The fishing port in Heraklion, Crete. Picture courtesy of Shadowgate on Flickr.

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.

Keen on ancient civilizations? If you are based in Crete’s photogenic capital, Heraklion, take a guided tour of ancient Knossos, a city that flourished for almost two millennia as a trading center with eastern Mediterranean cities. Central to the ruins is the palace of legendary King Minos, built around 2,000 BC and still recognizable as a vast, multi-story complex of unbelievable luxury. Afterwards stroll around Heraklion’s fishing port to the Venetian fortress of Koules standing guard at the harbor mouth, before picking a waterside restaurant and settling down for fresh fish for dinner.

Alternatively spend one day in Crete discovering the island’s history in Heraklion itself, with visits to the excellent Archaeological Museum for its displays of Minoan art, walks around the Venetian ramparts, and the Historical Museum of Crete for its exploration of Crete’s role in the last two World Wars. Lion Square forms the vibrant hub of Heraklion, perfect for relaxing in cafés around the elaborate Morosini Fountain.

The narrowest part of Samaria Gorge on Crete. Picture courtesy of Bryce Edwards on Flickr.

A day’s hike through Samaria Gorge is only possible in the summer months but allows (reasonably fit) walkers to discover Cretan wildlife at its best, with the chance to see wild goats, carpets of flowers and wild herbs, and swooping birds of prey. Starting off from Omalos, the hike wends through the White Mountains in a towering, rocky gorge before ending at Aghia Roumeli. From here, finish the day with a sailing trip to the village of Chora Sfakion and return to Heraklion by coach.

If you’re based in Chania or western Crete, take a guided day trip to the Venetian Chrissoskalitissa Monastery on its rocky outcrop before wading across to arid Elafonissi Island for an afternoon of swimming and sunbathing.

– Sasha Heseltine

How to Spend One Day in Crete from Greece Things to Do

The Acropolis in Athens is the number-one stop for cruise visitors to Greece. Picture courtesy of microbe on Flickr.

Greece welcomes almost 2.5 million cruise visitors 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.

Athens for Cruise Visitors

Athens’ cruise port is at Piraeus, five miles (eight km) from the city center and with facilities for up to 17 ships to moor up at the same time; a monorail is being mooted to make movement in and out of the port easier and could be ready by 2015. Piraeus harbor is connected to Monastiraki in the center of Athens by regular metro Line 1 services; the journey takes 15-20 minutes. Taxis also run into the city from Piraeus in around half an hour (much more during morning and evening rush hour). Due to the economic downturn in Greece, bus services can be haphazard at the moment.

Most cruise ships spend 24 or 48 hours in port to give visitors time to see the major sights; to see Athens in its entirety would take a lifetime so plan ahead and cherry pick the attractions you wish to visit. Most people head straight for the Acropolis and its innovative new museum, although an easy introduction to this sometime frenetic city is the Athens hop-on, hop-off bus tour departing from Syntagma Square (leave the metro at Monastiraki) and doing a circular tour of the all the major sights such as the Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus, the unrivaled National Archeological Museum, and Plaka, the colorful old neighborhood crammed with restaurants and bars sprawled around the Acropolis.

Day Trips from Athens

Depending on length of cruise stopover in Piraeus, day-trippers from Athens can venture west along the Saronic coastline to explore the ancient home of St Paul at Corinth, before visiting the canal and touring the cellars and sampling the wines at a Nemea vineyard.

The Temple of Apollo at Corinth. Picture courtesy of isawnyu on Flickr.

A short drive further west of Athens offers up the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Epidaurus and Mycenae, both accessible on day trips from the city. The third-century Epidaurus amphitheater is one of the best-preserved classical Greek structures still standing; if you are traveling in the summer, catch an evening performance there to admire the perfect acoustics. The ancient city of Mycenae was founded around the 14th century BC in the Bronze Age and Homer wrote about it in The Iliad; although much of the settlement was destroyed as early as 1100 BC, tours today include the Lion Gate, Citadel, the Circle of Tombs, and the Beehive Tomb.

