10 Best Places to Visit in and Around Athens and Santorini

Positioned in the heart of Athens, a stone’s throw from all the major landmarks, vibrant districts, and essential experiences in Greece, The Plaka, as it’s often referred to, is considered the perfect entry point for exploring Greece’s ancient capital.

The Acropolis looms above Plaka and will invite you to stroll in the footsteps of ancient Greek civilization, while the Temple of Olympian Zeus will welcome you to explore its towering stone columns, and an array of museums will let you delve deeper into the history of Greece in one of Athens’ most exciting neighborhoods.

Highlights of Plaka: The Acropolis • The Temple of Olympian Zeus • Frissiras Museum • The Parthenon

Picturesque, famous, and photographed, Oia is one of Santorini’s crown-jewel towns, instantly recognizable by its Cycladic homes dressed in white paint and blue roofs.

Boutique accommodations tower above the endless seas, gorgeous restaurant terraces share the spectacles alongside sumptuous seafood, and the rugged coastline is admired from small communities carved into the hem where water meets land.

Let the charms and pleasures of Oia take your breath away as you capture idyllic images and create marvelous memories at a place perfectly suited to romantic Greece vacations.

Highlights of Oia: Sunset Panoramas • Panagia Platsani • The Bells of Oia • Castle over Ammoudi Bay

Considered one of the most popular meeting points for sightseeing in Athens, this vibrant vicinity highlights an important part of the country’s constitutional history, leads the way to outstanding shopping experiences on Ermou Street, and sets the stage for concerts and accommodations fit for a celebrity.

Witness the changing of the guard at the Hellenic Parliament in all its pomp and circumstance. Museums, restaurants, and the National Gardens also invite guests to explore and stay a while, whether during family tours of Greece, solo adventures, senior trips, and more.

Highlights of Syntagma Square: Hellenic Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier • Hotel Grande Bretagne • Ermou Street

The southernmost tip of the Attic peninsula, Cape Sounion, is a day trip from Athens that is well worth a visit during your Greece tours and vacations. You will cross the gorgeous crystalline coast of Greece to reach the breathtaking destination that is home to a range of exciting experiences.

You may pay your respects to the ocean at the Temple of Poseidon, set foot on the soft sands of Sounio Beach, paddle across the sparkling waters on a kayaking expedition to discover secret beaches, or grab a refreshing beverage at an authentic Greek taverna before the day is done.

Highlights of Cape Sounion: The Temple of Poseidon • Sounio Beach • Kayaking Tours • Cultural Tours

The largest town on Santorini, its capital, Fira, is one of the island’s best places to visit. It captures the spirit and essence of the Santorini lifestyle and is close to many of Greece’s best beaches.

Its blinding, white-washed facade juxtaposes the rocky geothermal landscape on which it hangs and its elaborate Cycladic homes boast pools that terrace the rocky cliffs.

Fira is centrally located and a prime entry point for Santorini discoveries, making it a welcome pitstop for a classic Mediterranean dish or a gorgeous snapshot, with the sweeping, sapphire sea its backdrop.

Highlights of Fira: Museum of Prehistoric Thera • Skaros Rock • Catholic Cathedral • Archaeological Museum

A day trip to Delphi is a significant and inspiring experience perfect for senior tours of Greece. It offers a lens through which to trace the history of Ancient Greece through the impressive ruins and remnants of the past.

You will browse the terraced steps of the Ancient Theater, cross the Sacred Way to the Sanctuary of Apollo, look out beyond the rising mountains from the lofty observation point at the Temple of Apollo, and place your hands upon the Polygonal Wall as you unpack centuries of stories and ancient myths of gods and humankind in harmony and contention.

Highlights of Delphi: The Sacred Way • The Ancient Theatre • The Temple of Apollo • The Polygonal Wall

While Fira welcomes plenty of visitors, Santorini also boasts some of Greece’s best-kept secrets, with Firostefani staking its claim as a top place to visit there and a hidden gem in Greece, despite resting on the bustling island.

Your adventures will lead to the quiet town where the pace of life slows down to a lull, in tune with the ebbing and flowing swells. The remarkable views of the Santorini caldera can be seen from every viewpoint of Firostefani and the town also directs visitors to charming neighboring communities where the authenticity of Greek island life is no greater exemplified.

Highlights of Firostefani: Catamaran Cruise • Archaeological Tour • Culinary Expedition • Caldera Tour

Travel west and discover the mountainous landscape of the Peloponnese Peninsula, flecked with Mycenaean palaces, ancient ruins, and temples, all accessed across the Isthmus of Corinth. Marvel at the Rion-Antirion bridge and the masterpiece that is the Corinth Canal.

Explore the laidback former capital of Greece, Nafplio, a coastal gem, and be sure to stop at Epidaurus, home to the ancient theater of the Asklepieion and a sacred healing sanctuary. All the while, you can embrace the top experiences in the Peloponnese as a family.

Highlights of the Peloponnese: Corinth • Nafplio • Epidaurus

Stroll along the lively promenade of Kamari, bustling with outdoor restaurants, tavernas, and stores, all brought to life with the sounds of live Greek music. Kamari beach stretches for miles, with deck chairs and umbrellas scattered across the black pebbles, and still waters inviting you to cool off.

Set above Kamari is Mesa Vuona mountain, home to the Ancient Temple of Thera and commanding incredible views. Complete your Kamari experience by enjoying an open-air cinema, perhaps with a glass of Santorini wine in your hand, on Greece food and wine tours.

Highlights of Kamari: Blue Flag black-sand beach • Mesa Vuona mountain • A variety of restaurants on a lively promenade

Situated in the heart of Santorini, the fascinating village of Vothonas opens your eyes to captivating cave architecture created from volcanic rock, while weaving a path through narrow alleyways and lanes.

On Santorini vacations in the village, discover unique and ancient churches, the most prominent of which is Panagia Sergena, which is carved in volcanic rock and truly a masterpiece. Obtain an understanding of the Santorini wine-making tradition and learn about methods and machinery at the Wine Museum, ending your experience with a well-deserved wine tasting.

Highlights of Vothonas: Panagia Sergena • Wine Museum • Cave-style Architecture

Capture picture-perfect moments in Plaka, cherish the memories of Cape Sounion, and wander the heart of Oia as you explore the Greek capital and famous island on Athens and Santorini vacations.

While these represent a few of the destinations that you can visit in and around Athens and Santorini, our trips may take you to many more of Greece’s iconic places, and you can also view our Greece travel guide for more inspiration.