Explore Greece’s Cities: Top Things to Do in Athens and Beyond

Check out this go-to rundown of cool stuff to try in Greece - think old-school temples plus gorgeous island vibes. Wander through spots worth visiting, fun ways to spend time there, or just figure out where to head for a trip you won't forget. We’ve pulled together key sights, local favorites, hidden corners, and well-known hangouts across the country - all packed tight.

Greece pulls in tons of travelers every year - thanks to old-world charm, sparkling seas, and lively local life. If you’re hunting for top sights or looking into fun things to try while visiting Greece, these 15 picks deliver both excitement and chill time.

You’ll get real talk on legends from the past, how to hop between islands smoothly, tasty food customs, plus smart ways to stay connected - all reasons why people keep coming back.

1. Explore the Acropolis in Athens

Athens is where Western culture began - most travelers head straight to the famous Acropolis. The site, recognized by UNESCO, holds old ruins that hint at myths and thinkers from long ago. Perched over the lively streets, it gives sweeping sights showing how deep Greek history runs.

Begin at the Parthenon - a shrine for Athena, deity of smart choices - erected in the 400s BC while Pericles was calling the shots. Those sturdy stone pillars, worn down by centuries, smog, and a blast from an old Turkish ammo dump, still show off flawless structure work that shaped buildings worldwide once artists woke up during the Renaissance. Back then, traveler Pausanias wrote about it around AD 160 in his guidebook called Description of Greece

“As you enter the temple that they name the Parthenon … the statue itself is made of ivory and gold.”

Near the spot, you’ll find the Erechtheion’s carved women - these graceful forms act like pillars, built smart back in ancient times; the real ones are kept safe today inside the Acropolis Museum so weather won’t wear them down.

Head down to the Theatre of Dionysus - this is where Greek tragedies first began, back when writers like Sophocles showed off plays such as Oedipus Rex. Go early in the day if you want fewer people around, then hit up the Acropolis Museum afterward. There, you’ll find things like the Parthenon Frieze, which helps explain how folks lived in ancient Athens. If you’re working online while traveling, pick up a Greece eSIM so you can post pictures instantly, no extra charges; check out our Greece eSIM guide for plans that give solid internet speed whether you're downtown or far from the city.

A handy heads-up: entry’s about €20, works for several spots - like the Old Agora - so grab it online through Greece’s Culture Department page to dodge queues. Tag on a walk through Plaka, snag souvlaki at small eateries, where neighbors chat about how ruins stood strong during battles and rebuilds shaped by builders such as Pheidias.

2. Witness Santorini's Iconic Sunsets in Oia

Santorini’s volcano rim sets the stage for epic sunsets that pull in dreamers from everywhere. The island mixes bright-white buildings with blue rooftops, looking like something out of a picture book. Up above on rocky edges, Oia sits tight - offering the best seat around.

Crowds show up at the old castle just to see the sea lit up in reds and oranges, a view folks have loved forever - some say it sparked stories such as The Magus by Fowles. Stroll along tight stone lanes flanked by houses covered in bright pink blooms, small stores offering handmade trinkets made from cooled lava, also tucked-away spots where modern Hellenic painters display their work. Down below, dark sand shores including Perissa or Red Beach call you into soothing water packed with natural minerals from eruptions, said to help your skin feel better.

Hiking the 10km path from Fira to Oia if you want jaw-dropping caldera sights, colorful blooms in spring, or peace away from big crowds - takes around three hours when pausing for pics. Instead of just drinking wine anywhere, try local Assyrtiko at small wineries such as Santo Wines, where vines grow right in volcanic dirt that gives the flavor a sharp edge; most tours here come with epic cliffside views. To keep posting without stress, grab an eSIM from SimCorner made for Greece so your sunset clips go online smoothly, even high up on rocky edges.

Try going on a weekday if you want fewer crowds; catch a ferry from Piraeus in Athens - it’s doable in one day - or stay overnight in cozy cave rooms dug into soft volcanic rock. Check out the sunset as you munch on grilled fish near Ammoudi Bay - get there by hiking down roughly 300 steps; locals grill octopus gently over firelight.

3. Hike the Samaria Gorge in Crete

Come to Crete - the largest island in Greece - where rugged landscapes grab adventure seekers by surprise. Carving through sharp cliffs within a safeguarded UN area, Samaria Gorge runs ten miles, earning its spot as Europe’s longest gorge trek. Walk it when you’re after steep ascents paired with stunning scenery along with rare plants and wildlife.

