9 Impressive Archaeological Sites in Greece

With so many archaeological sites in Greece, it is virtually impossible to find yourself in a holiday destination with no museums, ancient temples or excavation findings. From the Acropolis, in the heart of Athens, to the city of Mycenae in Argos and the magical Oracle of Delphi, the Greek mainland is an ideal place to travel back in history. An additional upside to visiting these areas is that the ancient Greeks built their cities and temples in places of extreme natural beauty. Hence, the presence of archaeological sites in Greece has contributed to preserving these natural areas.

Rent a car and drive back in time to discover the history, the myths, the architectural accomplishments and the artistic treasures of the ancient Greeks.

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 9 archaeological sites in Greece you should not miss

 The archaeological site of Acropolis. Image by pikist, licensed.

Acropolis, in the heart of Athens

Built during the Golden Age of Athens (460–430 BC) under the leadership of Pericles, the Acropolis of Athens and its monuments are a widely known symbol of Ancient Greece, with thousands of visitors every year. At the top of the hill stands the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena, the city's patron goddess. Next to the Parthenon is the Erechtheum and the smaller temple of Athena Nike. The Erechteum is known for the Caryatids, women statues that function as pillars.

At the south of the hill stands the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, housing the Athens Festival from May through October each year.

300m southeast of the hill is the Acropolis Museum. In the Museum, you will find impressive artefacts of the area, painting a comprehensive picture of the human presence from prehistoric times through late antiquity. The Parthenon gallery's top floor offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Acropolis and Athens. The opening of the new state-of-the-art Acropolis Museum in 2009 raised the issue of reuniting all Acropolis sculptures in Athens with the return of the ancient marbles displayed today in the British Museum in London.

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The archaeological site of Vergina, 11 km southeast of Veria. Image by Explorer1940, licensed.

Vergina, 11 km southeast of Veria

In the area of Vergina lies the archaeological site of Aigai, the first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia, where Alexander the Great was proclaimed king. Archaeological evidence shows that the area has been continuously inhabited since the Early Bronze Age. It became an important cultural centre during the Early Iron Age and peaked during the Classical periods (5th-4th centuries) under the Macedonian kings.

The site consists of an acropolis, shrines, and the royal palace said to be visible from the whole Macedonian basin during the reign of Alexander's father, Philip II. In addition, of great historical and archaeological value is the ancient burial ground discovered in the area with many rich tombs, including the tumulus of Philip II.

The excavation findings are exhibited in a protective shelter at the archaeological site and the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. The local Museum currently houses Philip's tomb. At the same time, a new museum is under construction housing the palace and other important finds.

If you rent a car in Thessaloniki, it will take you around an hour (70 km) to get to Vergina via A1 and Egnatia Odos/A2/E90.

View of the Monasteries and rocks of Meteora. Photo by Giuseppe Milo, licensed

Meteora monasteries, 86 km west of Larissa

Meteora means "suspended in the air". The name describes a unique formation of sky-high monoliths in the Western region of Thessaly.

Formed around 60 million years ago during the Paleogene period, these rocks, with a mean altitude of 300m, provided isolation to an ascetic group of hermit monks in the 9th century A.D. Starting around the late 11th century, a sizeable ascetic community was created in Meteora, around the church of Theotokos. Finally, the Great Monastery was founded during the 14th century, followed by around 20 more, where monks found refuge from Turkish raiders.

Today six of the monasteries are still active; four are inhabited by men and two by women. Visiting hours of the monasteries vary between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., so do consider this when planning. There is a dress code for visits to monasteries. Ladies are required to wear skirts, and gentlemen should wear long trousers.

If you rent a car in Athens, it will take you more than 4 hours (357 km) to get to Meteora via highway E75 until Lamia and then turn at the exit to Lamia. From here, head towards Karditsa, Trikala and Kalampaka, only a few minutes away from Meteora. If you rent a car in Thessaloniki, your drive will last less than 3 hours (228 km) via Egnatia Odos/A2/E90 through Veria, Kozani and Grevena. You can also stop to visit Vergina, 11 km southeast of Veria or 85 km southwest of Thessaloniki.

