Greece Travel Planning

Things to do in Greece

You would never run out of things to do in Greece. To say that Greece has variety would be an understatement. The terrain, for one, is so diverse. It has miles and miles of coastline producing idyllic beaches but within its lands are also mountains, gorges and caves. The birth of civilization in Greece has brought forth magnificent structures which, even if now in ruins, have maintained some of its grandeur. Because of such diversity, deciding where to go and what to do can de a demanding task. So to help you out here are suggested things to do in Greece.

Visit Historic Sites
You can start off at Athens, the nation’s capital. Although it has been modernized, with luxurious restaurants, hotels and boutiques, it contains a significant portion of Greece’s history. Who wouldn’t have heard of the Acropolis, the city’s sacred hill, which houses the Parthenon? Those coming to Greece for the first time always have the Acropolis on their list. There is also the National Archaeological Museum, which originally only displays artifacts from within Athens. Now, it boasts of more than 20,000 exhibits which have been excavated from various archaeological sites all over Greece. This is truly a must-see for museum buffs.

A few hours’ drive from Athens is Delphi, home to Apollo’s oracle. There are still remnants of the majestic temples which have stood in Delphi when it was still considered to be the center of the world. Furthermore, it has a splendid view of the sacred mountain, Parnassus.

From Delphi, take a trip to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The old Stadium is still standing and the ruins of the ancient race track are still visible. Also worth the visit are the Temples of Zeus and his wife, Hera.
A drive to Thessaly will be truly enriching as you see the monasteries of Meteora perched above huge pillars of stone. There were originally 24 monasteries, only 6 have survived.

Enjoy the Sun and the Sand
This should be well on top of the list of things to do in Greece, especially during the summer. Head off to the Greek islands and enjoy the refreshing waters of the Aegean Sea. Crete, Santorini, Peloponnese and Mykonos are popular beach holiday destinations. Alternatively, you can go Koufonissi for less-crowded and more secluded beaches.

If you have had enough of lounging on the beach and sipping cocktails by the beachside bar, you have an abundance of water sports to choose from. A kayaking trip can take you to several parts of the island, which when coupled with hiking will be truly worthwhile as you get to visit temples and archaeological sites. You can also go on a sailing cruise, where you can drop the anchor anytime and then go swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving.

Take a Hike
Greece has many natural wonders which you cannot truly appreciate if you ride on anything. The Samaria Gorge in northern Crete is a prime hiking destination. A shorter one, although not any less scenic, is the Vikos Gorge in Epirus. Those who need more adrenaline rush may scale Mount Parnassus overlooking Delphi, or Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. More about adventure travel in Greece.

Go Underground
Greece is home to the largest number of caves in the world. Most of these caves can be found on the island of Crete. A visit to these caves is an exciting activity which should be included in your list of things to do in Greece. The rock formations – stalactites and stalagmites sticking from the cave walls – are awesome.