What to visit in Greece - the most interesting and unusual sights of the Hellenistic world. Sights of Greece - what to see for tourists Where to visit in Greece

It is the most popular destination for tourists from all over the world. If you want to visit this place, you will find a huge variety of attractions: historical sites and more than 60 inhabited islands, whose history goes back more than four thousand years. As well as azure beaches and towering mountain ranges. And, despite the debt crisis and daily protests, it is more popular among tourists than ever.

Mount Athos - Mount Athos or "Holy Mountain"

Attraction Mount Athos or “Holy Mountain” is also a peninsula located in the northern part of Greece. There are more than 20 Orthodox monasteries on this mountain. Athos has the name “Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain” and entry into it is strictly controlled, only men have the right to do so.

Mystras (City of Mystras) - former capital of the Pelopennese

The city of Mystras is located near Sparta. In the Middle Ages it was the capital of the Peloponnese, and its rulers were from the family of the Byzantine emperor. The area was inhabited for a time, but was abandoned in 1832, leaving only striking medieval ruins amidst beautiful scenery.

Lindos (Lindos) - a well-preserved medieval city

– medieval city, located on an island with cobbled streets intersecting between whitewashed houses. The Acropolis rises above the city, offering breathtaking views of the picturesque harbors and coastline. The beaches and St. Paul are just a short walk from the city center.

Samaria Gorge (Samaria Gorge) - the largest gorge in the world

The well-known Samaria Gorge is located in the southwest of the island of Crete. It is also the largest in the world and reaches 10 miles in length. Gorge hikes are extremely popular, with more than a quarter of a million tourists taking part each year. The entire walk takes from 4 to 7 hours and passes through forests of centuries-old cypress and pine trees. Then the passage narrows between steep cliffs, and the exit from the gorge is located near the village of Ayia Roumeli near the Libyan Sea.

Myrtos Beach - one of the best beaches in Greece

If you want to soak up the sun, Myrtos Beach is located in the northwestern part of Kefalonia and is known throughout the world for its incredibly beautiful water colors. The turquoise sea water contrasts with the snow-white pebbles that cover the beach. A steep mountains and the high cliffs against the backdrop of the beach make the place even more beautiful. Thanks to all this, Myrtos Beach has been chosen as the best beach in Greece a whopping 12 times!

Delphi Theater (Delphi) - one of the popular attractions in Greece

In ancient times, the city of Delphi was the most important religious center. But it was decided to build a theater there. The theater was built on a hill, from where the audience had a wonderful view of the temple and picturesque landscapes. The theater originally seated 5,000 spectators, but today it is one of the main attractions in Greece.

Meteora - an incredible complex of monasteries

Another amazing wonder of the world. Meteors (in other words "floating in the air") central Greece are a complex of monasteries impressively located on the tops of stone cliffs. The very first monastery was founded back in the 14th century. Access to the monasteries was deliberately difficult, requiring either long ladders or large nets. Now all this has been replaced with modern means.

Mykonos (Mykonos Island) - the most visited Greek attraction

The island is widely known as one of the best Greek attractions. Most Big City islands - Chora, a picturesque town with a labyrinth of narrow streets. It is also known for its sandy beaches and rich nightlife, this is evident from the presence of numerous bars and nightclubs.

Parthenon, Acropolis (Parthenon, Acropolis) - the most famous place in Greece

Parthenon at the top Athens Acropolis is also one of the most famous attractions in Greece, and a trip to Greece will not be considered complete unless you visit this temple. Construction of the Parthenon began in 447 BC. and was completed only in 432. BC. During its long life, the Parthenon served as a temple, a church, a mosque, and even a gunpowder warehouse.

Santorini (Santorini Island) - the most romantic place

The island of volcanic origin is part of the Cyclades archipelago of the Greek islands. It is famous for its magnificent landscapes, stunning sunsets, snow-white houses and active volcanoes. The capital, Thira, is a reunion of Venetian and Greek architecture, with white stone-paved streets full of shops, taverns, hotels and cafes, while the city itself sits on the edge of a 400-metre cliff. Unforgettable impressions. I recommend visiting there.

Sights of Greece. The most important and interesting sights of Greek cities: photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.

Anyone who has visited Greece at least once will want to return more than once to this country of ancient monuments, Orthodox shrines and incredibly charming people. It attracts with its architecture, natural resources, original culture and, of course, unsurpassed cuisine.

