Top Ten Things to Do in Greece

The Top Ten Things to Do in Greece include seeing the Acropolis and Parthenon, visiting the National Archaeological Museum, and seeing ancient sites like Knossos on Crete.

The Acropolis and Parthenon is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsThe Acropolis and Parthenon

Choosing the ten best things to do in Greece is of course an impossible task. But then again, if we tried listing twenty, or even fifty, there would still always be more great places and experiences that we'd want to include. 

However, we wanted to try to see what we came up with. The Acropolis with the Parthenon sitting on top of it is an obvious inclusion in any list of the best things to do in Greece, as is the wonderful National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Knossos on Crete is a must, but what would our other choices be? Well, after much thought and discussion, here is our list in no particular order.

Our Top Ten Things to Do in Greece

The Acropolis and Parthenon

The Acropolis is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsThe Acropolis

Although our list of the Top Ten Things to Do in Greece is in no special order, this would be number one in whatever order you chose - even alphabetical! If you take the bus in from the airport, nothing beats your first sight of the Parthenon sitting on top of the Acropolis in the heart of the city. Even after many visits to Athens, we still find it a stirring sight. We love walking up to the Acropolis through the narrow winding streets of Anafiotika, the secret village on the slopes of the hill, and seeing the Parthenon is like greeting an old friend. See our page on the Acropolis for more details.

National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsStatue of Zeus in the National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is undoubtedly one of the world's greatest museums, and certainly the finest in Greece. Many of the world's major museums display treasures from all over the world, but what's remarkable about this museum is that its collection is made up almost exclusively Greek items. It shows the astonishing wealth of Greek history and culture. See our full page on the National Archaeological Museum.

Knossos

Visiting Knossos on Crete is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsKnossos

Knossos is Crete's number one archaeological site, and has been described as Europe's oldest city. It's thought to go back to about 7,000BC, but was at its height when it became the center of the Minoan civilisation. The ruins of its main palace, and many other buildings, are breathtaking and vividly bring the ancient city to life. See our Knossos page for more details.

Delos

Visiting Delos near Mykonos in the Cyclades is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsDelos

Delos is unique, as the entire island is an archaeological site which you can only visit by boat from Mykonos. No-one is allowed to live on the island today, but it was first inhabited in about 3,000BC. Archaeologists are still excavating the site, which is one of the most important in the entire Mediterranean, and still making new discoveries. See our Delos page for more information.

The Old Town of Rhodes

Seeing the Old Town of Rhodes is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsIn the Old Town of Rhodes

The Old Town in the city of Rhodes is a World Heritage Site, one of many in Greece. It's one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe, with some magnificent buildings, narrow alleyways, walls you can walk round, and surprises around every corner. To learn more, follow our Walk in the Old Town of Rhodes.

Santorini

Visiting Santorini is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsOia on Santorini

Every Greek island is different and special, and it's hard to single out one, but Santorini is truly unique. It owes this to a spectacular event when it suffered one of the largest volcanic explosions ever recorded. Originally Santorini was one large island but the explosion in about the 17th century BC, split it into several smaller islands and created the caldera which filled with water to create the Santorini we see today.

The explosion was so great that it sent a giant Tsunami all the way to Crete, 110 km (68 miles) away, which is thought to have caused the mysterious end of the Minoan civilisation. We have several Santorini pages which you can access via our main Santorini page.

Mount Olympus

Seeing Mount Olympus is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsMount Olympus

No list of the top ten things to do in Greece would be complete without including Mount Olympus, the legendary home of the Greek Gods. It's also the highest mountain in Greece at 2917m (9570ft), and wasn't conquered by man until 1913. It's a spectacular sight that you can see if you drive the main Athens-Thessaloniki highway. See our separate page on Mount Olympus.

Samaria Gorge

Hiking the Samaria Gorge on Crete is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsNear the Start of the Samaria Gorge

The Samaria Gorge on Crete is the longest gorge in Greece and one of the longest in Europe. It's about 18km (11.25 miles) in length, and hiking down it from mountains to sea is the second most popular activity on Crete, after visiting Knossos. Around half a million people a year complete the hike, so read our account of Hiking the Samaria Gorge when we were two of them one year.

Ancient Olympia

Seeing the ruins of Ancient Olympia in the Peloponnese is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsThe Ruins of Ancient Olympia

The Olympic Games were first officially held in 776BC, and continued to be held here at this site in the Peloponnese every four years for the next thousand years. The temples and other buildings here are now in ruins, but the fact that the original running track still exists is powerfully moving when you see it. See our full page on Ancient Olympia.

