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Visit Greece, the land of a thousand islands and a million shades of blue

“Happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean sea,” Nikos Kazantzakis, Crete’s most famous son and the author of Zorba the Greek once said. Think he’s biased? Well, see for yourself. 

Descend from the marble-white Parthenon, the crown jewel of the Acropolis and Athens, to the pristine beaches of Crete, the birthplace of European civilization – and Zeus! – with eight millennia’s worth of history to explore. Marvel at the Doric columns of the Temple of Apollo, where the oracle of Delphi once delivered prophecies from the god of sun and light himself. Lose yourself in the labyrinthine streets of Santorini, where whitewashed cliffs are outsparkled only by the most azure of seas. Dance the night away with the young and restless in a Mykonos superclub or swim with loggerhead turtles in the turquoise waters of Zakynthos.

Welcome to Greece, where each step you take reveals another secret of the treasure trove of history, culture and natural beauty that is Hellas – only to leave you wanting more. 

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea: facts about Greece you should know

Many believe that the two colors of the Greek flag represent the azure-blue, white-crested waves of the water in Greece. A theory that’s not all that far-fetched, considering that the country stretches over 6,000 islands and islets, with around 200 of them being inhabited by Greece’s 10-million-strong population. Does this make it the perfect beach-bum destination? Yes. But a one-trick pony? Never. 

Eighty-percent of Hellas is covered by mountains, including 40 mountain ranges with an elevation of over 2,000 meters. Pindus, the “backbone” of mainland Greece, is home to Vikos Gorge, one of the world’s deepest and most spectacular canyons. With a summit of 2,917 meters, Mount Olympus has two claims to fame: being the highest peak of the Greek landscape and the abode of the Greek gods. 

Every corner of Hellas is etched in history – some even more than others. The origins of Athens, the capital of Greece, date back to 3,000 BC, making it Europe’s oldest capital city. No trip to Greece is complete without climbing (or at least looking up to) the Acropolis, a symbol of civilization and Greek Antiquity. Or seeing any of the other 18 Greek UNESCO World Heritage sites, like the medieval city of Rhodes or the stone villages of Zagori.

Oracles, orators and Olympians: the best places to visit in Greece for history brought to life

Culture and history buffs will feel right at home in Athens: Greece’s first city has over 70 museums on everything from coins and jewelry to Cycladic and Byzantine art. 

The Acropolis, an ancient citadel perched on a limestone hill overlooking Athína, however, is an essential experience for any visitor. It’s the most striking and intact ancient Greek monumental complex, with highlights including the Parthenon, a place of worship dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, and the Propylaia, a gateway commissioned by famed Athenian statesman Pericles in 437 BC. The best time to visit Greece’s most iconic site is late spring or early fall, when both the crowds and the weather are more forgiving. Want a closer look at Golden-Age Athens? Step into the nearby Acropolis Museum to browse over 3,000 artifacts from the archeological site.

Clinging to the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the sanctuary of Delphi was once the seat of high priestess Pythia, whose wisdom was sought by pilgrims from all Greek city-states. Meteora in central Greece is also a sight like no other. From the 11th century onwards, Eastern Orthodox monks erected monasteries on top of the giant stone pillars outside Trikala, some 550 meters high, to be closer to god. Six of them are still active and await visitors all year around. Thessaloniki, the country’s cultural capital, is an open-air museum of Byzantine art, while the Palace of Knossos is testimony to the once-flourishing Minoan culture in Crete, the largest of the Greek islands.

A quick, nowhere-near-definitive guide to the coolest, greenest and most beautiful islands in Greece

If you’ve seen one of the 200 Greek islands… you have exactly 199 left to discover, because each packs a distinct blend of history, culture and natural wonders.

Santorini, part of the ​​Cyclades islands, is most famous for its crimson sunsets against the deep-blue waters of the Aegean Sea. It’s no less instagrammable during the day though, thanks to the glistening-white houses and blue-domed churches spilling down its volcanic cliffs. Another Cycladic heavy-hitter, Mykonos, is the undisputed party capital of the Greek islands, with clubs that never seem to close, a postcard-perfect capital named Chora and almost guaranteed celebrity sightings.

Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese islands, boasts a UNESCO-listed old town with Byzantine and Gothic churches, a maze of quaint, cobbled streets and the Palace of Grand Masters, where the Knights of St. John once resided. Corfu, the emerald island of the Ionian archipelago, is a haven for nature enthusiasts, with lush olive groves and cypress trees, dramatic waterfalls and flamingo-studded lagoons. Plus a slice of paradise called Paleokastritsa Beach, only rivaled by Myrtos in Kefalonia.

Food in Greece: feta, souvlaki and other must-includes for your culinary odyssey

Have you really been to Greece if you haven’t tried moussaka? One thing’s for sure: you left too early. This quintessential Greek dish, built of layers of sautéed eggplant, tomato-drenched beef mince and béchamel sauce, is served in every taverna, and it never disappoints. Souvlaki, which is codename for marinated lamb or pork grilled on a skewer and served in warm pita bread with tzatziki sauce, tomatoes and onions, is perfect to grab on the go. 

So is spanakopita, a savory pie made with crunchy phyllo dough, a generous filling of spinach and, of course, feta cheese. The latter adds a salty, crumbly twist to everything it’s thrown on, from salads to sandwiches, while kefalotyri, a hard, tangy cheese made from goat or sheep milk, is best enjoyed fried, grated or as an appetizer. Finish your meal on a high-sugar note with loukoumades, Greece’s answer to donuts, but better (or at least more gooey).

An overview of major Greek airports: arriving and getting around in Greece

Athens International Airport is Greece’s major hub for flights throughout Europe and the primary point of entry for most international visitors. Furthermore, many Greek islands, including Crete, Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Skiathos, Corfu and Kefalonia have airports as well as connections through ferry services, often providing a cheaper alternative to flying.