Spread over a number of picture perfect islands and elevated on the Olympus Massive, lapped by the emerald sea and topped off with the azure sky, Greece continually bombards the senses with multiple sensations. Whitewashed houses and traditional coastal taverns abut mind-blowing ancient ruins and staggering natural treasures. The sun never fails to caress the body and the sounds of Zorbas warm your blood. Greece embraces graphic mythology, valiant history, the glorious roots of philosophical thought, and the early days of Western drama, but also the cherished ideals of togetherness, the joy of life and its simple pleasures.
Following some research into the preferences and opinions posted by users of various social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as own resources and reviews by the most popular travel sites, Open Travel has compiled a list of top 25 things to see or do on your Greece Vacations. These destinations are but just the tip of the Olympus, but they adequately capture the magical ambiance of this adorable country. Add to it all the cultural aspects that every single corner of Greece conveys in excess, and prepare for the experience of a lifetime.
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Photo by luvtotravel
Newly-weds choose this Greek piece of heaven to cherish their wedded beginnings. No wonder, Santorini is an idyllic destination to inhale heavenly bliss. Perched on the cliffs of a volcanic caldera (crater) it stuns with picturesque views of typically Cycladic white-washed homes and blue-domed ch...
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Photo by JOVIKA
Visible from any corner of Athens, the Acropolis rises high and proud. Crowned by the internationally-renowned Parthenon, it manifests the unsurpassed grandeur of the Ancient civilization. Built entirely of marble, the temple used to house a giant statue of Athena, the city patron goddess. No vis...
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Meteora
Photo by Dido3
Seeking retreat from the expanding Turkish occupation, the Eastern Orthodox monks found a perfect asylum here. Inaccessible rock pillars scattered over this uniquely sculpted landscape along with caverns and tall terraces provided an ideal place for spiritual contemplation. Although more than tw...
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Photo by Moonshadow
Vibrant with cosmopolitan atmosphere, celebrities and fashionistas, Mykonos will party you crazy into the night. Once notorious as a hangout for the narcissistic and gay who paraded around the main town's harbor, this most popular Cyclades island seduces holidaymakers with its frantic vibe of hus...
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Location: Palaiá Epídhavros, Greece
Photo by Fingalo
At least a glance at the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus is as obligatory as at least an attempt to climb the Acropolis. But the odds are high that once you see one of the purest masterpieces of Greek architecture - a healing and cultural center dating from the 4th century and dedicated to th...
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Photo by Wolfgang Staudt
However picky you might be, there is a sunny pit to suit any taste on Crete. From secluded beaches with the softest of white sand and enchanting coves with glistening colored pebbles to vast stretches of sandy gold and rocky coastlines, there is anything a true sun-lounger can dream of. Sand cast...
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Photo by Millevache
Acclaimed as the center of the Earth and Universe, Delphi has always been a place of historic and spiritual significance. The ‘navel of the world' where the omniscient Oracle was to be advised blends harmoniously with the magnificent landscape and it surely is an absolute must destination for a...
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Photo by Dan Taylor
Gliding over the uncovered area of the lake in a boat is enough for many to go ecstatic about the magical quality of ultramarine water and monumental walls all around it. Then the gondolier circumvents a small fig-covered island and continues inside the roofed section through a narrow passage. I...
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Photo by gterez
Want to see how the nature and the hands of a humble man have worked in a perfect unison to create an awe-inspiring view? If so, hit the artificial Thessaly Lake of Plastira. Immersed in oak and chestnut trees, it will soothe your senses with scenic views, rustling leaves and murmuring water. The...
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Photo by *clairity*
It may seem a waste of precious time to trudge across people-packed museums in a country that may well be regarded an outdoor museum itself, but in this case not a single minute is lost. Though it is the National Archaeological Museum (also in Athens) that remains in the spotlight, Benaki seems t...
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Mount Athos
Location: Greece
Photo by Diderot
Rising high from the easternmost "leg" of the Chalcidice peninsula and widely known as "Holy Mountain", Mt. Athos is certainly not the ‘heart' of Macedonia, geographically speaking, but in terms of culture, it has played a central role for more than 1,000 years. Through good and bad times it h...
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Photo by Andreas Trepte
High above the modern town of Mycenae, between two conical hills, spread the ruins of by far the most powerful and influential palatial complexes of the Late Bronze Age in Greece. Dating back to around the second millennium B.C., its legends have inspired artists to date, from the Homeric epics a...
