697 Best Sights in Greece

Just west of Patras lies the periphery of what was once the Mycenean world. There was a settlement on Bourtzi hill for around 500 years, with some 78 carved tombs dating back to 1500 BC since found in the area. Many of the finds made here are now on view in the Archaeological Museum in Patras, which is certainly easier to reach; visitors will need a car to get Voudeni. But it's worth the effort to get here, and the site is surrounded by a well-kept garden that makes for a relaxed stroll.

This museum displays a 16th-century windmill, outdoor oven, waterwheel, winepress, and dovecote, with the intention of illustrating and preserving the traditional rural life of the island.

Across the water from Little Venice, set on a high hill, are the famous Mykonos windmills, echoes of a time when wind power was used to grind the island's grain. Once a poor barren land stricken by pirate raids, the only source of income was from passing ships. The area from Little Venice to the windmills is called Alefkandra, which means "whitening," as women once hung their laundry here to bleach in the sun.

The writer Lawrence Durrell described Myrtiotissa as "the loveliest beach in the world." This statement may be hyperbolic, but few would dispute that the fine, golden strand is right up there with the best in Greece. Today, the beach is little changed from Durrell's time on Corfu in the 1930s, due to poor access keeping development at bay. There is a small kiosk for snacks and drinks, and umbrellas to rent. Most visitors park and walk down the steep road. The southern end of the beach, sheltered from view by rocks, is designated for nudists only, while at the more open northern end swimsuits are the norm. The sea can be rough with currents—it's only for experienced snorkelers. A short walk away is a monastery dedicated to the Virgin of the Myrtles, hence the name. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: nudists; snorkeling.

Myrtos is the poster child for Kefalonia's shores, and frequently named among the top beaches in Greece. Wrapped in high scrubby cliffs, its semicircular bowl of white pebbly sand is larger than most others on the island, meaning the huge swath of umbrellas and deck chairs that dominate its spine still leaves room in the corners for what passes for "isolation" here. Yet, for all its photogenic qualities, with a big reputation comes crowds. There is a canteen on the shore, but queues mean it's often best to pack your own drinks and snacks. The water can also get a little rough, and there is a steep drop-off from the shore, so it's not perfect for little ones. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguard; parking (no fee); showers. Best for: sunset.

The thick walls of this red-stone building, built in 1713 to serve as a naval storehouse for the Venetian fleet, ensure the coolest interior in town. It's more than just shelter, however. The museum houses artifacts from nearby sites Mycenae, Tiryns, Asine, and Dendra. The findings from the Mycenaean tombs are especially rich and include wonderful masks and a remarkable bronze suit of armor from the 15th century BC.

After making the rounds of the ancient sites, you might think that Greek history ground to a halt when the Byzantine Empire collapsed. A visit to this gem of a museum, housed in the spectacularly majestic Old Parliament mansion (used by parliamentarians from 1875 to 1932), will fill in the gaps, often vividly, as with Lazaros Koyevina's copy of Eugene Delacroix's Massacre of Chios, to name but one example. Paintings, costumes, and assorted artifacts from small arms to flags and ships' figureheads are arranged in a chronological display tracing Greek history from the mid-16th century and the Battle of Lepanto through World War II and the Battle of Crete. A small gift shop near the main entrance—framed by a very grand Neoclassical portico of columns—has unusual souvenirs, like a deck of cards featuring Greece's revolutionary heroes. Apart from the permanent exhibition, they curate excellent temporary ones, presently a celebration of the 200 years of Greek independence.

Skopelos is at the edge of the largest swath of protected waters in the Mediterranean, covering 2,200 square km (849 square miles). Within the park, only neighboring Alonnisos is inhabited; other islands and islets are the domain of goats and falcons, while dolphins and highly endangered Mediterranean monk seals swim in the pristine waters. Boats ply the waters of the park on day excursions from Skopelos, stopping at remote beaches and such outposts of civilization as the islet monastery of Megistis Lavras. Travel agencies and eager captains advertise the trips, easily arranged with a walk along the port.  For more detailed information on the marine park see the Alonnisos section.

Housed in what was once Greece’s first brewery/beer factory owned by (and named after) the Bavarian Fix family, the museum opened in 2020 after decades of homelessness and much controversy. Today the superbly renovated postindustrial building houses three bright, modern floors of photo, painting, and sculpture exhibitions, art installations, and collections, both temporary and permanent. Most of the works on show reflect contemporary sociopolitical thought, by both Greek and international artists.

Housed in a former electricity plant, this provides a nice trip out for the whole family. Focusing on the wildlife of Crete and the wider Mediterranean, it is presented in a fun and informative manner. Four levels cover prehistory, with huge animated dinosaurs, through to modern day, with live reptiles and small mammals in glass tanks. The basement area contains a special interactive area for kids where they can discover nature hands-on, and a seismic table that re-creates earthquakes from the past.

