🇬🇷Greece

The Acropolis, Athens

The Parthenon and its surrounding site sit atop a rocky outcrop overlooking Athens, built in the 5th century BC as a tribute to the goddess Athena. Centuries of use as a fortress, church, and mosque have left visible layers of history across the site. Visiting at opening time helps avoid both the summer heat and the largest crowds.

Santorini's caldera

Whitewashed towns along the cliff edge of a collapsed volcanic caldera, their blue-domed churches among the most photographed scenes in Greece. The island's dramatic geology, shaped by a massive eruption around 1600 BC, is on full display from the cliffside walking path between Fira and Oia. Sunset in Oia draws large crowds nightly, though quieter viewpoints exist nearby.

Mykonos

Windmills and narrow whitewashed lanes give the main town, Chora, a distinctly Cycladic character, while the island's beach clubs have made it one of the liveliest nightlife destinations in the Aegean. Little Venice, a row of colorful buildings built right at the water's edge, is a popular spot for sunset drinks. Quieter beaches exist away from the main party scene for those seeking a calmer stay.

Meteora

Monasteries built atop dramatic sandstone rock pillars in central Greece, originally reached only by removable ladders or nets to protect monks from invasion. Several of the six remaining active monasteries are open to visitors, with modest dress required. The rock formations themselves, shaped by erosion over millions of years, are striking even without the monasteries.

Delphi

Considered by ancient Greeks to be the center of the world, this sanctuary once housed the Oracle of Delphi, whose cryptic prophecies were sought by rulers across the ancient Mediterranean. The site's dramatic setting on the slopes of Mount Parnassus adds to its mystique. A well-preserved amphitheater and stadium sit above the main temple ruins.

Ancient Agora & Plaka, Athens

The Agora once served as ancient Athens' central marketplace and civic gathering space, where philosophers including Socrates debated in public. The well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus stands at one edge of the site. The adjoining Plaka neighborhood offers a livelier, more modern counterpoint of tavernas and shops beneath the Acropolis.