Still in the Classical vein, day trips to Delphi, north-west of Athens, take in the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, dating from 800 BC, a tour of the treasures in the Archeological Museum, and a leisurely lunch. If time in Athens is short, combine an exploration of the Acropolis and the stunning new Acropolis Museum with a drive to Cape Sounion to admire the Temple of Poseidon standing proud on its headland overlooking the Aegean Sea – on a clear day the view stretches to the island of Kea.

Island Hopping from Athens

Most Greek island-hopping adventures start off from Piraeus harbor, just a stroll away from the cruise-ship port, and today the advent of high-speed catamarans and hydrofoils as well as the stately inter-island ferries make it possible to visit more islands for the day. The 3,000 plus Greek islands fan out into the Aegean Sea from the mainland; those closest to Athens include the Saronic Islands; of these it is possible to explore Hydra, Egina, and Poros for the day and be back in Athens to rejoin your ship in time for dinner.

The village of Oia on Santorini. Picture courtesy of BruceHH on Flickr.

High-speed hydrofoils also enable cruise visitors to travel to Spetses in two hours to experience its laid-back island charm, Venetian mansions, and solitary beaches. Choose just a couple of islands to visit on your Athens stopover; Hydra and Spetses are 30 minutes apart by Flying Dolphin and if time allows it, there are multi-day cruises that take in both islands. And if that all sounds like too much hassle, take a three-hour round trip to the island of Fleves by yacht from Piraeus to snorkel in the pristine waters of the Saronic Gulf.

Other Cruise Stops in Greece

Other major stop-off points in Greece include the deep-water harbor at Nafplio, which is 2.5 hours sailing time south-west of Athens on the Peloponnese Peninsula. This charming town of elegant Italianate palazzi and a multitude of stores selling local lace and olive oils is close to Epidaurus and Mycenae as well as the Palamidi, Bourtzi, and Akronafplia fortresses. Many cruise ships moor up in sleepy Katakolon, further west on Peloponnese Peninsula, thanks to its proximity to the ancient site of Olympia, where the Olympic Games were founded by Heracles in 776 BC. This quiet but photogenic backwater also offers soft sandy beaches and thermal springs at Kastro Kyllini.

Cruise liner off Mykonos harbor in Greece. Picture courtesy of L Richard Martin Junior on Flickr.

Several cruise lines also call in on the Greek islands of Santorini, Rhodes, and Mykonos, which all have their own personality and charm. Mykonos is party central, with plenty of clubs and nudist beaches, but it is also the jump-off point for the ancient Greek capital of Delos, a must to visit for its impressive classical statuary. Santorini is romantic, cultured, and famous for its caldera sunsets and cliffs; an evening spent atop the volcano at Oia watching the sun slip down into the Aegean Sea is a highlight of any Greek cruise. Rhodes is more commercially developed than many other Greek islands with a cracking nightlife as well as ancient ruins at Kamiros and guaranteed sunshine 300 days of the year.

General Advice for Cruise Visitors to Greece

The best time to take a cruise around Greece and the Greek Islands is between spring and early summer or in early autumn, when the weather will be sunny and warm but not unbearably hot, with temperatures around 68°F (20°C). This means you’ll also escape the worst of the crowds who flock to the Greek archipelago in July and August; this is when the hotels and restaurants are at their most expensive and there are long, long lines at all the ancient sites. Come April and May, or from September through October, the beaches are quiet and visitors can get to see the classical ruins without being jostled by crowds.

When cruising in Greece, be aware that the country’s current economic woes have led to opening times changing at short notice and some metro or bus routes in Athens may be reduced. Otherwise there is little to affect tourists and hotel and restaurant prices are at an all-time low. Greece belongs to the Euro, ATMs are commonplace, and credit cards are generally accepted everywhere.

Always check with your cruise line as to dress code on your ship and pack for going ashore – solid shoes and casual, cool clothing to combat cobbled streets and uneven ground at ancient archaeological sites. Take a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses and always carry water when visiting the ruins; the sun can be relentless and there’s little shade.

