Greece Travel Photo Journal: Stunning Landscapes and Culture

After almost 50 hours of travel each way, our 20-day trip to Greece felt every bit worthwhile. My phone is full of photos—landscapes, food and cats—but here is a concise photo journal highlighting the best moments of our holiday.

We began with five days in Athens, making the most of the city’s rich history and vibrant streets. With an emphasis on archaeology and cuisine, we explored key ancient sites and soaked up the electric atmosphere. A day trip along the Athens Riviera brought us to the dramatic Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

After falling for Athens, we spent four days exploring the Peloponnese and central Greece. Driving through the Corinth Canal, we visited the theatres and ruins of Epidaurus and Mycenae, passed through Nafplia and Argos, and reached the birthplace of the Olympic Games at Olympia. From there we crossed the Rio–Antirrio Bridge into Itea, spent a night in the mountain town of Arachova, and continued to the sacred site of Delphi. Our route north took us through a string of towns and villages to Kalambaka, the base for the awe-inspiring Meteora monasteries. We then returned to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, Thermopylae and Kammena Vourla.

Needing rest after many hours on the road, we took a ferry to Mykonos for relaxation. While based there we sailed to Delos, the mythic birthplace of Apollo and an important religious center in antiquity. After three nights on Mykonos, we ferried to Santorini. On Santorini we joined a catamaran cruise to view the island from the sea, visited beaches, enjoyed lunch on board, and returned to port. Following three nights in Santorini, we flew back to Athens for a final night before our long flight home.

Greece belongs on every traveler’s bucket list. If given the chance, I would return to Athens in a heartbeat— it felt like a second home. For further reading, I have separate posts covering practical travel tips and the food of Greece.