Historical Places in Greece: The Complete List

Greece wears its history on every hillside and shoreline, from ancient citadels to Bronze Age ports. Whether you’re planning a focused history trip or browsing for inspiration, a clear list makes it easier to spot patterns, eras, and why each place matters.

There are 68 Historical Places in Greece, ranging from Acrocorinth to Zakros. For each site you’ll find below entries organized as Location, Era (period), Significance, so you can quickly compare dates, themes, and why a stop is worth your time — you’ll find below.

How can I use this list to plan an efficient visit to multiple sites?

Group sites by Era (period) and geographic proximity: visiting nearby Classical or Byzantine sites in one day saves travel time, while noting Significance helps prioritize those that match your interests (architecture, warfare, religion).

Are these places generally open to visitors and how do I check access or restrictions?

Many are public sites or museums with seasonal hours and occasional closures for conservation; check official site or local archaeological service pages before traveling, and look for visitor information in the Significance field below for access notes.

Historical Places in Greece

Images and Descriptions

Acropolis of Athens

Prominent ancient citadel on a limestone hill above Athens. Date: mainly Classical era (5th century BCE). Serve as the religious and ceremonial center of ancient Athens. Contain several major monuments that define Classical Greek architecture and civic pride. Hold UNESCO World Heritage status as part of the Acropolis group.

Parthenon

Iconic Doric temple on the Acropolis built in the 5th century BCE. Dedicate to the goddess Athena. Represent the height of Classical Greek art and architecture. Show sculptural decoration that influenced Western art for centuries.

Ancient Agora

Market and civic center north of the Acropolis in Athens. Flourish from the Archaic through the Roman period. Act as the social, political, and commercial heart of the city. Preserve ruins, stoas, and the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos museum.

Temple of Hephaestus

Well-preserved Doric temple in the Ancient Agora of Athens. Date: late 5th century BCE. Dedicate to Hephaestus and Athena Ergane. Serve as a rare example of a nearly intact classical temple and offer insight into everyday worship.

Theatre of Dionysus

Large open-air theatre on the south slope of the Acropolis. Date: origins in the 5th century BCE. Host ancient dramatic performances and festival competitions. Influence modern theatre with its architectural and acoustic design.

Kerameikos

Ancient cemetery and potters quarter northwest of the Acropolis. Date: Archaic through Roman periods. Serve as the main burial ground of ancient Athens and show funerary monuments and city walls. Provide evidence of daily life and death rites.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Massive temple in central Athens begun in the 6th century BCE and completed under Roman rule. Honor Zeus with grand Corinthian columns. Represent imperial patronage and Hellenistic-Roman architectural fusion. Stand as one of Greece’s largest ancient temples.

Sounion (Temple of Poseidon)

Clifftop temple at Cape Sounion overlooking the Aegean Sea. Date: 5th century BCE. Dedicate to Poseidon and mark a key maritime landmark for ancient sailors. Offer dramatic sea views and well-preserved classical columns.

Delphi

Panhellenic sanctuary on Mount Parnassus. Date: Archaic to Roman periods. Host the Oracle of Apollo, the center of Greek religious consultation and pan-Hellenic festivals. Hold UNESCO World Heritage status for its cultural and historic importance.

Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia

Religious site at Delphi near the main sanctuary. Date: Archaic through Classical periods. Contain the Tholos, a circular building of striking design, and other temples. Serve as part of the larger Delphi sacred landscape.

Olympia

Ancient sanctuary in the Peloponnese and birthplace of the Olympic Games. Date: Archaic through Roman periods. Host athletic competitions, religious rites, and monumental architecture like the Temple of Zeus. Hold UNESCO World Heritage status as a symbol of ancient sport.

Temple of Zeus (Olympia)

Grand temple at Olympia built in the 5th century BCE. House a large chryselephantine statue of Zeus in antiquity. Serve as a key religious and artistic center in the sanctuary complex. Influence Hellenistic and Roman temple design.