– Sasha Heseltine

Greece for Cruise Visitors from Greece Things to Do

Zákynthos is great for kids as the swimming is safe and shallow. Picture courtesy of Heather on her Travels on Flickr.

First of all, Greece has gorgeous Blue Flag beaches with gentle waves and pristine seas. Including the thousands of islands, Greece has a coastline of 9,950 miles (16,000 km), encompassing sandy beaches, pebbly beaches, little coves, and vast expanses of dune.

Most family-friendly beaches have parasols and loungers for hire, changing booths, and lifeguards, and some offer water sports like inner-tubing and banana boating for kids. The very best beaches for kids include the sandy peninsula at Halkidikí and the white pebbly coves with safe, shallow bathing on Zákynthos, where kids can also snorkel for loggerhead turtles in the National Marine Park. Choose a family-orientated hotel within walking distance of the beach and you’re set for the week.

As well as beaches, Greece offers plenty of waterparks and spectacular swimming pools. Bigger islands have established an infrastructure for entertaining kids, including open-air theaters on Corfu, the Aquarium in Rhodes, and the Limnoupolis Water Park in Chania on Crete.

Traveling around the Greek Islands can be an adventure with kids as long as you don’t go too far; most island hopping in Greece starts from Piraeus harbor in Athens and options include high-speed catamarans known as Flying Dolphins, which can cut journey times by a half. Cycladic islands such as Hydra and Poros are only a short sail from Piraeus by ferry, and both can be toured in an easy day out.

If you are island-hopping with young children, do your homework ahead of time and plan your routes carefully. Always spend your last night in Athens; missed flights thanks to delayed ferry departures go hand in hand with soaring stress and fractious kids.

Frieze in the family-friendly Acropolis Museum in Athens. Picture courtesy of julescatering on Flickr.

While beach holidays suit younger kids, chances are tweens and teens may appreciate the splendors of classical ruins at Delphi and Corinth on the Greek mainland and the sleek new Acropolis Museum in Athens.

Greek food is kid-friendly, with plenty of fish and plain cuts of meat, plus healthy fruit and veg – and above all – wherever you go as a family in Greece, your children will be picked up, cuddled, and universally adored.

– Sasha Heseltine

The Best Places for Kids in Greece from Greece Things to Do

The harbor at Aegina, near Athens. Picture courtesy of NH53 on Flickr.

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.

Most Greek island-hopping adventures start off from Piraeus harbor in Athens, and today with the advent of high-speed catamarans and hydrofoils as well as the stately inter-island ferries, more and more islands can be enjoyed for a day. It’s easy to visit Hydra, Aegina, and Poros for the day, even on the ferry, and be back in Athens for a late supper, but the hydrofoils also enable travel to Spetses in two hours to experience its laid-back island charm, Venetian mansions, and solitary beaches. If that sounds like too much effort, take a three-hour round trip to the island of Fleves by yacht to snorkel in the pristine waters of the Saronic Gulf.

The Temple of Apollo at Corinth. Picture courtesy of isawnyu on Flickr.

Back on dry land, day-trippers can venture west along the Saronic coastline to explore ancient Corinth, home of St Paul, before visiting the canal and later touring the cellars and sampling the wares at a Nemea vineyard. A short drive further west of Athens offers up the vast amphitheater at Epidaurus and the ancient city of Mycenae, both accessible on day trips from the city.

Still in the Classical vein, day jaunts to the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Delphi, north-west of Athens, take in the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, dating from 800BC, a tour of the treasures in the Archeological Museum, and a leisurely lunch. If time is short, combine an exploration of the Acropolis and its stunning new museum with a drive to Cape Sounion to admire the Temple of Poseidon standing proud on its headland overlooking the Aegean Sea – on a clear day the view stretches to the island of Kea.

– Sasha Heseltine

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Greece, Greece Attractions, and Greece travel recommendations. Or book a private guide in Greece for a customized tour!

