21 Great Greek getaways for summer 2021
With hundreds of islands and mountains galore, pretty much anywhere the compass points in Greece will reveal tempting places for relaxation, adventure and everything in between. Greece is brimming with possibilities that stretch beyond the beach.
1. Be revolutionary
2021 is a big year for Greece as it marks the bicentennial of the beginning of the Greek War of Independence, the war that Greek revolutionaries waged against the Ottoman Empire. Look for commemorative events happening at various locations around Greece, or simply take advantage of the anniversary to add extra context to your visits of places like picturesque Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece, and tiny Spetses island, which was home to the Greek war heroine Laskarina Bouboulina.
2. Be a wine tourist
It's been said before that what reveals the genius loci of a place is light - and while that definitely applies to Greece, so does wine.
As the birthplace of wine-drinking for celebratory and ceremonial purposes, it's fitting that Greece, with upwards of 1300 wineries and 33 regions with PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status, is experiencing a boom in "oenotourism."
Santorini is famous for its assyrtiko wine, and a popular island for winery visits whether or not it's the ventema (vine harvest) time. To whet your appetite, the best guide to Greek wines I have found is here.
3. Visit both Acropolises (what?)
Okay, so the Acropolis of Athens needs no introduction, but such is its prominence that it obscures other ancient citadels in Greece like the Acrocorinth, which looms over the ruins of the ancient city-state of Corinth with a mix of ancient Mycenaean, Greek, Byzantine and Venetian ramparts. The view of the Isthmus of Corinth from the top of the rock is spectacular. You can pair your visit with a jaunt to the beach at Loutraki, famous for its hot springs, or take a dip in the lovely Limni Vouliagmenis lagoon nearby.
4. Explore some "secret" ruins
Most visitors to Athens take in the classic ancient sites like the Parthenon, ruins of the ancient Athenian Agora and Panathenaic Stadium. Stunners all, but give yourself an extra day to take in lesser-known sites like the archaeological site of Kerameikos, which includes some fascinating early Athenian fortifications as well as monumental funerary sculptures.
Piraeus, the port of Athens, has some amazing 'secret' ancient sites too, as I recently discovered (here's a little preview, in Greek).
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