Begin at the Omalos plateau, perched high at 1,200 meters - then drop into narrow gorges cutting deep through rock. The path narrows to just three meters wide at the Iron Gates, where walls shoot up 300 meters, turning the route into a raw crack carved by time. Watch for Kri-kri goats sneaking along edges; they live only here, nibbling leaves near pine stands, fresh streams, or tough herbs like Cretan dittany - the kind ancient helpers once boiled for cures.

Finish line? Agia Roumeli’s shore, where stones kiss the Libyan Sea, is perfect for a refreshing swim after your 5-to-7-hour hike.

Open from May through October because it shuts in winter, this trail works if you're fairly active; pack tough footwear, carry 2 liters of water, then set off around 6 a.m. so you miss the afternoon sun. Drink plenty along the way - there’s hardly anything past halfway where you can refill. After finishing, hop on a boat to Chora Sfakion and grab something fresh like grilled swordfish at seaside eateries. A local SIM gives steady signal across Greece, letting you post updates or run navigation without the internet.

Here’s a heads-up: grab your tour tickets from the Samaria park office to hear about old Minoan trails around there - also get pointers on finding those uncommon flowers. If you’d rather keep it light, go for Imbros Gorge instead; only 8km long, smoother ground, good for kids.

4. Visit Delphi's Ancient Oracle

Perched on the hills of Mount Parnessos, Delphi was seen as the center of the old world in legends. At this spot, women known as the Pythia spoke Apollo’s predictions, steering rulers, warriors, or folks like Croesus from Lydia. Even today, its sacred vibe lives on - mixing ruins and mystery among olive trees and soaring birds.

Check out the Temple of Apollo - locals once breathed gas from a crack in the ground while dishing prophecies. Nearby, an old-school theatre holds space for 5k people, all facing the Pleistos Valley. Snap shots at the Tholos near Athena’s shrine; twenty round pillars stand strong, pulling lens lovers and balance seekers alike. Inside the dig museum, find the Charioteer - a bronze rider cast way back in 478 BC during sacred games, saved by smart metal tricks from antiquity.

A quick visit from Athens shows where the Pythian Games began - before the Olympics - with horse-drawn races along with song competitions. Climb up to the Corycian Cave, tied in legend to Pan and Dionysus, to feel a bit of ancient mystery. With an eSIM for Greece, your maps keep running smoothly, even on narrow, twisty paths far from cities.

Historians at the Delphi Archaeological Museum - run by Greece’s Culture Ministry - say it helped shape early democratic ideas, since Solon based some laws on oracle messages. Alongside, you’ll try honey from Mount Parnassos plus herbal teas picked nearby.

5. Relax on Mykonos Beaches

Mykonos hums with lively crowds, where beach scenes mix wild parties with quiet moments across soft dunes. Sun seekers lounge on shores kissed by clear blue waves, while others dive into action - kayaking or just watching for famous faces. Standing tall above it all, old stone windmills bring a classic island feel to the coast.

Paradise Beach comes alive with spots like Tropicana, where big-name DJs spin tracks while foam dances fill the night scene. Over at quiet Elia Beach - stretching 4km - you’ll find gentle waters, sand courts for volley games, plus local eateries dishing out charred octopus under open skies. Explore underwater nooks packed with fish using a mask, or grab a board and ride gusts driven by steady Meltemi breezes.

Rent a scooter or ATV to zip around quicker - check out Little Venice for sunset drinks by seaside cafés, with waves pounding old pirate-resistant homes from the 1500s. According to Shahzeb Shaikh, who started SimCorner, being online in lively places such as Mykonos helps you dive into local culture, just like noticing a place’s signs makes travel richer

Grab a Greece SIM ahead of time so your tunes keep playing and rides work without hiccups. If you're with kids, try Platis Gialos - calm waves plus fun water slides make it a solid pick.

6. Discover Meteora Monasteries

Meteora’s huge rock columns rise up, each crowned with old monasteries - some still used, others left behind - from the 1300s to 1500s, giving off a quiet, sacred vibe. Found in central Greece, this protected area mixes centuries-old religious roots alongside wild natural formations built slowly through tens of millions of years. Back then, monks climbed near-vertical walls using woven ropes or wooden crates; today, walkways help people reach the peaks easier.

