Our Best of Greece list includes the top travel destinations to help you plan a memorable visit. With so many candidates, compiling such a list is not easy. We include here both the most photogenic and culturally significant destinations. Read on, and choose a perfect spot for your vacation.
Best Greek Islands and Mainland Holiday Destinations
Our top choices are Santorini island and Nafplio on the mainland.
Popular Island Choice: Santorini (Thera)

The combination of breathtaking topography and culture automatically elevate Santorini to a favorite destination. The island’s popularity is probably its only flaw.
Visiting in May or early June is better to avoid the crowds. Staying at a hotel in Ia, or in Fira atop the volcanic caldera is also imperative. The views are unforgettable.
Good beaches (Perissa, and Kamari), a great museum of prehistoric art, a unique excavation site at Akrotiri, and the far-out legend of Atlantis would keep any visitor happy.
If you were to visit only one island in Greece, we would recommend Santorini, mainly because of the unique landscape and experience.
Other islands like Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Kefalonia are excellent choices, especially if you are looking for popular vacation spots.
Classy Town on the Mainland: Nafplio

Nafplio is a wonderful little town in the Peloponnese, popular adults, families, and couples.
It’s location in the middle of the most historic areas of Greece make it a great place to stay if you want to combine city life, swimming, and historical/cultural excursions.
If you like visiting archaeological sites, we recommend you spend at least a week in Nafplio.
From there you can visit ancient Mycenae, Epidaurus, Franchthi cave, Asini, and Nemea.
If you time it well, you can also watch an ancient Comedy or Drama in the ancient theatre of Epidaurus.
Best Greek Travel Destinations by Category

ACROPOLIS – The Bed...

Ancient OLYMPIA – B...

Balos Beach

Belegrina Beach (Chrysi I...

CORFU Island – A Lu...

CRETE – Go for the ...

DELPHI – The Oracle...

Egremni Beach

Elafonisi Beach

Falasarna Beach

Fanos Beach

Heraklion Archaeological ...

Magic Beach

METEORA – Where Ear...

Myrtos Beach

National Archaeological M...

Navagio Beach

Papa Nero Beach

Plaka Beach

Psili Ammos Beach

SANTORINI – Terrace...

Sarakiniko Beach, Elafoni...
Best of Greece: Spectacular Topography and Geology

- Meteora
- Thera Volcano (Santorini Island)
- Olympus mountain
- Samaria Gorge (Crete)
- Vikos Gorge (Ioannina)
- Pindos Mountain Range
- Korinth canal
- Nisiros volcano
- Perama cave (Ioannina)
- Diro Cave
Best Quiet Travel Destinations in Greece
- Papingo. Papingo is a small village perched high up in Pindos mountain range, in Epirus, in an area called Central Zagorohoria
- Little Cyclades (Koufonisia, Donousa, Iraklia)
- Xerokampos, Crete
- Elafonissos, Lakonia
- Petra, Patmos island
- Pylos, Peloponnese
- Messolonghi, Western Greece
Beautiful Greek Towns and Villages
- Papingo (Ioannina)
- Ia and Fira (Santorini)
- Githio (Lakonia)
- Makrinitsa (Pelio)
- Olympos (Karpathos)
- Pylos (Messinia)
- Chania (Crete)
Best Ancient Greek Sites
No matter where you go in Greece, you will be near an archaeological site, and a museum.
Click here for our extensive advise on the best of ancient Greece
The best of ancient Greece include:
The Best Ancient Greek Archaeological Sites
If you only have time for one or two sites, choose the Acropolis and Delphi.
If you have time for two more, choose Mycenae and Epidaurus.
- The Acropolis of Athens
- The Ancient Agora of Athens
- Sounio
- Delphi Oracle
- Ancient Olympia
- Mycenae
- Epidaurus
- Knossos
- Akrotiri
- Vergina
- Dion
The Best Archaeological Museums in Greece
The National Archaeological Museum of Athens has the most extensive and important collection of ancient Greek art.
The Acropolis museum is the most impressive.
- National Archaeological Museum in Athens
- Heraklion Museum in Crete
- Delphi Archaeological Museum
- Olympia Archaeological Museum
- Museum of Prehistoric Art in Santorini
- Volos Archaeological Museum
- Ioannina Archaeological Museum
- Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum
- Vergina
- Corfu Archaeological Museum