Discover how the nearby Petrified Forest was created in this interesting museum whose exhibits are scrupulously labeled and clearly laid out. The museum's own patch of the forest transports viewers 20 million years back in time to violent volcanic eruptions. Alongside the giant sequoia trunks there are also unique fossils of animals like the Deinotherium, an early ancestor of the elephant, and tiny vegetation remnants preserved on volcanic rock that resembles delicate Zen art.

This little museum shows costumes, ceramics, farming implements, and other items from Naxos's far-flung villages, giving insight into how life was on the island beginning in the 18th century.

To peer into a live, sometimes smoldering volcano, join one of the popular excursions to Nea Kameni, the larger of the two Burnt Isles. After disembarking, there's a 130-meter (430-foot) hike to the top and a walk around the edge of the crater, and wondering if the volcano is ready for its fifth eruption during the last 100 years—after all, the last was in 1956. Some tours continue on to the island of Thirasia, often described as how Santorini was 50 years ago.

The most visible sign of the Turkish occupation of Rethymnon is the graceful minaret, one of the few to survive in Greece, that rises above the Neratze. This large stone structure looming over the narrow lanes of the city center was a monastery, then a church under the Venetians, and was subsequently converted to a mosque under the Ottomans before being transformed into today's concert hall.

Built during the period 1576–78 by the Venetians, the so-called New Fortress was constructed to strengthen town defenses—only three decades after the construction of Venetian fortifications on the Old Fortress. The French and the British subsequently expanded the complex to protect Corfu Town from a possible Ottoman invasion. You can wander through the maze of tunnels and fortifications; the dry moat is the site of the town's Central Market. A classic British citadel stands at its heart. The summit offers a fantastic view over the rooftops of the Old Town.

The "newer" of the Philosophou monasteries sits on the west side of the gorge, yet even this dates back to the 17th century. Its katholico (main church), dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, has some beautiful illustrated hagiographies, though during Ottoman rule it is said their eyes were scrubbed out by the invaders. Like many of the sites in this region, the building had a part to play in the War of Independence against the Turks. It was a hideout for the Greek general Theodorous Kolokotronis and formed a meeting place for the chieftains to plot. Today, the only rebels here are the legions of cats, who bask in the shade like fallen soldiers. Exit via the black gates for an 800-meter (½-mile) walk to Old Philosophou Monastery, the bones of a 10th-century monastery dug into the walls of the gorge. It's a spectacular site, and rambling its crumbling stone remains and church, gazing out over the wild gorge, is exhilarating. It was reportedly home to one of Greece's "secret schools," where young Greeks would scrabble the ravine in the pitch darkness in order to receive private tutoring in biblical studies, history, and the Greek language, away from the eyes of the Turkish authorities. Little evidence exists of such schools, and some historians argue they have been created as a nationalist myth.

Lemonakia, Tsamadou, and Tsabou all are just a few minutes' drive from one another, forming a continuous string of sand and pebbles separated by pine-clad headlands. They are all delightful places to lounge and swim, and are well supplied with sun beds and concessions. The stretch is to be avoided when the summertime meltemi (northern winds) blow, unless you are a windsurfer. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Vestiges of 19th-century Ioannina remain in the Old Bazaar. On Anexartisias are some Turkish-era structures, such as the Liabei arcade (where cool and trendy bars and clubs now dominate), across from the bustling municipal produce market and, on Filiti, a smattering of the copper-, tin-, and silversmiths who fueled the city's economy for centuries. Some workshops still have wares for sale.

This venerable mosque near the southeast corner of Syntagma Square has been put to various purposes since Nafplion was liberated from the Turks: as a school, a courthouse, municipal offices, and a movie theater, during the latter era of which it acquired the name most still know it by: Trianon. (The writer Henry Miller, who did not care for Nafplion, felt that the use of the building as a movie theater was an example of the city's crassness.) The landmark occasionally hosts temporary exhibits and performances; it also remains one of the oldest surviving examples of Ottoman architecture in Nafplion.

During the Ottoman occupation, this area, probably the most picturesque in the city, was considered the best place to live. In addition to the superb city views, it catches whatever breeze there is in summer. More recently, it was the home of some of the poorest families in Thessaloniki. Now the area is gentrifying, thanks to European Union development funds (which repaired the cobblestones), strict zoning and building codes, and the zeal of young couples with the money to restore the narrow old houses. The most notable houses are on Papadopolou, Kleious, and Dimitriou Poliorkitou streets.

