10 Best Places to Visit in Greece for Seniors

The largest island in Greece, Crete offers visitors a broad beach experience, highlighted by mild weather and historical treasures. The landscape changes from vast, white-sand beaches to monasteries, mountain villages, and an enticing urban ambiance.

Senior visitors to Crete can settle down for quite a few days, as the number and variety of activities mean there is plenty of time to enjoy the island's wonders. Time in Chania can reveal the Venetian port, while visiting Heraklion can help you discover the idyllic historical center.

Discover the Palace of Knossos, learn about Minoan civilization, and experience the Venetian influence in Agios Nikolaos. Visit museums and monuments, and uncover the history behind popular Cretan mezze koukouvagia, while learning about the importance of Crete’s cuisine in Greece’s gastronomic traditions.

Highlights: Chania • Heraklion • Palace of Knossos • Metala • Agios Nikolaos

Recommended length of stay: 4-5 days

Learn more: Crete, Athens, and Santorini Itineraries

Escape the bustle of Athens as you cross the Corinth Canal and set foot in the Peloponnese peninsula. Coastal quiet merges with key historical sites and modern marvels, from the Isthmus of Corinth Bridge to the ancient Epidaurus theater. All form part of the 10 best cities to visit in mainland Greece.

Cobbled alleyways through the quaint village of Nafplio give seniors a great introduction to laidback life in Greece, blended with rich history and outstanding cuisine. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely walk around the fortified town of Mystras or Lion’s Gate in Mycenae, a day spent admiring just a couple of Greece’s archaeological wonders.

Mountains, rivers, caves, and castles line the Peloponnese and the exotic beach of Elafonisos, all coming together to create a unique Greek experience for seniors, just a short distance from Athens.

Highlights: Corinth Canal • Isthmus of Corinth Bridge • Mycenae • Epidaurus • Nafplio

Recommended length of stay: 3-4 days

One of Zicassso’s best places to visit in Greece, Corfu has a cosmopolitan energy, with a Mediterranean feel, and its old town is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Gastronomy is a key focus of Corfu, with the meat and red sauce dish patsitsada not to be missed.

Walk in the steps of aristocrats and artists along the promenade in Liston, an area lined with restaurants and cafes. Seniors have a chance to wander under beautiful arches and past romantic buildings, taking time to savor the sights and smells.

Beaches on Corfu are oases, with greenery running from the hillsides to where the sand begins, crystal waters offering reprieve on a sunny day and creating a breathtaking scene of color and beauty.

Highlights: Spianada • Liston • Paleokastritsa Beach • Mandouki • Byzantine Museum • Archeological Museum

Recommended length of stay: 4-5 days

Learn more: Corfu Vacations, Tours & Itineraries

Discover a gem in the Dodecanese in Patmos, an island with religious history that is said to be the place where John the Evangelist wrote Book of Revelation.

Traditional houses, cobbled streets winding through towns and squares, and Unesco World Heritage site the Monastery of St. John in the medieval town of Chora are among the highlights. Active seniors should take advantage of exploring the volcanic terrain and rugged landscape.

Visit the Cave of the Apocalypse and take a stroll in the traditional fishing village of Grikos, a short bus ride from nearby Skala, the port town and largest on Patmos.

Highlights: Chora • Petrokaravo • Skala • Grikos • Kampos • Monastery of St. John • Cave of the Apocalypse

Recommended length of stay: 3-4 days

The lights of Syros sparkle against the hillsides, the buildings seemly climbing toward the sky. Syros is a cultural haven in the Cyclades, with music and heritage festivals regular events on the island.

Syros is a two-hour ferry ride from Athens’ port, making the island easy for seniors to take advantage of uncrowded beaches and quiet resorts a short distance from the main town of Ermoupoli. Transportation is available and frequent around the island, making exploring easy for all types of needs.

Miaouli Square features magnificent architecture depicting the island’s rich history and creating the space for senior visitors to embark on walking tours, culminating in a quiet cup of coffee at one of the many cafes in this cultural center of the Island.

Highlights: Ermoupoli • Azolimnos • Galissas • Kini Chalandriani • Vari

Recommended length of stay: 3-4 days

An island steeped in history and tradition, Sifnos forms part of the Cyclades Islands with white-walled chapels, houses, and monuments competing with white-sand beaches. A highlight is the ancient capital of Sifnos, Kastro, an open-air museum.