It probably doesn’t make sense to repeat the already hackneyed phrase that Greece has everything, but it really is! And the clearest example of this is the capital ancient Hellas- Athens. This is a city that carefully preserves its history and architectural monuments, many of which are thousands of years old. In Athens, you should definitely visit the Acropolis with its partially restored ancient temples, the Temple of Poseidon, located just on the Aegean coast, old quarter Plaka, almost untouched by time, as well as numerous city museums and colorful Athenian squares, where you can plunge headlong into the real life of the Athenians.

There is simply an incredible number of interesting sights concentrated in Crete. Millions of tourists visit this island for an entertaining excursion into history. Ancient Greece with a holiday at one of the best Mediterranean resorts.

Here, in the archaeological reserve of Knossos, lies the luxurious Palace of Knossos, built by the legendary Daedalus for King Minos. It is distinguished by its unusual architecture (the building has five floors) and incredibly complex system underground labyrinths. And in Phaistos it is interesting to look at the palace of Minos’s brother, Rhadamanthus, which is not so impressive in size as in its outlandish shapes, for example, the rooms in it are located in the shape of a star with a huge courtyard in the center, and the interior chambers are connected by majestic staircases.

Also in Greece, you should definitely visit the small and very original island of Chora Sfakion-Frangokastelli, whose inhabitants sacredly honor their national traditions and way of life. There is an Orthodox monastery of Chrysoskalitissa (that is, “golden steps”), one of the steps leading to it is really made of pure gold, but only people with a pure soul and good thoughts can see it.

Elafonissi is greek island, picturesque coast which is covered with unusual sand, its peculiarity is that it is pink.

One of the most famous islands Greece can be called Rhodes, a beautiful resort and largest center knightly culture. The Castle of the Knights, built in the 14th century and restored in the first half of the last century, attracts the attention of tourists here. Today, within its walls the atmosphere in which representatives of the famous knightly order lived has been recreated, and a huge collection of antique interior items has been collected.

We should not forget about such significant monuments of Greece as Mount Olympus and Mount Athos, Golden Delphi in the vicinity of the capital, a complex of monasteries on steep cliffs - Meteora, the port of Piraeus and picturesque Macedonia.

Today, Greece, despite all the economic problems in the country, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. What is the first thing to see in Greece? It is extremely difficult to select the most interesting. But still…

Athos is a point on the map of the Earth, and also a spiritual state in the image of the Vatican. Holy place for Orthodox pilgrims. A male monastic republic, 1,400 monks live here in 20 Orthodox monasteries. You cannot swim or sunbathe here, take videos, and entry to this holy mountain is strictly controlled, although women are strictly prohibited from entering here. But all this does not matter, because the Mother of God herself rules the island and it is she who will take care of the purification of your thoughts and soul. Athos is not only a mountain, but also a peninsula in northern Greece, Macedonia.

The small village of Lindos, as if just emerged from the Middle Ages, in the east of the island of Rhodes. There is ancient acropolis, you can see the medieval Venetian walls. The architecture of the village is an example of the unique architecture of traditional Greece, with white houses and cobbled streets. The Lindos Acropolis dominates the city, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding port and coastline. Lindos Beach is just a few minutes' walk from the town centre.

The Samaria Gorge is located in the southwest of the island of Crete. Samaria is the longest gorge in Europe, its length is more than 16 kilometers. A paradise for lovers of wild hiking. The gorge is a national reserve. found here rare view wild Kri-Kri goats growing rare plants that cannot be torn off. More than a quarter of a million tourists travel through this gorge every year. This walk takes from 4 to 7 hours and passes through a forest of ancient cypresses and pine trees, then between steep cliffs and out to the Libyan Sea.

Myrtos beach has gained its worldwide fame thanks to the magical color of the water. Myrtos is called business card Greece. This heavenly place is located along the shore Ionian Sea, northwest of Kefalonia. In addition to the water, the beach is famous for the unusually bright white color of the sand and pebbles, with which the turquoise and blue water contrasts. Small caves opening out into the sea only add to the beauty of the beach.

One of the main attractions ancient city Delphi, is the ancient theater of Delphi, located on legendary grief Parnassus. This temple of art was built in the 5th century BC. and can accommodate almost seven thousand spectators. For tourists, performances are shown according to the traditions of ancient Greek theater. In ancient times, Delphi was the most important religious site, since according to history, the spacious sanctuaries belonged to Apollo. The theater was built on a hill, giving audiences views of the breathtaking landscape below.