Stadium of Olympia

Ancient athletic stadium at Olympia. Date: developed from the 8th century BCE onward. Host the ancient Olympic Games and foot races held in honor of Zeus. Preserve starting boxes and a clear stadium layout for study and visits.

Mycenae

Fortified Bronze Age citadel in the Peloponnese. Date: Late Bronze Age (c.1600–1100 BCE). Serve as the center of Mycenaean civilization and feature the Lion Gate, royal tombs, and palatial ruins. Influence understanding of Homeric Greece.

Tiryns

Cyclopean-walled Bronze Age fortress near Mycenae. Date: Late Bronze Age. Feature massive stone walls and palace complexes. Show defensive architecture and royal power in Mycenaean Greece.

Epidaurus

Ancient sanctuary dedicated to the healing god Asclepius. Date: Classical period. Contain one of the best-preserved ancient theatres with exceptional acoustics. Serve as a major health and religious center and remain a living performance venue.

Ancient Corinth

Important city-state at the Isthmus of Corinth. Date: Archaic through Roman periods. Control trade routes and exhibit urban planning, markets, and the Temple of Apollo. Reflect strategic and economic power in ancient Greece.

Acrocorinth

Steep fortified acropolis above ancient Corinth. Date: Classical to Ottoman periods. Serve as a long-used stronghold with layered fortifications. Offer strategic views and a record of continuous occupation.

Nemea

Panhellenic sanctuary in the northeastern Peloponnese. Date: Archaic and Classical periods. Host the Nemean Games and honor Zeus. Contain a well-preserved stadium, temple remains, and archaeological museum.

Mystras

Byzantine fortified town near Sparta. Date: 13th–15th centuries. Serve as a major Late Byzantine cultural and religious center. Preserve churches, palaces, and monasteries in a dramatic hillside site; include UNESCO recognition as part of Mystras site listings.

Monemvasia

Medieval fortress town on a small island off the Peloponnese. Date: Byzantine through Venetian periods. Contain narrow lanes, Byzantine churches, and preserved fortifications. Represent medieval trade and defensive island settlements.

Palamidi Fortress

Venetian-built fortress overlooking Nafplio. Date: early 18th century. Command the bay with extensive fortifications and bastions. Showcase Venetian military architecture and panoramic views.

Bourtzi

Small islet fortress in the harbor of Nafplio. Date: Venetian period, 15th–16th centuries. Serve as a defensive outpost and later as a salt depot and prison. Present a compact example of coastal fortification.

Ancient Messene

Well-planned classical city in the southwestern Peloponnese. Date: 4th century BCE onwards. Contain city walls, public buildings, theaters, and sanctuaries. Offer unusually complete urban remains for study of classical city life.

Palace of Nestor

Bronze Age palace complex near Pylos. Date: Late Bronze Age (Mycenaean). Preserve Linear B tablet archives and well-laid rooms and storage areas. Provide key evidence of Mycenaean administration and economy.

Vergina (Aigai)

Royal burial site in northern Greece. Date: Late Bronze Age and Classical periods. Contain richly furnished tombs, including a royal tomb attributed to Philip II. Hold UNESCO World Heritage status for archaeological significance.

Pella

Capital of ancient Macedonia and birthplace of Alexander the Great. Date: Classical period. Feature palace complexes, mosaics, and city planning. Yield insight into Macedonian culture and urban life.

Philippi

Ancient city in eastern Macedonia with Hellenistic and Roman remains. Date: Hellenistic to Byzantine periods. Host a famous Roman colony, Christian basilicas, and battlefield history tied to Roman civil wars. Hold UNESCO World Heritage status as an archaeological site.

Amphipolis

Ancient city near the Strymon River in northern Greece. Date: Classical to Roman periods. Feature monumental tombs, a large bridge, and city walls. Offer evidence of Macedonian and Roman strategic interests.

Dion

Sanctuary and city at the foot of Mount Olympus. Date: Hellenistic and Roman periods. Combine religious sanctuaries, theaters, and baths. Reflect worship practices linked to Macedonian kings and mountain cults.

