Best of Greece
From Athens’s ancient foundations to island horizons and the Peloponnese, Greece carries centuries of ritual, philosophy, and regional character. The best of the country lies in how its heritage and everyday culture intertwine.
Greece may look compact on the map, but it has never been a single, uniform world. The landmarks are famous, the islands dominate the imagination, the historical weight is impossible to ignore. Yet the country becomes more interesting the moment you stop treating it as a collection of classical ruins and summer views, and open yourself to its extraordinary geographic and cultural diversity. Greece is the birthplace of ideas that shaped Europe, but also a living mosaic of regional identities, urban habits, island rhythms, food traditions, and craft lineages that still structure everyday life. What makes it so compelling is precisely this coexistence of the canonical and the intimate, the monumental and the ordinary. Fernwayer frames Greece through this variety, without reducing it to a single route or a single idea of travel. Our experiences connect you with archaeologists, historians, cooks, sailors, naturalists, artisans, and local hosts who can read places from within. In Athens, you move between antiquity, neighborhood life, food culture, and overlooked histories inside the modern capital. In Nafplio, you read the city through its layered past, while also reaching the Argolid’s archaeological sites and Nemea’s wine country. In Santorini, you go beyond the caldera image through music, craftsmanship, food, archaeology, and the island’s layered settlements. In Thessaloniki, you open onto northern Greece through coastal life, wetlands, birdlife, and the wider cultural geography of Macedonia. The section below is where to begin.
OUR GREECE DESTINATIONS
Greece, City by City
Athens
In Athens, history is not confined to its monuments. It shapes the streets, the food, the music and the conversations of everyday life. Beyond the Acropolis and the Agora, the city unfolds through neighbourhoods where ancient sanctuaries sit beside contemporary studios, traditional kafeneia, open air cinemas and family run workshops. The Central Market anchors the daily rhythm of the city. In Psyrri and Exarchia, street art, lively squares and a strong creative energy reveal how contemporary Athens continues to reinvent itself. This is a place where ideas, migrations and cultural exchanges have accumulated over millennia, creating a capital that remains intellectually alive, inventive and endlessly layered.
See all Athens tours.
NAFPLIO & THE ARGOLIS
Nafplio and the Argolis form one of Greece’s most culturally stratified regions. Here, Mycenaean palaces, Venetian fortifications and neoclassical boulevards coexist with villages that maintain strong seasonal traditions and a firmly rooted food culture. Beyond the romantic seafront and imposing castles, the region opens into fertile valleys dotted with monasteries, vineyards, small farms and archaeological sites that shaped the earliest chapters of Greek history. Exploring Nafplio and the Argolis means entering a territory where heritage continues through the places and practices that define it.
See all Nafplio tours.
SANTORINI
Santorini is often recognised for its cliffs and caldera. Its true character lives in the early hours, when its villages move at the rhythm of residents opening workshops, tending vineyards and gathering in small cafés. Beyond the viewpoints that draw visitors, the island reveals a world shaped by volcanic soil, maritime traditions and tight knit communities. The landscape supports an agricultural tradition that produces distinctive wines, along with the local fava and the small sun dried tomatoes that have defined its cuisine. Between the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri, the cave houses of Megalochori, the artisans of Pyrgos and Emporio and the coastal paths that once linked farming hamlets, Santorini offers a perspective far richer than its iconic skyline suggests.
See all Santorini tours.
Thessaloniki
Santorini is often recognised for its cliffs and caldera. Its true character lives in the early hours, when its villages move at the rhythm of residents opening workshops, tending vineyards and gathering in small cafés. Beyond the viewpoints that draw visitors, the island reveals a world shaped by volcanic soil, maritime traditions and tight knit communities. The landscape supports an agricultural tradition that produces distinctive wines, along with the local fava and the small sun dried tomatoes that have defined its cuisine. Between the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri, the cave houses of Megalochori, the artisans of Pyrgos and Emporio and the coastal paths that once linked farming hamlets, Santorini offers a perspective far richer than its iconic skyline suggests.
Athens | Nafplio & the Argolis | Santorini | Thessaloniki
FERNWAYER'S THINGS TO DO IN GREECE
Fernwayer currently introduces Greece through Athens, Santorini, Nafplio and the Argolid peninsula, Thessaloniki and Northern Greece, showing how varied the country becomes once you move beyond its most fixed image. Some experiences engage with major cultural reference points, from the Acropolis and archaeological sites to well-known island landscapes, but revisit them from unexpected perspectives. Others open onto food traditions, artisan practices, neighborhood histories, wine regions, and cultural forms that belong to specific places rather than to a generalized idea of Greece.
