12 Best Places to Visit in Greece in 2026: Islands, Athens and More

Greece has it all: ancient temples, whitewashed island villages, monasteries on top of rock towers, clear blue water and wonderful food. The hard part is choosing, because there are more than 200 inhabited islands.

Here are the 12 places most worth your time in 2026, each with one practical tip, plus the rules and fees that changed recently.

1. Athens and the Acropolis

Why go: The Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, the Plaka old town and rooftop views at sunset.

Tip: Acropolis entry is by hourly time slot, with a daily cap of 20,000 visitors. Book an 8 am slot on the official ticket website. In summer heatwaves, the site can close in the middle of the day, so avoid midday visits in July and August. An adult ticket costs €30 all year.

2. Santorini

Why go: Famous caldera views, blue-domed churches and sunsets over the volcano, plus the Bronze Age site of Akrotiri.

Tip: Santorini gets very crowded when cruise ships arrive. Stay overnight and enjoy Oia and Fira in the early morning and late evening, after the day visitors leave. Imerovigli and Pyrgos are quieter alternatives to Oia.

3. Mykonos

Why go: Whitewashed lanes, Little Venice, the famous windmills, beaches and nightlife.

Tip: Take the short boat trip to Delos, one of the most important ancient sacred islands in Greece and a UNESCO site.

4. Crete

Why go: Greece's biggest island has everything: the Minoan palace of Knossos near Heraklion, the Samaria Gorge hike, the pink-sand beach of Elafonisi, the lagoon of Balos, and charming Chania.

Tip: The Samaria Gorge is usually open from May to the end of October, but it can close for bad weather. Buy tickets on the official website and start early: it is a long hike.

5. Meteora

Why go: Monasteries built on top of giant rock pillars. It is one of the most breathtaking sights in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Tip: Stay overnight in Kalambaka or Kastraki to see the rocks at sunrise. Dress modestly for the monasteries: cover shoulders and knees.

6. Delphi

Why go: The home of the ancient oracle, which the Greeks believed was the centre of the world, on a mountainside with incredible views.

Tip: Don't miss the museum and its bronze Charioteer, then walk down to the round Tholos temple.

7. Nafplio and the Peloponnese

Why go: Greece's first modern capital is a pretty harbour town with the Palamidi fortress above and a tiny castle, the Bourtzi, in the bay.

Tip: It is about two hours from Athens by bus, and a great base for exploring the ancient sites of the Peloponnese.

8. Rhodes Old Town

Why go: One of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe, built by the Knights of St John, with huge walls, gates and cobbled streets.

Tip: Walk the old town early in the morning before the heat and the crowds, then head to the beaches.

9. Corfu

Why go: A green island with a UNESCO-listed Venetian old town, the elegant Liston promenade and beautiful coves.

Tip: Rent a car or scooter to explore the quieter beaches and villages in the north and west.

10. Naxos

Why go: The largest Cycladic island has long sandy beaches, the famous Portara gate, mountain villages like Apeiranthos and Halki, and the highest peak in the Cyclades.

Tip: Naxos is great for families and food lovers, and usually cheaper and calmer than Santorini and Mykonos.

11. Zakynthos

Why go: Turquoise water, sea caves and the famous Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach.

Tip: In 2026, Navagio Beach is closed to landing and swimming until at least 31 October because of landslide risk. Boats must stay offshore, but the clifftop viewpoint is free and open and gives the classic photo.

12. Thessaloniki

Why go: Greece's second city is known for its food, UNESCO-listed Byzantine churches, the White Tower and a lively waterfront.

Tip: The city's new metro opened in late 2024. Try the local bougatsa pastry for breakfast.

What is new in Greece in 2026

• Climate crisis resilience fee: a small fee is charged per room, per night (not per person). It ranges from €2 to €15 in April–October, depending on the type of accommodation, and is lower in winter. It is usually added to your hotel bill.
• Cruise passenger fee: passengers arriving in Santorini and Mykonos pay a fee of up to €20 in the summer months, collected by the cruise line.
• EU Entry/Exit System (EES): non-EU visitors are now registered digitally at Schengen borders (face photo and fingerprints). Rollout at every Greek border point is still being completed, so allow extra time.
• ETIAS is not required yet. Check the official EU website before you travel.

Best time to visit Greece

• May–June and September–October are the best months: warm sea, sunny days and fewer crowds.
• Mid-July to mid-August is the hottest and busiest time.
• The meltemi is a strong summer wind in the Aegean (roughly mid-May to mid-September). It can cancel ferries, so do not plan a ferry and a flight on the same day.
• Winter is great for Athens, Thessaloniki and Meteora, but many island hotels close.

Getting around Greece

• Ferries: Athens has three ferry ports: Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio. Compare routes and times on a ferry booking app. Not every island connects to every other island every day.
• Domestic flights save time for Crete, Rhodes and the far islands.
• Buses (KTEL) are reliable and cheap on the mainland. Trains run between Athens and Thessaloniki.
• Driving: drivers without an EU licence need an International Driving Permit.
• Tipping: rounding up or leaving €1–2 is common. About 5–10% for very good service is appreciated, ideally in cash.

Staying connected in Greece

You will want data for ferry tickets and updates, maps on winding island roads, and booking restaurants and boats. A travel eSIM is the easiest option: install it at home and it connects when you land in Athens or on the islands.

In our [2026 network data](/blog/which-network-does-my-travel-esim-use-by-country-2026), travel eSIMs in Greece connect to Vodafone and Nova, with 5G on some plans. Coverage is good in towns and on the popular islands. Signal can drop in remote gorges and on boats far from shore, so download offline maps.

Island-hopping to Turkey or Italy too? A [Europe regional eSIM](/blog/esim-for-europe-trip-multi-country-regional) covers Greece and many other countries on one plan. Or see all [Greece eSIM plans](/destinations/esim-greece).

Sample 10-day Greece itinerary

1. Days 1–2: Athens, including the Acropolis at 8 am, the Acropolis Museum and Plaka.
2. Day 3: Day trip to Delphi, or stay overnight in Meteora.
3. Days 4–6: Ferry to Naxos or Paros for beaches and villages.
4. Days 7–8: Ferry to Santorini for the caldera, Oia's sunset and Akrotiri.
5. Days 9–10: Fly or take the ferry to Crete for Knossos, Chania and a beach day, then fly home.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most beautiful place in Greece?

Santorini's caldera at sunset is the most famous view, but Meteora's monasteries, Navagio Beach from the clifftop and the old towns of Rhodes and Corfu are just as unforgettable.

Do I need to book the Acropolis in advance?

Yes, it is strongly recommended. Entry is by hourly time slot with a daily visitor cap, so book an early slot on the official website, especially from April to October.

Is Navagio Beach open in 2026?

The beach itself is closed to landing and swimming until at least 31 October 2026 because of landslide risk. You can still see it from the free clifftop viewpoint and from boats offshore.

What is the best month to visit the Greek islands?

June and September are ideal: warm sea, sunny days, and fewer crowds and lower prices than July and August.

How many days do you need in Greece?

Ten days covers Athens plus two or three islands. With a week, combine Athens with one or two nearby islands such as Naxos and Santorini.

Can I use a travel eSIM in Greece?

Yes. Travel eSIMs connect to Greek networks (Vodafone and Nova in our data). Install it before you fly and turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you land.

The bottom line

Greece is best enjoyed slowly: an early morning at the Acropolis, a few days on one or two islands, and long dinners by the sea. Book Acropolis time slots early, plan ferries around the summer winds, and stay online on every island with a [Greece eSIM](/destinations/esim-greece).