, are set amid...

Abram Village

The route through the mountains from Apeiranthos to the north is very scenic. Apollonas is a small resort with a couple of good beaches backed...

Areopolis

In Areopolis, the typical Maniote tower houses begin to appear in earnest as spooky sentinels amid the harsh landscape. The town was renamed after Ares...

Apeiranthos

Apeiranthos is very picturesque, with views and marble-paved streets running between the Venetian Bardani and Zevgoli towers. As you walk through the arcades and alleys...

Dimitsana

From the stone-built villages high above Lousios Gorge, a trail picks its way down to the river bed, passing medieval monasteries that dangle from the...

Ayia Anna

Ayia Anna is one of the island’s ideal beach towns, where long stretches of sand front a main road lined with tavernas, restaurants, and cafés...

Gerolimenas

Located at the end of a long natural harbor, Gerolimenas was an important port in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sleepy as it...

Ayios Mamas

South of Galanado, and a kilometer (½ mile) past a valley with unsurpassed views is one of the island's oldest churches (9th century), Ayios Mamas...

Isthmus

...

Chalki

You are now entering the heart of the lush Tragaia Valley, where in spring the air is heavily scented with honeysuckle, roses, and lemon blossoms...

Kardamyli

The gateway to the Mani on the Messenian side is Kardamyli, considered part of the outer Mani (or Exo Mani), an area less bleak and...

Filoti

Filoti, a peaceful village on the lower slopes of Mt. Zas, is the interior's largest. A three-day festival celebrating the Dormition starts on August 14...

Methoni

Methoni, a small fishing and farming village on a cape south of Pylos, has long cast a spell over visitors. It was one of the...

Galanado

On a hill, Galando’s village streets offer a pretty view toward Naxos Town. It’s an agricultural village that is famous for the landmark Tower of...

Mycenae

The ancient citadel of Mycenae, which Homer wrote was "rich in gold and once ruled much of the Mediterranean world," stands on a low hill...

Mikri Vigla

Mikri Vigla is a small village known for its nearby pristine beaches. Several small room rentals and a few cafés and beach bars dot the...

Vouliagmeni

If Glyfada is all about credit cards and consumer bustle, Vouliagmeni showcases another side to the Athens Riviera. This classy seaside residential suburb is Athens's...

Moni

Off the fine asphalt Chalkiou-Keramotis road, Moni ("monastery") remains high in the mountains overlooking Naxos's greenest valley and has become a popular place for a...

Patras

Like all respectable Greek cities, Patras has the kind of storied history that puts even European capitals in the shade. Off the harbor in 429...

Naxos Town

As your ferry sweeps into the harbor, you see before you the white houses of Naxos Town (Chora) on a hill crowned by the one...

Sparta

...

Sangri

Sangri is the center of an area with so many monuments and ruins spanning the Archaic to the Venetian periods it is sometimes called little...

Temple of Apollo at Bassae

Typically seen as part of a day trip from either Olympia or Kalamata (it's about 1½ hours from both), the winding mountain roads here morph...

Lefkes

Rampant piracy in the 17th century forced thousands of people to move inland from the coastal regions; thus, for many years the scenic village of...

Tripoli

History, along with the practicalities of the road network in this part of Greece, makes it very likely that you'll at least pass through the...

Marathi

During the classical period, the island of Paros had an estimated 150,000 residents, many of them slaves who worked the ancient marble quarries in Marathi...

The Saronic Gulf Islands

Only have a few days in Greece but need a taste of island life? Hopping over to one of the Saronic isles is the perfect...

Naousa

Quaint fishing village no longer, Naousa (also Niaoussa) long ago discovered the benefits of tourism, and its outskirts are mushrooming with villas and hotels that...

Sounion

Poised at the edge of a rugged 195-foot cliff, the Temple of Poseidon hovers between sea and sky, its "marbled steep, where nothing, save the...

Paros Town

First impressions of Paroikía (Paros Town. sometimes spelt Parikia), pretty as it is, may not necessarily be positive. The port flashes too much concrete, too...

Aegina Town

As you approach from the sea, your first view of Aegina Town takes in the sweep of the harbor, punctuated by the tiny white chapel...

Pounta

Pounta is not even a village, just a few houses, a handful of restaurants, and a tiny harbor from which ferries leave for Antiparos. The...

Marathonas

This small village a few miles south of Aegina Town is reachable by bicycle or bus. The beach is just beyond...

Akrotiri

This village is most famous for its ancient ruins, but the little collection of houses surrounded by gardens and fields is a pleasant place in...

Perdika

Follow the lead of the locals and visiting Athenians and, for an excursion, take a bus (a 25-minute ride from Ethneyersias Square) to the pretty...

Fira

Tourism is Santorini's major industry and adds more than 1 million visitors per year to a population of 15,500. As a result, Fira, the capital...

Hydra Town

Even though Hydra’s beautiful harbor is flush with bars and boutiques, Hydra Town seems as fresh and innocent as when it was "discovered." The two-...

Firostefani

Firostefani used to be a separate village, but now it comprises the quieter, more pleasant northern end of Fira. The name derives from Fira +...

Mandraki

The only sandy beach on Hydra is an activity-centered beach by the Miramare Hotel, near Mandraki, which is currently closed (but you can still visit...

Skopelos

This triangular island's name means "a sharp rock" or "a reef"—a fitting description for the dramatic terrain on the northern shore. It's an hour and...

Ayia Anargyroi

With plenty of water-sports options, this popular beach is set against a luscious green backdrop, offering the added prospect of seeing the nearby Bekiris cave...

Kastro

The ruins that are also known as the Old Town perch on a forbidding promontory high above the water, accessible only by steps. Skiathians founded...

Ayia Paraskevi

In a sheltered cove and easily accessible by bus or water taxi, this is a favorite with locals and visitors alike. In the height of...

Skiathos Town

The harbor is especially picturesque at sunset, when violet-orange lights cast a soft glow and houses on the hills behind the quay begin to glimmer...

Zogeria

A pine-edged cove with deep sapphire waters, Zogeria has a gorgeous natural setting that more than makes up for the lack of amenities—there's just a...

Agnonda

Used as an alternative port by hydrofoils and ferryboats during bad weather, Agnonda has numerous tavernas along its pebbled beach. It's named after a local...

Ia

At the tip of the northern horn of the island sits Ia (or Oia), Santorini's second-largest town and the Aegean's most-photographed village. Ia is more...

Kontokali

Kontokali is best known for providing the main entry point to Corfu's biggest marina, a delightful place to stroll and admire the yachts, especially in...

Imerovigli

Set on the highest point of the caldera's rim, Imerovigli (the name means "watchtower") is quiet, traditional, and less expensive than other places on the...

Kamari

Santorini’s most popular beach resort is just that—a long line of hotels and tavernas strung out along a stretch of red-and-black sand on the island’s...

Kalamaki Peninsula

On the least-developed part of the south coast, villas are tucked above tiny, isolated coves. Access to most of the shoreline is by boat only...

Megalochori

Megalochori is a picturesque, half-abandoned town. Many of the village's buildings were actually canavas, wine-making facilities. The tiny main square is still lively in the...

Lalaria

The much-photographed, lovely Lalaria Beach, on the north coast, is flanked by a majestic, arched limestone promontory. The polished limestone and marble add extra sparkle...

Pyrgos

Though today Pyrgos has only 500 inhabitants, until the early 1800s it was the capital of the island. Medieval houses are stacked on top of...

Troullos

West of the Kalamaki Peninsula the coast road rounds Troullos Bay and comes to Koukounaries Beach—famous and beautiful but not a remote hideaway...

Ano Syros

One of the two towering peaks that rise over town, Ano Syros was greatly expanded in the 13th century by Venetians, who erected a walled...

Glossa

Delightful Glossa is the island's second-largest settlement, where whitewashed, red-roof houses are clustered on the steep hillside above the harbor of Loutraki. Venetian towers and...

Vergina

The modern city of Vergina wasn't established in its present form until 1922, but the ancient city of Aigai, the original capital of Macedonia, was...

Skopelos Town

Idyllic Skopelos Town, the administrative center of the Sporades, overlooks a sparkling turquoise bay on the north coast. Three- and four-story white-washed houses rise virtually...

Depot

The Depot neighborhood was once where the wealthy, mainly Jewish, merchants lived in impressive 19th-century villas. Very close to the port and the city center...

Magazia and Molos

Coastal expansions of the main town, these two resort areas are the places to stay if you love to swim. Magazia, where the residents of...

Ladakika

...

Vouno

In the mountainous southern half of Skyros, a passable dirt road heads south at the eastern end of the isthmus, from Aspous to Ahilli. The...

Eleusis

The growing city of Athens has long-since co-opted the land around what was Eleusis (now a modern city known as Elefsina), placing shipyards in the...

Dion

At the foothills of Mount Olympus lies ancient Dion. Even before Zeus and the Olympian gods, the mountain was home to the Muses and Orpheus...

Poseidonia

This small village has a few whitewashed taverns, cafés, and churches, which serve as a backdrop to a popular beach. Other good beaches are to...

Mt. Athos

The third peninsula of Halkidiki, Mt. Athos is called Ayion Oros (Holy Mountain) in Greek, although it does not become a mountain until its southernmost...

Vari

Vari is a small beach town on a sheltered bay on the south side of the island. Its location attracts visitors who seek the low-key...

Ouranoupolis

Meaning "heaven's city" in Greek, Ouranoupolis (also spelled Ouranopolis) is an appealing cul-de-sac on the final point of land that separates the secular world from...

Ayios Ioannis Bay

Heading east from Tinos Town, you’ll travel on a winding road surrounded by bare, rocky Cycladic island landscapes. It eventually slopes down into Ayios Ioannis...

Ermoupoli

Ermoupoli spills like multicolored lava from the twin colonial hills of Ano Syros and Vrodado, topped respectively by churches—Roman Catholic (St. George) on the left-hand...

Mt. Parnitha

The summit of Mt. Parnitha (1,413 m [4,635 feet]), Attica's highest mountain, affords splendid views of the plain of Athens. Sadly, large swaths of its...