Athens
What to do in Athens? Athens works best when the ancient city is allowed to collide with the modern one. Fernwayer reads the Acropolis through what still stands and what has disappeared, asking why certain traces survived while others were erased. Other experiences move into Piraeus through rebetiko and its less visible social history, into Nea Smyrni through the food traditions carried by Asia Minor refugees and their descendants, through the Central Market with someone who has known its stalls since childhood through her grandparents’ food shop, and into contemporary Athens through street art. Eleusis adds ritual bread-making, connecting an ancient sacred landscape to a practice still held in local memory.
How long should I stay in Athens? Three to four days is a good first stay in Athens. This gives you time to visit the Acropolis and the main archaeological sites, explore central neighborhoods, and add one or two experiences focused on food, history, or contemporary city life. With five days, you can slow the pace, spend more time in museums, and include a day trip to nearby sites or the coast without making the city feel rushed.
Nafplio
What to do in Nafplio? Nafplio, Greece’s former capital, is both a historic city in its own right and a gateway into the Argolid. With Fernwayer, it opens through wine, craft, and the layered histories of the Peloponnese: a tasting built around aged bottles and local knowledge, a hands-on encounter with komboloi-making, and routes that connect nearby archaeological sites to myth, performance, and healing. Epidaurus opens the ancient theater as a place of care as well as spectacle, Mycenae brings the Atreides into the landscape of Bronze Age power, and Nemea links myth to one of Greece’s most important wine regions.
How long should I stay in Nafplio? Two to three days works well for Nafplio itself, with time to explore the old town, the seafront, the fortress, and the city’s layered history. With four or five days, Nafplio becomes a strong base for the surrounding region, including Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Nemea’s wine country. This length allows you to move between the city, archaeological sites, and vineyards without treating the Argolid as a checklist.
Santorini
What to do in Santorini? Santorini is often read from the rim of the caldera, but the island becomes richer once its volcanic, archaeological, and cultural ground comes into view. Fernwayer approaches it through the volcanic ground beneath the caldera image: the buried Bronze Age city of Akrotiri, the music and flavors tied to local traditions, and a cooking experience set in a stone kitchen. The island also opens by sea, with a passage along the caldera and a slower escape to Thirassia, where the landscape feels connected to Santorini but distinct from its most photographed villages. Together, these experiences give the island a fuller cultural and geological frame.
How long should I stay in Santorini? Three days is a good minimum for Santorini, enough to see the caldera, visit villages, spend time by the sea, and include one experience focused on archaeology, food, craft, or music. Four or five days give the island more room, especially if you want to add a boat excursion, a cooking experience, and time in smaller settlements beyond the most photographed viewpoints.
Thessaloniki
What to do in Thessaloniki? Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city, is best approached as a place shaped by successive communities, routes, and culinary influences. Fernwayer reads its history through Roman traces, Byzantine monuments, Ottoman layers, and the vanished Jewish world that once defined much of the city’s life. Food is another way in, with experiences built around flavors, markets, and culinary habits shaped by the Balkans and by Thessaloniki’s particular place in Greece. The city also opens outward: onto the Thermaic Gulf by sailing boat, and toward wetlands where birdwatching turns northern Greece into a wider natural and cultural frame.
See all Thessaloniki Experiences
How long should I stay in Thessaloniki? Two to three days is enough for a first stay in Thessaloniki, with time for the waterfront, Byzantine monuments, Ottoman traces, Jewish heritage, and the city’s food culture. With four or five days, you can also look beyond the city, adding coastal routes, archaeological sites, Mount Olympus, or other natural areas that connect Thessaloniki to the wider region of Macedonia.
THE GREECE LOOKBOOK: CURATED ITINERARIES
Plan your tour of Greece with Fernwayer's Journeys − curated itineraries that blend high-end guided experiences with opportunities to explore independently. Take inspiration from our expertly designed trips and book your favorite experiences directly from the itineraries. By downloading the Fernwayer iOS app, you can save and modify each itinerary to your needs.
WHEN TO GO
APR
Greek Easter traditions across Greece.
