6. Vouliagmeni Lake
Often overlooked by those visiting Athens, Vouliagmeni Lake, a brackish natural lake fed by fresh thermal sea and springwater, is around a 40-minute drive from the Greek capital’s centre. Formed around 2,000 years ago when the roof of a cave system collapsed during an earthquake, the lake’s waters hold a steady temperature year-round and are home to the Garra rufa (the doctor fish) who will nibble your dry skin as you soak. As relaxing as it is impressive, visit for a day of soaking up the sun from a daybed on its wooden terrace, followed by lunch at the on-site restaurant, or delivered to your lounger.
7. Ancient Olympia
Two historic sites rolled into one (this is Greece, after all): Ancient Olympia in the Peloponnese is the site of the world’s first ever Olympic Games, held in 776 BC, and home to one of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World, the Statue of Zeus, built in 430 BC. Now reconstructed, the statue soars 12 metres high and overlooks the ancient Olympic site, including the Palaestra, once home to wrestling, and the Stadium, where athletes raced in search of an olive-leaf crown (aka the gold medal). The Olympic flame is still lit here today, and visitors can test their speed in a race on the very same ground where the ancient Greeks competed in the 8th-century BC.
8. Delphi
The very spot where the Oracle of Delphi – an Ancient Greek Priestess, known as Pythia – shared Apollo’s prophecies, Delphi was known as the navel of the earth and revered as a spiritual site. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus and overlooking olive groves, a visit here today reveals a site as scenic as it is sacred. As well as the Temple of Apollo, where Pythia shared Apollo’s wisdom, you’ll find an ancient theatre and stadium, an archaeological museum showcasing findings from the site and a small town dotted with tavernas and boutique hotels.
9. Poliegos Island
Accessible by boat from neighbouring islands like Sifnos, Kimolos and Milos, uninhabited Poliegos island is a must, mainly for its turquoise, sparkling surrounding waters but also for its dramatic cliffs and deserted beaches. This is Greece at its purest and most beautiful; bring your swimsuit and snorkel to jump offboard into some of the clearest waters imaginable before cove-hopping, cave-hopping, and beach bathing. The most popular places to do so are at Blue Bay and Mersini Beach, but skip those in favour of countless others, many of which you’ll have to yourself. If you feel you have the energy, hike towards the island’s only two sights – an abandoned lighthouse and the ruins of a church.
10. Monemvasia
Best approached by boat, Monemvasia is a sight to behold as you sail into its small marina. This medieval fortress town was built upon a small, rocky islet connected to the mainland via a narrow causeway, which also gives the area its name – ‘mone’ means ‘single’ and ‘emvasis’ means ‘passage’. Stone-built churches and houses cling to the cliffside, set against the dramatic Peloponnese Parnon Mountains soaring into the sky behind it. Almost deserted and mostly in ruin until the mid-20th century, much of this historic town has been carefully restored and is today home to plenty of thoughtful hotels, bars, restaurants and boutique stores.
11. Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
Widely considered the best-preserved ancient theatre in Greece, the acoustics at the Theatre of Epidaurus have stood the test of time: stand in the orchestra pit and drop a coin – those in the 14,000-seat-strong Cavea (auditorium) will hear it. Built between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC within the larger Sanctuary of Asclepius, an ancient Greek healing centre, this performance space was once home to tragedies, dramas and comedies – each show believed to both entertain and help heal. It was also used for religious worship. Since 1955, it, alongside the Odeon of Herodes in Athens, is home to the annual Athens Epidaurus Festival, a cultural celebration of the arts showcasing theatre, dance and music.
