The country of Greece is a top European tourist destination and is on most peoples’ bucket lists of places to visit. And why wouldn’t it be? Steeped in history, when you travel through Greece, it’s like going back in time. See the ruins of Ancient Greece, laze on the pebbled beaches, or swim in the crystal clear warm water. There’s plenty to do when you take a Greek vacation. Here are some tips on how to plan a holiday in Greece.
How to Plan a Vacation in Greece
If you’ve decided you want to book a vacation in Greece, you’ve taken the first step towards experiencing some of the most historical and inspirational sights of your lifetime. There’s so much to do in Greece that it would be impossible for you to see everything on one trip. But that just gives you a great reason to keep coming back, time after time!
Once you visit this piece of paradise on Earth, we’re sure you’ll find it painful to leave behind. Don’t blame us if you come home from your vacation and decide to abandon the big city for a small farm in the country surrounded by dogs and cats, as Greece is overrun by stray animals that are very friendly with the shop owners and tourists. It’s an animal lover’s dream come true.
To plan the best Greek vacation possible, the first thing you need to ask yourself is, “What do I want to see?” Are you going to the beaches? Do you want to see the main tourist attractions like Acropolis and the Parthenon? Or are you wanting to see sights that are less visited, such as the Ionian Islands, including Kefalonia, the largest and cheapest of the Greek islands?
You’ll also need to consider how long you’re staying. Greece has over 200 inhabited islands, so the more time you have to explore, the better. Many travel experts recommend carving out at least a whole summer to get to enjoy all that this beautiful country has to offer. But let’s be real – most people will only have a week or less.
Make Your Plans
Once you’ve figured out how long you want to stay in Greece and you have a rough idea of what you’d like to see, you can plan an itinerary, so you’ll be ready to make reservations. April through September is the busiest time for tourism, which means higher prices and larger crowds. You might want to book your flight during the off-season for better rates and availability. The further out you make plans, the more money you will save.
You may decide to wait until you get into Greece before you book a hotel, which is fine, but make sure you consider the currency exchange, so you carry enough money with you. Most locations do take debit and credit cards, so you won’t have to worry about cash or traveler’s checks, which can be easier for your travel plans. It also helps you control your budget as you’ll be able to keep track of your spending with your bank app.
Knowing what you want to see ahead of time allows you to work out a budget, so you’ll know how much money you’ll need to save to enjoy the vacation as you’re hoping. It would suck to travel into one of the most beautiful countries in the world, only to be limited to what you can do because you didn’t bring enough money.
Do Your Research
If you plan to island-hop, consider that you’ll have to fly or ride a ferry to most islands, which can eat into your exploration time. If you’re cramped for time but want to get as much sightseeing in as possible, consider booking a day trip which will give you guided tours of multiple tourist attractions in one day.
You can find various tours, such as:
- Athens City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Tour
- ½ Day Athens City Sightseeing Tour (3.5 hours)
- Delphi Day Trip – a full-day trip to Temple of Apollo and Delphi Archeological Museum
- Mycenae and Epidaurus Day Trip – guided tour of ruins
Many people start their Greek vacation in the city of Athens, where they stay for the first few days of the trip. From here, you can travel to other islands for a day of adventure without spending too much time in transit. The great thing is you don’t have to worry about relocating hotels each night in a new city. You can stay in the same one while still seeing a bunch of different places. Cheaper and easier.
Must-See Sites
I have dreamed of seeing the ancient ruins of Greece since I was a little girl. I’ve always loved Greek mythology and all the fascinating stories. How incredible would it be to walk among such history? Athens is the start of Western civilization as we know it. It’s the home of democracy. I get chills thinking about it. If this is going to be your first trip to Greece, some major tourist attractions are on everyone’s must-see list.
Athens
On your first visit, you should start in Athens, where you can set up shop at one of the hotels, quaint bed and breakfasts, or hostels in the area. This bustling city has plenty for you to do, from sightseeing to shopping, eating, relaxing, and everything in between.
Syntagma Square
Start in Syntagma Square, which translates to Constitution Square. If you follow the staircase, you’ll end up at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. Every morning, at 11 AM, the Soldiers of the Presidential Guard, who stand in front of the Hellenic Parliament, meet in front of the tomb to exchange shifts. These guards are present 24 hours a day, seven days a week in full costume, including leg tassels, shoes with pompoms, and pleated skirts.
