179 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Greece - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Greece

Kalabaka, Greece

Meteora

Monasteries on rock pillars, once accessible only by frayed ropes.

The Oracle of Delphi

The hallucinogenic center of the ancient world.

Sami

A spectacular cave and a beguiling lake.

Zakinthos, Greece

Navagio Beach

Hidden in a secluded Greek cove is a pristine beach marred only by the rusting smuggler's hulk stranded on its shores.

Antikythera Mechanism

2000-year-old computer demonstrates remarkable engineering and astronomical precision.

Tourlitis Lighthouse

Perched on a spindly rock spire in a Greek archipelago, this lighthouse would make a perfect wizard's tower.

The Athenian Agora

This ancient Greek place of assembly and marketplace is being revealed layer by layer below the modern Athens cityscape.

Argolis, Greece

Mycenae

This legendary city has been a tourist attraction for centuries.

See All 179 Things to Do in Greece See All 179 Places

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Greece

Ano Vouves, Greece

Olive Tree of Vouves

The oldest olive tree in Greece has been bearing fruit for at least 2,000 years.

The Olive Tree of the Acropolis

Legend says this sacred tree was a gift from goddess Athena.

Bee Museum of Rhodes

Learn about the sweet, storied legacy of beekeeping in ancient Greece.

Vlychada, Greece

Tomato Industrial Museum

A former factory serves as a shrine to the industry that sustained Santorini for decades.

See all 5 places to eat in Greece See all 5 places to eat in Greece

Atlas Obscura Trips

Greece: Ancient Ruins to Modern Culture

Discover the impact of Ancient Greece in today's modern-day culture by connecting the dots between legendary landmarks, such as the Oracle of Delphi, and local traditions still found today.

Explore Greece

Launch Map

Greece Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Greece Activity

wildstonelsk has been to Magic Sphere of Helios

claireromama wants to go to Ritual of Periarosis Column

claireromama wants to go to Sculpted Face on Shore

claireromama wants to go to The Ruins of Rentina

Chiavoli has been to Kouros of Apollonas

Stories About Greece

A replica of the Phaistos Disc, which has fascinated and flummoxed us for more than a century.

Exploring the Enduring Mystery of Crete's Phaistos Disc

A scholar of Aegean civilization considers the inscrutable meaning of the artifact—and its irresistible appeal.

by Silvia Ferrara

The famous Terrace of Lions is one of many ancient Greek sites featuring realistic depictions of the animals; eroded by weather, the remaining statues are now safely housed in a nearby museum.

Following the Mysterious Trail of Europe's Last Wild Lions

Researchers use art and ancient bones to make the case for modern lions once freely roaming Southeastern Europe.

by Katarina Zimmer

January 31, 2022

Podcast: Martian Meteorites and Greek Columns With the AO Places Team

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

September 21, 2021

Captured by a Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite in June 2021, the Aegean Sea takes on a satiny appearance thanks to a combination of strong winds and the optical phenomenon of sun glint.

Sun Glint, Bane of Scientists, Has a Silver Lining

This beautiful, satiny optical phenomenon can wreck satellite imaging, but it can also reveal hidden aspects of our planet.

by Gemma Tarlach

Brains, beauty, biceps.

The Swole Women of Sparta Wrestled, Danced, and Drank

This summer, chill like an ancient lady and sweat, recite poetry, and swig wine.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

August 20, 2019

Say again?

It's All Greek to You and Me, So What Is It to the Greeks?

A close look at a strangely global idiom about how little we understand each other.

by Dan Nosowitz

Greek woman, early fourth century B.C.

To Conceive a Girl in Ancient Greece, Eat a Salad and Tie Your Right Testicle

Doctors wrote recipes to cure patients' ailments and determine the sex of their children.

by Reina Gattuso

Hades and Persephone, with Persephone holding a branch of parsley (or perhaps celery).

Ancient Greek Funerals Were Decked Out in Celery

It was a powerful symbol of death—and victory.

October 23, 2018

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Lists Featuring Greece