You’ve been browsing through Instagram and have made a lengthy list of – a must-see in Greece after seeing countless pictures of the country’s beautiful coastlines, landmarks, and landscapes.
But take our word for it. It’s difficult to narrow down the finest locations to explore in Greece when the pictures don’t do the real thing credit. The possibilities exceed the capacity of this collection. You may never want to leave when considering the region’s warm, welcoming people and delicious Mediterranean food.
Greece is a beautiful place, which holds true whether you explore the continent or the islands. Stumped for ideas? Here is a rundown of Greece’s top six cities that you should visit.
The Acropolis and the Parthenon will likely be the first aspects that come to mind when considering Athens, Greece’s main city. Those things aside, the city’s charm sets it apart from other European cities.
1. Plaka, Athens
Over the years, numerous smaller settlements combined to form modern-day Athens. Those towns have largely stopped being different from one another due to the loss of their unique histories. Plaka, the surrounding area, has not.
Plaka is known for its charming, pedestrian-friendly, cobblestone lanes dotted with cafés and eateries that feature colorfully decorated outdoor seating areas. Small walking streets lined with unique novelty stores and local establishments like Ouzerias and bakeries. Places like Bretto’s, entertaining customers since the early 20th century, are plentiful. The building that was once a brewery is now a pub, and its walls are adorned with bottles.
2. Assos, Kefalonia
You can fly from Athens to Kefalonia, the biggest of the Ionian Islands, and be there in under an hour. The sights on this island are everything that makes Greece so impressive. Picturesque port cities and charming, rural communities; white sand beaches in isolated coves encircled by pine-covered mountains. Melissani Lake Grotto, one of Kefalonia’s many amazing natural marvels, must be seen to be believed.
Assos, a small town on the Greek island of Kefalonia, should be at the top of your travel itinerary. Fewer than a hundred people live in the small village of Assos, which is populated by pastel-colored homes. Located on the northwestern shore of Kefalonia, at the foot of a slope on a tiny promontory, it is enveloped by the azure waters of the Mediterranean on three sides. The hamlet, guarded by the remains of a Venetian palace, features a sandy shoreline and a small harbor dotted with classic eateries. The word “idyllic” doesn’t do it justice.
3. Cyclades, Naxos
Naxos, the biggest of the Cyclades (a collection of two hundred Greek islands in the Aegean Sea), is located in the middle of the Aegean Sea. It looks like something out of a photograph; there are many interesting historical sites, and, perhaps most unexpectedly, the potatoes are very good here.
Naxos Municipality, known as Chora, is Greece’s important historical and artistic center. The town’s square homes are stacked in tiers on a mountainside, making it look like a Cubist painting. The town is known for its thirteenth-century fortress, which houses a flourishing community and is a popular attraction among scholars. Through its portal, you can wander the Kastro’s cobbled alleyways. In this community’s epicenter, you’ll find Venetian palaces, churches, the Kastro temple in the main plaza, museums, and even a convent.
4. Parga, Northern Greece
Parga is one of the finest Greek cities to visit if you rank proximity to a beautiful shoreline highly among your holiday priorities. The seaside village, located below the remains of a fortress, is remarkably quiet, considering its proximity to the ocean.
Parga is known for its gorgeous beaches and some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Greek Islands. Choose from the beaches of Krioneri, Lichnos, or Valtos, which are only a short stroll from the town center.
5. Lindos, Rhodes, and the Dodecanese
Lindos, on the island of Rhodes, is one of the finest Greek cities to explore if you want to spend time at the shore and learn about Greek history at the same time. Golden beaches surround the town’s harbor, which is a picturesque setting. A fortified acropolis, built around 200 BC, stands above it on a nearby hilltop.
Even though the town is picturesque, the Acropolis of Lindos steals the show with its winding stone alleyways and hanging flower baskets. Pass through the stone archway from the Middle Ages, and you’ll find yourself in a different universe that dates back thousands of years and has plenty to discover. Explore the fortress constructed by the Knights of St. John and see the Doric temple with its magnificent columns, Greek stairways, the ruins of a Roman sanctuary, and a pentagonal structure. You can take a mule trip from the village to the Acropolis. Still, it’s not a particularly strenuous journey on foot, so please spare the overburdened animals if possible.
6. Peloponnesian city of Monemvasia
Monemvasia is a small island off the Greek Peloponnese’s shore connected to the continent by a bridge. Monemvasia, when viewed from afar, resembles a massive, deserted hill. Being on it is the only way to fully appreciate its amazing features.
A fortified medieval fortress sits on this small islet, concealed from view by the presence of the center rock structure. You will find yourself in a lost universe if you enter the passage. Vacant homes fill the cobblestone streets, inviting you to take a stroll. Once you escape the center, the stronghold is strangely silent because so few people reside there, and vehicles aren’t allowed inside. There are a few places to stay, eat, and buy mementos. There are two stunning beaches on the island as well. One within the castle’s boundaries and another about two miles distant.