6. Monasteries - Meteora

The Meteora monastery complex, located on the tops of rocks in the mountains of Thessaly, is translated as “hanging in the air.” The first hermits settled here in the 10th century, and monasteries began to be built in the 14th century. How were these Christian monasteries built at such a height, and even on steep cliffs? This mystery is worth touching today. There are six such monasteries - Meteora - in central Greece. Access to the monasteries was deliberately difficult; to climb up, either long ladders or large nets were needed to lift food and necessary goods and things to the top.

Mykonos is not just a Greek island, it is one of the main attractions of Greece. Mykonos is located in the Aegean Sea. Part of the Cyclades archipelago, a beautiful place where the gods are believed to live. The island has charming symbols that attract tourists: windmills, pelicans and white houses with blue shutters. A popular holiday destination for celebrities and wealthy people. Mykonos Town (Chora) is a stunningly picturesque Cycladic town with a maze of streets and intense nightlife, as evidenced by great amount bars and nightclubs.

Santorini is one of the most beautiful volcanic islands in the Aegean Sea. In fact, this is a whole group of Cyclades islands, the arrangement of which resembles a ring. The name itself speaks of ancient history- Fira, Aspro, Palea Kameni, Thirasia and Nea Kameni. Tourists can see the ruins of the Minoan city, as well as touch the unique Christian churches, of which there are more than 300. Nowhere else will you see such sunsets, amazingly white houses and even real active volcano. Fira, the capital of Santorini, incorporates Venetian and Cycladic architecture, with a characteristic bustle of cobbled streets, shops, taverns, hotels and cafes. The most amazing thing is that this city clings to the edge of a 400-meter cliff.

Melissani Cave

In Greece, on east coast Kefalonia island, there is the Melissani cave. She takes the breath away with her beauty of everyone who managed to see her at least once, and remains in the memory forever. The cave is surrounded by forests and vegetation, which add additional charm

The Melissani Cave on the island of Kefalonia was forgotten for many centuries until it was found and rediscovered by the Greek Giannis Petrohelios in 1951.

According to Greek mythology, nymphs lived in this cave. It is not surprising that the ancient Greeks attributed such unusual inhabitants to this place - it looks really fabulous, with a turquoise lake and dense forest around

The shallow azure waters of the lake rest on a reliable stone foundation; the same stone dome with a huge hole hangs from above, penetrating through which the sunlight creates amazing reflections in the water and on the walls of Melissani. The entrance to the cave is covered with green plants, while the “door” itself is decorated with natural light brown stone "plaster".

Hot sun, wine, olives and azure sea - Greece can rightfully be called a tourist paradise. What should no Greek holiday be without? Read below!

1. In Athens - take a walk around Plaka...

Plaka is one of the oldest districts Greek capital, many buildings here were erected on foundations that have been preserved since antiquity! So be sure to take a leisurely stroll along the narrow streets, looking at the colorful facades of ancient houses surrounded by flowers, sit in a local cozy cafe and admire the majestic Acropolis overlooking Plaka.

2. ...and admire the Acropolis at night

And since you’re in, don’t miss the opportunity to admire the symbol of not only the capital, but the whole country. During the day, the Acropolis is, of course, worth seeing up close, but we recommend waiting until dark, when the illuminations come on and the temple looks simply stunning.

3. In Kalambaka - visit Meteora

It’s worth going to the city of Kalambaka for the Meteor complex Orthodox churches, which are located at a breathtaking height on sheer rocky pillars (another local attraction). Climbing up, you can not only admire the beautiful landscapes and panorama, but also feel the unique atmosphere of the holy place.

4. Go to Santorini

Well, what is Greece without sunny beaches and snow-white houses against the backdrop of the sky-blue sea? You will find all this on the island of Santorini - one of the most beautiful in Greece. It’s worth going here for the fabulous beauty of the views, the warm Aegean Sea and the famous multi-colored beaches - red, white and black.

5. Feel like you are in paradise in Navaggio Bay

Lovers of solitude and contemplative relaxation should take a closer look at the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. This is where most beautiful place not only in Greece, but, perhaps, throughout the world - Navaggio Bay. A cozy bay with a sandy beach, surrounded by rocks, the clearest sea and - the finishing touch - an old pirate ship washed ashore. Romance!