Ano Polis

Ano Polis, where many fortified towers once bristled along the city's upper walls, is what remains of 19th-century Thessaloniki. It's filled with timber-framed houses with...

Galissas

The village of Galissas has a selection of tavernas and beach bar-cafés as well as room rentals and the Dolphin Bay Family Beach Resort. Since...

Kentro

The lively shopping streets, bustling markets, and cafés of the Kentro (City Center) and adjacent areas reward you with the unexpected encounters and sensual treats...

Kini

This small village on the island's west coast has a couple of good beaches, a selection of tavernas and cafés, and a few places to...

Sfageia

...

Mega Yialos

Megas Yialos has slowly grown into one of the island’s more popular beach towns and is accessible by bus from Ermoupoli. Its nearby beaches, including...

Athens

It's no wonder that all roads lead to the fascinating and paradoxical metropolis of Athens. Lift your eyes 200 feet above the city to the...

Thessaloniki

At the crossroads of East and West, where North blends into South, Thessaloniki (accent on the "ni") has seen the rise and fall of many...

Nafplion

Oraia (beautiful) is the word Greeks use to describe Nafplion. The town's old section lies on a peninsula jutting into the Gulf of Argolis, and...

Rethymnon

Rethymnon is Crete's third-largest town, after Heraklion and Chania. The population (about 40,000) steadily increases as the town expands—a new quarter follows the coast to...

Agios Nikolaos

Ayios Nikolaos is clustered on a peninsula alongside the Gulf of Mirabello, a dramatic composition of bare mountains, islets, and deep blue sea. Behind the...

Olympia

Ancient Olympia, including the Sanctuary of Zeus, was famously the site of the ancient Olympic Games. Scenically located at the foot of the pine-covered Kronion...

Volos

A relatively new city by Greek standards, Volos and surrounding Magnesia are steeped in history and myth, with Neolithic settlements dating to 7000 BC and...

Kavala

With 27 centuries of history, this port city draws from deep roots. Long a center of the tobacco industry, Kavala now earns much of its...

Gythion

At the foot of the Taygettus range on the northeastern edge of the Mani, Gythion seems terribly cosmopolitan, compared to the stark countryside that surrounds...

Argostoli

...

Delphi

Up in the mountains, modern Delphi is perched dramatically on the edge of a grove leading to the sea, west of an extraordinary ancient site...

Kalamata

...

Ancient Nemea

This quiet little town, surrounded by undulating vineyards, was once as famous as Olympia, site of biennial games that attracted athletes from throughout ancient Greece...

Skalohori

Skalohori is set beautifully in a valley, with tiered houses facing west toward the Aegean sunsets. Until recently, wild horses roamed the volcanic northwestern part...

Moria

On the coast as you head north from Mytilini, Moria is best known for its Roman aqueduct. But the town is also famed for its...

Mt. Parnitha

The summit of Mt. Parnitha (1,413 m [4,635 feet]), Attica's highest mountain, affords splendid views of the plain of Athens. Sadly, large swaths of its...

Kontokali

Kontokali is best known for providing the main entry point to Corfu's biggest marina, a delightful place to stroll and admire the yachts, especially in...

Kanoni

The suburb of Kanoni was once one of the world's great beauty spots, made famous by countless pictures. Today the landscape has been engulfed by...

Ermones

On the coast, 8 km (5 miles) north of Pelekas lies the small, low-key resort of Ermones, with pebbly sand beaches, heavily wooded cliffs, and...

Corfu Town

Corfu Town today is a vivid tapestry of cultures—a sophisticated weave, where charm, history, and natural beauty blend. Located about midway along the island's east...

Vouliagmeni

If Glyfada is all about credit cards and consumer bustle, Vouliagmeni showcases another side to the Athens Riviera. This classy seaside residential suburb is Athens's...

Sounion

Poised at the edge of a rugged 195-foot cliff, the Temple of Poseidon hovers between sea and sky, its "marbled steep, where nothing, save the...

Osios Loukas

The monastic complex at Osios Loukas, still inhabited by a few monks, is notable for its exquisite mosaics and its dramatic location, looming on a...

Vouraikos Gorge

The Vouraikos Gorge is a fantastic landscape of towering pinnacles and precipitous rock walls that you can view on an exciting train ride. In addition...

Kaminia

A small fishing hamlet built around a shallow inlet, Kamini has much of Hydra Town's charm but none of its bustle—except on Orthodox Good Friday...

Paleokastritsa

To quote one recent traveler: "I’d rather go to Paleokastritsa than to Heaven." Considered by many to be the site of Homer’s city of the...

Panormos Bay

With a long beach and sheltered inner cove ideal for yachts, Panormos is fast becoming a holiday village, although so far this stretch of the...

Pelekas

Inland from the coast at Glyfada is Pelekas, an attractive hilltop village that overflows with tourists because of its much-touted lookout point, called Kaiser's Throne...

Volissos

Homer's birthplace is thought to be here at Volissos, though Smyrna, Colophon, Salamis, Rhodes, Argos, and Athens also claim this honor. Once a bustling market...

Lavrion

After Sounion, the road twists and turns along the coast, winding past holiday homes, before hitting a rather dreary stretch by Lavrion's boatyard, where there...

Plomari

Plomari, the second-largest town on Lesvos, is dramatically set in a cliff face overlooking a wide harbor and Aegean sunsets. This was once a major...

Chania

Chania surrendered its role as capital of Crete to Heraklion in 1971, but this elegant city of eucalyptus-lined avenues, miles of waterfront promenades, and shady...

Pythagorio

Samos was a democratic state until 535 BC, when the town now called Pythagorio (formerly Tigani, or "frying pan") fell to the tyrant Polycrates (540–22...

Elounda

From its origins as a sleepy fishing village, Elounda has transformed into the de rigueur destination for luxury resorts. The shores of the Gulf of...

Epidauros

What is now a pleasant little agricultural village surrounded by orange and olive groves has been on the Greek map for millennia, and the ruins...

Heraklion

In Minoan times, Crete's largest city, the fifth-largest city in Greece, was a harbor for Knossos, the grandest palace and effective power center of prehistoric...

Monemvasia

The eastern "finger" dangling off the southern edge of the Peloponnese is the dramatic setting for Monemvasia (meaning "single entrance"). This Byzantine town clings to...

Matala

Renowned in the 1960s as a stopover on the hippie trail, with Joni Mitchell immortalizing it in song, Matala today is a small, low-key beach...

Stemnitsa

Also called Ipsous, Stemnitsa is one of the most beautiful towns in southern Greece, wondrously perched 3,444 feet above sea level amid a forest of...

Glyfada

Gateway to the Athens Riviera and the Apollo Coast—which stretches from Pireaus south to Cape Sounion's famed Temple of Poseidon—Glyfada is loved for its palm-fringed...

Paliachora

The haunting remains of Aegina's medieval Paliachora (Old Town), built in the 9th century by islanders whose seaside town was the constant prey of pirates...

Vai

The appeal of the surrounding, fertile coastal plain was not lost on the ancient Minoans, who left behind ruins that are not as grand as...

Ayia Marina

Ayia Marina is the most cosmopolitan beach on the island, so head here if you want to see and be seen...

Vori

Vori, the closest town to Phaistos and Ayia Triada, is a pleasant farming community of whitewashed houses on narrow lanes; you might enjoy stopping here...

Skiathos Town

The harbor is especially picturesque at sunset, when violet-orange lights cast a soft glow and houses on the hills behind the quay begin to glimmer...

Vrisses

This appealing old village is famous throughout Crete for its thick, creamy yogurt—best eaten with a large spoonful of honey on top—that is served in...

Skyros Town

From the southern landscapes, amid brown, desolate outcrops with only an occasional goat as a sign of life, Skyros Town suddenly looms around a bend...

Dodona

The only thing to do, or see for that matter, at the somewhat isolated Dodona, are the ancient ruins. This archaeological site, steeped in history...

Arachova

Gray-stone houses with red-tile roofs cling to the steep slopes of Mt. Parnassus, the highest mountain in Greece after Mt. Olympus, to form the small...

Ioannina

On the rocky promontory of Pamvotis Lake lies Ioannina, its fortress punctuated by mosques and minarets whose reflections, along with those of the snowy peaks...

Mandamados

Pretty Mandamados has stone houses, wood carvings, and the ruins of a medieval castle. The village is famous for its pottery, koumari urns (they keep...

Kalambaka

Kalambaka may be dismissed as one more drab modern town, useful only as a base to explore the fabled Meteora complex north of town. Yet...

Pamfila

In the 19th century, Pamfila's traditional tower mansions were used by wealthy families as summer homes. The views across the straits to Turkey are wonderful...

Metsovo

The quaintly traditional village of Metsovo cascades down a mountain at about 3,300 feet above sea level, below the 6,069-foot Katara pass, which is the...

Skala Eressou

The poet Sappho, according to unreliable records, was allegedly born here circa 612 BC. She most likely presided over a finishing school for marriageable young...

Argostolion and Lassi

As both the island’s capital and the setting for Louis de Bernières’ wildly successful novel, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Argostolion’s name carries more weight than most...

Ireo

Although Samos was a center for trade and commerce for a long time prior, it was Polycrates "the Tyrant" who really put the island on...

Sami

There isn’t all that much to recommend the town of Sami, the island’s busiest port. Mainland ferries dock here and at the similarly anonymous Poros...

Ancient Corinth

The isthmus is where the Peloponnese begins. Were it not for this narrow neck of land less than 7 km (4½ miles) across, the waters...

Asklepieion

The ruins of one of the great healing centers of antiquity still impress and fire the imagination, framed by a thick grove of cypress trees...

Argos

The city of Argos, set amid citrus groves on the western edge of the Argive plain, is the economic hub of the region, a workaday...

Castle of Antimacheia

This proud fortress standing high above the sea is not just a symbol of the former might of the Knights of St. John. These days...

Kamari

On Kefalos Bay, the little beach community of Kamari is pleasant and less frantic than the island's other seaside resorts though still plastered with tourist...

