Greece Things to Do

The island of Crete is the largest in Greece, covering 3,100 square miles (8,000 sq km), and it’s rich in beaches, pretty towns, scenic natural wonders, and classical culture. It’s a destination that deserves much more than just one day but here’s how to make the best of your time there if it’s limited.

Greece welcomes almost 2.5 million cruise passengers each year on a variety of up to 940 ships large and small. The majority of these all have a port of call in Athens, gateway to the ancient world and owner of mind-boggling classical ruins and quality museums – in short a sightseer’s paradise. Depending on time in port, there are also plenty of day trips that can be taken, both on the Greek mainland and out into the islands, using Athens as a base

Think of Greece and most people conjure up images of classical ruins and museums, but while Athens may not be first choice for vacationing with young kids, there’s plenty to offer children of all ages throughout the country.

There is so much to do in the Athens area, from island hopping in the Aegean and consulting with oracles at Delphi to exploring ancient Corinth or wine tasting in Nemea.

Greece is known as a summer destination but there are plenty of reasons to visit over winter. Prices are cheaper and temperatures are reasonable, at around 11· Celsius (52· Fahrenheit) in Athens.

If you’re looking for some uninterrupted time with your sweetheart, soaking up the beauty of the Greek Isles without the hassle of crowds, salespeople, and traffic, an uninhabited or partially uninhabited island is great way to go. Of the more than 6,000 Greek islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, only a few hundred are actually inhabited.