Sights & Attractions in Greece

With its long and colorful history, and the natural wonders that it contains, the list of attractions in Greece can be very lengthy. So to help you out, here's a brief list of popular sights in Greece that you have to visit especially if it's your first time there.


Acropolis in Athens
This "Sacred Rock" was the focal point of art, architecture and knowledge during the 5th century BC. After the establishment of democracy and under the charismatic leadership of Pericles, many historical monuments were built during that time. One of these is the Parthenon, a temple to honor the Greek goddess Athena. The Doric-style architecture exhibited by the Parthenon is the finest in the whole world, so much so that this historical structure has become the epitome of Greek architecture. A trip in Acropolis will also allow you to marvel at other monuments such as the Theatre of Dionysus and the Propylae. More Athens attractions.

National Archaeological Museum
Athens itself contains so many sites to visit so do not think of hopping into a bus out of Athens yet if what you’ve visited is only the Acropolis. The National Archaeological Museum should be on top of your list if you're intending to visit any museum in Greece. The biggest museum in the country, it houses some 20,000 exhibits that were excavated in archaeological sites all over Greece. The structure of the museum itself is already worth the visit – the neoclassical building erected towards the end of the nineteenth century is impressive.

Olympia
The ancient ruins at Olympia are probably the most popular tourist attraction in Greece. This is due to the fact that Olympia is the birthplace of the Olympics. Starting in 776 B.C., athletic competitions were organized every four years in honor of Zeus. It is of no wonder, therefore, that the Temple of Zeus is situated here. Before its destruction, it housed a magnificent gold and ivory statue of Zeus. Another popular temple found in Olympia is that of Hera, Zeus' wife, where the table that contains garlands for the games' victors once stood. Other structures related to the Olympics are the Stadium and Hippodrome, the setting of the ancient games; the Prytaneion, where the original Olympic flame once burned; and the Gymansium, where athletes train for a month before the competition. More about Olympia.

The Monasteries at Meteora
In Meteora, twenty-four monasteries were originally perched above sky-high rocks, although only six remain today. The landscape is truly amazing. The monasteries are built on top of the natural pinnacles, apparently with great difficulty. Despite that, the monks persisted to build the structures starting on the 15th century. This is one of the must-see sights in Greece if you have time to visit areas outside of Athens.

Cretan Gorges
If you wish to get away from tourist buses and want to commune with nature while hiking, you may opt to visit several fascinating gorges in Crete. The Samaria Gorge in western Crete ranks among the top attractions in Greece. It’s the longest gorge in Europe, an 18-km stretch of exceptional and unspoiled. Although Samaria is the most significant gorge in Crete, there are also other important gorges such as the Imbros, Aradena and Tipoliano.