Spanning a rugged, history-rich mainland and some 6,000 islands and islets, Greece is one of the world’s oldest and most popular travel destinations. From the Acropolis of capital Athens to the Byzantine ruins of hilltop Mystras, to the Crusader-built citadel of Rhodes, history cracks the surface of almost every town and city. And yet Greece is more than a living museum.
For the millions who travel here every year, its twinkling azure waters and sun-struck islands are irresistible, but there is plenty to experience beyond the busy coast. Whether trekking the hanging monasteries of Meteora and Lousios Gorge, searching for the wild bears of the Pindos mountains or diving into the clan histories and tower houses of the Mani peninsula, there are countless ways to glimpse the sides of Greece that all too often go unseen.
Key to this is the wave of sustainable and slow travel experiences that have spread across the country in recent years. Zero-waste stays, car-free islands, organic vineyards and new cycling trails have cropped up in corners where you’d least expect. And in places like Chios, where mastic has been harvested for centuries, or the city of Thessaloniki, whose UNESCO-listed gastronomic culture is based on an abundance of local produce, embracing traditional Greek styles of living and eating are offering up new ways to explore an ancient nation.
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When to go to Greece
Greece is a popular destination, and the peak summer months (Jul-Aug) tend to be incredibly busy, especially on the busier islands. This period is best avoided if only to spare locals and reduce the load on island infrastructures that aren’t geared for mass tourism.
Spring (Mar-Jun) and autumn (Sep-Nov) are far more preferable, and the milder temperatures make exploring Greece’s ancient sites – which typically have little shade – or gorge-cut walking trails much more enjoyable.
Winter is cooler and rainier, though it’s still pretty mild in November. You’ll find far less footfall at the major sites and museums during this period, making it a great time to soak up the culture of the Cradle of Western Civilisation.
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International airports
On mainland Greece: Athens airport is around 35km southeast of the capital; in the north, Thessaloniki airport lies about 16km south of the city. On the Greek islands: Heraklion and Chania (both Crete), Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Santorini, Zakynthos and Mykonos airports all welcome a large number of international flights.
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Getting around in Greece
Rail services in mainland Greece are limited, with the main railway lines linking Athens' Larissa station with Thessaloniki in the north or Patras in the west. The metro network in Athens extends overground as it extends into Attica. Additionally, there are specialized rail services in places such as Diakofto in Western Greece, where a cog railway takes passengers through Vouraikos Gorge to the mountain town of Kalavryta. There is also a steam train on the Pelion Peninsula that traverses beautiful landscapes.
The KTEL bus networks, organized regionally, cover more ground than rail services, including the islands. Buses are generally comfortable and reliable, although they can fill up quickly on major routes in and out of Athens. Unfortunately, there is no single website that covers the entire network, making it a bit of a task to figure out the various regional connections. As a result, it's often easier to rent a car. Driving in Greece is fairly straightforward, although some routes in the mountainous south of the Peloponnese and in the Mani region can be quite dizzying.
Given that Greece is spread across approximately 6,000 islands and islets, internal flights and ferries are common. There are useful ports for the Ionian islands, including Patras, Kyllini, and Igoumenitsa. Furthermore, Athens' Piraeus, Lavrio, and Rafina ports connect the Saronic, Aegean, Cycladic, and Dodecanese islands. Thessaloniki connects to the Eastern Aegean islands, while Agios Konstantinos serves as the gateway to the Sporades islands. Sporades islands..
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