When many hear of Greece, they’re likely to think of two things: classical Greek ruins, and stunning islands of white and blue. While these things are absolutely amazing to see, you can find so much more exciting and cheaper sights on the mainland. As someone obsessed with the Greek culture and history, I love every part of this beautiful country, and the variety of things on the mainland is something that I shall never get tired of seeing. With that in mind, here are six of the best placed to visit on mainland Greece.
1: Meteora
Out of all the places in Greece, this is by far my all time favorite. In the 14th and 15th centuries, groups of Orthodox monks built these monasteries on natural rock pillars formed millions of years ago! They can be quite the hike to get up to, but once you get up there you will be rewarded with the incredible views of the valley below. When I went, I was lucky enough to even speak with one of the nuns still living in the main monastery about life on the cliffs, and it was so cool! There is so much more that’s taken my breath that I could probably make an entire post just about Meteora, and it’s definitely a place that everyone must see once.
2: Koroni
The west of Greece is very similar to the rest of Europe in that there are a lot of medieval ruins and fortresses, and Koroni is no exception. The small town has a 13th century castle that was vital for trade to and from the east. In fact, the Venetians were so wowed that they called the castle and its twin Methoni the “Eyes of Venice”. Even with all of that history, I found this village to be greatest for resting amongst the ocean, and the pastry shops are amazing! In fact, the food is so wonderful that Koroni has been named as one of the seven ambassadors of the Mediterranean diet. This is truly a lovely getaway to enjoy when you’re visiting the Peloponnese region.
3: Zagori & Vikos Gorge
When a good friend of mine told me she was moving to Greece, the last thing that came to my mind was the Epirus region. However, I was so amazed by the things that she showed me from Zagori and Vikos gorge that I debated on moving there myself! The Zagori region is home to 46 individual stone villages, and the Vikos Gorge is one of the deepest and most beautiful in the world! I couldn’t believe that such wonderful natural wonders resided within Greece, but this place showed me that it was indeed possible to have your cake and eat it too.
4: Parga
On the opposite side of the Epirus region, the beach town of Parga is the complete opposite of Zagori. Parga has wonderful views of the Ionian Sea, and while its Venetian castle isn’t as well known as Koroni and Methoni, it has become a hotspot for economic activity, and it was essential for trade with the western powers since ancient times. It also has a small green island just off of the coastline, and there is an absolutely stunning white cathedral. It is truly breathtaking to look at! There is also a share of Greek mythology as well; it was believed that the ruins on the outskirts of this village were a portal leading to the Underworld, which was the primary goal of many cults going as far back as Mycenean Greece.
5: Mystras
Speaking of ruins, those within Mystras show some of the best of Byzantine history within Greece. It is a very close neighbor to the legendary Sparta, and like the war-centered city-state, Mystras was considered an extremely important capital for its time. From palaces to monasteries to beautiful cathedrals, Mystras has preserved ruins of everything that gave it the nickname of “Greek Florence”.
When I was going to Greece with my father, I did not expect to find a fully fortified medieval city and and ancient Greek ruins in the same day. Now that I have been there a few times, I am pulled in my Mystras more and more every time I look at it!
6: Thessaloniki
Despite this being the second largest city in Greece (with a population of about 300 thousand), Thessaloniki is highly overshadowed by the image of Athens and the islands. Over the thousands of years of Thessaloniki’s history, this city has been a melting pot for Byzantine, Ottoman, Jewish, and Roman cultures. As such, the city has so much variety within its sights, like the Arch of Galerius and the famous Whit Tower of Thessaloniki.
It’s also considered the culinary capital of Greece, and the best bougatsa I have ever had was in a small shop near the sea. I believe that this city portrays the very best of Greece, and it should totally be getting more attention.