Kos Town

The modern town lies on a flat plain encircling spacious Mandraki Harbor and is a pleasant assemblage of low-lying buildings and shady lanes, with a...

Laconia

The Laconian plain is surrounded on three sides by mountains and on one side by the sea. Perhaps it was the fear that enemies could...

Marmari

You won’t find much that’s authentically Greek in this unattractively overbuilt resort town surrounded by holiday villages. Even so, the surrounding beaches are beautiful, and...

Mystras

While little remains to attest to Spartan power and might, residents of the Byzantine capital just to the west left behind a treasure trove of...

Chora

Atop a hill due south of Skala, the village of Chora, clustered around the walls of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, has become...

Pylos

With the blue waters in its port and the bougainvillea-swathed, pristine white houses fanning up Mt. St. Nicholas, Pylos may remind you of an island...

Skala

Skala, the island's small but sophisticated main town, is where almost all the shops and restaurants are located. It's a popular port of call for...

Tiryns

...

Epta Piges

...

Agia Marina

The small, somewhat-overrun port of Ayia Marina has many hotels, cafés, restaurants, and a family-friendly beach with shallow waters. On the opposite side of the...

Gennadi and the South Coast

The area south of Lindos, with fewer beaches and less fertile soil, is traditionally not as well traveled as the stretch to its north but...

Souvala

Souvala is a sleepy fishing village that comes to life in summer, as it is a favorite resort of many Athenians. The tamarisks and pine...

Lindos

Lindos, cradled between two harbors and dominated by its massive hilltop acropolis, is remarkably well preserved. Steep paths wind past its famous "captain's mansions," beautifully...

Vlichos

From Kamini, the coastal track continues to Vlichos, another pretty village with tavernas, a historic bridge, and a gray-pebbled beach on a bay. It's a...

Monolithos to Kameiros

Rhodes's west coast is more forested, with fewer notable beaches than its eastern side. But what it lacks in sun beds it more than makes...

Spetses Town

By most visitors’ standards, Spetses Town is small—no larger than most city neighborhoods—yet it’s nevertheless divided into districts populated with many well-to-do neoclassical mansions and...

Petaloudes

Shady lanes and babbling brooks winding through the forested grounds of a former Venetian estate would be quite enticing even without the presence of some...

Kastro

The ruins that are also known as the Old Town perch on a forbidding promontory high above the water, accessible only by steps. Skiathians founded...

Rhodes Town

Early travelers described Rhodes as a town of two parts: a castle or high town (Collachium) and a lower area (Bourgo). Today Rhodes Town—sometimes referred...

Agnonda

Used as an alternative port by hydrofoils and ferryboats during bad weather, Agnonda has numerous tavernas along its pebbled beach. It's named after a local...

Chorio

It's a 10-minute walk from the main harbor of Yialos up to the hilltop town of Chorio, along a staircase of some 400 steps, known...

Atsitsa

On the northwest coast, pine forests grow down the rocky shore at Atsitsa. The beaches north of town—Kalogriá and Kyra Panayia—are sheltered from the strong...

Monastery of Taxiarchis Michael Panormitis

The tiny hamlet of Panormitis on the south end of the island is a remote and idyllic setting for this holy assemblage, a popular place...

Dion

At the foothills of Mount Olympus lies ancient Dion. Even before Zeus and the Olympian gods, the mountain was home to the Muses and Orpheus...

Yialos

As the boat from Rhodes to Symi rounds the last of many rocky barren spurs, the port of Yialos, at the back of a deep...

Sfageia

...

Antiparos

This smaller sister isle to Paros may have once been a well-kept secret, but thanks to celebrity resident Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson...

Pirgi

Beginning in the 14th century, the Genoese founded 20 or so fortified inland villages in southern Chios. These villages shared a defensive design with double-thick...

Ano Meria

The island's paved road runs from the port, through Chora and along the backbone of the island to Ano Meria. Terraced fields where barley was...

Agiassos

Agiassos village, the prettiest hill town on Lesvos, sits in an isolated valley amid thousands of olive trees, near the foot of Mt. Olympus, the...

Chora

As the boat approaches the dusty port of Karavostasi, bare, sun-scoured rocks offer little suggestion of the glory to come. After a steep 3-mile climb...

Molyvos

Also known by its ancient name, Mythimna, this is a place that has attracted people since antiquity. Legend says that Achilles besieged the town until...

Adamas

Adamas, also known as Adamantas—diamond in Greek—is one of the largest natural harbors in the Aegean but remained a sleepy hamlet until it was populated...

Mytilini

Built on the ruins of an ancient city, Mytilini (so important through history that many call Lesvos by the port's name alone) is, like Lesvos...

Mandraki

As famous as neighbor Sarakiniko for its photogenic-ness, Mandraki is home to the distinctive and colorful dwellings known as syrmata, the two-story houses built into...

Pirgi Thermis

Pirgi Thermis is known for its tower mansions and for its 12th-century church, Panayia Tourlot, near the outskirts of town. The town's onetime big attractions—thermal...

Plaka

North of Adamas lies the classical center of Milos. Plaka is the largest of a cluster of four villages that huddle beneath a small crag...

Sigri

Sigri is built around a lovely cove with exceptional dark-sand beaches nearby...

Pollonia

Crouching around a sheltered bay with a church at each end, Pollonia started life as a fishing village but has now developed into a low-key...

Skala Sikaminias

At the northernmost point of Lesvos, past Pelopi, is the exceptionally lovely fishing port of Skala Sikaminias, a miniature gem—serene and real, with several good...

Ano Mera

Inland, the little town of Ano Mera has a couple of quiet tavernas and a monastery. The town only lights up during the monastery's festival...

Vatera

The village of Vatera is all about its 9-km-long (5½-mile-long) sandy strip of sparkling water, lined with tamarisk trees and framed by green hills. You...

Abram Village

The route through the mountains from Apeiranthos to the north is very scenic. Apollonas is a small resort with a couple of good beaches backed...

Kokkari

A spectacular stretch of coast road west of Samos Town is lined with olive groves and vineyards and ends in the fishing village of Kokkari...

Apeiranthos

Apeiranthos is very picturesque, with views and marble-paved streets running between the Venetian Bardani and Zevgoli towers. As you walk through the arcades and alleys...

Samos Town

Also known as Vathi, the capital is tucked into the head of a sharply deep bay on the northeast coast. Red-tile roofs sweep around the...

Ayia Anna

Ayia Anna is one of the island’s ideal beach towns, where long stretches of sand front a main road lined with tavernas, restaurants, and cafés...

Ancient Messene

The ruins of this remarkable fortified ancient city, about 20 km (12 miles) north of the modern town of the same name, are set amid...

Ayios Mamas

South of Galanado, and a kilometer (½ mile) past a valley with unsurpassed views is one of the island's oldest churches (9th century), Ayios Mamas...

Areopolis

In Areopolis, the typical Maniote tower houses begin to appear in earnest as spooky sentinels amid the harsh landscape. The town was renamed after Ares...

Chalki

You are now entering the heart of the lush Tragaia Valley, where in spring the air is heavily scented with honeysuckle, roses, and lemon blossoms...

Dimitsana

From the stone-built villages high above Lousios Gorge, a trail picks its way down to the river bed, passing medieval monasteries that dangle from the...

Filoti

Filoti, a peaceful village on the lower slopes of Mt. Zas, is the interior's largest. A three-day festival celebrating the Dormition starts on August 14...

Gerolimenas

Located at the end of a long natural harbor, Gerolimenas was an important port in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sleepy as it...

Galanado

On a hill, Galando’s village streets offer a pretty view toward Naxos Town. It’s an agricultural village that is famous for the landmark Tower of...

Isthmus

...

Mikri Vigla

Mikri Vigla is a small village known for its nearby pristine beaches. Several small room rentals and a few cafés and beach bars dot the...

Kardamyli

The gateway to the Mani on the Messenian side is Kardamyli, considered part of the outer Mani (or Exo Mani), an area less bleak and...

Moni

Off the fine asphalt Chalkiou-Keramotis road, Moni ("monastery") remains high in the mountains overlooking Naxos's greenest valley and has become a popular place for a...

Methoni

Methoni, a small fishing and farming village on a cape south of Pylos, has long cast a spell over visitors. It was one of the...

Naxos Town

As your ferry sweeps into the harbor, you see before you the white houses of Naxos Town (Chora) on a hill crowned by the one...

Mycenae

The ancient citadel of Mycenae, which Homer wrote was "rich in gold and once ruled much of the Mediterranean world," stands on a low hill...

Sangri

Sangri is the center of an area with so many monuments and ruins spanning the Archaic to the Venetian periods it is sometimes called little...

Eleusis

The growing city of Athens has long-since co-opted the land around what was Eleusis (now a modern city known as Elefsina), placing shipyards in the...

Lefkes

Rampant piracy in the 17th century forced thousands of people to move inland from the coastal regions; thus, for many years the scenic village of...

Patras

Like all respectable Greek cities, Patras has the kind of storied history that puts even European capitals in the shade. Off the harbor in 429...

Marathi

During the classical period, the island of Paros had an estimated 150,000 residents, many of them slaves who worked the ancient marble quarries in Marathi...

Sparta

...

Naousa

Quaint fishing village no longer, Naousa (also Niaoussa) long ago discovered the benefits of tourism, and its outskirts are mushrooming with villas and hotels that...

Temple of Apollo at Bassae

Typically seen as part of a day trip from either Olympia or Kalamata (it's about 1½ hours from both), the winding mountain roads here morph...

Paros Town

First impressions of Paroikía (Paros Town. sometimes spelt Parikia), pretty as it is, may not necessarily be positive. The port flashes too much concrete, too...

Tripoli

History, along with the practicalities of the road network in this part of Greece, makes it very likely that you'll at least pass through the...

Pounta

Pounta is not even a village, just a few houses, a handful of restaurants, and a tiny harbor from which ferries leave for Antiparos. The...

Aegina Town

As you approach from the sea, your first view of Aegina Town takes in the sweep of the harbor, punctuated by the tiny white chapel...