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Photo by Jolle
Reached by foot or Lindos' popular taxi, the donkey, the Acropolis dominates the view with sugar cube whitewashed houses nestling on the slopes and the 4th century BC temple of Lindia Athena surrounded by a medieval castle. Once you quench your thirst for history, enjoy an invigorating swim in th...
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Location: Greece
Photo by Bignoter
Mount Olympus is where life blends with mythology and the idealized archetypes with the aspects of the multi-faceted human psyche. Any climb to Mount Olympus starts from the town of Litochoro, Traditionally regarded as the imaginary abode of the Greek gods, it inspires respect not only by virtue...
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Location: Pythagóreion, Greece
Photo by Jeremy Lee
An ideal place to sail in and sail from is the Pythagoreion of Samos, the ancient fortified port which bewilders with a picturesque harbor and an impressive architectural structure of the Eupalinian aqueduct. Quintessentially Greek with yachts of all sizes, taverns and bustling harbor life, it de...
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Photo by steve 99
The most northern of Ionian Islands, Corfu makes a dream family destination. With the country's best climate, both the island's vegetation and tourist figures flourish. Although partly overrun with low-budget hotels and loud discos, it still retains a lot of charm in places like Kassiopi or Pala...
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Vikos Gorge
Location: Greece
Photo by Onno Zweers
Infamous among the locals (bears and wild boars protected in the Vikos Aoos National Park happen to feast on farm animals), the stupefying Vikos Gorge inspires exclusively positive connotations among tourists. As befits the deepest gorge in the world - although some opt for Grand Canyons superior...
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Location: Greece
Photo by DS
If you think that grapevine is the symbol and attribute of Dionysus, a visit to the archaeological site of Delos will surprisingly prove you wrong. And when we say surprisingly, we really mean business. When you reach the platform of the Stoivadeion dedicated to the god of wine and the life-forc...
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Dirou Caves
Location: Greece
Photo by MarkosAleksandrou
To be on Peloponnese and give up on Dirou Caves is like being whiskers away from asking your perfect partner for a phone number and chickening out at the last moment. Life will go on but you will always feel you've missed something irreplaceable and unrivaled in its kind. Once you board a small w...
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Location: Greece
Photo by Eusebius
A careless glance at the Charilaos Trikoupis bridge could make you believe you're in San Francisco. The monumental structure crossing the Gulf of Corinth and linking Peloponnese to mainland Greece is a feat of engineering and a curious element of modernity in the historical amalgamation of ancien...
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Photo by Wolfgang Staudt
It's curious that people who love to eat this much have what has been labeled the healthiest diet in the world. Greeks certainly appreciate the pleasures of eating, and they know how to do it well. Spending any amount of time in Greece entails succumbing to the magic of smells, tastes, and colors...
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Hydra
Location: Greece
Photo by Didi46
Tired of choking on fumes, buses jammed nose to tail in traffic, and risking your life to get to the other side of the street?You certainly won't find much solace in Greek metropolises, but there is one place where this nuisance melts away like the morning dew under the warm rays of the Mediterra...
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Photo by Vladimir Boskovic
Exiled on Patmos by the Roman Emperor Domitian around 95 AD, St. John the Theologian, commonly identified with the Apostle John, is said to have received his divine visions in what is today called the Cave of Apocalypse and where he is believed to have made his home. Surrounded by a large monasti...
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Location: Monemvasía, Greece
Photo by AlMare
When you look at it from a distance, you could swear it's the Rock of Gibraltar. As a matter of fact, it is a medieval fortress-town of Monemvasia sprawling at the foot of a giant rock protruding from the depths of the sea and connected to the mainland by a 200 meter long causeway. Having witness...
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Location: Thessaloniki, Greece
Photo by Emre Ersahin
Ladadika is what remains of the notable Jewish quarter whose population did much to develop Thessaloníki's culture and commerce. After the Nazi put a tragic end to the community, the area gradually developed into what is now a trendy spot to hang out with friends. It does represent a nice brea...
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Stumble
Amazing places. Must be on everybody's bucket list - you know, places one must go to in one's life time before he/she kicks the bucket.
Well done.
I think the layout was designed nicely with the pictures, the names, and the information. They were really cool sights too! Thanks for posting the information! I am going to travel to Greece soon to check it out. Thanks for the info!
WTF is this bullshi*?!
I think you could have done WAY better. The sights were sort of boring and it just wasn't good. Sorry, but you need to get a life. Have you even been to any of these places? No one wants to go to these places. Well no thanks for the information.