If you’re up for a walk to find some local grub, take a tour of Ermou Street, one of the most famous roads in Athens, where you’ll find some of the best food and shopping. Whether you’re looking for a quick snack, a full meal, or just a cup of coffee, you won’t need to look any further. The hard part is picking only one place to try!
Monastiraki Square
You’ll eventually end up in Monastiraki Square, named so after the Pantanassa Church, built in the 17th century, which is all that is left of one of Athens’ largest monasteries. While here, you can check out the beautiful historic church and the collection of shops.
On Sundays, you can find people selling goods laid out on the ground, flea market style. You can luck up on just about anything, from antiques to funky jewelry to tourist junk. From Monastiraki Square, you’ll also be able to view the Library of Hadrian, which was founded in 132 AD by King Hadrian and repeatedly built and destroyed up until the late 1800s. You can still see part of the original outer wall, complete with Corinthian columns and portico entrance for the inner courtyard.
Roman Agora
Right next to the library is the Roman Agora, which dates back to 1st century BC. Here, you can view the Gate of Athena Archegetis, which used to be the entrance to the market. This massive structure is made of giant columns that resemble a temple theme. You can find a lot of street vendors posted up around this area, too, so you can get cheap local snacks and trinkets of all types. This site closes at 3 PM, so you might want to make this one of your stops early in the day.
Be sure you check out the Tower of the Winds, an incredible eight-sided tower that works as a weathervane sundial and water clock. This beauty was built between the first and second century BC by a famous astronomer and depicted stunning carvings of the eight directions of the wind.
Ancient Agora
Down the road is the Ancient Agora, which used to be the marketplace in ancient Greek times. While here, take time to view the Temple of Hephaestus, completed in 415 BC. You don’t want to miss this site, as it is one of the most preserved ancient buildings in the world. Dedicated to the God of Volcanoes, Haephestus.
Next, you can check out the Stoa of Attalos Museum. This two-story stoa used to be a busy marketplace in its heyday back around 150 BC. It has since been restored and turned into the Ancient Agora Museum and holds exhibits that show how democracy worked in Athens, which paved the way for the rest of the world. If you’re into politics, check out the ancient ballot boxes housed here. There are goods sold by vendors here as well. From here, you can move into Acropolis for some history or Plaka for a bit of dawdling.
Plaka
Many travel experts point tourists to the neighborhood of Plaka when they’re looking for something more than falafels and street food. In this quaint area, it’s pedestrian-only, well mostly. There will be delivery trucks and bikes to watch out for as you window shop among the various stores.
If you enjoy checking out the best tourist spots, this is where you’ll want to go. Not only can you shop and eat, but you can also check out museums like the Hellenic Children’s Museum, Museum of Greek Popular Music, or Greek Folk Art Museum. This shopping area has the quaint appeal of village life and a few historic churches to view, like Metamorfosis and the Church of Kaprikanea.
At the Bottom of Acropolis
A famous symbol for Greece, Acropolis, is a must-see while you’re staying in Athens. Dating back to 5th century BC, the citadel of Acropolis is located atop a rocky hill and houses three ancient temples and various historical sites.
At the foot of Acropolis, you’ll find the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, which is a theater dedicated to music and built-in 161 AD and designed to seat over 5,000 people. The structure originally had marble walls, benches, and mosaic floors with a cedar roof. In 1950, the building was restored, although there is no longer a roof. This area is not open to the public unless you’re attending an event. But you can get a good view of the inside while standing on top of the hill at Acropolis.
Next to this stadium is the Theatre of Dionysus, which was the first theater ever to be built in Athens and dates back to the sixth century BC. It’s also the largest and was dedicated in honor of the Greek God of Drama, Dionysus. This building can hold up to 17,000 people. In the present day, no plays are held here, but it has withstood the tests of time and is a delightful place to sit and relax before you begin your hike up to Acropolis.
Entering Acropolis
As you enter Acropolis through Beulé Gate, you pass through Propylaia, the building that guards the entrance. This building has a traditional column design with marble steps and roof. There are two wings off the main hall, which leads to the Parthenon.
On the way out of Propylaea, you can check out the Temple of Athena Nike, built in 424 BC and restored in the 1930s. Spend time admiring the Erechtheion, the said tomb of Erechtheus, a popular king of Athens, erected between 421 and 395 BC.
A replica of the Porch of Caryatids – six female sculptures – adorn the columns holding this structure up. You can see the original female sculptured columns in the Acropolis Museum. It’s said this is the site where Poseidon and Athena had a contest to determine who the city should be named after. The hole in the ceiling and floor are from Poseidon’s trident, making a spring to impress the citizens. The olive tree outside is representative of Athena’s gift – the olive tree.