Check out Great Meteoron - it started back in 1343 thanks to Athanasios the Meteorite - packed with bright 1500s wall paintings showing Bible moments along with quiet holy figures inside the main chapel. Over at Varlaam Monastery, you get sweeping sights from a cliff top rising 70 meters; there's also that famous giant cask storing 12,000 litres of wine, standing for monks living off their own work. Walk linked paths where eagles soar above while spotting delicate wild peonies flowering now and then.

Dress simply - cover your shoulders and legs below the knee; no photos allowed inside out of respect. Instead of just visiting monasteries, check out Kalambakas Byzantine museum or nearby beekeepers making honey. If getting around is tough, grab a Greek eSIM that lets you tour online with live panoramic video.

Cultural depth: Mentioned in Orthodox writings about hesychasm, Meteora gave refuge to monks escaping Ottoman attacks. When you visit at sunset, light spills softly across the fields.

7. Tour Knossos Palace on Crete

Knossos reveals the Minoans - Europe’s first high-level culture around 2000 BCE, showing up before the Mycenaeans did. This sprawling complex sparked tales like the Minotaur one, tied to the story of Theseus; it held more than 1,300 spaces used for ruling, ceremonies, or fancy homes. Bright wall paintings show people jumping over bulls - known as taurokathapsia - suggesting lively traditions plus surprisingly equal roles across life. Plumbing here was way ahead of its time, while art bursts with energy instead of stiff formality.

Stroll through huge chambers brought back to life - check out the big throne made of white stone, painted walls showing fierce lion-bird creatures, also giant clay pots once filled with oil and wine for trading. Way back in the 1900s, a UK digger named Arthur Evans dug around here; records at the Heraklion museum show he fixed parts up with modern materials so folks could see how flashy it looked - but many weren’t happy about that choice. Just down the hill sits the puzzling Phaistos Disk covered in strange ancient signs nobody’s cracked yet, making everything feel even weirder.

Fusing Rethymno’s 16th-century Venetian fortress with Ottoman minarets shapes multicultural Crete. While digital links through SimCorner eSIM sync travel plans across island buses. Apps offer guided audio walks, uncovering royal living quarters - drainage setups here even challenge today’s tech.

8. Island-Hop the Cyclades

Cyclades islands like Naxos and Paros - Antiparos too - give a taste of everyday Greece, far from packed resorts, scattered through an airy archipelago with over 200 islets. On Naxos stands the Portara - a massive 6-meter stone gateway rising since 530 BCE, meant for a temple to Apollo left incomplete - it faces east so sunrise blazes straight through at dawn. Over on Paros, explore Naoussa’s tight harbor where narrow whitewashed paths lead to warm seafood tavernas, once hideouts for pirates taking cover.

Ferry rides with Blue Star or SeaJets get you to spots such as Kolymbithres in Paros - granite rocks shape cool swimming holes - or head to Agios Prokopios on Naxos where sand feels soft underfoot. Walk old Byzantine trails up to mountain towns like Apeiranthos, once famous for emery digging and paved with stone lanes. Hidden helpers, say ferry timetables across Greece or smart moves for jumping islands, keep your trip running smooth.

LSIs included: the ideal period to explore Greece is spring, when wildflowers bloom. To reach Greek islands, use ferries - reserve tickets on the Ferryhopper app. Opt for family-run agrotourism stays where you can try citron liqueur made from fresh citrus leaves.

9. Stroll Athens' Ancient Agora

Agora hummed with life when ancient Athens thrived - Socrates argued here, Aristotle gave lessons, while locals cast votes using broken pottery pieces. Built in 449 BCE, the nearly intact Temple of Hephaestus still rises as the world’s finest surviving example of a Doric-style shrine, honoring the deity of metalworkers. Crumbled stoa buildings once held shops, court hearings, alongside thinkers such as Zeno who shaped early Stoicism.

The Stoa of Attalos onsite holds pots, old money, or broken tiles etched with names such as Themistocles. As night falls, paths blend ancient spots with today’s city - think Monastiraki’s bargain stalls mixed with painted walls. A must-hit if you’re into the Greek past and crave hands-on time with antiquity.

Visit the Roman Agora close by - also check out Hadrian’s Library; you can get in free at certain times using EU mobile tools.