Akrotiri

This village is most famous for its ancient ruins, but the little collection of houses surrounded by gardens and fields is a pleasant place in...

Marathonas

This small village a few miles south of Aegina Town is reachable by bicycle or bus. The beach is just beyond...

Fira

Tourism is Santorini's major industry and adds more than 1 million visitors per year to a population of 15,500. As a result, Fira, the capital...

Perdika

Follow the lead of the locals and visiting Athenians and, for an excursion, take a bus (a 25-minute ride from Ethneyersias Square) to the pretty...

Firostefani

Firostefani used to be a separate village, but now it comprises the quieter, more pleasant northern end of Fira. The name derives from Fira +...

Hydra Town

Even though Hydra’s beautiful harbor is flush with bars and boutiques, Hydra Town seems as fresh and innocent as when it was "discovered." The two-...

Ia

At the tip of the northern horn of the island sits Ia (or Oia), Santorini's second-largest town and the Aegean's most-photographed village. Ia is more...

Mandraki

The only sandy beach on Hydra is an activity-centered beach by the Miramare Hotel, near Mandraki, which is currently closed (but you can still visit...

Imerovigli

Set on the highest point of the caldera's rim, Imerovigli (the name means "watchtower") is quiet, traditional, and less expensive than other places on the...

Ayia Anargyroi

With plenty of water-sports options, this popular beach is set against a luscious green backdrop, offering the added prospect of seeing the nearby Bekiris cave...

Kamari

Santorini’s most popular beach resort is just that—a long line of hotels and tavernas strung out along a stretch of red-and-black sand on the island’s...

Ayia Paraskevi

In a sheltered cove and easily accessible by bus or water taxi, this is a favorite with locals and visitors alike. In the height of...

Megalochori

Megalochori is a picturesque, half-abandoned town. Many of the village's buildings were actually canavas, wine-making facilities. The tiny main square is still lively in the...

Zogeria

A pine-edged cove with deep sapphire waters, Zogeria has a gorgeous natural setting that more than makes up for the lack of amenities—there's just a...

Pyrgos

Though today Pyrgos has only 500 inhabitants, until the early 1800s it was the capital of the island. Medieval houses are stacked on top of...

Kalamaki Peninsula

On the least-developed part of the south coast, villas are tucked above tiny, isolated coves. Access to most of the shoreline is by boat only...

Ayios Ioannis Bay

Heading east from Tinos Town, you’ll travel on a winding road surrounded by bare, rocky Cycladic island landscapes. It eventually slopes down into Ayios Ioannis...

Lalaria

The much-photographed, lovely Lalaria Beach, on the north coast, is flanked by a majestic, arched limestone promontory. The polished limestone and marble add extra sparkle...

Isternia

The village of Isternia (Cisterns), lofty on the slopes of Mount Meroviglia, is verdant with lush gardens. Many of the marble plaques hung here over...

Troullos

West of the Kalamaki Peninsula the coast road rounds Troullos Bay and comes to Koukounaries Beach—famous and beautiful but not a remote hideaway...

Mt. Athos

The third peninsula of Halkidiki, Mt. Athos is called Ayion Oros (Holy Mountain) in Greek, although it does not become a mountain until its southernmost...

Glossa

Delightful Glossa is the island's second-largest settlement, where whitewashed, red-roof houses are clustered on the steep hillside above the harbor of Loutraki. Venetian towers and...

Ouranoupolis

Meaning "heaven's city" in Greek, Ouranoupolis (also spelled Ouranopolis) is an appealing cul-de-sac on the final point of land that separates the secular world from...

Skopelos Town

Idyllic Skopelos Town, the administrative center of the Sporades, overlooks a sparkling turquoise bay on the north coast. Three- and four-story white-washed houses rise virtually...

Galaxidi

Unlike nearby Delphi, the history of Galaxidi tends more toward the modern. That's not to say it doesn't have a long past—settlements here date back...

Magazia and Molos

Coastal expansions of the main town, these two resort areas are the places to stay if you love to swim. Magazia, where the residents of...

Ano Polis

Ano Polis, where many fortified towers once bristled along the city's upper walls, is what remains of 19th-century Thessaloniki. It's filled with timber-framed houses with...

Vouno

In the mountainous southern half of Skyros, a passable dirt road heads south at the eastern end of the isthmus, from Aspous to Ahilli. The...

Kentro

The lively shopping streets, bustling markets, and cafés of the Kentro (City Center) and adjacent areas reward you with the unexpected encounters and sensual treats...

Kionia

The little seaside town of Kionia is a short scenic drive, bike ride, or hike west of Tinos Town. A few simple tavernas and rooms...

Marathon

Athenians enter the fabled plain of Marathon to enjoy a break from the capital, visiting the freshwater lake created by the dam, or sunning at...

Mt. Olympus

To understand how the mountain must have impressed the ancient Greeks and caused them to shift their allegiance from the earth-rooted deities of the Mycenaeans...

Panormos Bay

Panormos Bay, an unpretentious port once used for marble export, has ducks and geese, a row of seafood restaurants, and a good beach with a...

Pella

Pella was Alexander's birthplace and the capital of the Macedonian state in the 4th century BC. The modern-day village is not the most alluring, (and...

Pirgos

The village of Pirgos, second in importance to Chora, is inland and up from the little harbor of Panormos. Tinos is famous for its marble...

Vergina

The modern city of Vergina wasn't established in its present form until 1922, but the ancient city of Aigai, the original capital of Macedonia, was...

Tinos Town

Civilization on Tinos is a millennium older than Tinos Town, or Chora, founded in the 5th century BC. On weekends and during festivals, Chora is...

Depot

The Depot neighborhood was once where the wealthy, mainly Jewish, merchants lived in impressive 19th-century villas. Very close to the port and the city center...

Chios Town

The main port and capital, Chios Town, or Chora, is a busy commercial settlement on the east coast, across from Turkey. It lacks the historic...

Ladakika

...

Mesta

Pirgi may be the most unusual of the mastic villages, but Mesta is the island's best preserved: a labyrinth of twisting vaulted streets links two-story...

Zakynthos Town

Zakynthos's main town is often skipped over by visitors. The island attracts a beach-loving crowd, for whom the café-drenched squares, churches, museums, and convenience of...

Nea Moni

...

Athens

It's no wonder that all roads lead to the fascinating and paradoxical metropolis of Athens. Lift your eyes 200 feet above the city to the...

Thessaloniki

At the crossroads of East and West, where North blends into South, Thessaloniki (accent on the "ni") has seen the rise and fall of many...

Nafplion

Oraia (beautiful) is the word Greeks use to describe Nafplion. The town's old section lies on a peninsula jutting into the Gulf of Argolis, and...

Rethymnon

Rethymnon is Crete's third-largest town, after Heraklion and Chania. The population (about 40,000) steadily increases as the town expands—a new quarter follows the coast to...

Agios Nikolaos

Ayios Nikolaos is clustered on a peninsula alongside the Gulf of Mirabello, a dramatic composition of bare mountains, islets, and deep blue sea. Behind the...

Olympia

Ancient Olympia, including the Sanctuary of Zeus, was famously the site of the ancient Olympic Games. Scenically located at the foot of the pine-covered Kronion...

Volos

A relatively new city by Greek standards, Volos and surrounding Magnesia are steeped in history and myth, with Neolithic settlements dating to 7000 BC and...

Kavala

With 27 centuries of history, this port city draws from deep roots. Long a center of the tobacco industry, Kavala now earns much of its...

Gythion

At the foot of the Taygettus range on the northeastern edge of the Mani, Gythion seems terribly cosmopolitan, compared to the stark countryside that surrounds...

Argostoli

...

Delphi

Up in the mountains, modern Delphi is perched dramatically on the edge of a grove leading to the sea, west of an extraordinary ancient site...

Kalamata

...

Ancient Nemea

This quiet little town, surrounded by undulating vineyards, was once as famous as Olympia, site of biennial games that attracted athletes from throughout ancient Greece...

Skalohori

Skalohori is set beautifully in a valley, with tiered houses facing west toward the Aegean sunsets. Until recently, wild horses roamed the volcanic northwestern part...

Moria

On the coast as you head north from Mytilini, Moria is best known for its Roman aqueduct. But the town is also famed for its...

Mt. Parnitha

The summit of Mt. Parnitha (1,413 m [4,635 feet]), Attica's highest mountain, affords splendid views of the plain of Athens. Sadly, large swaths of its...

Kontokali

Kontokali is best known for providing the main entry point to Corfu's biggest marina, a delightful place to stroll and admire the yachts, especially in...

Kanoni

The suburb of Kanoni was once one of the world's great beauty spots, made famous by countless pictures. Today the landscape has been engulfed by...

Ermones

On the coast, 8 km (5 miles) north of Pelekas lies the small, low-key resort of Ermones, with pebbly sand beaches, heavily wooded cliffs, and...

Corfu Town

Corfu Town today is a vivid tapestry of cultures—a sophisticated weave, where charm, history, and natural beauty blend. Located about midway along the island's east...

Vouliagmeni

If Glyfada is all about credit cards and consumer bustle, Vouliagmeni showcases another side to the Athens Riviera. This classy seaside residential suburb is Athens's...

Sounion

Poised at the edge of a rugged 195-foot cliff, the Temple of Poseidon hovers between sea and sky, its "marbled steep, where nothing, save the...

Osios Loukas

The monastic complex at Osios Loukas, still inhabited by a few monks, is notable for its exquisite mosaics and its dramatic location, looming on a...

Vouraikos Gorge

The Vouraikos Gorge is a fantastic landscape of towering pinnacles and precipitous rock walls that you can view on an exciting train ride. In addition...

Kaminia

A small fishing hamlet built around a shallow inlet, Kamini has much of Hydra Town's charm but none of its bustle—except on Orthodox Good Friday...

Paleokastritsa

To quote one recent traveler: "I’d rather go to Paleokastritsa than to Heaven." Considered by many to be the site of Homer’s city of the...

Panormos Bay

With a long beach and sheltered inner cove ideal for yachts, Panormos is fast becoming a holiday village, although so far this stretch of the...

