The best places in Greece are not interchangeable. Match each stop to the trip you actually want and to the connections that make the route coherent.
Eight places and regions worth building around
- Athens: archaeology, neighbourhood life and the main transport hub — metro and walking; ports connect onward
- Crete: large-island variety, cities, mountains and beaches — two major airports; a car helps outside cities
- Cyclades: classic Aegean landscapes with very different island personalities — ferry network is central to route design
- Ionian Islands: greener western islands including Corfu and Kefalonia — flight/ferry geography differs from the Aegean
- Rhodes and Dodecanese: medieval history, beaches and eastern Aegean routes — seasonal flights and ferries
- Peloponnese: Nafplio, Mani and major ancient sites — a road trip is usually the most coherent format
- Meteora: monasteries and dramatic mainland geology — rail/bus/tour connections; stay overnight for pacing
- Thessaloniki and north: food, Byzantine history and access to northern landscapes — air/rail gateway for a different Greece
How to choose between them
Start with season and transport, then choose two or three complementary bases. A place that looks close on a map can still be an awkward addition when ferries, mountain roads, airport transfers or station changes are involved.
For first trips
Prioritise one clear headline experience and leave enough unstructured time to experience the base itself. The itinerary guide shows how to turn these choices into 7-, 10- and 14-day routes.