Greece Travel Guide

Don’t let its stereotypes fool you—Greece is more than crumbling monuments and crumbly cheese. Greece is as much a vibrantly diverse, modern European country as it is a cradle of ancient culture. One of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, Greece lures sun-starved visitors with its larger-than-life history, its never-ending nightclubs and its tzatziki-dipped gyros. But a promenade along its stylish city streets, narrow hamlet lanes and rugged coastal paths soon reveals another side of Greece. Start in gracefully gritty capital Athens, where trendy boutiques and sophisticated restaurants line streets filled with strolling urbanites. Look up, out of the city haze and into the distance, and you see the looming Acropolis, arguably the most famous monument of the ancient world. You can hike amid the spring wildflowers of Mediterranean island Crete, and feast on both an abundance of seafood and a wealth of Minoan, Venetian and Byzantine history. Head to the once-remote mountain towns of Zagorohoria, a heaven for hikers, climbers, photographers and those in need of some crisp-aired respite. Tackle Olympia, home of the Ancient Olympic Games, and let loose in the hedonistic nightclubs of Mykonos. And wherever you go, experience the Greek exuberance for life—and olive oil. It’s what Greece is all about.