Pelekas

Inland from the coast at Glyfada is Pelekas, an attractive hilltop village that overflows with tourists because of its much-touted lookout point, called Kaiser's Throne...

Volissos

Homer's birthplace is thought to be here at Volissos, though Smyrna, Colophon, Salamis, Rhodes, Argos, and Athens also claim this honor. Once a bustling market...

Lavrion

After Sounion, the road twists and turns along the coast, winding past holiday homes, before hitting a rather dreary stretch by Lavrion's boatyard, where there...

Plomari

Plomari, the second-largest town on Lesvos, is dramatically set in a cliff face overlooking a wide harbor and Aegean sunsets. This was once a major...

Chania

Chania surrendered its role as capital of Crete to Heraklion in 1971, but this elegant city of eucalyptus-lined avenues, miles of waterfront promenades, and shady...

Pythagorio

Samos was a democratic state until 535 BC, when the town now called Pythagorio (formerly Tigani, or "frying pan") fell to the tyrant Polycrates (540–22...

Elounda

From its origins as a sleepy fishing village, Elounda has transformed into the de rigueur destination for luxury resorts. The shores of the Gulf of...

Epidauros

What is now a pleasant little agricultural village surrounded by orange and olive groves has been on the Greek map for millennia, and the ruins...

Heraklion

In Minoan times, Crete's largest city, the fifth-largest city in Greece, was a harbor for Knossos, the grandest palace and effective power center of prehistoric...

Monemvasia

The eastern "finger" dangling off the southern edge of the Peloponnese is the dramatic setting for Monemvasia (meaning "single entrance"). This Byzantine town clings to...

Matala

Renowned in the 1960s as a stopover on the hippie trail, with Joni Mitchell immortalizing it in song, Matala today is a small, low-key beach...

Stemnitsa

Also called Ipsous, Stemnitsa is one of the most beautiful towns in southern Greece, wondrously perched 3,444 feet above sea level amid a forest of...

Glyfada

Gateway to the Athens Riviera and the Apollo Coast—which stretches from Pireaus south to Cape Sounion's famed Temple of Poseidon—Glyfada is loved for its palm-fringed...

Paliachora

The haunting remains of Aegina's medieval Paliachora (Old Town), built in the 9th century by islanders whose seaside town was the constant prey of pirates...

Vai

The appeal of the surrounding, fertile coastal plain was not lost on the ancient Minoans, who left behind ruins that are not as grand as...

Ayia Marina

Ayia Marina is the most cosmopolitan beach on the island, so head here if you want to see and be seen...

Vori

Vori, the closest town to Phaistos and Ayia Triada, is a pleasant farming community of whitewashed houses on narrow lanes; you might enjoy stopping here...

Skiathos Town

The harbor is especially picturesque at sunset, when violet-orange lights cast a soft glow and houses on the hills behind the quay begin to glimmer...

Vrisses

This appealing old village is famous throughout Crete for its thick, creamy yogurt—best eaten with a large spoonful of honey on top—that is served in...

Skyros Town

From the southern landscapes, amid brown, desolate outcrops with only an occasional goat as a sign of life, Skyros Town suddenly looms around a bend...

Dodona

The only thing to do, or see for that matter, at the somewhat isolated Dodona, are the ancient ruins. This archaeological site, steeped in history...

Arachova

Gray-stone houses with red-tile roofs cling to the steep slopes of Mt. Parnassus, the highest mountain in Greece after Mt. Olympus, to form the small...

Ioannina

On the rocky promontory of Pamvotis Lake lies Ioannina, its fortress punctuated by mosques and minarets whose reflections, along with those of the snowy peaks...

Mandamados

Pretty Mandamados has stone houses, wood carvings, and the ruins of a medieval castle. The village is famous for its pottery, koumari urns (they keep...

Kalambaka

Kalambaka may be dismissed as one more drab modern town, useful only as a base to explore the fabled Meteora complex north of town. Yet...

Pamfila

In the 19th century, Pamfila's traditional tower mansions were used by wealthy families as summer homes. The views across the straits to Turkey are wonderful...

Metsovo

The quaintly traditional village of Metsovo cascades down a mountain at about 3,300 feet above sea level, below the 6,069-foot Katara pass, which is the...

Skala Eressou

The poet Sappho, according to unreliable records, was allegedly born here circa 612 BC. She most likely presided over a finishing school for marriageable young...

Argostolion and Lassi

As both the island’s capital and the setting for Louis de Bernières’ wildly successful novel, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Argostolion’s name carries more weight than most...

Ireo

Although Samos was a center for trade and commerce for a long time prior, it was Polycrates "the Tyrant" who really put the island on...

Sami

There isn’t all that much to recommend the town of Sami, the island’s busiest port. Mainland ferries dock here and at the similarly anonymous Poros...

Ancient Corinth

The isthmus is where the Peloponnese begins. Were it not for this narrow neck of land less than 7 km (4½ miles) across, the waters...

Asklepieion

The ruins of one of the great healing centers of antiquity still impress and fire the imagination, framed by a thick grove of cypress trees...

Argos

The city of Argos, set amid citrus groves on the western edge of the Argive plain, is the economic hub of the region, a workaday...

Castle of Antimacheia

This proud fortress standing high above the sea is not just a symbol of the former might of the Knights of St. John. These days...

Kamari

On Kefalos Bay, the little beach community of Kamari is pleasant and less frantic than the island's other seaside resorts though still plastered with tourist...

Kos Town

The modern town lies on a flat plain encircling spacious Mandraki Harbor and is a pleasant assemblage of low-lying buildings and shady lanes, with a...

Laconia

The Laconian plain is surrounded on three sides by mountains and on one side by the sea. Perhaps it was the fear that enemies could...

Marmari

You won’t find much that’s authentically Greek in this unattractively overbuilt resort town surrounded by holiday villages. Even so, the surrounding beaches are beautiful, and...

Mystras

While little remains to attest to Spartan power and might, residents of the Byzantine capital just to the west left behind a treasure trove of...

Chora

Atop a hill due south of Skala, the village of Chora, clustered around the walls of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, has become...

Pylos

With the blue waters in its port and the bougainvillea-swathed, pristine white houses fanning up Mt. St. Nicholas, Pylos may remind you of an island...

Skala

Skala, the island's small but sophisticated main town, is where almost all the shops and restaurants are located. It's a popular port of call for...

Tiryns

...

Epta Piges

...

Agia Marina

The small, somewhat-overrun port of Ayia Marina has many hotels, cafés, restaurants, and a family-friendly beach with shallow waters. On the opposite side of the...

Gennadi and the South Coast

The area south of Lindos, with fewer beaches and less fertile soil, is traditionally not as well traveled as the stretch to its north but...

Souvala

Souvala is a sleepy fishing village that comes to life in summer, as it is a favorite resort of many Athenians. The tamarisks and pine...

Lindos

Lindos, cradled between two harbors and dominated by its massive hilltop acropolis, is remarkably well preserved. Steep paths wind past its famous "captain's mansions," beautifully...

Vlichos

From Kamini, the coastal track continues to Vlichos, another pretty village with tavernas, a historic bridge, and a gray-pebbled beach on a bay. It's a...

Monolithos to Kameiros

Rhodes's west coast is more forested, with fewer notable beaches than its eastern side. But what it lacks in sun beds it more than makes...

Spetses Town

By most visitors’ standards, Spetses Town is small—no larger than most city neighborhoods—yet it’s nevertheless divided into districts populated with many well-to-do neoclassical mansions and...

Petaloudes

Shady lanes and babbling brooks winding through the forested grounds of a former Venetian estate would be quite enticing even without the presence of some...

Kastro

The ruins that are also known as the Old Town perch on a forbidding promontory high above the water, accessible only by steps. Skiathians founded...

Rhodes Town

Early travelers described Rhodes as a town of two parts: a castle or high town (Collachium) and a lower area (Bourgo). Today Rhodes Town—sometimes referred...

Agnonda

Used as an alternative port by hydrofoils and ferryboats during bad weather, Agnonda has numerous tavernas along its pebbled beach. It's named after a local...

Chorio

It's a 10-minute walk from the main harbor of Yialos up to the hilltop town of Chorio, along a staircase of some 400 steps, known...

Atsitsa

On the northwest coast, pine forests grow down the rocky shore at Atsitsa. The beaches north of town—Kalogriá and Kyra Panayia—are sheltered from the strong...

Monastery of Taxiarchis Michael Panormitis

The tiny hamlet of Panormitis on the south end of the island is a remote and idyllic setting for this holy assemblage, a popular place...

Dion

At the foothills of Mount Olympus lies ancient Dion. Even before Zeus and the Olympian gods, the mountain was home to the Muses and Orpheus...

Yialos

As the boat from Rhodes to Symi rounds the last of many rocky barren spurs, the port of Yialos, at the back of a deep...

Sfageia

...

Antiparos

This smaller sister isle to Paros may have once been a well-kept secret, but thanks to celebrity resident Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson...

Pirgi

Beginning in the 14th century, the Genoese founded 20 or so fortified inland villages in southern Chios. These villages shared a defensive design with double-thick...

Ano Meria

The island's paved road runs from the port, through Chora and along the backbone of the island to Ano Meria. Terraced fields where barley was...

Agiassos

Agiassos village, the prettiest hill town on Lesvos, sits in an isolated valley amid thousands of olive trees, near the foot of Mt. Olympus, the...

Chora

As the boat approaches the dusty port of Karavostasi, bare, sun-scoured rocks offer little suggestion of the glory to come. After a steep 3-mile climb...

Molyvos

Also known by its ancient name, Mythimna, this is a place that has attracted people since antiquity. Legend says that Achilles besieged the town until...

Adamas

Adamas, also known as Adamantas—diamond in Greek—is one of the largest natural harbors in the Aegean but remained a sleepy hamlet until it was populated...

Mytilini

Built on the ruins of an ancient city, Mytilini (so important through history that many call Lesvos by the port's name alone) is, like Lesvos...

