Greece Things to Do

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.

The 3,000 plus Greek Islands fan out into the Aegean Sea from the mainland; those closest to Athens include the Saronic Islands, where Hydra, Poros, and Aegina are popular destinations. To the east highlights of the Cyclades encompass Delos, Mykonos, Kea, Paros, and Tinos.

If you’re in the mood for wine while traveling through the Hellenic Republic, has no fear, you are not fated to sip retsina for the entirety of your journey. While a trip to Greece wouldn’t be complete without a glass of the aforementioned 2,000-year-old wine, your options extend beyond its resinous flavor (and terrible hangovers).

A good place to begin your search for the true flavor of Greek wine is the annual Dionysia Festival that takes place…

Simultaneously one of the most intimidating and rewarding destinations in all of the Mediterranean, Athens is one place where it really pays for tourists to do a little advance research (particularly if your visit is going to be a brief one). Wander into the City of the Violet Crown (or City of Angry Greeks, as it is known by others) without plotting your course ahead of time, and you’re likely to end up overheated, worn out, ticked off, and light in the wallet. Happily, the number of opportunities for rewarding sightseeing and exposure to history, culture, and entertainment is staggeringly numerous.

One of the absolutely spectacular adventures in pursuing Greece’s vast and historical landmarks, the monasteries atop the rock-towers of Meteora is sure to impress. Located in Thessaly in central Greece, a hike to the top of the rock-towers gets you to some of the most important Orthodox structures in the country, the 24 monasteries of the Meteora.

Paros is an island for all seasons and all tastes, being authentic, traditional and intact in most of its parts. Being a typical Cycladian island, it gets very dry in summer, so for lovers of botany it is ideal to go in spring or autumn time (March, April, May or October, November). But for lovers of crystal, clear, blue waters and sunny virgin beaches, June and July are ideal. August is THE vacation month of the Greeks, so it gets very busy. No matter when you go you should try out these four great itineraries.