10. Sail the Ionian Islands

Corfu, Zakynthos - Kefalonia shine thanks to old Venetian styles mixed with bright blue coves, nothing like the dry islands in the Aegean. Over on Zakynthos, Navagio Beach pulls crowds with that sunken freighter from 1980; you can't reach it without a small boat sailing below towering 200-meter rock walls. The Blue Caves close by light up in cool shades of aqua when sunlight bends through the water.

Go snorkeling, take a kayak out, or see loggerhead turtles laying eggs at Laganas Beach on Zakynthos - this area’s looked after by the marine park team. Cruises through the Ionian Sea are getting more attention, pushing up interest in private boat rentals. Walk the Corfu Trail to pass old olive fields and wartime shelters from World War II.

11. Experience Epidaurus Theatre

Epidaurus’ 300s BCE theater carries quiet voices through 14,000 stone steps - design so sharp, today’s experts still study it. Built inside a holy medical site honoring Asclepius, shows here worked alongside plant-based cures. Named by UNESCO thanks to layout that blocks echo dead-on.

Catch live shows this summer at the Athens-Epidaurus Festival - Aeschylus drama under open skies. Linked to ancient healing practices through round temple rooms used by Hippocratic physicians.

12. Wander Olympia’s Olympic Site

When the Olympic Games started back in 776 BCE - athletes ran sprints naked to honor Zeus. Inside stood a massive temple where Pheidias built his giant golden statue, tall as a four-story building. That wonder vanished after flames destroyed it. Now the museum shows old torch traditions along with ancient discus scenes.

Follow the old path - Olympic past comes alive through LSI’s vivid recreations.

13. Cruise to Hydra Island

Hydra’s streets - no cars allowed - are lined with old-school captain homes from the 1800s, fancy boats docked by A-listers, while donkeys haul folks uphill. Instead of traffic, you’ll find bold art at spots like Chryssa Rogue’s gallery, whereas Peasant Beach swaps sand for smooth stones and diving off rocky edges.

14. Taste Greek Cuisine in Tavernas

Layered moussaka or street gyros - both show Ottoman, Byzantine roots. At Athens’ Varvakios Market, stalls pile high with feta, olives, plus spice sacks. On islands, dishes such as fava mash come with ouzo on the side. Tours focused on Greek eats often include a stop at Athens Central Market.

15. Visit Virginia Royal Tombs

Folks found golden crowns, carved ivory inside graves of Macedonian rulers - take Philip II, Alexander’s dad. Close to Thessaloniki, old palace ruins at Aigai stun visitors; dome ceilings painted bright. This spot’s under UNESCO protection.

Stay Connected on Your Greek Odyssey with SimCorner

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FAQs: Top Things to do in Greece

What are the top things to do in Greece for first-time tourists?

Start with the Acropolis if it’s your first trip - great for ancient vibes. Head to Santorini by late afternoon, the best time for those dreamy views. Pick Crete when you just want to chill on sand and sea. Each spot mixes cool stories with jaw-dropping sights. You can hop between them using boats or short planes. Grab an eSIM so you don’t get lost pulling up maps. Summer gets packed, no surprise there - but aim for early fall or spring instead.

What to do in Greece in 7 days?

Spend your first couple of days in Athens - check out the Agora, wander through some museums. After that, hop a ferry to Santorini for two full days: hit up scenic trails, taste local wines. Next stop? Mykonos, where sandy shores wait. Fit in a side journey to Delphi one afternoon. Most Greek adventures revolve around island life; having an eSIM from Greece keeps things running easy when you're jumping between boats.

When’s the ideal moment to see Greece’s top places?

Spring or autumn brings calm temps, less hassle at top spots across Greece - think Meteora. Skip the summer rush when it’s scorching hot. Greek destinations come alive during local events; look up dates for Easter vibes or grape picking seasons.

What’s the price tag on activities in Greece?

Around €100–150 per day pays for spots like the Acropolis at €20, food costing about €15, also ferry rides around €40. Some top spots in Greece - say, hiking Samaria - are totally free to enter. Using an eSIM helps dodge high roaming fees while traveling. All in, a weeklong visit runs between €800 and €1,200 without plane tickets, depending on comfort level.

What can you do in Greece without spending money?

Hike through Samaria Gorge, then jump from one Mykonos beach to another - wander around Plaka’s lanes after that. In Greece, check out the old Agora remains, where sunset hangouts are usually free. Watching dusk fall in Oia won’t drain your wallet; bring snacks along while hopping on local buses to save more.