Best Ancient Greece Sites You Need to Visit

One thing is for sure – Greece is certainly not short on historical sites.

Ancient Greece stands as one of the world’s great civilizations – a center of learning, science, and technological achievement. History buffs will find the Greek mainland a wonderland of historical treasures, with ancient Greek sites littered across all corners.

In this guide we run through the most important sites to visit, and where to find them. Contact our specialists today to see how these destinations can be included on your tailor-made tour of Greece.

The Acropolis 

The Acropolis is Athens’, and Greece’s, most iconic archaeological site. The sprawling complex houses an incredible array of jewels from the ancient world: in addition to the iconic Parthenon, you’ll also find here the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the monumental Propylaea.

Ancient Agora of Athens

Just to the northwest of the Acropolis is the Ancient Agora. Used as a central meeting point in the ancient city, the Agora hosted community discussions on philosophy, legalities, religions, politics…as well as of course any general gossip of the time! Walk the ruins and its easy to imagine yourself as a learned Athenian back in ancient times.

Temple of Apollo

Around 2.5 hours to the west of Athens, on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, are these majestic and many-storied ruins. Dedicated to Apollo, the god of (to name a few) music, harmony, light, and healing, the temple ruins date back to the 4th century BC and were believed to be the home of the famous oracle Pythia. 

Meteora

The Meteora monasteries are one of the most striking sights in Greece. Located in the heartland of central Greece, Meteora translates literally as ‘suspended in air’, and during a visit here you can certainly see why, with these 14th-century hermitages clinging precipitously across a series of soaring, near-vertical rock formations.

Olympia 

Situated on the Peloponnese peninsula to the south of Athens, the ancient Olympia was the site of the original Olympic Games. Used around the 8th century BC, the ruins here include the ancient stadium, training areas, and temples of Hera and Zeus. An attached Archaeological Museum houses a wealth of excavated treasures. 

Mycenae

Not far away in the northeastern Peloponnese are the ruins of Mycenae. This ancient city was the center of the Mycenaen civilization, forerunners to the Athenians, dominated around the second millennium BC. The ruins include the famous Lion Gate, former entrance to the Bronze Age citadel.

Theater of Epidaurus

Located around two hours drive to the south of Athens, Epidaurus is arguably the most impressive of Greece’s ancient theatres. In its heyday, the theater held an impressive 14,000 spectators, and its acoustics – a whisper on stage can be heard even on the highest of 55 rows of seating – were a major technological breakthrough at the time. 

Temple of Poseidon

These magnificent temple ruins are found on the jagged peak of Cape Sounio, just over an hour south of Athens. Dating back to the 5th century BC, the temple was dedicated to Greek God of the Sea Poseidon and enjoys a lofty position overlooking the crashing waves of the Aegean Sea.

Looking for further inspiration? Check out our selection of deluxe cruises and luxury tours of Greece, or contact our dedicated Greece specialists today to get started on planning your Unforgettable journey.