Day Trips from Athens from Greece Things to Do

High-speed catamaran at Piraeus, Athens. Picture courtesy of UggBoy on Flickr.

North of Athens, Skiathos is the main draw of the Sporades, while further south the major Ionian Islands consist of Corfu, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, and Ithaca, while the North Aegeans include Lesbos. To the south-east of Athens lies Crete, the biggest of the islands, and just to the north-east, tucked under Turkey, Rhodes is the most-visited of the Dodecanese.

Most Greek Island hopping starts off from Piraeus in Athens and today the options include the stately inter-island ferries or high-speed catamarans and hydrofoils known as Flying Dolphins, which cut journey time by roughly a half. It’s easy to visit Hydra, Aegina, and Poros for the day, even on the ferry, and be back in Athens for a late supper, while Lesbos, Crete, and Rhodes all require an overnight ferry trip.

Ancient stone lions on Delos. Picture courtesy of isawnyu on Flickr.

Internal connections between islands are not always possible – for example there is no ferry between Sifnos and neighboring Paros – so always check and confirm your itinerary before leaving Piraeus. You may have to be flexible in your travels or choose just a couple of islands to visit for a few days each – Hydra and Spetses are 30 minutes apart by Flying Dolphin – or you may find yourself having to head back to Athens between destinations. And always plan to spend your last night back in Athens; missed flights due to delayed ferry departures lead to unwarranted stress and ruined vacations.

Mykonos by night. Picture courtesy of Allan Henderson on Flickr.

And the best islands to visit? Mykonos is party central, with plenty of clubs and nudist beaches. Santorini is romantic, cultured, and famous for its caldera sunsets and cliffs. Rhodes is more commercially developed than many other Greek islands; Delos boasts one of the most important archeological sites in Greece but little else. Hydra has no beaches but plenty of nightlife. They’re all so diverse in character, so do your homework before you go to ensure your perfect vacation.

Check out multi-day tours of Greece. 

– Sasha Heseltine

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Greece, Greece Attractions, and Greece travel recommendations. Or book a private guide in Greece for a customized tour!

Island Hopping in Greece from Greece Things to Do

Meze is a favorite Greek starter dish. Picture courtesy of loppear on Flickr.

The traditional cuisine in Greece is typical of the Mediterranean, plus a certain Middle Eastern flair; plenty of healthy vegetables, lots of garlic, and lashings of olive oil. Olives have been grown in Greece since classical times and their extra-virgin oils crop up in many colorful salads full of strong goats- and sheep-milk feta cheese and big, plump tomatoes.

Round, black kalamata olives are eaten whole, cooked in hearty stews or as part of meze, a traditional starter consisting of bowls of hummus, taramasalata (fish roe), tzatziki (natural yogurt, garlic, and mint), and eggplant dips, served with flat pitta breads. Dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with risotto) also make popular entrées.

Baklava is Greece’s most famous – and very sweet – dessert. Picture courtesy of Joelk75 on Flickr.

As a country with a long coastline and hundreds of islands, fish and shellfish have long featured heavily on Greek menus. Fried squid, tiny anchovies, grilled sardines, swordfish, and tuna are often simply grilled and served with a squeeze of lemon juice on them. Cod is traditionally served as plaki, roast and accompanied by a tomato sauce.

Once the preserve of celebrations, meat is now commonly eaten; moussaka is the best-known Greek meat dish, with minced lamb ragout, layers of potato and eggplant served with a creamy béchamel sauce. Lamb can be roasted on a spit or cut into chops marinated in garlic (paidakia), accompanied by roast potatoes and stuffed zucchini.

The Greeks have quite the sweet tooth, and adore light baklava made from layers of phyllo pastry, drizzled with honey and flavored with pecans or pistachios. Other sweat treats might include yaourti me meli (natural yogurt with honey) or sweet loukomades (dumplings), often served with sweet black coffee flavored with cardamom.

Book a Greek food tour in Athens.

Contributed by Sasha Heseltine

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Greece, Greece attractions, and Greece travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Greece for a customized tour!

