Greece is not one holiday. Athens is a city break, the Cyclades are an island escape, Crete is a country in miniature and the mainland is a classical touring route. What you do depends on which of those you have come for — so this page is organised by the shape of the trip rather than by a list of sights.
Everything below is written for Australians travelling a long way once, rather than Europeans dropping in for a weekend. Where something needs booking months ahead, or catches people out, we say so.
Athens and the mainland
Athens
Scruffy, energetic and much better than its reputation, with the Acropolis floating above it and a food scene that has improved sharply.
- Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum
- The National Archaeological Museum
- Plaka and Anafiotika on foot
- Rooftop dinner facing the Parthenon
Delphi
The site most travellers say moved them most — a sanctuary built into a mountainside above a sea of olive trees.
- The sanctuary of Apollo and the stadium
- The bronze Charioteer
- Day trip or overnight from Athens
- Best in spring or autumn light
Meteora
Byzantine monasteries perched on sandstone pillars in central Greece, and one of the country's most photographed landscapes.
- Six working monasteries
- Sunset from the viewpoints
- Reachable by train from Athens
- Modest dress required inside
The Peloponnese
Ancient Olympia, the theatre at Epidaurus, Mycenae, and the stone towers of the Mani — the classical route without the island logistics.
- Olympia, the original stadium
- Epidaurus and its acoustics
- Nafplio as a base
- Nemea wine country nearby
The islands
Around 227 of Greece’s roughly 6,000 islands and islets are inhabited, grouped into archipelagos with quite different characters. Hopping within a group is straightforward; hopping between groups usually means routing back through Athens, which is the single thing most first-timers underestimate.
The Cyclades
The postcard islands — whitewashed villages and blue domes — and the group most first-time visitors choose.
- Santorini for the caldera
- Naxos and Paros for value and villages
- Milos for the volcanic coastline
- Ferries link them well in season
Crete
Large enough to be a holiday on its own, with mountains, gorges, Minoan palaces and a distinct food culture.
- Knossos and the Heraklion museum
- The Samaria Gorge walk
- Chania's Venetian harbour
- Hire a car — distances are real
The Ionian Islands
Greener, more Italian-influenced and gentler than the Cyclades — the better choice for families.
- Corfu's old town
- Kefalonia's beaches and caves
- Zakynthos and the shipwreck cove
- Calm water, shorter transfers
The Dodecanese
Rhodes and Kos add medieval and Ottoman layers to the island formula, close to the Turkish coast.
- Rhodes Old Town's walls
- Lindos acropolis above the bay
- Kos for cycling and ruins
- Good shoulder-season weather
Experiences worth building a day around
Island hopping
The trip most people picture when they picture Greece — and the one that needs the most planning.
- Pick one group, not three
- Two nights minimum per island
- Check sailings, not the map
- Buffer day before flying home
Ancient sites
The classical circuit is genuinely walkable in a fortnight if you stay on the mainland.
- Acropolis, Delphi, Olympia, Epidaurus
- Knossos on Crete
- Early mornings beat the heat
- Guides are worth it here
Greek food and wine
Ingredient-driven cooking, long lunches by the water, and a wine scene that is more interesting than its reputation.
- Santorini's volcanic Assyrtiko
- Nemea and Naoussa reds
- Cooking classes on Crete
- Seafood bought by weight
Beaches and swimming
Warm, clear and calm from June to October — the strongest single reason to choose Greece over Italy.
- Sarakiniko on Milos
- Balos and Elafonissi, Crete
- Organised or entirely undeveloped
- Sea warmest in September
Two things to book before you fly
The Acropolis. Entry is timed and the site runs a daily visitor cap of around 20,000. Peak-season slots sell out days ahead, and the site closes during extreme afternoon heat in summer. Take the first slot of the morning or the last of the afternoon — the light is better and the marble is cooler underfoot.
Ferries. Summer routes fill, and two islands that look close on a map may have no direct service at all. Check actual sailings before you commit to an island pair, and build in a buffer day before an international flight, because the meltemi wind can cancel Cycladic crossings at short notice.
Where this leads
Things to do is the middle of the journey. If you are still choosing the country, start further back; if you know what you want to see, go forward.
- Greece journal — comparisons and inspiration, including whether Greece or Italy suits you better
- Greece travel guide — when to go, how to get around, how long you need
- Greece tours — when you want the ferries, transfers and timing handled for you