The archaeological site of Delphi. Photo by Aditya Karnad, licensed

Delphi, 21 km west of Amfissa

Ancient Greeks considered the sanctuary of Delphi, at the southwestern slope of Mount Parnassus, as the navel (or centre) of the world. It is here where Pythia, the Delphic oracle gave prophecies to Apollo's worshipers, influencing the history of Greece, according to Greek mythology. Today Delphi is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Greece.

Visit the ruins of the 4th century BC Temple of Delphi, the reconstructed Treasury of Athens, built to commemorate their victory at the Battle of Marathon, the theatre and the mountain-top stadium, all in a dramatic natural scenery where Greeks chose to create this sacred site. 

The Archaeological Museum of Delphi is adjacent to the archaeological site. It houses statues, including the famous Charioteer, the Sphinx of Naxos, and impressive findings such as the friezes of the Siphnian Treasury, covering over a thousand years, from the Mycenaean era to the Greco-Roman times.

If you rent a car in Athens, it will take around two and a half hours (180 km) to drive to Delphi via the Athens – Lamia (E75) highway. Next, turn towards Livadia and Arachova, a picturesque mountain village only 10 km from Delphi.

The archaeological site of Messene. Photo by Herbert Ortner, licensed

The ancient city of Messene, 30 km north of Kalamata

30 km north of Kalamata are the remains of the ancient city of Messene, one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in Greece and the Messenians' economic, social, religious and cultural centre. Today visitors can admire religious and public buildings such as the theatre, the agora, the stadium, the gymnasium, which was later converted into a Roman arena, the Asclepieion and the temples of Zeus and Poseidon. Solid fortification walls protect the city with towers and gates.

Mystras, on the slopes of Mt Taygetos. Photo by MemoryCatcher, licensed.

Mystras, at the slopes of mountain Taygetos, 6 km northwest of Sparta

6 km northwest of Sparta, at the slopes of mountain Taygetos, is the fortified town of Mystras, the capital of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea in the 14th and 15th centuries. Park your car before the entrance and allow a few hours to visit the Byzantine churches with impressive frescoes and architecture, including the archaeological Museum housed in the cathedral of Agios Dimitrios. The site also offers beautiful views of Evrotas valley and the surrounding pine trees and cypresses.

Ancient Olympia archaeological site and Museum, 19 km east of Pyrgos

When in Helia, save some time to visit one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Olympia is 19 km east of Pyrgos and receives thousands of visitors from all over the world. This ancient site used to host the Olympic Games, organised every four years in honour of Zeus, the father of Gods.

Visit the stadium where the runners used to compete, the temple of Hera in front of which the Olympic Flame is lit today, and the temple of Zeus where the gigantic ivory and gold statue of Zeus used to stand.

The history of this religious and athletic site is presented in the Museum, which houses finds from prehistoric times to the Early Christian period:

• The richest bronze collection worldwide
• The sculpted decoration of the temple of Zeus
• The statue of Nike by Paionios and the Hermes of Praxiteles holding the infant Dionysos

 The ancient theatre of Epidaurus. Photo by r0the, licensed.

The ancient theatre of Epidaurus, 41 km east of Argos

41 km east of Argos is Ancient Epidaurus with the Asklipieio sanctuary, still visited by thousands of locals and tourists every year. This archaeological site is mainly known for the well-preserved ancient theatre dating back to the 4th century B.C., hosting today the annual Athens & Epidaurus festival with unforgettable performances. Due to the excellent acoustics, the actors can be heard perfectly by all 14.000 spectators.

The Lion Gate of Mycenae. Photo by Discover Peloponnese, licensed.

The ancient city of Mycenae, 14 km north of Argos

Last but not least in our list of archaeological sites is the ancient city of Mycenae. This city was the centre of the Mycenaean civilisation, which dominated the eastern Mediterranean world from the 15th to the 12th century B.C. It was the kingdom of the legendary king Agamemnon, leader of the Greeks in the Trojan War.

Visit the fortified Acropolis with the Cyclopean walls, the impressive Lion Gate, the Treasury of Atreus and the Museum with the anthropomorphic ceramic figurines and the fresco with the female figures.

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Featured image by Pikist, licensed.