A photograph of Greece

Country guide

Theme: History in Greece — page 2

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 inha...

Photograph · George E. Koronaios · CC BY-SA 4.0

5,731 Places
2Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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.

Checked 2026-08-25

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Greek
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+30
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers the mainland and all islands

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Byzantine and Christian Museum Byzantine and Christian Museum
    07 1 hr 30 min

    Byzantine and Christian Museum

    Βυζαντινό και Χριστιανικό Μουσείο

    The Byzantine and Christian Museum is a major museum in Athens, Greece, dedicated to the preservation and display of Byzantine and post-Byzantine art and culture.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  2. National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
    08 1 hr 30 min

    National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum

    Εθνική Πινακοθήκη - Μουσείο Αλέξανδρου Σούτσου

    The National Gallery–Alexandros Soutsos Museum is Athens's national museum for modern Greek art.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  3. Museum of the City of Athens (Foundation Vourou-Eutaxia) Museum of the City of Athens (Foundation Vourou-Eutaxia)
    09 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of the City of Athens (Foundation Vourou-Eutaxia)

    Μουσείον της Πόλεως των Αθηνών

    The Museum of the City of Athens occupies the neoclassical residence of King Otto, Greece's first monarch following independence. Located on Klafthmonos Square, this historic mansion represents a significant period of Athenian urban development.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  4. Numismatic Museum of Athens Numismatic Museum of Athens
    10 1 hr 30 min

    Numismatic Museum of Athens

    Νομισματικό Μουσείο

    The Numismatic Museum of Athens is a museum dedicated to the study and display of coins, medals, and related objects. It occupies the former mansion of Heinrich Schliemann, the German archaeologist who excavated Troy and Mycenae.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  5. Temple of Hephaestus Temple of Hephaestus
    11 45 min

    Temple of Hephaestus

    Ναός Ηφαίστου

    The Temple of Hephaestus stands in the Ancient Agora of Athens, a well-preserved Doric temple dedicated to Hephaestus, god of fire and metalworking. Constructed largely of Pentelic marble, it dominates the western side of the agora.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Athens
  6. Hellenic Motor Museum Hellenic Motor Museum
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Hellenic Motor Museum

    Ελληνικό Μουσείο Αυτοκινήτου

    The Hellenic Motor Museum is an automobile museum located in Athens, Greece. It presents a collection of vehicles spanning multiple decades of automotive history.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  7. Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments
    13 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments

    Μουσείο Ελληνικών Λαϊκών Οργάνων

    The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments occupies a historic townhouse in the Plaka district beneath the Acropolis. Established through private initiative, it preserves and displays the sonic heritage of Greek regional traditions.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  8. Jewish Museum of Greece Jewish Museum of Greece
    14 1 hr 30 min

    Jewish Museum of Greece

    Εβραϊκό Μουσείο Ελλάδος

    The Jewish Museum of Greece in Athens preserves and explains the history of Jewish communities in Greece through objects, documents, images and personal traces of everyday life.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  9. Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum

    Μουσείο Κοσμήματος Ηλία Λαλαούνη

    The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum is a specialised Athens museum devoted to jewellery, decorative arts, and the work of Greek designer Ilias Lalaounis. Housed in a historic building, it connects ancient Greek visual traditions with modern wearable art.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  10. Frissiras Museum Frissiras Museum
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Frissiras Museum

    Μουσείο Φρυσίρα

    Frissiras Museum is an art museum in Athens, Greece, and a worthwhile stop for travelers who want to explore the city beyond its ancient monuments.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  11. Herakleidon Museum Herakleidon Museum
    17 1 hr 30 min

    Herakleidon Museum

    Μουσείο Ηρακλειδών

    Herakleidon Museum is a private museum in Athens, housed in a neoclassical building in the historic Thiseio district. Its programme connects art, science and education through changing exhibitions and cultural activities.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  12. Athens University Museum Athens University Museum
    18 1 hr 30 min

    Athens University Museum

    Μουσείο Ιστορίας Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών

    Athens University History Museum presents the story of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens through the people, objects and records connected with its academic life.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  13. Epigraphical Museum Epigraphical Museum
    19 1 hr 30 min

    Epigraphical Museum

    Επιγραφικό μουσείο

    The Epigraphic Museum in Athens houses the largest collection of ancient Greek inscriptions in the world. It operates as a specialized institution dedicated to the study, preservation, and display of epigraphic material.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens
  14. Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
    20 30 min

    Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

    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.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Athens
  15. Agios Eleftherios Church, Athens Agios Eleftherios Church, Athens
    21 30 min

    Agios Eleftherios Church, Athens

    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.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Athens
  16. Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea
    22 30 min

    Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea

    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.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Athens
  17. Church of the Holy Apostles Church of the Holy Apostles
    23 30 min

    Church of the Holy Apostles

    Άγιοι Απόστολοι

    The Church of the Holy Apostles is a Byzantine-era church within Athens’s Ancient Agora archaeological site.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Athens
  18. Petraki Monastery Petraki Monastery
    24 30 min

    Petraki Monastery

    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.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Athens
  19. Philopappos Monument Philopappos Monument
    25 45 min

    Philopappos Monument

    Μνημείο Φιλοπάππου

    The Philopappos Monument is an ancient funerary monument situated on Mouseion Hill, southwest of the Athenian Acropolis.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Athens
  20. Athens War Museum
    26 1 hr 30 min

    Athens War Museum

    Πολεμικό Μουσείο

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Athens

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Greece be?

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.

What entry documents are needed for Greece?

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.

What is the best way to travel around Greece?

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.

When is a practical time to visit Greece?

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.

What money and payment basics apply in Greece?

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.

What practical safety details should I save for Greece?

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.