Things to do in 

Greece

Explore alternative things to do across Greece, from neighborhood food halls and stone villages to mountain trails and quiet coves, with small, hands-on moments that feel local and unhurried.

Cultural experiences: In Athens, taste sesame rings at dawn near Varvakios Market, then throw a pot in Kerameikos during a short pottery workshop. In Nafplio, join a low-key Nemea wine tasting and stroll the backstreets after the day-tripper rush from Athens eases. Around Ioannina, couples can wander Zagori’s stone villages and meet a loom weaver in Kapesovo, while seniors take in Byzantine mosaics at Thessaloniki’s Acheiropoietos Church at a relaxed pace. On Crete, families enjoy olive-oil milling and a simple cooking class near Chania, and luxury travellers often book a private folklore night in a village courtyard.

Day trip ideas: From Athens, ferry an hour to Aegina for pistachio orchards and a temple walk, or drive 2.5 hours to Delphi for mountain views and a taverna lunch in Arachova. From Athens, loop to Nafplio with a stop at Mycenae, returning along the coast by evening light. From Thessaloniki, head an hour west to Vergina’s royal tombs and sample pies in Veria’s old quarter. From Chania, wander the Apokoronas villages and the Dourakis winery rather than rushing the Samaria Gorge if you prefer an easier pace.

Explore Greece’s regions: In the Cyclades, base in Naxos for farm visits near Filoti and a quiet boat day to Koufonisia from the port. Across the Peloponnese, drive the Mani Peninsula from Areopoli to Vathia’s tower houses, then overnight in Monemvasia’s walled town. In Epirus, link Ioannina with the Vikos Gorge viewpoints and stone bridges near Kipi. On Crete, split time between Chania’s Old Town lanes and the Lasithi Plateau villages; in Northern Greece, mix Thessaloniki’s markets with Halkidiki’s pine-backed beaches.

Travel tip: Plan 10–12 days for Athens plus either the Peloponnese or the Cyclades; stretch to 14–21 days if you’re weaving in Epirus and Crete as well.

More places to see in Greece

Greece reaches far beyond Athens, with lively northern streets, rock-top monasteries, island harbors, and quiet bays. You can join locals for a late dinner, climb an old path, and watch the light change over sea or stone.

Thessaloniki: Nurse a morning coffee along the Nea Paralia and watch cyclists glide past the White Tower. Pick up lunch at Modiano Market where vendors stack olives and herbs, then wander up through Ano Poli to the Eptapyrgio walls for sunset before meze in Ladadika.

Meteora: Step inside the frescoed halls of Great Meteoron and Varlaam during visiting hours, then follow the footpath from Kastraki around the base of the rocks. Find a quiet perch near the Psaropetra viewpoint for the evening light and a slow walk back to the village taverna.

Chania, Crete: Trace the curve of the Venetian Harbor past the lighthouse and duck into the Maritime Museum to see ship models and local history. Swim at Nea Chora in the late afternoon, then return to the old lanes for grilled sardines and a glass of raki under a hanging vine.

Peloponnese: Stroll Nafplio’s Arvanitia Promenade as the sea turns gold, then head inland the next morning to walk through the Lion Gate at Mycenae. If you’re here in summer, sit for an evening performance at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus and listen to voices carry through the stone tiers.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Expect mild days and hillsides brushed with wildflowers, perfect to wander ancient sites without the heat. Join locals for Orthodox Easter week, watching candlelit processions and sharing sweet tsoureki, while coastal towns reopen and boats start sailing again. Families and seniors tend to enjoy the gentle pace, and hikers find trails in Crete, the Peloponnese, and Zagori at their greenest.

Summer: Swim before lunch and linger on a shaded taverna terrace as cicadas hum, then catch a late film at an open-air cinema. Ride a private boat to quiet coves, snorkel above ruins, or pick calm, shallow beaches for kids as the meltemi keeps things breezy. Plan early starts for sites like the Acropolis and save sunset strolls for couples’ moments along island promenades.

Fall: Slip into warm seas and softer light, then head inland for grape harvest villages in Nemea or Naoussa and new vintages poured in cosy cellars. Hike stone bridges in Zagori or gorges in Crete without the crowds, and join olive picking and village panigiria as the season turns. Culture lovers find city concerts and galleries back in full swing.

Winter: Settle into Athens or Thessaloniki for museums, markets, and café culture, trading island heat for lively neighbourhoods and easy sightseeing. See Christmas lights and decorated boats, taste vasilopita on New Year’s, and watch the Epiphany cross dive in harbours on 6 January. Mountain getaways in Arachova, Pelion, or Zagori add fireside stays and, when it snows, skiing on Parnassus.

From February’s Apokries carnival and Clean Monday kite-flying to the candlelit midnight service of Orthodox Easter, the year turns on traditions that spill into streets and squares. Summer brings the Athens and Epidaurus Festival with ancient drama and concerts in storied theatres, while islands host 15 August panigiria with music that runs past midnight. Later in the year, look for Ochi Day parades in October, the Athens Authentic Marathon and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival each November.