Language · 11 published
Country guide
Greece has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean and somewhere between 1,200 and 6,000 islands depending on how an island is counted, of which 227 are inhabited. That figure is the whole planning problem. Around 10 million people live in the country's nine regions, and the three largest cities - Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras - are all on the mainland, while the 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are spread across mainland and islands alike. Most trips split accordingly: the mainland for antiquity and the mountains that fill the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, the islands for the sea, with Crete, the largest of them, big enough to fill a week on its own.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
5 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
Μητροπολιτικός Ναός Αθηνών
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, also known as the Cathedral of the Annunciation, is the principal cathedral of the Church of Greece in the capital.
Παναγία Γοργοεπήκοος και Άγιος Ελευθέριος
Little Metropolis is a small Byzantine church situated in central Athens, near the Metropolitan Cathedral. The church is also known as the Church of St.
Παναγία Καπνικαρέα
The Church of Panagia Kapnikarea is a Byzantine-era church standing prominently on Ermou Street in central Athens. It dates to the 11th century, though portions may reflect earlier construction.
Άγιοι Απόστολοι
The Church of the Holy Apostles is a Byzantine-era church within Athens’s Ancient Agora archaeological site.
Ιερά Μονή Ασωμάτων - Πετράκη
Petraki Monastery is a working Orthodox religious site in central Athens, offering a quieter encounter with the city’s ecclesiastical life than the Acropolis and its archaeological monuments.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
Eight to twelve days can cover Athens, one mainland archaeological route and one island group. Every ferry leg consumes real itinerary time, so collecting ports across several island chains is poor use of a first visit.
Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides the visa framework for entry. Passport nationality, stay length and the wider Schengen route determine whether an application is needed and where it must be lodged.
Athens is the main gateway, while ferries and domestic flights connect island groups and regional airports. Mainland buses and limited rail corridors require route-specific planning; ferry schedules should be rechecked close to travel.
April to June and September to October suit many archaeological and island itineraries without peak midsummer heat. Ferry exposure, island seasonality and mountain weather still vary by destination.
Greece prices transactions in euros (EUR). National card-acceptance and fee details are Not recorded in this bundle; confirm payment expectations with small accommodations, boat operators and remote businesses.
Greece uses 112 for emergency assistance and 230 V Type C and F sockets. A single nationwide tap-water recommendation is Not recorded, so use the relevant island or municipal guidance.