Meteora

Seeing the monasteries of Meteora is one of the top ten things to do in Greece according to Greece Travel SecretsMeteora

In compiling this list of the ten best things to do in Greece, we've tried to choose those places that are unique, and that you'll see nowhere else in the world, like Delos, Santorini, and Ancient Olympia. That certainly applies to Meteora, and it was hard to choose between Meteora and Mount Athos. The fact that anyone can easily visit the monasteries of Meteora, but only men can visit Mount Athos, and only then with a permit, makes us favour Meteora.

The monasteries here, which perch on top of dramatic rock formations that thrust up out of the Plain of Thessaly, are remarkable. In fact the rocks themselves would be reason enough to visit, but to see the monasteries too, and be able to visit them, definitely makes this one of the Top Ten Things to Do in Greece.

Our Pick of the Guides to Greece

Rough-Guide-Greece-2022.png

Other general Greek pages

  • Greece for beginners is an introduction to Greece and the Greek islands by way of a memoir by travel writer Mike Gerrard about discovering Greek kindness.

    Greece for Beginners

    Greece for beginners is an introduction to Greece and the Greek islands by way of a memoir by travel writer Mike Gerrard about discovering Greek kindness.

  • Greece Travel Secrets chooses six of the best beaches in Greece including beaches on Corfu, Santorini, Crete, Lefkas, Kefalonia and on the Peloponnese.

    Six of the Best Beaches in Greece

    Greece Travel Secrets chooses six of the best beaches in Greece including beaches on Corfu, Santorini, Crete, Lefkas, Kefalonia and on the Peloponnese.

  • The nomads of Greece are the Vlachs, nomadic shepherds whose capital is Metsovo in the Pindus Mountains, and the Sarakatsani, shepherds in Macedonia and Thrace.

    The Nomads of Greece

    The nomads of Greece are the Vlachs, nomadic shepherds whose capital is Metsovo in the Pindus Mountains, and the Sarakatsani, shepherds in Macedonia and Thrace.

  • The ten best places to visit in Greece include Athens, Thessaloniki, the Greek islands of Crete, Mykonos and Santorini, and sites like Epidavros and Delphi.

    Ten Best Places to Visit in Greece

    The ten best places to visit in Greece include Athens, Thessaloniki, the Greek islands of Crete, Mykonos and Santorini, and sites like Epidavros and Delphi.

  • Greek music is the sound of the bouzouki and tunes like Zorba the Greek and Never on Sunday are heard everywhere, while rembetika is called the blues of Greece.

    Greek Music

    Greek music is the sound of the bouzouki and tunes like Zorba the Greek and Never on Sunday are heard everywhere, while rembetika is called the blues of Greece.

  • Weddings in Greece and the Greek islands can be luxury or cheap, are easy to arrange from the UK or USA in Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes.

    Weddings in Greece

    Weddings in Greece and the Greek islands can be luxury or cheap, are easy to arrange from the UK or USA in Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes.

  • Greece Travel Secrets Greek Ferry Guide page uses an extract from the Aferry Greece website with advice on island-hopping, buying tickets online and timetables.

    Greek Ferry Guide

    Greece Travel Secrets Greek Ferry Guide page uses an extract from the Aferry Greece website with advice on island-hopping, buying tickets online and timetables.

  • This beginner's guide to Greek architecture explains how to tell your Ionic from your Doric columns, and what to look for in temples and Byzantine churches.

    Greek Architecture

    This beginner's guide to Greek architecture explains how to tell your Ionic from your Doric columns, and what to look for in temples and Byzantine churches.

  • Greece may be better known for its beautiful islands but it is also a country of dramatic mountain landscapes, and here are the ten highest mountains in Greece.

    Ten Highest Mountains in Greece

    Greece may be better known for its beautiful islands but it is also a country of dramatic mountain landscapes, and here are the ten highest mountains in Greece.

  • The ten biggest cities in Greece start with Athens and Thessaloniki, followed by Patras and several suburbs of Athens which are Greek cities in their own right.

    Ten Biggest Cities in Greece

    The ten biggest cities in Greece start with Athens and Thessaloniki, followed by Patras and several suburbs of Athens which are Greek cities in their own right.

  • Greece Travel Secrets lists four of the best destinations if you want to go sailing in the Greek islands.

    Sailing in the Greek Islands

    Greece Travel Secrets lists four of the best destinations if you want to go sailing in the Greek islands.

  • There are many Greek language films available to watch on streaming services or to buy on DVD from places like Amazon and providing insights into Greek culture.

    Greek-Language Films

    There are many Greek language films available to watch on streaming services or to buy on DVD from places like Amazon and providing insights into Greek culture.