In the mishmash of buildings that is Central Athens, this group of remarkable white marble buildings, known as the Athenian Trilogy, gleams with classical elegance under azure skies. The three dramatic buildings, which belong to the University of Athens, were designed by the Hansen brothers in the period after independence in the 19th century and are built of Pendelic marble, with tall columns and decorative friezes. In the center is the University, after which the once highly elegant Panepistimiou (panepistimio means university) Street is named, with its giant colorful mural. To the right is the Academy, flanked by two slim columns topped by statues of Athena and Apollo; paid for by the Austrian-Greek Baron Sina, it is a copy of the Parliament in Vienna. Frescoes in the reception hall depict the Myth of Prometheus. At the left end of the complex is a griffin-flanked staircase leading to the National Library.

One of the smaller mastic villages with a characteristic 20-meter (66-foot) tower-keep right in the middle of the square, it was established in the 13th century, and the outer walls are conjoined so that there is only one entrance in and out of the village. Narrow alleys, cobbled streets, and simple architecture add to the sleepy romance. Just south of Olimpi are the Caves of Olimpi, also known as the Caves of Sykia, dating back 200,000 years. Galleries of stalactites and stalagmites seem to defy gravity due to the unique airflow through the caverns.

A sunken, ancient city is visible just beneath the turquoise waters off a causeway that leads to the Spinalonga Peninsula (not to be confused with the island of the same name), an undeveloped headland. Don't imagine you are going to discover Atlantis, but the outlines of a Roman settlement on the seabed and the warm, shallow waters make for an enjoyable diversion from the hotel pool. A mosaic floor from an early Christian basilica with a striking fish motif can also be seen about 90 meters (300 feet) on shore.

A water mill, tannery, and gunpowder mill on the river Lousios below town provide displays and demonstrations that reveal why water power was the force behind the region's economy until the first part of the 20th century. Mills like the one here operated up and down the river and helped supply the forces who successfully fought the Turks during the War of Independence in 1821.

This cooperative sources grapes from some 300 vineyards across the area to produce, among others, its namesake famously dry white wine made from Robola grapes. Free guided tours include generous tastings; wine flights start at €10.

A community has grown around this pretty and sandy beach, which is considered one of the most family-friendly on the island—despite there being little room for kids to play in between the umbrella and chair rentals. A good selection of beach hotels, tavernas, restaurants, cafés, and shops make up Ornos Bay, and there is bus service from Mykonos Town. It is also the launch point to take a boat to other beaches. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

This small, icon-rich 1577 cathedral is dedicated to St. Theodora, the island's second patron saint. Her relics lie in a silver coffin by the altar; they were brought to Corfu around the same time as those of St. Spyridon. Steps lead down to the harbor from here.

Soaring vaults are all that remains of what was once a magnificent Gothic church, completed by the Knights of St. John in 1456. The knights believed that Mary, the mother of Jesus, provided them and Rhodes special protection against the ever-present threat of an Ottoman invasion. Now, kids play among the scattered ruins and musical events are sometimes held here.

Secluded in a cove east of Tinos Town, Pachia Ammos is named for its thick sand, which has a unique green hue that complements the surrounding short shrub hills that roll into the turquoise blue sea. It is undeveloped, and getting to the beach requires a 10-minute walk on an unmarked path. The effort, however, is rewarded in basking in one of the prettiest and most peaceful places on the island, with views across to Mykonos and a giant sand dune to explore. To get there, drive 10 km (6 miles) on the main road east toward Agios Ioannis Beach and turn off at the signs for Pachia Ammos. Park in the car park at the top, walk through the country club that overlooks the beach, and then descend on one of the paths. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; swimming.

Like the palaces of Knossos and Phaistos, the Palace of Malia was built around 1900 BC; it was less sophisticated both in architecture and decoration, but the layout is similar. The palace appears to have been destroyed by an earthquake around 1700 BC, and rebuilt 50 years later. Across the west court, along one of the paved raised walkways, is a double row of round granaries sunk into the ground, which were almost certainly roofed. East of the granaries is the south doorway, beyond which is the large, circular limestone table, or kernos (on which were placed offerings to a Minoan deity), with a large hollow at its center and 34 smaller ones around the edge. The central court has a shallow pit at its center, perhaps the location of an altar. To the west of the central court are the remains of an imposing staircase leading up to a second floor, and a terrace, most likely used for religious ceremonies; behind is a long corridor with storerooms to the side. In the north wing is a large pillared hall, part of a set of public rooms. The domestic apartments appear to have been in the northwest corner of the palace, entered through a narrow dogleg passage. They are connected by a smaller northern court, through which you can leave the palace by the north entrance, passing two giant old pithoi (large earthenware jars for storage of wine or oil). Excavation at the site continues, which is revealing a sizable town surrounding the palace.