Mandraki

As famous as neighbor Sarakiniko for its photogenic-ness, Mandraki is home to the distinctive and colorful dwellings known as syrmata, the two-story houses built into...

Pirgi Thermis

Pirgi Thermis is known for its tower mansions and for its 12th-century church, Panayia Tourlot, near the outskirts of town. The town's onetime big attractions—thermal...

Plaka

North of Adamas lies the classical center of Milos. Plaka is the largest of a cluster of four villages that huddle beneath a small crag...

Sigri

Sigri is built around a lovely cove with exceptional dark-sand beaches nearby...

Pollonia

Crouching around a sheltered bay with a church at each end, Pollonia started life as a fishing village but has now developed into a low-key...

Skala Sikaminias

At the northernmost point of Lesvos, past Pelopi, is the exceptionally lovely fishing port of Skala Sikaminias, a miniature gem—serene and real, with several good...

Ano Mera

Inland, the little town of Ano Mera has a couple of quiet tavernas and a monastery. The town only lights up during the monastery's festival...

Vatera

The village of Vatera is all about its 9-km-long (5½-mile-long) sandy strip of sparkling water, lined with tamarisk trees and framed by green hills. You...

Abram Village

The route through the mountains from Apeiranthos to the north is very scenic. Apollonas is a small resort with a couple of good beaches backed...

Kokkari

A spectacular stretch of coast road west of Samos Town is lined with olive groves and vineyards and ends in the fishing village of Kokkari...

Apeiranthos

Apeiranthos is very picturesque, with views and marble-paved streets running between the Venetian Bardani and Zevgoli towers. As you walk through the arcades and alleys...

Samos Town

Also known as Vathi, the capital is tucked into the head of a sharply deep bay on the northeast coast. Red-tile roofs sweep around the...

Ayia Anna

Ayia Anna is one of the island’s ideal beach towns, where long stretches of sand front a main road lined with tavernas, restaurants, and cafés...

Ancient Messene

The ruins of this remarkable fortified ancient city, about 20 km (12 miles) north of the modern town of the same name, are set amid...

Ayios Mamas

South of Galanado, and a kilometer (½ mile) past a valley with unsurpassed views is one of the island's oldest churches (9th century), Ayios Mamas...

Areopolis

In Areopolis, the typical Maniote tower houses begin to appear in earnest as spooky sentinels amid the harsh landscape. The town was renamed after Ares...

Chalki

You are now entering the heart of the lush Tragaia Valley, where in spring the air is heavily scented with honeysuckle, roses, and lemon blossoms...

Dimitsana

From the stone-built villages high above Lousios Gorge, a trail picks its way down to the river bed, passing medieval monasteries that dangle from the...

Filoti

Filoti, a peaceful village on the lower slopes of Mt. Zas, is the interior's largest. A three-day festival celebrating the Dormition starts on August 14...

Gerolimenas

Located at the end of a long natural harbor, Gerolimenas was an important port in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sleepy as it...

Galanado

On a hill, Galando’s village streets offer a pretty view toward Naxos Town. It’s an agricultural village that is famous for the landmark Tower of...

Isthmus

...

Mikri Vigla

Mikri Vigla is a small village known for its nearby pristine beaches. Several small room rentals and a few cafés and beach bars dot the...

Kardamyli

The gateway to the Mani on the Messenian side is Kardamyli, considered part of the outer Mani (or Exo Mani), an area less bleak and...

Moni

Off the fine asphalt Chalkiou-Keramotis road, Moni ("monastery") remains high in the mountains overlooking Naxos's greenest valley and has become a popular place for a...

Methoni

Methoni, a small fishing and farming village on a cape south of Pylos, has long cast a spell over visitors. It was one of the...

Naxos Town

As your ferry sweeps into the harbor, you see before you the white houses of Naxos Town (Chora) on a hill crowned by the one...

Mycenae

The ancient citadel of Mycenae, which Homer wrote was "rich in gold and once ruled much of the Mediterranean world," stands on a low hill...

Sangri

Sangri is the center of an area with so many monuments and ruins spanning the Archaic to the Venetian periods it is sometimes called little...

Eleusis

The growing city of Athens has long-since co-opted the land around what was Eleusis (now a modern city known as Elefsina), placing shipyards in the...

Lefkes

Rampant piracy in the 17th century forced thousands of people to move inland from the coastal regions; thus, for many years the scenic village of...

Patras

Like all respectable Greek cities, Patras has the kind of storied history that puts even European capitals in the shade. Off the harbor in 429...

Marathi

During the classical period, the island of Paros had an estimated 150,000 residents, many of them slaves who worked the ancient marble quarries in Marathi...

Sparta

...

Naousa

Quaint fishing village no longer, Naousa (also Niaoussa) long ago discovered the benefits of tourism, and its outskirts are mushrooming with villas and hotels that...

Temple of Apollo at Bassae

Typically seen as part of a day trip from either Olympia or Kalamata (it's about 1½ hours from both), the winding mountain roads here morph...

Paros Town

First impressions of Paroikía (Paros Town. sometimes spelt Parikia), pretty as it is, may not necessarily be positive. The port flashes too much concrete, too...

Tripoli

History, along with the practicalities of the road network in this part of Greece, makes it very likely that you'll at least pass through the...

Pounta

Pounta is not even a village, just a few houses, a handful of restaurants, and a tiny harbor from which ferries leave for Antiparos. The...

Aegina Town

As you approach from the sea, your first view of Aegina Town takes in the sweep of the harbor, punctuated by the tiny white chapel...

Akrotiri

This village is most famous for its ancient ruins, but the little collection of houses surrounded by gardens and fields is a pleasant place in...

Marathonas

This small village a few miles south of Aegina Town is reachable by bicycle or bus. The beach is just beyond...

Fira

Tourism is Santorini's major industry and adds more than 1 million visitors per year to a population of 15,500. As a result, Fira, the capital...

Perdika

Follow the lead of the locals and visiting Athenians and, for an excursion, take a bus (a 25-minute ride from Ethneyersias Square) to the pretty...

Firostefani

Firostefani used to be a separate village, but now it comprises the quieter, more pleasant northern end of Fira. The name derives from Fira +...

Hydra Town

Even though Hydra’s beautiful harbor is flush with bars and boutiques, Hydra Town seems as fresh and innocent as when it was "discovered." The two-...

Ia

At the tip of the northern horn of the island sits Ia (or Oia), Santorini's second-largest town and the Aegean's most-photographed village. Ia is more...

Mandraki

The only sandy beach on Hydra is an activity-centered beach by the Miramare Hotel, near Mandraki, which is currently closed (but you can still visit...

Imerovigli

Set on the highest point of the caldera's rim, Imerovigli (the name means "watchtower") is quiet, traditional, and less expensive than other places on the...

Ayia Anargyroi

With plenty of water-sports options, this popular beach is set against a luscious green backdrop, offering the added prospect of seeing the nearby Bekiris cave...

Kamari

Santorini’s most popular beach resort is just that—a long line of hotels and tavernas strung out along a stretch of red-and-black sand on the island’s...

Ayia Paraskevi

In a sheltered cove and easily accessible by bus or water taxi, this is a favorite with locals and visitors alike. In the height of...

Megalochori

Megalochori is a picturesque, half-abandoned town. Many of the village's buildings were actually canavas, wine-making facilities. The tiny main square is still lively in the...

Zogeria

A pine-edged cove with deep sapphire waters, Zogeria has a gorgeous natural setting that more than makes up for the lack of amenities—there's just a...

Pyrgos

Though today Pyrgos has only 500 inhabitants, until the early 1800s it was the capital of the island. Medieval houses are stacked on top of...

Kalamaki Peninsula

On the least-developed part of the south coast, villas are tucked above tiny, isolated coves. Access to most of the shoreline is by boat only...

Ayios Ioannis Bay

Heading east from Tinos Town, you’ll travel on a winding road surrounded by bare, rocky Cycladic island landscapes. It eventually slopes down into Ayios Ioannis...

Lalaria

The much-photographed, lovely Lalaria Beach, on the north coast, is flanked by a majestic, arched limestone promontory. The polished limestone and marble add extra sparkle...

Isternia

The village of Isternia (Cisterns), lofty on the slopes of Mount Meroviglia, is verdant with lush gardens. Many of the marble plaques hung here over...

Troullos

West of the Kalamaki Peninsula the coast road rounds Troullos Bay and comes to Koukounaries Beach—famous and beautiful but not a remote hideaway...

Mt. Athos

The third peninsula of Halkidiki, Mt. Athos is called Ayion Oros (Holy Mountain) in Greek, although it does not become a mountain until its southernmost...

Glossa

Delightful Glossa is the island's second-largest settlement, where whitewashed, red-roof houses are clustered on the steep hillside above the harbor of Loutraki. Venetian towers and...

Ouranoupolis

Meaning "heaven's city" in Greek, Ouranoupolis (also spelled Ouranopolis) is an appealing cul-de-sac on the final point of land that separates the secular world from...

Skopelos Town

Idyllic Skopelos Town, the administrative center of the Sporades, overlooks a sparkling turquoise bay on the north coast. Three- and four-story white-washed houses rise virtually...

Galaxidi

Unlike nearby Delphi, the history of Galaxidi tends more toward the modern. That's not to say it doesn't have a long past—settlements here date back...

Magazia and Molos

Coastal expansions of the main town, these two resort areas are the places to stay if you love to swim. Magazia, where the residents of...

Ano Polis

Ano Polis, where many fortified towers once bristled along the city's upper walls, is what remains of 19th-century Thessaloniki. It's filled with timber-framed houses with...

Vouno

In the mountainous southern half of Skyros, a passable dirt road heads south at the eastern end of the isthmus, from Aspous to Ahilli. The...

Kentro

The lively shopping streets, bustling markets, and cafés of the Kentro (City Center) and adjacent areas reward you with the unexpected encounters and sensual treats...

Kionia

The little seaside town of Kionia is a short scenic drive, bike ride, or hike west of Tinos Town. A few simple tavernas and rooms...

Marathon

Athenians enter the fabled plain of Marathon to enjoy a break from the capital, visiting the freshwater lake created by the dam, or sunning at...