Famous Food in Greece from Greece Things to Do

1. Take a Sunset Sail
Witness the sun going down over the Cyclades with an evening cruise around Santorini’s dramatic coastline. Sailing boats leave from the harbors in Fira or Athinios, explore tiny unspoilt covers, stop at the hot springs where sulfur from the volcano heats the water, and serve a romantic dinner on board as the sun slips dramatically into the Aegean Sea.

Sailing into the magical sunset on Santorini. Picture courtesy of jdn on Flickr.

2. Volcano and Hot Springs Trek
Yomp to the top of the gently steaming volcano caldera for a great view of Santorini’s villages scattered below, with their bright blue roofs dancing in the sun, and take some magical photographs of your partner. Clean off afterwards with a swim out to the natural hot springs.

3. Sunset at Oia
See Santorini’s famously flamboyant sunset as it goes down across the fractured caldera of the submerged volcano from the trendy little village of Oia, hanging precariously over 853-feet (260-meter) cliffs on a north-coast headland. After dark, stay for a supper of grilled octopus and retsina in one of Oia’s tavernas and explore its many art galleries.

4. Explore Ancient Ruins
Head for the clifftop ruins of Thira, an antique city destroyed in 726 AD and excavated in the 1990s. Still visible are the long main street, scattered masonry from temples and the forum, remains of courtyards, sanctuaries, and terraces, and of course, glorious views across the submerged volcano and sparkling azure sea.

Santorini’s village of Oia is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Picture courtesy of PhylB on Flickr.

5. Get Hitched
Choose your romantic spot and get married on Santorini; check the paperwork needed and book an eight-day stay on the island to realise your dream of marrying on a Greek beach, in a minute whitewashed chapel, or even on a tall ship.

- Sasha Heseltine

 Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Greece, Greece attractions, and Greece travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Greece for a customized tour!

Romantic Things to Do in Santorini from Greece Things to Do

The White Tower in Thessaloniki. Photo courtesy of dungodung on Flickr.

1. Sightseeing
The lack of crowds makes it a pleasure to visit major sights such as the Acropolis, Delphi, the Knossos on Crete, and the Temple of Athena on Lindos.

2. Shopping
Most designer stores in Athens are found in upmarket Kolonaki. Sales hit at the end of January and last up to five weeks, although the current financial crisis in Greece has led to retail bargains all year around.

3. Thessaloniki
Cosmopolitan Thessaloniki in northern Greece has a year-round jumping nightlife in trendy Ladadika and plenty of gourmet restaurants serving up fantastic food. There is a spectacular seaside promenade and Byzantine churches, mosques, and synagogues to discover. Mount Olympus and the ruins at Vergina are close by.

4. Island Hopping
The smaller Cyclades Islands virtually close down in winter, but Hydra, Poros, and Aegina remain buzzing. Rhodes and Crete are the places for consistent sunshine. Ferry services are open but dependent on the weather.

Winter sailing at harbor in Lesbos, Greece. Photo courtesy of stefg74 on Flickr.

5. Skiing in Greece
Surprisingly Greece has about a dozen ski resorts, most in the mountainous north within 150km of Thessaloniki; the closest to Athens is at Mount Parnassos. The season is short – from mid-December to April – but ski hire and lift passes are cheaper than in other European countries.

6. Winter Sailing
Wintertime sailing in Greece can be more enjoyable than in summer, when the strong Meltemi winds blow, temperatures are high, and marinas are packed. Although sunshine is not guaranteed, you’ll get to see the beautiful islands, rugged coastline, and archaeological sites without the crowds.

Visit the Knossos on Crete in winter to see Greece without the crowds. Photo courtesy of Paula McMillen on Flickr.

7. Back to Nature
Winter is the time to discover the ancient walking trails on Kea in the Cyclades. Most depart from Ioulída and range from two miles (three km) to 7.5 miles (12 km) in length, passing tumbledown churches, whitewashed houses, defence towers, and oak forests on their way to sweeps of sandy beach.