6. Visit Gynecocracy

If you are in Thessaloniki in January, be sure to visit the village of Monokklisia, which is 86 kilometers from the city. It is famous for the fact that every year on January 8th the holiday of Gynecocracy (in Greek - “power of women”) is held here. On this day, everything turns upside down: women do nothing around the house all day, spending time talking and having fun, but men dress up in dresses and take on the role of housewives. What comes out of this? Go and see for yourself.

7. Try local cuisine

Visit Greece and not try at least part of it? This is impossible! So be sure to dedicate a day or two to gastronomic exploration: horiatiki (known to us as Greek salad), souvlaki (a type of kebab), moussaka, gouros (pita bread envelopes with meat and vegetables), spanakopita (spinach pie). And, of course, sweets: loukoumades (donuts with cinnamon and honey) and galaktoboureko (puff pastry with custard).

8. Visit the Palace of the Minotaur in Crete

Probably everyone knows the legend about the terrible Minotaur who lived in a labyrinth on the island of Crete. But everyone can visit the palace where it supposedly was located: the Palace of Knossos is a living monument of those times. The majestic throne room, beautiful frescoes, striking with bright colors and as if painted just yesterday, and the unique atmosphere of antiquity - all this is here.

9. Go shopping the Greek way

This means - no template souvenirs or (God forbid!) magnets, but only everything that is real and worthwhile. What to bring from sunny Hellas? Of course, olives and olive oil, feta cheese (it’s better to buy both on the market, directly from the manufacturer), natural cosmetics and embroidery with lace self made, as well as Greek wines and honey. Well, if your soul still asks for some memorable little things, it’s worth taking a closer look at locally made ceramics, wood carvings and jewelry.

10. Go down into the caves

If you are not afraid of the prospect of descending into the gloomy underground labyrinths, you are welcome to take a speleological excursion. Moreover, Greek caves are not only beautiful, but also very educational, such as the Petralona cave on the Chalkidiki peninsula, where scientists found the oldest human remains in Europe.

Have a nice trip!

you can always find it on TRIPMYDREAM

Tatiana Solomatina

Which resort to choose in Greece?

Hello again, dear readers! It's December and summer is still far away, but many are already thinking about vacation. I would like to draw your attention to sunny Greece.

Pieria

Pieria is a fairly large region located between the city of Thessaloniki and the capital. Vacationers will like it because they can combine excursion holiday with beach Not far from here are the famous ones, it is convenient to get to Athens.

The area is located at the base mountain range Olympus. If you have a car, you can rent accommodation in small villages in the mountainous part, this will allow you to go hiking and enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery, while being close to the sea and in complete silence.

Sandy beaches interspersed with small pebbles and a smooth entry into the water, a large selection water activities, create the best conditions for recreation with children.

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is the second most important metropolis in Greece after the capital. However, thanks to the competent layout of the streets, there is no crowding or feeling of a crowd here. It is pleasant to walk along the streets of the city, looking at numerous architectural monuments.

Young people will enjoy the holiday; the city often hosts various festivals and offers musical events.

Hair

Hair – not so much yet famous place, like other resorts in Greece, but quite comfortable and beautiful. Despite the fact that all the infrastructure is there, there are few tourists. There is no airport nearby, and the road is public transport difficult. However, if you are by car, it is better to take a closer look at the resort.

There is no beach as such in the city itself. But in the surrounding villages there are amazing bays with clean and clear water. Peace and quiet are guaranteed. Will interest tourists who like relaxing holiday surrounded by beautiful nature. Perfect for families with small children, but teenagers will find it a bit boring.

In conclusion about mainland resorts, I want to say that if you are going for a beach holiday and do not set a goal to visit certain attractions located only there, then it is better to choose other resorts in Greece. In my opinion, the beaches on the islands are better, there are more coves, the sea is more beautiful, and interesting historical places no less than on the mainland, although there are always exceptions.

Peninsulas

Halkidiki

Halkidiki is one of my favorite places in Greece. Very green, with many small beautiful coves. In some places, rocks intricately hang over emerald clear water, creating natural grottoes. There are very few people most of peninsulas - magnificent, wild, untouched nature.

There are also some disadvantages. There are few attractions here. And those that exist are located quite far away. If you don’t plan, then you need to choose housing in towns where there is the necessary infrastructure, or take a tour to. Because in small villages it is difficult to find a good store or ATM.

This place is just meant for beach holiday. Here you can find quiet and uncrowded resorts or even rent a house on the beach far from everyone. Gorgeous nature and magnificent beaches will not leave any tourist indifferent.