One of the Cyclades' largest beaches can be found in Platys Gialos, where seniors can take long walks on soft sand or a hike on one of the many hills and mountains on the island. Discover the connection with pottery and ceramics, with an opportunity to take part in a ceramics class in a timeless workshop.

Visit monasteries, harbors, and villages such as Apollonia, which boasts narrow streets where cafes stand side by side, offering the ideal location to relax for a while. Admire the view of windmills boldly set in a row on Exambela. Find more ways to reach Sifnos and the surrounding islands with the best ways to travel around Greece.

Highlights: Apollonia • Kastro • Exampela • Faros • Artemonas

Recommended length of stay: 2-3 days

As one of Greece’s best islands to visit, you can find fertile land creating the ideal conditions for cultivating key ingredients such as olives, olive oil, and nuts, as well as tantalizing wines such as the popular white muscat, which complements any traditional Rhodes dish.

Medieval tell-tales merge with traditional remnants, while a cosmopolitan atmosphere runs throughout the island. Senior visitors can climb aboard a bus to Kamiros to discover the wonders of this ancient city or walk around Mandraki Harbor, perhaps taking a boat ride to view the Island from a different perspective.

From cooking classes to guided walks through cobbled streets in the historic center of Rhodes,  or a full-day cruise with a meal and magnificent views, there are myriad activities seniors can enjoy when visiting the island.

Highlights: Medieval center of Rhodes • Mandraki • Rodini • Kallithea • Theologos Village

Recommended length of stay: 3-4 days

Learn more: Rhodes Vacations, Tours & Itineraries

Located in the southwest of the Cyclades, Milos is a beach-lovers dream, with over 75 pristine sandy destinations for visitors to choose from, all surrounding an island rich in dramatic natural landscape that results in one of the best beaches in Greece.

Volcanic activity formed the dynamic rock formations, with caves and hot springs bringing this much-loved island to life. The scenery is dramatic in every direction, as blue and white colors blend perfectly amidst archeological treasures.

Seniors are spoiled for choice when it comes to which beach to spend their lazy days on, while those looking for something a little more active should not miss the chance to visit the revered Catacombs of Milos.

Highlights: Catacombs • Sarakiniko • Plaka • Triovasalos Windmills • Adamantas • Tripiti • Zefyria • Klima

Recommended length of stay: 3-4 days

Learn more: Milos Vacations & Tours

Known in Greece as “Lesvos”, the Island is one of the largest in the country, presenting a mild climate, vibrant vegetation, and picturesque villages. The island is also known for introducing the world to ouzo and has rich olive groves and olive oil.

A highlight enjoyed by senior visitors is the Petrified Forest, noted by the Greek State as a National Monument. Breathtaking in design, the volcanically-created terrain of trunks is not to be missed. Gain insight into Byzantine history with a visit to the castle in the capital, Mytilene.

Discover the sweet wines of Kalloni and soak away any stress in the thermal springs near Skala Loutron, or spend some time on the long, sandy beach of Vatera, which offers easy access and parking close by.

Highlights: Mytilene • Vatera Beach • Kalloni • Agiasos • Vareia

Recommended length of stay: 3-4 days

Boasting amazing views over the Argo Saronic Gulf, Hydra is a unique destination in that cars are banned. Only emergency-service vehicles can be seen and your taxi ride could be a donkey-pulled cart.

No vehicles make walking around this historical island a pleasure. Picturesque streets present cafes and tavernas where seniors can sit and watch local Greek life go by. Admiring the stone mansions and visiting one of the 300 churches and a handful of monasteries will keep seniors intrigued.

Beach options range from the pebbled Vlychos to the tanning haven of Spilia, or the popular Agios Nikolaos, a sandy beach accessible by water taxi only. Known for local culinary favorites, not to be missed are lamb on the spit, gogles, which is a pasta dish, and seafood or meat pies.

Highlights: Historical Archive Museum • Agios Nikolaos Beach • Vlychos Beach • Spilia Beach • Greek Orthodox Church

Recommended length of stay: 2-3 days

Greece is a destination that delivers culture, archeology, outstanding scenery and breathtaking beaches, all complimented by delectable cuisine. With a plethora of islands waiting to be discovered at a leisurely pace, senior visitors to Greece have several choices regarding where to spend their vacation and for how long.

You can explore more or discover your ideal senior trip to Greece with Zicasso’s Greece travel guide, while answers to any questions you may have can be found in how to plan a trip to Greece: frequently asked questions. If you are ready to plan your adventure, you can speak with a travel specialist for free, with more ideas highlighted in our 10 best Greece itineraries.