Mt. Olympus

To understand how the mountain must have impressed the ancient Greeks and caused them to shift their allegiance from the earth-rooted deities of the Mycenaeans...

Panormos Bay

Panormos Bay, an unpretentious port once used for marble export, has ducks and geese, a row of seafood restaurants, and a good beach with a...

Pella

Pella was Alexander's birthplace and the capital of the Macedonian state in the 4th century BC. The modern-day village is not the most alluring, (and...

Pirgos

The village of Pirgos, second in importance to Chora, is inland and up from the little harbor of Panormos. Tinos is famous for its marble...

Vergina

The modern city of Vergina wasn't established in its present form until 1922, but the ancient city of Aigai, the original capital of Macedonia, was...

Tinos Town

Civilization on Tinos is a millennium older than Tinos Town, or Chora, founded in the 5th century BC. On weekends and during festivals, Chora is...

Depot

The Depot neighborhood was once where the wealthy, mainly Jewish, merchants lived in impressive 19th-century villas. Very close to the port and the city center...

Chios Town

The main port and capital, Chios Town, or Chora, is a busy commercial settlement on the east coast, across from Turkey. It lacks the historic...

Ladakika

...

Mesta

Pirgi may be the most unusual of the mastic villages, but Mesta is the island's best preserved: a labyrinth of twisting vaulted streets links two-story...

Zakynthos Town

Zakynthos's main town is often skipped over by visitors. The island attracts a beach-loving crowd, for whom the café-drenched squares, churches, museums, and convenience of...

Nea Moni

...

The Cyclades

Named after the circle they form around the sacred isle of Delos, the two hundred and twenty or so Cyclades are the most Greek of...

The Peloponnese

Over the millennia the rugged terrain of the Peloponnese—a vast region that hangs like a large leaf from the stem of the Corinthian isthmus—has nourished...

Attica and Delphi

One of the great surprises of Athens is how much there is to see around it. The mountainous region of Attica (or Attikí), which incorporates...

Rhodes and the Dodecanese

Wrapped enticingly around the shores of Asia Minor, the Dodecanese are Greece’s easternmost island chain, edging the sunny fringes of the Aegean sea. A historic...

The Northern Aegean Islands

Quirky, seductive, fertile, sensual, faded, sunny, worldly, ravishing, long-suffering, hedonistic, luscious, mysterious, legendary—these adjectives only begin to describe the islands of the northeastern Aegean. This...

Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia

A land shaped by gods, warriors, and ghosts, Northern Greece sparkles with the sights, sounds, scents, and colors of its melting-pot history and epic geography...

Mykonos

From backpackers to the super-rich, from day-trippers to yachties, from Joe Average to celebrities who head here by helicopter, Mykonos has become one of the...

The Saronic Gulf Islands

Only have a few days in Greece but need a taste of island life? Hopping over to one of the Saronic isles is the perfect...

The Sporades

Little mentioned in mythology or history, the Sporades confidently rely on their great natural beauty and cultural history to attract visitors. Some locals poetically claim...

Lasithi Plateau

The Lasithi Plateau, 2,800 feet high and the biggest of the upland plains of Crete, lies behind a wall of barren mountains. Windmills for pumping...

Lousios Gorge

From the stone-built villages high above Lousios Gorge, a trail picks its way down to the river bed, passing medieval monasteries that dangle from the...

Southeast Coast

The southeastern beaches, the farthest beaches from Mykonos Town, are favorites for those looking for something calm, yet organized, such as Kalo Livadi. Water sports...

Epirus and Thessaly

...

The Achilleion and Gastouri

...

South Coast

The popular south coast beaches stand on their own; hotels, restaurants, cafés, and beach bars have sprung up around them, drawn to their turquoise seas...

Agios Nikoloas and the North

The northern half of Zakynthos is day-trip country. Resorts on the east coast of the island pitter out above Alikes Beach, and to the west...

The Meteora

As you drive through the mighty Pindos range, strange rock formations rise ever higher from the plain. Just beyond the dramatic sheer cliff that shelters...

Zagorohoria Region

One of the most beguiling and untamed sections of Greece is the region of Zagorohoria (pronounced zah-go-ro-hor-ee-ah), also known as Zagori or Zagoria, which comprises...

Mount Ainos and the Omala Valley

The center of Kefalonia is dominated by Mount Ainos, the highest point in the Ionian archipelago and home to a 30-square-kilometer national park. Its upper...

Fiskardo and Assos

The two towns of Fiskardo and Assos, sitting high in Kefalonia's wild northern tip, offer a glimpse of how the island used to look. Even...

The Vasilikos Peninsula and Laganas

The area south of the main town bears witness to two very different sides of the island. The first is the gloriously lush, hilly peninsula...

North Coast

The beaches along the north coast are blessed with consistent winds suitable for windsurfing, and Ftelia is the island's center for the sport. Yet on...

The Cyclades

Named after the circle they form around the sacred isle of Delos, the two hundred and twenty or so Cyclades are the most Greek of...

The Peloponnese

Over the millennia the rugged terrain of the Peloponnese—a vast region that hangs like a large leaf from the stem of the Corinthian isthmus—has nourished...

Attica and Delphi

One of the great surprises of Athens is how much there is to see around it. The mountainous region of Attica (or Attikí), which incorporates...

Rhodes and the Dodecanese

Wrapped enticingly around the shores of Asia Minor, the Dodecanese are Greece’s easternmost island chain, edging the sunny fringes of the Aegean sea. A historic...

The Northern Aegean Islands

Quirky, seductive, fertile, sensual, faded, sunny, worldly, ravishing, long-suffering, hedonistic, luscious, mysterious, legendary—these adjectives only begin to describe the islands of the northeastern Aegean. This...

Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia

A land shaped by gods, warriors, and ghosts, Northern Greece sparkles with the sights, sounds, scents, and colors of its melting-pot history and epic geography...

Mykonos

From backpackers to the super-rich, from day-trippers to yachties, from Joe Average to celebrities who head here by helicopter, Mykonos has become one of the...

The Saronic Gulf Islands

Only have a few days in Greece but need a taste of island life? Hopping over to one of the Saronic isles is the perfect...

The Sporades

Little mentioned in mythology or history, the Sporades confidently rely on their great natural beauty and cultural history to attract visitors. Some locals poetically claim...

Lasithi Plateau

The Lasithi Plateau, 2,800 feet high and the biggest of the upland plains of Crete, lies behind a wall of barren mountains. Windmills for pumping...

Lousios Gorge

From the stone-built villages high above Lousios Gorge, a trail picks its way down to the river bed, passing medieval monasteries that dangle from the...

Southeast Coast

The southeastern beaches, the farthest beaches from Mykonos Town, are favorites for those looking for something calm, yet organized, such as Kalo Livadi. Water sports...

Epirus and Thessaly

...

The Achilleion and Gastouri

...

South Coast

The popular south coast beaches stand on their own; hotels, restaurants, cafés, and beach bars have sprung up around them, drawn to their turquoise seas...

Agios Nikoloas and the North

The northern half of Zakynthos is day-trip country. Resorts on the east coast of the island pitter out above Alikes Beach, and to the west...

The Meteora

As you drive through the mighty Pindos range, strange rock formations rise ever higher from the plain. Just beyond the dramatic sheer cliff that shelters...

Zagorohoria Region

One of the most beguiling and untamed sections of Greece is the region of Zagorohoria (pronounced zah-go-ro-hor-ee-ah), also known as Zagori or Zagoria, which comprises...

Mount Ainos and the Omala Valley

The center of Kefalonia is dominated by Mount Ainos, the highest point in the Ionian archipelago and home to a 30-square-kilometer national park. Its upper...

Fiskardo and Assos

The two towns of Fiskardo and Assos, sitting high in Kefalonia's wild northern tip, offer a glimpse of how the island used to look. Even...

The Vasilikos Peninsula and Laganas

The area south of the main town bears witness to two very different sides of the island. The first is the gloriously lush, hilly peninsula...

North Coast

The beaches along the north coast are blessed with consistent winds suitable for windsurfing, and Ftelia is the island's center for the sport. Yet on...

Crete

Crete is a land of myth and imagination, where Theseus slayed the Minotaur, where Daedulus and Icarus set off on their ill-fated flight, and where...

Corfu

Temperate, multihued Corfu—of emerald mountains; turquoise waters lapping rocky coves; ocher and pink buildings; shimmering silver olive leaves; puffed red, yellow, and orange parasails; scarlet...

Santorini (Thira)

Undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, crescent-shaped Santorini remains a mandatory stop on the Cycladic tourist route—even if you must enjoy the sensational...

Rhodes

The fourth-largest Greek island and, along with Sicily, Crete, and Cyprus, one of the great islands of the Mediterranean, Rhodes was long considered a bridge...

Lesvos

The Turks called Lesvos the "garden of the empire" for its fertility: in the east and center of the island, literally millions of olive trees...

Mykonos Town

Although the fishing boats still go out in good weather, Mykonos largely makes its living from tourism these days. The summer crowds have turned one...

Hydra

As the full length of Hydra stretches before you when you round the easternmost finger of the northern Peloponnese, your first reaction might not, in...

Chios

"Craggy Chios" is what local boy Homer, the island's first publicist, so to speak, called this starkly beautiful outcropping that almost touches Turkey's coast and...

Skiathos

Part sacred (scores of churches), part sin (lots of nightlife), the hilly, wooded island of Skiathos is the closest of the Sporades to the Pelion...

Skyros

Even among these unique isles, Skyros stands out. The rugged terrain resembles that of an island in the Dodecanese, and the spectacularly situated main town—occupied...

Patmos

For better or worse, it can be difficult to reach Patmos. For many travelers, this lack of access is definitely for the better, since the...

Folegandros

If Santorini is the Hollywood leading lady of the Greek islands, Folegandros is the demure, younger sister, star of off-beat independent cinema. Built between the...

Vari

Vari is a small beach town on a sheltered bay on the south side of the island. Its location attracts visitors who seek the low-key...