APR
Greek Easter traditions across Greece.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the best time of year to visit Greece? Greece can be visited year-round, but the best season depends on the kind of trip you want. Cities and archaeological sites can be rewarding throughout the year, especially if your trip is focused on history, museums, food, and cultural experiences. For the islands, spring and early fall are usually preferable, with milder weather and better conditions for walking, exploring villages, and spending time by the sea. July and August are hotter and busier, but the experience changes from island to island: some places are lively and crowded, while others keep a calmer atmosphere even in August.
How many days do you need for a trip to Greece? Ten days is a good minimum for a first trip to Greece if you want to combine Athens with one island or one mainland region. A week can work if you focus on Athens and one other destination, such as Santorini or Nafplio. With two weeks, you can build a richer itinerary across the capital, the Peloponnese, the Cyclades, or northern Greece without making the trip feel compressed.
What is the best way to travel between Greek cities? Domestic flights are useful for longer distances and island connections, while ferries remain essential for many island routes. Between Athens and Nafplio, a private transfer or rental car is usually the most practical option. Thessaloniki is well connected to Athens by train or road. For archaeological sites, wine regions, and smaller coastal areas, a car or organized transfer often works best.
Do I need to book ferries in advance? Yes, especially if you are traveling in high Season, taking a popular island route, or need a cabin, reserved seat, or vehicle space. Greece has a wide ferry network that runs year-round, with more frequent services from March to October and more limited schedules in winter for some islands. For island-based itineraries, ferry times can shape the rhythm of the trip, so routes and dates are worth planning before the rest of the itinerary is fixed.
Should I rent a car in Greece? It depends on where you are going. A car is usually unnecessary for a stay focused on major city centers, where walking, taxis, public transport, and transfers are easier. It becomes useful in mainland regions, especially for the Peloponnese, archaeological sites, wine areas, and natural landscapes that are not always well connected by public transport. On the islands, the decision depends on size, season, roads, and how much of the island you want to explore.
How do I avoid tourist traps in popular Greek destinations? Prioritize curated experiences and expert guidance, especially around major archaeological sites, food, wine, and craft. Greece’s most famous places are worth visiting, but they become more rewarding when approached with someone who can give them a more specific reading. A guided visit to a site, a wine experience in its region, a boat route with a clear sense of the coast, or a craft encounter with a working artisan can turn familiar destinations into something more precise and memorable.
Can I use my credit card everywhere in Greece, or do I need cash? Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, larger shops, and many established tourism businesses in Greece. It is still useful to carry some cash for small purchases, taxis outside major cities, market stalls, tips, remote villages, and occasional family-run places that may prefer cash. ATMs are common in cities and popular islands.
What are the must-try regional foods in Greece? Greek food changes significantly by region. In Athens, look for mezedes, pies, market produce, and contemporary takes on traditional dishes. In the Peloponnese, olive oil, mountain herbs, wine, and slow-cooked dishes are central. Santorini is known for tomatoes, fava, capers, and volcanic-soil wines. In Thessaloniki and northern Greece, food reflects Balkan, Ottoman, Jewish, and Macedonian influences.
Is Greece safe for tourists? Greece is generally safe for tourists, including solo travelers and families. In major cities and busy visitor areas, the most common issues are petty theft, pickpocketing, and occasional scams rather than serious safety concerns. Usual precautions apply: watch your belongings in crowded places, use licensed taxis or trusted transfers, and take heat, hydration, and sun exposure seriously during the summer months.
Do I need to speak Greek to travel in Greece? No. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, museums, and tourism areas. In smaller villages, local markets, and less tourist-facing places, English may be more limited, but communication is usually manageable. Learning a few Greek words, such as greetings and thanks, is appreciated and can make daily interactions warmer.
Is there a dress code for visiting churches in Greece? Modest clothing is expected in many religious sites, especially monasteries. Shoulders and knees should generally be covered, and swimwear is not appropriate away from the beach. Some monasteries may provide wraps or ask visitors to follow stricter rules, so it is worth carrying a light scarf or layer when visiting religious places.
Do I need a visa to travel to Greece? Greece is part of the Schengen Area. For many non-EU travelers, including visitors from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, short tourist stays are allowed visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Time spent in other Schengen countries counts toward the same 90-day limit. Other passport nationalities may need to apply for a Schengen visa before traveling, so always check the official rules before booking.
FERNWAYER
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