  • Luxury Weddings in Greece, including venues such as a boutique hotel with deluxe spa on Santorini, can be booked through Ionian Weddings.

    Luxury Weddings in Greece

    Luxury Weddings in Greece, including venues such as a boutique hotel with deluxe spa on Santorini, can be booked through Ionian Weddings.

  • Practical information on travelling around Greece by plane, by ferry, by bus, by train and by driving, including car rental, parking and other driving advice.

    Travelling Around Greece

    Practical information on travelling around Greece by plane, by ferry, by bus, by train and by driving, including car rental, parking and other driving advice.

  • Greece at a glance is a potted guide to the Greek currency, language, weather, health requirements and other information to help you plan a trip to Greece.

    Greece At A Glance: Currency, Weather and Other Useful Information

    Greece at a glance is a potted guide to the Greek currency, language, weather, health requirements and other information to help you plan a trip to Greece.

  • The home of the Greek Gods was the top of Mount Olympus, and among the better-known Gods and Goddesses in the Greek pantheon were Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite.

    The Greek Gods

    The home of the Greek Gods was the top of Mount Olympus, and among the better-known Gods and Goddesses in the Greek pantheon were Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite.

  • The Greece Travel Secrets guide to tipping in Greece from two Greece travel experts, including when to tip, what to tip and when not to tip.

    Tipping in Greece

    The Greece Travel Secrets guide to tipping in Greece from two Greece travel experts, including when to tip, what to tip and when not to tip.

  • How to choose which Greek island from six of the most popular, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Kefalonia and Zakynthos.

    Which Greek Island?

    How to choose which Greek island from six of the most popular, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Kefalonia and Zakynthos.

  • The Top Ten Biggest Greek Islands, the largest in size, are listed by Greece Travel Secrets and include Crete, Evia, Lesbos and Rhodes.

    Top Ten Biggest Greek Islands

    The Top Ten Biggest Greek Islands, the largest in size, are listed by Greece Travel Secrets and include Crete, Evia, Lesbos and Rhodes.

  • This quick guide to Greece gives advice on choosing the best Greek destination for your holiday, whether in the Greek islands or the mainland.

    Quick Guide to Greece: How to Choose the Best Destination for You

    This quick guide to Greece gives advice on choosing the best Greek destination for your holiday, whether in the Greek islands or the mainland.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. Greece’s November 20 Strike to Disrupt Ferry Services and Public Transport

    A 24-hour nationwide strike is set to disrupt transportation in Athens and travel across Greece on Wednesday, November 20, as public transport and ferry employees join a general strike organized by Gr…

    Read More

  2. Museum of Modern Greek Culture

    A New Cultural Jewel in Plaka

    Read More

  3. Zakynthos: Greek Draft Law Plans Ticket Requirement for Navagio Beach

    Visitors to Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) on the island of Zakynthos will be required to purchase tickets for entrance once it reopens to the public, according to a new draft law proposed by the Gre…

    Read More

  4. Musicians Ex Machina Breathe New Life into Greece’s Mountain Villages

    A band of motorcycle-riding musicians is sending a powerful, melodic message from Greece's remote mountain villages that are at risk of being left deserted.

    Read More

  5. Thessaloniki Bites: 6 Fresh Culinary Gems to Savor Around the Film Festival

    With the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival in full swing, we take a look at the city’s newest cafes, bars, and restaurants, along with some exciting culinary developments in the city.

    Read More

  6. Athens Metro Lines 2 and 3 Extend Weekend Service Hours Until 2 AM

    Beginning November 1, Lines 2 and 3 of the Athens Metro will extend their Friday and Saturday night service until 2 o’clock in the morning.

    Read More

  7. History of Thessaloniki

    Alexander-the-Great-statue-Thessaloniki.jpg
    Greece Travel Secrets outlines the history of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city, from its origins through Roman times and the Ottoman period through to today.

    Read More

  8. Autumn Escapes: Discover the Timeless Charm of Ioannina

    Spend two days in Ioannina, the historic capital of the Epirus region, which is more beautiful in the autumn than any other city in Greece

    Read More

  9. The Odysseas Elytis Museum Opens in Plaka

    A new cultural landmark in Athens celebrates the life, work, and legacy of Nobel laureate Odysseas Elytis.

    Read More

  10. Gastronomos Awards 2024: Celebrating the Best Artisans of Cycladic Gastronomy

    The highly anticipated list of award-winning producers was presented in the capital of the Cyclades, Syros, by Gastronomos, Greece’s top culinary magazine, published by the newspaper Kathimerini.

    Read More