Peloponnese

The Peloponnese is a fairly popular place, but more for active rest, there are many ancient sights here. Sparta, which in those distant times became famous for its opposition to Athens, is located here. As a rule, tourists come here specifically to visit certain historical places.

As in all of Greece - excellent beaches and beautiful nature. The downside is that it is difficult to get here. In the summer, Aeroflot sometimes flies, but there is no constant connection with Russia. You can fly through other cities in Greece, but this lengthens the journey and makes the transfer difficult.

Islands

Crete

Crete is the most big Island Greece and one of best places for relax. Here you can find everything a tourist needs. Unusual mountain landscape and magnificent sandy beaches, especially in the north of the island, will not leave anyone indifferent.

Suitable for relaxation for literally everyone, it’s not difficult to find something to your liking, many interesting places, a huge selection of accommodation for any budget.

You might be interested in these articles:

Rhodes

Rhodes - favorite island Russian tourists, thanks to a large selection of tours and reasonable prices. There is slightly less vegetation here than in Crete, there are many cozy coves, and there are historical monuments.

Everyone can safely go on vacation. Like in Cyprus, the infrastructure is well developed everywhere, there are many beaches, only the prices are slightly lower.

I wrote a separate article about this island. There's a lot of useful stuff there tourist information. And the article contains a complete overview of the island’s resorts.

Corfu

Corfu is located in western Greece. A very picturesque green island. The coastline is winding, there are many rocks in which quiet coves are hidden. It is not difficult to find secluded places here; there is beautiful nature all around. Cozy hotels offer real European service. The island is comfortable for families with children, it has soft sand and a gentle entrance to the water. Read more about best beaches Read Corfu.

Kos

Kos is a chic and expensive resort for the elite, it is not without reason that Hollywood stars choose it for their holidays. The island is small, located in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea. There is a lot of greenery here, the nature is very beautiful.

Prices are high, so you probably won’t be able to relax on a budget. You can see the cost here.

Zakynthos

Zakynthos – amazing beautiful island, which you want to return to. Two rows of mountain ranges protect the valley from bad weather. Lush vegetation, steep cliffs, picturesque bays with golden sand closed from the sea - a real paradise for tourists.

Unfortunately, landing on the island is rare and can only be reached by local airlines or ferry.

Santorini

Santorini is a small island of volcanic origin, with coastline 70 km. White houses local residents Laconically integrated into the mountain landscape. It has its own, kind of aristocratic, cozy atmosphere. Life flows slowly, time seems to stop.

If you step back a little hiking trails, you can find wild places and enjoy solitude. The beaches of the island are very diverse, even the sand in each place has its own shade, from soft yellow to bright red.

Holidays on the island are expensive. As a rule, tourists come here for one day as part of excursion groups.

Look for information on the island of Santorini.

conclusions

There are many resorts in Greece and it is really difficult to choose. Beautiful nature and gorgeous beaches can be found in almost every corner of this sunny country. So where is the best place to relax in Greece? How many people, so many opinions. Where one person likes it, it won’t necessarily be good for another.

If you, dear readers, are interested in my opinion, then now I would act in the following sequence:

Reading general information about the country and the main resorts
We look at prices for tours or accommodation and air tickets (you may come across cheap tickets and it will be more profitable to travel on your own)
Based on the second point, we decide how to relax, through a tour operator or on your own. I wrote how to make the right decision
Most likely, for my first acquaintance with the country, I would choose one of the islands, focusing on price-nature-quality-easy transfer (in that order). You may have other priorities
Having decided on the island, read detailed information about the resorts of this place, based on fresh reviews on the Internet
Next, choose accommodation, a hotel or a house (if not a tour)
Now buy a tour or tickets (if you are traveling on your own)

This plan is not suitable only for those who purposefully go to see certain attractions. It’s easier for such tourists; they just need to choose a resort closer to their desired places to visit.

That's all I wanted to talk about, I hope you have a general picture about the resorts of Greece.

You can soon learn about my personal impressions from the stories in the “My Travels” section. In the meantime, I suggest you read the article. It seems to me that this is a relevant question. Subscribe to my newsletter and be the first to receive new publications.

Recently, in some minor magazine, I came across a note that this country will also soon be closed to Russians. Allegedly, they will make a couple of provocations for this purpose. Haven't you heard anything? It will be a great pity. Write in the comments what you think about this. Very interesting read.

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