Known for its plethora of ancient ruins, whitewashed villages, sunny beaches, tasty cuisine and friendly atmosphere, it is no wonder that Greece ranks among Europe’s top travel destinations. Greece is made up of a mountainous mainland and hundreds of islands where each one offers its own share of stunning landscapes, historic sites, nightlife scenes and cultural delights. An overview of the best places to visit in Greece:
10
Places to Visit in Greece
Cape
Sounion
Situated at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula,
Cape Sounion is best known as the site of the ruins of the ancient Greek temple
of Poseidon, the god of the sea. The remains are perched on the headland,
surrounded on three sides by the sea. The site is a popular day-excursion for
tourists from Athens, with sunset over the Aegean Sea, as viewed from the
ruins,
a sought-after spectacle.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is Greece’s second-largest city and the capital
city of the Macedonian region of Northern Greece. Lively festivals, social
events and a buzzing nightlife make this city the cultural capital of Greece.
Comprised of a historic city center and commercial district, Thessaloniki
offers both old and new attractions from its Byzantine walls, White Tower and
Turkish baths to colorful food markets, museums and art galleries.
Zagori
Zagori is a region of great natural beauty, with striking geology
and two national parks, in northwestern Greece. It’s dense forests and rugged
mountains are furrowed by powerful rivers and dotted with traditional villages,
many featuring grand stone houses dating from the late eighteenth century. The
best way to enjoy the area is by hiking the numerous paths connecting the
villages. The most accessible and rewarding target is the wonderful Víkos
Gorge.
Halkidiki
Halkidiki is a trident-like peninsula near the city of
Thessaloniki, sporting excellent beaches. The three separate peninsulas can be
roughly summarized as follows: Kassandra has the nightlife, Sithonia has the
beaches and Athos has the monks. Being closest to Thessaloniki, Kassandra is
more built-up, while the more quiet Sithonia has campgrounds, hidden coves and
clear waters. Both are popular with Greek and Eastern European tourists. Much
of the easternmost peninsula belongs to the Mount Athos monastic community.
It’s accessible by boat and open to male pilgrims only.
Peloponnese
Shaped much like a large leaf, Peloponnese was traditionally
called Morea, which means mulberry leaf. Located in the southernmost region of
both Europe and Greece, Peloponnese is a wide peninsula connected to the
mainland by the Rio-Antirrio bridge. Interspersed with classical Greek temples,
Venetian fortresses, Byzantine churches and Mycenaean palaces, Peloponnese
echoes the ancient cultures and events from its extensive history.
Delphi
Second to the Acropolis in Athens, Delphi is Greece’s most
popular archaeological site. Located about two and half hours from Athens along
the slopes of the awe-inspiring Mount Parnassus, Delphi was once revered by the
ancient Greeks as the center of the earth.
Meteora
The Greek word meteora means “suspended in the air,” and this
phrase aptly describes the spectacular cliffs that rise more than 1,200 feet
(366 meters) into the air overlooking the villages of Kalambaka and Kastraki in
the north central mainland of Greece. What makes these cliffs even more
inspiring are the historic monasteries perched along the summits. Dating back
to the 14th and 16th centuries, these monasteries were built by monks seeking
spiritual isolation and freedom from religious persecution.
Crete
The largest of the Greek islands, Crete is a spacious land of
pleasing contrasts where landscapes range from stunning coastline to rugged
mountains and rolling countryside dotted with olive trees. Bustling metropolitan
cities spread beyond to quiet villages centered around outdoor coffee shops.
Steeped in history, Crete still bears archaeological traces of the many
civilizations that inhabited it down through the centuries.
Athens
Inhabited for more than 3,000 years, Athens is widely known
as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. The city
presents a confusing blend of historical and modern features. Athens is famous
for its archaeological ruins and monuments such as the famous Acropolis, the
Parthenon, the Ancient Agora and the Theatre of Dionysos just to name a few.
Greek
Islands
The beautiful and exotic Greek islands lure droves of
tourists every year, making them one of the world’s top travel destinations.
With more than 2,000 islands to choose from they may initially be bewildered by
their number and variety. From gorgeous beaches, ancient ruins, colorful harbors
and active volcanoes the Greek islands have it all.
Part of the Cyclades group, Santorini is among the most
picturesque islands and definitely one of the best places to visit in Greece.
Also part of the Cyclades, Mykonos features a modern, cosmopolitan society
blended with traditional whitewashed houses and maze-like streets. Located in
the Aegean Sea near the coast of Turkey, Rhodes is the capital and largest
island of the Dodecanese archipelago, popular for its great beaches and
historical significance. The northernmost of Greece’s Ionian Islands, Corfu was
controlled by many foreign powers, notably the Venetians and British, which is
reflected in its culture and the architecture on the island.
About PRABISH BISHUNGKHE
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