It’s also remarkably safe and welcoming, though it may appear chaotic and edgy at first. Though it is a sprawling city of well over half a million, the city center is surprisingly small all attractions listed here can be visited on foot.

A small destination, but well situated for touring the west Peloponnese.Ī strategic tourist travel position and airport hub in the central north, gateway to Greece for land arrivals from the Balkans and gateway to the Halkidiki peninsula.Ī central and sizable northern town close to the Vergina and Pella archaeological sites, as well as the popular escarpment towns of Naousa and Serres.Īthens is the nation’s capital and heartland, and an essential stop on any trip to the Greek mainland. A magnet for painters, writers and readers.Ī pretty, breezy, and historically important seaside town on on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth.Ĭlassy Peloponnese seaport retreat with neo-classical buildings and many excellent hotels.Īlong with Athens and Delphi, Olympia is one of of Greece’s three must-see archaeological sites. Great for nature, skiing, and transit connections to Greece’s mid-north and northern border regions.Ĭharming stone village on a small island off the east coast of the Peloponnese (but linked to the mainland by a short causeway). Kalambaka also serves as an important transit link to the mid-north (Grevena, Kastoria, Kozani).Ī beautiful lakeside town similar in style to Ioannina. The main outpost for visiting the incredible (and must-see) Meteora Monasteries, built on immense rocky pillars. One of Greece’s best must-see archaeological sites located in southern Greece, just across the Gulf of Corinth from the Peloponnese.Ī bustling, picturesque lake town that’s the gateway to northwest Greece and the key to Epirus – the Zagoria villages, Metsovo, the Epirus Riviera (Parga, Preveza, Syvota).Ī small but important port in the South Peloponnese that’s growing in popularity as a destination. Greece’s capital and perhaps the most important mainland destination any trip to mainland Greece requires a stopover for at least a day or two. The 12 Best Places to Visit in Mainland Greece The Meteora monasteries near the village of Kalambaka in central Greece.

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