Greece

Greece holds the ruins that shaped Western Europe — the Acropolis, Delphi, Olympia, Knossos — alongside about 6,000 islands scattered across the Aegean and Ionian seas. The mainland is mountainous and far greener than the postcard suggests, from Epirus's gorges to the monasteries balanced on Meteora's pillars. Each island group keeps its own architecture, from Cycladic white cubes to Venetian harbours.

Capital

Athens

Population

10.4M

Area

131,957 km²

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Language

Greek

Time zone

EET (UTC+2) / EEST (UTC+3)

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  01

  Attica

  Ancient history, bustling modernity

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  02

  Central Greece

  Mythical landscapes, historical sites

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  03

  Central Macedonia

  Macedonian heritage, vibrant city

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  04

  Crete

  Island paradise, ancient wonders

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  05

  East Macedonia and Thrace

  Diverse landscapes, ancient history

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  06

  Epirus

  Mountainous beauty, historical villages

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  07

  Ionian Islands

  Emerald seas, Venetian charm

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  08

  North Aegean

  Untouched islands, authentic culture

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  09

  Peloponnese

  Ancient myths, diverse landscapes

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  10

  South Aegean

  Idyllic islands, whitewashed villages

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  11

  Thessaly

  Monasteries in the sky, mythical plains

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  12

  West Greece

  Rivers, ancient sites, coastal charm

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  13

  West Macedonia

  Mountainous region, natural lakes

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  Historic Site

  2018 Attica wildfires

  A series of wildfires in Greece, during the 2018 European heat wave, began in the coastal areas of Attica in July 2018. 104 people were confirmed dead from the Mati fires.

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  Museum

  Acropolis Museum

  The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece.

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  Fortress

  Acropolis of Athens

  The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, Greece, and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The word Acropolis is from Greek ἄκρον (akron) 'highest point, extremi

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  Historic Site

  Aegina

  Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, 27 km (17 mi) from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of the mythological hero Aeacus, who was born on the island and became its king.

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  Historic Site

  Aigaleo

  Aigaleo or Egaleo is a town and a suburban municipality in the western part of the Athens urban area, belonging to the West Athens regional administrative unit. It takes its name from Mount Aigaleo, whose name comes from the words αίγα/aiga/goat and λαός/laos/people.

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  Church

  Altar of the Twelve Gods

  The Altar of the Twelve Gods (also called the Sanctuary of the Twelve Gods), was an important altar and sanctuary at Athens, located in the northwest corner of the Classical Agora. The altar was set up by Pisistratus the Younger, (the grandson of the tyrant Pisistratus) during his archonship, in 522/1 BC.

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  Historic Site

  Arch of Hadrian (Athens)

  The Arch of Hadrian, most commonly known in Greek as Hadrian's Gate, is a monumental gateway resembling—in some respects—a Roman triumphal arch. It spanned an ancient road from the center of Athens, Greece, to the complex of structures on the eastern side of the city that included the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

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  Museum

  Archaeological Museum of Piraeus

  The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus is a museum in Piraeus, a port city within the Athens urban area in Greece. It contains mainly sculptures, discovered in Piraeus and in the area of the Attic coast from Bronze Age to Roman times.

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  Historic Site

  Artemision Bronze

  The Artemision Bronze (often called the God from the Sea) is an ancient Greek sculpture that was recovered from the sea off Cape Artemision, in northern Euboea, Greece. According to most scholars, the bronze represents Zeus, the thunder-god and king of gods, though it has also been suggested it might represent Poseidon

• Athens

  The Acropolis above a restless, food-loving capital.

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• Thessaloniki

  Byzantine walls, waterfront promenade and northern Greek cooking.

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• Nafplio

  Venetian old town under two fortresses.

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• Chania

  Cretan harbour town of Venetian and Ottoman lanes.

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• Rhodes

  Inhabited medieval walled city of the Knights.

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• Ioannina

  Lakeside Epirus city with an Ottoman citadel.

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• Vikos–Aoös

  One of the world's deepest gorges, in the Zagori mountains.

• Samaria Gorge

  16 km walk through Crete's White Mountains to the Libyan Sea.

• Mount Olympus

  Home of the gods and Greece's first national park.

• Parnassos

  Fir-covered massif above Delphi.

• Prespa Lakes

  Border wetlands rich in pelicans and Byzantine chapels.

• Sounio

  Coastal park around the cliff-top Temple of Poseidon.

• Navagio, Zakynthos

  Shipwreck cove reachable only by boat.

• Balos, Crete

  Pink-tinged sand around a shallow turquoise lagoon.

• Elafonisi, Crete

  Pink shell sand and wadeable sandbars.

• Myrtos, Kefalonia

  White pebbles between steep cliffs.

• Red Beach, Santorini

  Volcanic cliffs of oxidised red rock.

• Sarakiniko, Milos

  Lunar white volcanic rock sculpted by wind.

• Mount Olympus

  2,917 m Mytikas, the country's highest summit.

• Pindus

  The mainland's spine, running through Epirus and Thessaly.

• Meteora

  Sandstone pillars topped by monasteries.

• White Mountains, Crete

  Lefka Ori, source of the island's great gorges.

• Mount Parnassus

  Ski slopes and ancient sanctuary above Delphi.

• Moussaka

  Aubergine, spiced lamb and béchamel baked in layers.

• Souvlaki

  Grilled skewers, usually wrapped in pita with tzatziki.

• Horiatiki

  Village salad — tomato, cucumber, olives and a slab of feta.

• Grilled octopus

  Sun-dried then charred, eaten by the water with ouzo.

• Spanakopita

  Filo pie of spinach, herbs and feta.

• Loukoumades

  Honey-soaked dough puffs with cinnamon or walnuts.

• 01

  Island ferries are booked solid in August — reserve boats and cabins early.

• 02

  Archaeological sites open early and can shut by mid-afternoon in summer heat.

• 03

  A combined Athens ticket covers the Acropolis and six other ancient sites.

• 04

  Many small tavernas and island rooms are cash-only.

• 05

  The meltemi wind can cancel Aegean ferries; leave a buffer day before flights.