The Parthenon
You can’t visit Acropolis and not take in the astonishing beauty of the Parthenon, a religious shrine dedicated to Athena Parthenos, known as Athena the Virgin. You aren’t allowed inside the temple, but the view from the outside is just as breathtaking. This structure is made of 58 marble columns to uphold the massive roof.
Built between 447 and 432 BC, this building used to house a statue of the Goddess, Athena. There are eight columns along the front and back, and seventeen along each side to make a massive 30.88m (wide) x 69.5m (length). It is the largest Doric Greek temple built.
Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum is one of the most visited attractions in Athens. This museum houses priceless artifacts you couldn’t see anywhere else, such as Moscophoros, a 6th-century statue of a young man carrying a calf on his shoulders, as well as the frieze from the Parthenon.
There are currently over 4,000 items on display for public viewing. Discover the history of Acropolis, facts about the Parthenon, Propylaia, Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and even the history from 5th century BC to 5th century AD. You’re sure to enjoy spending a few hours in the air-conditioned museum learning a thing or two.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Follow the 2.5-mile walking path, which leads you from the Ancient Agora to the Temple of Olympian Zeus. If you know your Greek mythology, you’ll know that Zeus is considered the King of the Gods, as well as of God of thunder and sky. With such a reputation, it’s no wonder the Olympion is regarded as the largest temple in the country.
This giant temple, dedicated to the King of Gods, was started in 6th century BC. However, it wasn’t finished being constructed until Emperor Hadrian controlled the area in the 2nd century AD. Once upon a time, over 100 massive columns were holding up this stoic building. Now, only 15 remain standing.
Another column is still intact but has fallen over due to a severe storm in the 1800s. Although it is in ruins, you’ll be hard-pressed not to appreciate the significance of such an ancient and essential temple in Greek culture.
Hadrian’s Arch
Closeby, in front of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, is Hadrian’s Arch, built in honor of Emperor Hadrian in 2nd century AD, who erected numerous buildings under his rein. This gate was meant to separate the road between Acropolis and the Olympieion. It stands almost 36 feet high with multiple columns and details to leave you in awe, completely restored to its former glory in 2005.
Inscribed on the arch on the western side, which faces the Acropolis, “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus.” On the other side, facing the Temple of Zeus, it says, “This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus.” Scholars are still unsure what the inscriptions mean, but that doesn’t take away the breathtaking appeal of this arch.
Panathenaic Stadium
The Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Panathinaiko, or Olympic Stadium to non-locals, is the only stadium in the world made of all marble. The original building was built from wood for the Panathenaic Games in 330 BC and resurfaced in marble around 144 AD. It was abandoned around the 4th century until it was recovered in 1869.
The building you’ll tour is a replica built in 1896 to host the first-ever Olympics. It was also the host for the 2004 Olympics and is the final stop every year where the Olympic flame is handed over to the host nation. This giant historic attraction can seat over 50,000 people in 47 tiers of seating. There are multiple events held here each year.
Temple of Poseidon
Before you depart from the beautiful city of Athens, you’ll want to make sure you check out the Temple of Poseidon, located in Cape Sounion at the southeast point of Attica 70 kilometers outside of Athens. This dynamic building was built between 444 and 440 BC in honor of the God of the Sea, Poseidon himself.
Throughout history, sailors used the massive marble temple sitting atop a 60-meter rocky cliff above the Aegean sea as a landmark to announce that they were close to the city of Athens. There were originally 34 twenty-foot tall, three feet wide marble columns with six on each end and 13 on each side. Today, there’s only thirteen left.
Delphi
Most people tend to spend most, if not all, of their vacation in the city of Athens because, as we’ve illustrated, there’s so much to see and do. Believe it or not, there’s so many historical sites and museums we didn’t get to list just so we could cover other amazing things about Greece, such as the island of Delphi.
Once you’ve spent a day or two, or maybe even three touring Athens, you might be ready to check out some other cool sites, such as the Temple of Apollo. Delphi is 75 miles north of Athens, and you can easily visit for a day trip without uprooting your home base in Athens.
You can drive, which would take about two to two and a half hours, or you could take a bus, taxi, plane, or even book a day trip where you get a guided tour of the famous sites, along with other tourists. Taking the public bus is the cheapest, but seats fill up fast. Regardless of your mode of travel, you might want to make reservations early, so you don’t miss some incredible tourist sites.
