Your Greek Summer Bucketlist: 8 Places You'll Fall in Love With
Greece has some incredibly diverse landscapes on the mainland, and on the islands, making it one of the most impressive European travel destinations.
I was lucky enough to spend four months in Greece, exploring the ins and outs of the whole country. I’ve made a list of some of my favorite spots that should definitely be on your list to visit when you come to Greece.
Here are 8 breathtaking places to visit in Greece!
1. Hydra
Hydra is a very underrated island that gets overlooked because it is not as close to the popular ones like Santorini and Milos.
It was one of my favorite places I visited in Greece because of how beautiful and quiet it was. The best part about this island is that it is completely car free, which means you could peacefully roam all of the winding streets without disruption from motor vehicles.
2. Meteora
Meteora is likely a place you haven’t heard of before.
It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site tucked away in the mountains of mainland Greece. This area is known for its 24 Eastern Orthodox monasteries built on dramatic rock formations. The construction of these Monasteries dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries, and several of them are still in use today.
3. Delphi
If you have a passion for Greek mythology and history, you cannot miss this archaeological wonder. According to Greek mythology, Delphi was a significant sanctuary for the God of the Sun, Apollo, as well as the primary destination where the oracle, Phythia spoke prophecies.
Get museum tickets in advance here. Tickets are also available at the site.
4. Arachova
Meteora is likely a place you haven’t heard of before.
If you have a passion for Greek mythology and history, you cannot miss this archaeological wonder. According to Greek mythology, Delphi was a significant sanctuary for the God of the Sun, Apollo, as well as the primary destination where the oracle, Phythia spoke prophecies.
Get museum tickets in advance here. Tickets are also available at the site.
5. Santorini
Though everyone already knows about Santorini, I’ve listed it because it truly is one of the most beautiful places in Greece.
It is known to be touristy, so it may not be the most relaxing island destination. With this being said, I recommend doing all of the activities the island offers, like visiting black sand beaches and hiking from Fira to Oia.
Read this next: Things to Do in Santorini: Memorable Activities You’ll Love
6. Bali, Crete
Bali is a very remote location on the island of Crete.
It is roughly an hour and a half bus ride from Heraklion, and offers some stunning mountain and tropical views. In my opinion, it felt like a more local Greek experience. There weren’t many tourists around, and we got to experience what island life in Crete is like for the locals.
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7. Aegina
Summers in Athens can be brutally hot, so the perfect island day trip is Aegina island.
Only a 1 hour ferry ride from Athens, here you can enjoy the summer sun along the beaches and have a locally caught seafood dinner. Many people don’t know about this small island, so it makes for a peaceful island escape.
Note: If you are traveling on a budget, this is one of the most affordable island ferry rides from Athens.
8. Nafplion
Nafplion is a small, coastal town in the Peloponnese region of Greece, about a 2 hour drive from Athens.
It’s got some vibrant colored buildings and shops selling items you can only find in Greece. I also recommend checking out the Palamidi fortress to explore the historical background of Nafplion while enjoying sky high views of the coast.
Tips Before You Go
Find Cheap Flights – I like to use Skyscanner.com to find the cheapest and most efficient flights in Europe.
Book a Tour – If you don’t have a car, sometimes it is easier to explore new places through a tour company like Get Your Guide, which provides transportation and a knowledgable tour guide.
Wear comfortable shoes – You will likely walk long distances when you visit such cool places, so it could help to have good walking shoes.
Buy tickets in advance – skip the lines for monuments, museums, and ferries, especially in the busy season by getting tickets online.
Whether you’re visiting for a week or a month, I hope you get to see some of these amazing places in Greece.
You might be tempted to spend your trip island hopping, but there really is so much to see on the mainland as well. If you’re looking for more info about Greece, check out my Greek Travel page to learn more for planning your trip. Happy travels!
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