Best things to do in Greece

A cluster of ancient ruins of great architectural and historical significance, Acropolis of Athens has been the star attraction of Athens for many centuries and is a World Heritage Site. Sitting on a rocky hill just above the city, this age-old citadel contains ruins of temples constructed during the 5th century BCE. The "City on a Hill," as its name roughly translates, contains outstanding examples of Classical architecture that continues to influence the building styles of modern cities around the world. Although pollution and exposure to weather continue to take their toll on the ancient buildings, the historical hill remains an important reminder of the cultural influence and political power ancient Greece once exercised on the rest of the world.

Established to preserve the rich heritage of ancient Greece, Acropolis Museum brings together thousands of artifacts found at the world-famous ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above Athens. Opened in 2009 just a short walk from this heritage-listed archaeological site, the museum exhibits nearly 4,000 objects, including items formerly held in storage or displayed by foreign museums. The collection focuses on statues from the 5th century BCE, widely regarded as the finest examples of ancient artistic achievement. The museum building, a major tourist attraction in itself, features exhibit spaces designed to give each artifact a clear historical context. Finish your visit at the second-floor restaurant, which offers panoramic views of the city's historical hills.

The oldest residential neighborhood in Athens, Plaka sits in the shadows of the city's ancient ruins, welcoming visitors with a labyrinth of pedestrian-friendly streets and notable examples of Neoclassical architecture. In the 1990s this district transformed itself from a primarily working-class neighborhood to a tourist-driven area rife with trendy shops, upscale restaurants, and sidewalk cafes. Though most visitors come to this area--the heart of the ancient city--to soak up the authentic street atmosphere, you can also visit several historically important sites here, including a 5th century temple and an 11th century church, one of the oldest in the city. The neighborhood also houses a good selection of museums and galleries, displaying ancient artifacts and folk art.

Meteora, roughly translated as "suspended in the air," serves as one of the largest and historically most significant Eastern Orthodox monastery complexes in Greece, inscribed on the World Heritage List. The complex consists of a group of monasteries reachable only by narrow staircases painstakingly cut into steep sandstone cliffs. Orthodox monks settled in this region in the 11th century, originally building 24 monasteries, six of which remain intact. Each monastery possesses an important collection of precious sacred manuscripts and medieval frescoes, representing some of the finest examples of post-Byzantine painting. Wear shoes suitable for rugged terrain. Also take note to wear clothing that covers your knees and shoulders when entering the monasteries.

The largest of Athens' many museums, National Archaeological Museum houses a vast collection of ancient artifacts unearthed from a variety of excavation sites around Greece. The museum's world-famous Mycenaean collection includes the 19th century finds by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, featuring golden funerary masks, relief stelae, alabaster tools, ivory carvings, and jewelry. The museum also displays a staggering array of ancient figurines, frescoes from the volcanic island of Santorini, and the oldest known mechanical computer, designed to predict astronomical positions and eclipses. There's so much to see here, it may take you several visits to absorb it all. Make your trip through ancient history a bit more comprehensible by arranging for a guided tour of the museum's most representative exhibits.

What remains standing today of Temple of Olympian Zeus serves as a testament to the grandeur of ancient Greek architecture. Built over several years and completed in 456 BCE, the temple was dedicated to Zeus, the king of the Olympian gods. Badly damaged by both fire and earthquakes, much of the temple is in ruins, but some columns still stand. At 10.5 m tall (34.4 ft) and 2.25 m (7.4 ft) in diameter, the columns were built of local limestone and covered in white stucco. Admission is included in the ticket to the nearby Acropolis.

Delphi contain the remains of sanctuaries dedicated to the cults of Apollo and Athena, as well as several other structures presumably built for sports. Providing a glimpse into the ancient world's religious beliefs, these ruins joined the list of World Heritage sites in 1987. Tradition says Zeus determined this location as the center of Gaia, the great mother of all in Greek mythology. Apollo's sanctuary, built here in the 4th century BCE, served as the cultural and religious center of ancient Greece for many centuries. The sanctuary famously housed Apollo's oracle, a priestess capable of making prophesies by channeling the god's spirit. Check online for free admission days, and make the best of your visit by joining a guided tour of the ruins.

Set your clock back a few thousand years with a visit to Akrotiri, a Minoan Bronze Age settlement destroyed by a massive volcanic eruption around 1627 BCE. The volcanic ash buried the remains of many everyday objects used by the settlement's inhabitants, preserving for posterity the ancient way of life of a long-lost culture. Some historians suggest this archeological site, once an important port city on the Aegean, served as an inspiration for Plato's story of Atlantis, a supposedly fictional place mentioned in two of the philosopher's major works. To gain a better understanding of the lost community, take a guided tour around the excavation site.

Walk among the World Heritage-listed remains of Temple of Apollo In Delphi, a Doric temple dedicated to the great Greek god of music, sun, and poetry. First built around the 7th century BCE, the temple was subsequently destroyed and reconstructed multiple times. Some ruins of the once-great, six-columned, fifteen-sided temple still stand and have been partially restored. Enjoy panoramic views of Mount Parnassus from here. Be sure to wear comfortable footwear; it's quite a walk to reach the temple, which is part of a greater cluster of archeological sites.

Take a trip back to the Bronze Age at Archaeological Site Mycenae, one of the world's most significant archaeological sites. Featured on the World Heritage List, the site was once a major military stronghold. The ruins stand on a rugged hill 90 km (55 mi) southwest of Athens. At its peak in the 14th century BCE, the fortress and the surrounding town housed a population of more than 30,000. To see the remains of the palace complex and the famous beehive tombs, purchase a ticket at the main entrance, known as the Lion Gate. The path to the main gate is steep, so wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water.