Poseidonia

This small village has a few whitewashed taverns, cafés, and churches, which serve as a backdrop to a popular beach. Other good beaches are to...

Mega Yialos

Megas Yialos has slowly grown into one of the island’s more popular beach towns and is accessible by bus from Ermoupoli. Its nearby beaches, including...

Kini

This small village on the island's west coast has a couple of good beaches, a selection of tavernas and cafés, and a few places to...

Galissas

The village of Galissas has a selection of tavernas and beach bar-cafés as well as room rentals and the Dolphin Bay Family Beach Resort. Since...

Paros

In the classical age, the great sculptor Praxiteles prized the incomparably snowy marble that came from the quarries at Paros; his chief rival was the...

Spetses

Spetses shows evidence of continuous habitation through all of antiquity. From the 16th century BC, settlers came over from the mainland and, as on Hydra...

Aegina

The eastern side of Aegina is rugged and sparsely inhabited today, except for Ayia Marina, a former fishing hamlet now studded with hotels. The western...

Milos

...

Ayios Stefanos

About a 45-minute walk north from Mykonos Town, Ayios Stefanos has water sports, restaurants, and umbrellas and lounge chairs for rent; kids love it, and...

Tinos

Tinos is among the most beautiful and most fascinating of the major Cyclades. The third largest of the island group after Naxos and Andros, with...

Syros

The mercantile bustle of modern Ermoupoli—Syros’s port, capital, and the archipelago’s business hub since the 18th century—often makes people do a double take. Seen from...

Kefalonia

What saved lush, mountainous Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian islands, from the first waves of package tourism in the 1960s is likely that which...

Delos

Arrive at the mythical, magical, and magnificent site of Delos and you might wonder how this barren islet, which has virtually no natural resources, became...

Samos

The southernmost of this group of three Northern Aegean islands lies the closest to Turkey of any Greek island, separated by only 3 km (2...

Naxos

"Great sweetness and tranquility" is how Nikos Kazantzakis, premier novelist of Greece, described Naxos, and indeed a tour of the island leaves you with an...

Kos

Aglow with flowering oleanders and hibiscus, the island of Kos is the third largest in the Dodecanese. It certainly remains one of the most verdant...

Ermoupoli

Ermoupoli spills like multicolored lava from the twin colonial hills of Ano Syros and Vrodado, topped respectively by churches—Roman Catholic (St. George) on the left-hand...

Alonnisos

The third-largest island in the Sporades archipelago, Alonnisos flicks up northeast from Skopelos, its neighboring island a mere 3 km (1½ miles) away. It translates...

Symi

The tiny island of Symi is an enchanting place, where life centers around sparkling Yialos Harbor and a 19th-century town of neoclassical mansions, known as...

Skopelos

This triangular island's name means "a sharp rock" or "a reef"—a fitting description for the dramatic terrain on the northern shore. It's an hour and...

Ornos

Ornos has always been more popular with Mykonians than tourists. The locals like its relaxed atmosphere for a family swim and beachside dining. There are...

Zakynthos

Zakynthos is the island that launched a million “I thought it was this, but it was that . . .” travel articles. Its appeal is...

Ano Syros

One of the two towering peaks that rise over town, Ano Syros was greatly expanded in the 13th century by Venetians, who erected a walled...

Crete

Crete is a land of myth and imagination, where Theseus slayed the Minotaur, where Daedulus and Icarus set off on their ill-fated flight, and where...

Corfu

Temperate, multihued Corfu—of emerald mountains; turquoise waters lapping rocky coves; ocher and pink buildings; shimmering silver olive leaves; puffed red, yellow, and orange parasails; scarlet...

Santorini (Thira)

Undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, crescent-shaped Santorini remains a mandatory stop on the Cycladic tourist route—even if you must enjoy the sensational...

Rhodes

The fourth-largest Greek island and, along with Sicily, Crete, and Cyprus, one of the great islands of the Mediterranean, Rhodes was long considered a bridge...

Lesvos

The Turks called Lesvos the "garden of the empire" for its fertility: in the east and center of the island, literally millions of olive trees...

Mykonos Town

Although the fishing boats still go out in good weather, Mykonos largely makes its living from tourism these days. The summer crowds have turned one...

Hydra

As the full length of Hydra stretches before you when you round the easternmost finger of the northern Peloponnese, your first reaction might not, in...

Chios

"Craggy Chios" is what local boy Homer, the island's first publicist, so to speak, called this starkly beautiful outcropping that almost touches Turkey's coast and...

Skiathos

Part sacred (scores of churches), part sin (lots of nightlife), the hilly, wooded island of Skiathos is the closest of the Sporades to the Pelion...

Skyros

Even among these unique isles, Skyros stands out. The rugged terrain resembles that of an island in the Dodecanese, and the spectacularly situated main town—occupied...

Patmos

For better or worse, it can be difficult to reach Patmos. For many travelers, this lack of access is definitely for the better, since the...

Folegandros

If Santorini is the Hollywood leading lady of the Greek islands, Folegandros is the demure, younger sister, star of off-beat independent cinema. Built between the...

Vari

Vari is a small beach town on a sheltered bay on the south side of the island. Its location attracts visitors who seek the low-key...

Poseidonia

This small village has a few whitewashed taverns, cafés, and churches, which serve as a backdrop to a popular beach. Other good beaches are to...

Mega Yialos

Megas Yialos has slowly grown into one of the island’s more popular beach towns and is accessible by bus from Ermoupoli. Its nearby beaches, including...

Kini

This small village on the island's west coast has a couple of good beaches, a selection of tavernas and cafés, and a few places to...

Galissas

The village of Galissas has a selection of tavernas and beach bar-cafés as well as room rentals and the Dolphin Bay Family Beach Resort. Since...

Paros

In the classical age, the great sculptor Praxiteles prized the incomparably snowy marble that came from the quarries at Paros; his chief rival was the...

Spetses

Spetses shows evidence of continuous habitation through all of antiquity. From the 16th century BC, settlers came over from the mainland and, as on Hydra...

Aegina

The eastern side of Aegina is rugged and sparsely inhabited today, except for Ayia Marina, a former fishing hamlet now studded with hotels. The western...

Milos

...

Ayios Stefanos

About a 45-minute walk north from Mykonos Town, Ayios Stefanos has water sports, restaurants, and umbrellas and lounge chairs for rent; kids love it, and...

Tinos

Tinos is among the most beautiful and most fascinating of the major Cyclades. The third largest of the island group after Naxos and Andros, with...

Syros

The mercantile bustle of modern Ermoupoli—Syros’s port, capital, and the archipelago’s business hub since the 18th century—often makes people do a double take. Seen from...

Kefalonia

What saved lush, mountainous Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian islands, from the first waves of package tourism in the 1960s is likely that which...

Delos

Arrive at the mythical, magical, and magnificent site of Delos and you might wonder how this barren islet, which has virtually no natural resources, became...

Samos

The southernmost of this group of three Northern Aegean islands lies the closest to Turkey of any Greek island, separated by only 3 km (2...

Naxos

"Great sweetness and tranquility" is how Nikos Kazantzakis, premier novelist of Greece, described Naxos, and indeed a tour of the island leaves you with an...

Kos

Aglow with flowering oleanders and hibiscus, the island of Kos is the third largest in the Dodecanese. It certainly remains one of the most verdant...

Ermoupoli

Ermoupoli spills like multicolored lava from the twin colonial hills of Ano Syros and Vrodado, topped respectively by churches—Roman Catholic (St. George) on the left-hand...

Alonnisos

The third-largest island in the Sporades archipelago, Alonnisos flicks up northeast from Skopelos, its neighboring island a mere 3 km (1½ miles) away. It translates...

Symi

The tiny island of Symi is an enchanting place, where life centers around sparkling Yialos Harbor and a 19th-century town of neoclassical mansions, known as...

Skopelos

This triangular island's name means "a sharp rock" or "a reef"—a fitting description for the dramatic terrain on the northern shore. It's an hour and...

Ornos

Ornos has always been more popular with Mykonians than tourists. The locals like its relaxed atmosphere for a family swim and beachside dining. There are...

Zakynthos

Zakynthos is the island that launched a million “I thought it was this, but it was that . . .” travel articles. Its appeal is...

Ano Syros

One of the two towering peaks that rise over town, Ano Syros was greatly expanded in the 13th century by Venetians, who erected a walled...

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The Peloponnese

The Saronic Gulf Islands

The Sporades

Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia

Athens

Crete

The Cyclades

The Saronic Gulf Islands

Attica and Delphi

Epirus and Thessaly

The Northern Aegean Islands

The Sporades

Corfu

Rhodes and the Dodecanese

The Peloponnese

Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia

Athens

Corfu

Epirus and Thessaly

The Cyclades

The Peloponnese

The Sporades

Attica and Delphi

Crete

Rhodes and the Dodecanese

The Northern Aegean Islands

The Saronic Gulf Islands

Thessaloniki and Central Macedonia

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The 11 Best Things to Do in Thessaloniki (and Top Things to Avoid)

Heidi Fuller-Love

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Everyone Takes Photos of Santorini. Take the Island Home With You Instead

The 14 Best Restaurants in Athens Are Also Beloved by Locals

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The 15 Best Things to Do in Athens, Greece (and Top Things to Avoid)

The 12 Best Things to Do in Crete, Greece (Plus the Top Things to Avoid)

Heidi Fuller-Love

10 Unspoken Rules for Dressing the Part in the Greek Islands

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Heat Wave Drives Greece to Shut Acropolis

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Apeksha Bhateja

Read This if You’re Traveling to Greece Soon. A General Strike Is Grounding Flights

7,700 Earthquakes in 10 Days: Should You Cancel Your Santorini Trip?

Athens Wildfires: Here’s What You Need to Know if You’re Traveling to Greece

Greek Government Considers Cruise Passenger Tax

Your Greek Island Vacation Could Be in Trouble

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Hotels & Lodging

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Athens Public Transportation: How to Get Around the Greek Capital

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Like Cats and Want a Free Place to Stay in Greece? This Is the Place for You

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