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🇬🇷Things to Do in Greece
From the Acropolis to the whitewashed cliffs of Santorini - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Most trips to Greece split into two halves: ancient history on the mainland - the Acropolis, Delphi, Olympia - and island time in the Aegean, where Santorini and Mykonos are the famous names among hundreds of smaller options. Ferries connect the islands closely enough that hopping between two or three in one trip is normal, not ambitious. Here are 10 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Acropolis & Parthenon, Athens
The ancient citadel overlooking Athens, crowned by the Parthenon. Go right at opening (8am) - by midday in summer the site is both packed and shadeless.
📍 Athens
🚉 Nearest station: Acropoli on Metro line 2, at the foot of the southern slope beside the Acropolis Museum; Monastiraki on lines 1 and 3 is the other common approach.
Santorini
Whitewashed, blue-domed villages along a volcanic caldera - Oia's sunset is the single most-photographed moment in Greek tourism. Fira is the livelier base; Oia is quieter but pricier.
📍 Santorini
🚉 The island has no railway: ferries from Piraeus take five to eight hours into Athinios port, and KTEL buses run from there and from the airport to Fira, the hub for every other village.
Mykonos
Beach clubs, iconic windmills, and the Aegean's best-known nightlife scene. Mykonos Town's Little Venice district, with buildings built right up against the sea, is worth a slower daytime visit too.
📍 Mykonos
🚉 No trains here either - ferries dock at the New Port at Tourlos, with a shuttle bus into Mykonos Town, and the island's KTEL buses run from Fabrika station to Paradise and Platis Gialos.
Meteora
Orthodox monasteries built directly onto natural rock pillars in Thessaly, some dating to the 14th century. Modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) is required to enter any of them.
📍 Meteora, Thessaly
🚉 Nearest station: Kalambaka, the end of the branch line from Paleofarsalos with direct trains from Athens and Thessaloniki; local buses and taxis climb to the monasteries from the town.
Delphi
The ancient site of the Oracle of Delphi, dramatically set on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. The museum on-site holds the bronze Charioteer of Delphi, one of the best-preserved ancient Greek statues.
📍 Delphi
🚉 There is no rail link - KTEL Fokidas coaches run from Athens' Liosion terminal in about three hours, stopping in Delphi village a 10-minute walk from the sanctuary.
Crete
Greece's largest island - the Palace of Knossos (the legendary home of the Minotaur myth), long beaches, and the Samaria Gorge, one of Europe's longest hiking gorges.
📍 Crete
🚉 Crete has no railway: ferries arrive overnight from Piraeus into Heraklion and Chania, and KTEL buses cover the north coast frequently, though the south and the gorges really need a car.
Rhodes Old Town
A UNESCO-listed medieval walled city built by the Knights Hospitaller, with the Street of the Knights among its best-preserved stretches.
📍 Rhodes
🚉 No rail on the island; ferries and the airport bus arrive at Rhodes Town, and the walled old town is entered on foot through the Gate of Freedom, a few minutes from the port.
Navagio Beach, Zakynthos
A cove backed by white cliffs, reachable only by boat, with a rusted shipwreck on the sand that gives the beach its name. Boat tours run from Zakynthos Town and the nearby port of Porto Vromi.
📍 Zakynthos
🚉 The wreck beach can only be reached by boat, from Porto Vromi or Agios Nikolaos - the clifftop viewpoint is a drive from Zakynthos Town, with no bus service.
Ancient Olympia
The birthplace of the Olympic Games, with the original stadium track still walkable. The on-site museum holds the Hermes of Praxiteles, one of the finest surviving ancient Greek sculptures.
📍 Olympia, Peloponnese
🚉 Nearest station: Olympia, on the restored branch from Pyrgos in the Peloponnese, a few minutes' walk from the site; most visitors arrive instead by KTEL bus from Pyrgos or Patras.
Island Hopping the Cyclades
Ferries link Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and the rest of the Cyclades closely enough to combine two or three in one trip - book faster high-speed ferries in peak season, as they sell out.
📍 Cyclades Islands
🚉 Piraeus and Rafina are the mainland ferry ports - Piraeus is the end of Metro line 1, and Rafina is reached by KTEL bus from Athens airport, which is often the faster start.
Mark Greece, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Greece?
A week suits Athens plus one island. Two weeks lets you add a second island and slow down - island hopping works better with two or three nights per stop than a rushed one-night circuit.
What's the best time to visit Greece?
May-June and September have warm weather, open ferry schedules, and thinner crowds than midsummer. July-August are hottest and busiest on the islands; many smaller islands' ferry schedules shrink considerably outside April-October.
Is Greece good for a first-time visit?
Yes - Athens plus one accessible island like Santorini or Mykonos is a well-worn, easy first route, with frequent flights and ferries connecting them.
Do I need a visa to visit Greece?
Greece is part of the Schengen Area, so citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa arranged in advance. Check the official visa information for your nationality: mfa.gr.
What are some things to do in Greece on a tight budget?
Greece's state archaeological sites and museums, including the Acropolis, are free on certain designated free-entry days throughout the year - check current dates before you go. Walking Athens' Plaka district and most beaches cost nothing.
Can I rent a car in Greece, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and on the larger islands it is the only way to reach the beaches the buses skip. EU and EEA licences are valid as issued. Non-EU visitors are legally required to carry an International Driving Permit alongside the home licence, and Greek police and rental desks both enforce this - it is the most common reason a hire is refused at the counter. Minimum age is typically 21, often 23 for larger cars, with a young-driver fee under 25. Official information sits with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport at yme.gr, with the citizen portal at gov.gr; cars come from Hertz, Avis and Europcar.