Contributed by Sasha Heseltine

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Greece tours and things to do, Greece attractions, and Greece travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Greece for a customized tour!

Greece in Winter from Greece Things to Do

Vassilopita is a cake traditionally served at New Year in Greece. Photo courtesy of vassilisonline via Flickr.

1. Athens
Although celebrations are likely to be muted in 2012 following the last couple of years of economic hardship, traditionally there are fireworks displays all over the city, with free concerts around the Christmas Village in Syntagma Square, outside the city hall in Athinas Street, and in Klafthmonos Square. People congregate in their thousands to bring in New Year over dinner at smart hotels and restaurants.

2. Thessaloniki
Northern Greece’s party town ramps up over New Year with parties in almost every bar and restaurant. Crowds spill out on to the streets just before midnight and see in the New Year in Aristoteleous Square before piling into clubs to carry on celebrating.

3. Crete
First footing—podariko—in Crete is traditionally done by young boys sporting a lucky skylokremmyda plant, which looks like an onion with green leaves; they leave the plant on the doorstep, step into the house right foot first, and are rewarded with small gits of money.

The Acropolis in Athens; the city is beautiful to visit at any time of year. Photo courtesy of Titanas via Flickr.

4. Rhodes Town
New Year carols are sung at communal street parties in towns and villages throughout Rhodes; they kick off with dancing after midnight and firework displays light the skies above the island.

In Greece shops are closed on New Year’s Day and public transportation is severely limited. Although life returns to normal on January 3 when stores and business re-open, the festive season officially ends with Epiphany on January 6, when priests bless water and boats by throwing crucifixes into the sea.

-Sasha Heseltine

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Athens tours and things to do, Athens attractions, and Athens travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Athens for a customized tour!

Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Greece from Greece Things to Do

The Christmas Tree in Syntagma Square, Athens. Photo courtesy of Tilemahos Efthimiadis from Flickr.

Greece is a deeply religious country and accordingly Christmas celebrations in Athens are solemn, centered around family and the Greek Orthodox church. Celebrations may be more muted than ever in 2012 following this year of austerity.

But festive lights have been switched on throughout the city and the Christmas Parade on December 1 has gone ahead. Syntagma Square is be adorned with decorations made by local school children. Its Christmas tree in previous years has been the largest in Europe, with a Christmas village growing up around it with food stalls and entertainment for kids. This year the many empty shop windows around Athens will be dressed up in festive finery and most houses display tiny boats, symbolic of looking ahead the new year and the future.

The Christmas season begins on December 6 in Athens, when the Feast of St Nicholas is celebrated and children are rewarded for their good behavior with gifts of fruit and candy.

Christmas was traditionally heralded by a 40-day fast that ended on December 24 with great feasting; nowadays the feasting remains but fewer people fast. Dinner comprises soup, elaborate homemade loaves called Christopsomo—Christ’s bread—dolmades stuffed with cabbage, and pork dishes. Dessert includes piles of sweet baklava; honey-stuffed fried melomakarona pastries; and kouriambedies, cookies made with almonds and flecked with sugar in imitation of snow.

After eating, everybody attends Midnight Mass in celebration of the birth of Infant Jesus and traditional kalandas—carols—are sung. Christmas Day and December 26 are both public holidays, with all shops closed.

Malign spirits called kallikantzari are thought to prey on people in the 12 days between Christmas Day and Epiphany on January 6. These are held at bay by burning ‘Yule’ logs in fireplaces or placing food on doorsteps as offerings to the spirits.

New Year’s Eve is celebrated by the arrival of St Basil—the Greek Santa Claus—bringing presents, more feasting, and the eating of vassilopita, a ceremonial cake baked with lucky coins inside.

Although life returns to normal on January 3 with the reopening of stores after New Year, Christmas officially ends on January 6, with the blessing of water and boats as priests throw crucifixes into the Aegean Sea at Piraeus.

-Sasha Heseltine

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Athens tours and things to do, Athens attractions, and Athens travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Athens for a customized tour!

Christmas in Athens from Greece Things to Do