Athenian Treasury
As you tour the Delphi ruins, named so after the famous Oracle Delphi, you’ll follow the Sacred Way, a pathway lined with majestic trees. The first site you’ll check out along this path is the Athenian Treasury, a small temple built to keep the offerings made to the Oracle.
Made of Parian marble, with a Doric frieze, with 30 metopes and a porch covering the entrance, this beautiful piece of work was built between 510 and 480 BC and restored in 1903-1906, and 2004. Be aware that the signs call this place “The Stoa of the Athenians” rather than Treasury. Don’t be alarmed.
Apollo’s Temple of Delphi
As you continue your ascent up the Sacred Way, you’ll catch sight of the Serpent Column, or Serpentine Column, which is a twisted column, that’s black and missing the top. At one time, there was a three-headed snake on top, which is how it got its name. What you’ll pass is a replica.
As you pass the Serpent Column, you’ll get to your final destination, the Temple of Apollo. Be prepared not to be as wowed as you were at the various ruins in Athens. All that is left of this temple is a granite slab and six limestone columns. Unfortunately, the ruins don’t reflect the historical importance of this site, which could be one of the most important historical sites in Greece.
Delphi Amphitheater
Your sightseeing tour can end here, or you could check out the Delphi Amphitheater, dating back to 4th century BC. While smaller than other amphitheaters you’ll visit, with the ability to only hold 2,000 people, the view is worth the hike.
Delphi Stadium
If you enjoy hiking and have the time to spare, continue your journey up the mountain to take in the Delphi Stadium, where the Pythian Games used to be held to honor Apollo. These games were the ancient edition of the Olympic Games. This is a must-see for people who prefer sights off the beaten path and lesser visited by tourists.
Mount Olympus
If you’re visiting historical sites of Greek mythology, you can’t leave Greece without visiting Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, with the tallest peak, Mytikas, reaching 2,917 meters high. This breathtaking mountain is also believed to be the home of the Gods.
There are plenty of hiking trails so you can get up close and personal with the natural beauty of Greece, including rare flower species not found anywhere else in the world. See the abundant wildlife and the various ecosystems, from sweltering heat to snow as you hike up the mountainside.
Dion
Dion was once considered a vital religious center of the area around Mount Olympus. You can see ancient statues in the area, although these are now replicas. The real monuments have been safely stored inside the museum in town.
But you can still see what the sights would have looked like in ancient times, including the Sanctuary of Isis, which is a temple that had been covered under six feet of water for centuries until an earthquake made it visible. It is still surrounded by water, including a statue of Aphrodite.
Pack Appropriately
Once you’ve figured out the places you’ll want to visit, you’ll need to schedule them ahead of time so you can be sure that you have better availability and prices. Waiting until the last minute to make plans can lead you to miss out on some of the best tourist spots. As you can see, there’s plenty to do while visiting Greece but there are also some must-see stops you can’t leave out.
If you’re traveling during the tourist months of April to September, you’ll want to pack clothing to keep you cool, such as shorts or lightweight linen pants. Short sleeve shirts or tank tops are all you’ll need for tops. Most of the islands are casual, so you won’t need to bring a bunch of dressy clothing.
For females, if you plan to visit the abundant historical churches that populate Greece, be aware that you will be expected to cover your arms and upper legs. You won’t be able to walk in wearing a tank top and short shorts. Women are expected to dress modestly. Don’t expose too much flesh, such as wearing tops that show your stomach or are low cut and show your breasts.
Don’t Forget the Active Wear
Even though you’re going on vacation, you’ll be busy doing a lot of stuff, so you’ll want to be prepared with all the appropriate accessories. There are beaches everywhere you look around the islands of Greece, so you’ll undoubtedly want to bring along stuff to beach hopping, including a bathing suit, coverup, and sunscreen.
Make sure to include a lightweight rain jacket as the weather can be unpredictable. You’ll need comfortable shoes if you’re going to be doing a lot of walking, which is going to be just about everyone. If you plan to eat dinner at one of the dozens of upscale restaurants, make sure you pack a few dressy items in case there’s a dress code.
Grooming necessities can be more expensive in Greece, so you might want to bring your favorite products along. But be sure to make sure there are no restrictions against them in Customs before traveling.
Enjoy Your Trip To Greece
Planning a trip to Greece can be overwhelming because there are so many different things to see and do. Most people start their Greek vacation in the city of Athens, which has enough to do that you’ll never have to venture out of the town. But we’ve given you a few different options if you decide you want to see more of the culture of Greece than one city. After reading this article, you know how to plan a vacation in Greece. Have fun!