Mount Athos

Autonomous monastic peninsula in northern Greece. Date: Byzantine era to present. Host a cluster of active Orthodox monasteries with continuous monastic life. Hold UNESCO World Heritage status for cultural and spiritual heritage; access is restricted and male-only for entry.

Meteora

Group of monasteries perched on sandstone pillars in central Greece. Date: Byzantine to Ottoman periods. Combine natural wonders with religious architecture. Hold UNESCO World Heritage status for cultural landscape and monastic tradition.

Thessaloniki Rotunda

Large circular Roman building in Thessaloniki. Date: early 4th century CE. Serve as a mausoleum, church, and mosque over time. Exhibit early Christian mosaics and Roman monumental architecture.

White Tower

20th-century landmark and former Ottoman fortress on Thessaloniki’s waterfront. Date: rebuilt in the 15th–16th centuries, modernized later. Symbolize Thessaloniki’s complex history and serve as a museum and city icon.

Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki

Medieval city walls encircling Thessaloniki. Date: 4th–15th centuries with repairs over time. Provide urban defense and show Byzantine military architecture. Offer panoramic views and historical context for the city.

Dodona

Ancient oracle and sanctuary in Epirus. Date: Archaic and Classical periods. Host one of the oldest Greek oracles, linked to Zeus. Contain theater remains, temples, and sacred oak groves tied to divination.

Akrotiri (Thera)

Bronze Age settlement on Santorini preserved by volcanic ash. Date: Late Bronze Age (c.17th century BCE). Contain multi-story buildings, frescoes, and advanced urban planning. Provide key evidence of Aegean life and trade.

Delos

Sacred island near Mykonos and a major religious and commercial center. Date: Archaic through Roman periods. Honor Apollo and Artemis and host a vast archaeological site with sanctuaries, houses, and mosaics. Hold UNESCO World Heritage status.

Knossos

Largest Minoan palace complex on Crete. Date: Bronze Age (c.2000–1400 BCE). Feature labyrinthine architecture, frescoes, and ceremonial spaces. Serve as the center of Minoan civilization and mythic associations like the Minotaur.

Phaistos

Major Minoan palace on southern Crete. Date: Bronze Age. Contain a large central courtyard, storage rooms, and the famous Phaistos Disc find. Offer insight into Minoan administration and ceremonial life.

Malia

Minoan palace and settlement on northern Crete. Date: Bronze Age. Present palace ruins, fortifications, and surrounding town remains. Help reconstruct Minoan social and economic networks.

Zakros

Eastern Cretan Minoan palace and harbor site. Date: Bronze Age. Combine palace architecture with coastal trade evidence. Yield important artifacts and Linear A records.

Gortyna

Ancient city and Roman capital on southern Crete. Date: Classical to Roman periods. Contain law codes inscribed in stone, an odeon, and remains of Roman public buildings. Illustrate Roman provincial urban life.

Roman Agora of Athens

Market complex built by Roman patrons in Athens. Date: 1st century BCE–1st century CE. Replace or complement the classical Agora with new structures and monuments. Show Roman influence on urban civic spaces.

Temple of Apollo at Bassae

Well-preserved temple in the Peloponnese combining Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders. Date: 5th century BCE. Honor Apollo and demonstrate architectural innovation. Hold UNESCO World Heritage status as part of ancient Greek monuments.

Ancient Thera

Hellenistic and Roman city on Santorini’s ridge. Date: Hellenistic to Byzantine periods. Contain urban streets, houses, and public buildings overlooking the sea. Show continuity of settlement across eras.

Kamiros

Ancient Doric city on the island of Rhodes. Date: Archaic to Hellenistic periods. Retain city planning, street grids, and public buildings. Provide a clear example of island urbanism and layout.

Lindos Acropolis

Acropolis on Rhodes with layered remains from Archaic to Medieval times. Date: Archaic through Byzantine periods. Feature a Doric temple, Hellenistic stoa, and Crusader castle. Combine religious significance with stunning coastal views.

Rhodes Old Town

Medieval walled city and harbor center on Rhodes. Date: Hospitaller period and earlier. Contain Gothic palaces, narrow streets, and fortifications. Hold UNESCO World Heritage status for medieval architecture and historic urban fabric.

Palace of the Grand Master

Imposing Crusader-era fortress and palace in Rhodes Old Town. Date: 14th century with later restorations. Serve as the Knights Hospitaller administrative center and a clear example of medieval military architecture.

Ancient Sparta

Classical-era city-state center located in the Eurotas valley. Date: Archaic to Roman periods. Emphasize military discipline, unique social systems, and austere urban remains. Offer archaeological and literary evidence of Spartan society.

Ancient Theater of Mytilene

Hellenistic-Roman theater on Lesbos. Date: Hellenistic to Roman periods. Host dramatic and musical performances and show typical Greek theater design. Provide regional cultural context for the island.

Ancient Eretria

Archaeological site on the island of Euboea. Date: Geometric through Classical periods. Include sanctuaries, a theater, and fortifications. Reflect early Greek colonization and regional trade.

Thermopylae battlefield

Narrow coastal pass famous for ancient battles. Date: Classical era, notably 480 BCE. Mark a strategic chokepoint where Spartan-led forces held off Persian armies. Serve as a symbol of resistance and military history.

Plataea

Site of the decisive battle between Greek city-states and Persia. Date: 479 BCE. Host battlefield remains and memorials to the Greek victory. Represent cooperation among Greek poleis against external invasion.

Marathon

Plain northeast of Athens known for the 490 BCE battle. Date: Classical era. Mark the Athenians’ victory over Persian forces and inspire the modern marathon race. Preserve burial mounds and a battle memorial.

Temple of Aphaia

Archaic Doric temple on the island of Aegina. Date: c.500 BCE. Honor the local goddess Aphaia and form a visual triangle with the Parthenon and Poseidon temple at Sounion. Offer high-quality sculpture and a clear example of Archaic art.

Spinalonga

Fortress islet off Crete used as a Venetian stronghold and later a leper colony. Date: Venetian period and 1900s. Contain fortifications, housing ruins, and poignant social history. Illustrate shifting uses of island fortresses.

Chlemoutsi Castle

Frankish crusader castle in the Peloponnese. Date: early 13th century. Function as a strategic stronghold with massive keep and curtain walls. Provide an example of Western medieval architecture in Greece.

Arkadi Monastery

Cretan Orthodox monastery known for heroic resistance in 1866. Date: Byzantine foundation, Ottoman era significance. Serve as a national symbol of Cretan resistance and house notable frescoes and architecture.

Corfu Old Fortress

Venetian-built fortress guarding Corfu town. Date: medieval to early modern periods. Overlook the harbor and contain layered defenses. Show Venetian military engineering and island strategic value.

Treasury of Atreus

Large Bronze Age beehive tomb near Mycenae. Date: Late Bronze Age. Contain a monumental corbelled dome and rich funerary architecture. Represent elite burial practices of the Mycenaean elite.

Franchthi Cave

Prehistoric cave in the Argolid with long occupation layers. Date: Paleolithic to Neolithic periods. Preserve evidence of early human settlement, tool use, and changing subsistence strategies in Greece.

Petralona Cave

Cave in northern Greece with early human fossils. Date: Pleistocene era. Contain hominin remains and prehistoric tools that inform human evolution in the Balkans. Serve as an important paleoanthropological site.

Nicopolis

Roman city founded by Octavian near Actium. Date: Roman period. Function as a memorial and urban center with theater, baths, and basilicas. Reflect Roman urbanism and imperial commemoration.

Olynthos

Planned Classical city in Halkidiki. Date: Classical period. Exhibit orthogonal street grids and house plans with mosaic floors. Provide valuable evidence of domestic life and urban planning.

Rhamnous

Coastal sanctuary and fortress northeast of Athens. Date: Archaic to Classical periods. Honor Nemesis and contain a well-preserved temple and fortification remains. Offer insight into regional cults and maritime defense.

Helike

Ancient city that sank in a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. Date: Classical era. Present a case of sudden urban destruction and mythic memory. Under archaeological investigation with potential submerged remains.

Historical Places in Other Countries