Known for its plethora of ancient ruins, sandy beaches, whitewashed villages, tasty cuisine and friendly atmosphere, Greece is a year-round travel destination that should be on the top of your list. One of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful assets, Greece is made up of a mainland and hundreds of beautiful islands such as Rhodes, Kos, and Calchi, each offering its own distinctive share of stunning landscapes, historic sites and cultural delights. Checkout our top picks for top hidden treasures and travel must-sees in Greece. By: Aphua Larbi-Amoah
PLAY
Acropolis of Athens & Museum, Athens
If you’re interested in the history of Greece, the Acropolis Museum is a must-see for your travel itinerary. Acropolis is Athens most famous landmarks and one of the most visited monuments in the world from the Antiquity times. Every year, thousands of visitors from all over the world come to admire this symbol of the Ancient Greek civilization. A library focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens, the Acropolis Museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It also lies over the ruins of a part of Roman and early Byzantine Athens.
Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights, Rhodes
The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights is a medieval castle on the island of Rhodes in Greece. It is one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece. From the outside, the Palace looks much as it did when erected by the Knights Hospitaller during the 14th Century. During the 19th century, an explosion devastated it, so the interior today is an Italian reconstruction.
Acropolis of Lindos Ruins, Rhodes
Above the modern town of Lindos, rises the Acropolis of Lindos, which was fortified successively by the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Knights of St John and the Ottomans. The Acropolis of Lindos offers spectacular views of the surrounding harbors and coastline. The archaeological remains found inside and around the Acropolis of Lindos reveal the wealth of this ancient town. Part of its worth-visiting monuments is a Doric 4th-century temple devoted to Athena Lindia, where people used to worship their patron goddess with offerings and sacrifices.
Alimia Island
Alimia is a tiny Greek island situated near Rhodes with no permanent residents. Today, the residents of the opposite coast use the island as pasture for their stock, sheep and goats. Small excursion boats, departing from nearby islands get the visitors to the island for a daily excursion and swimming in the crystal clear sea. Interestingly enough, this island will host 20 daring travelers wishing to try their luck and skills on “The Island” a German versions of Survivor kicking off in October. “The Island” participants will be taken to Alimia and required to live on the remote island for 10 days while fending for themselves and facing a series of survival trials, including building shelter and finding food, with the aim of collecting points and prizes.
Island Club Restaurant, Athens
A restaurant, lounge and nightlife hotspot, the Island Club is the most hip and trendiest nightlife spots in Athens. Located right on the water, the club is a popular destination on the Athens Riviera offering an amazing cuisine from award winning chef, Nikos Skrilas and a lounge offering an all-day café where you can drink coffee, cocktails, and taste delicious brunch and snacks. Jetsetters and celebrities including Hugh Jackman, Valentino, Meryl Streep and Bruce Willis are known to be frequent visitors of the Island Club.
EATS
Ronda Restaurant & Beach Bar, Rhodes
Ronda restaurant is the place where you can enjoy a delicious meal, while you admire the Aegean Sea. This elegant and totally modern bar restaurant is located at Elli Beach, in Rhodes. Known for their fresh fish and seafood, sushi lovers will find a great variety of maki, california rolls, nigiri and other Japanese bites. Ronda also has an excellent wine list with variety of both Greek and European wines.
Mavrikos Resturant, LINDOS
If you’re looking for the real traditional Greek flavor and experience, this restaurant is the place to be. Family owned and operated since 1912, these recipes have been perfected through a century of cooking and passed down from generations. Located in the main square of Lindos, this local favorite is a must try for anyone passing through this ancient village in Rhodes. The third-generation chef Dimitris Mavrikos runs the restaurant with his brother combing the freshest ingredients for dishes like his famous black ink pasta.
SHOPPING
Old Town Rhodes, Rhodes
Strolling around the old town of Rhodes is a unique experience and will guarantee a romantic evening and a memorable visit for the whole family. Old Town Rhodes is the key hub for shoppers, with main locally produced buys are such as olive oil, luscious olives, honey fruit and vegetables, and a host of Greek handmade finds such as clothes, jewelry, shoes and leather goods.
Plaka Shopping, Old Town Athens
Plaka is the historic heart of Athens, located at the foot of the Acropolis. Shopping in Plaka is not only about souvenirs and miniatures of the Acropolis. The Plaka is the oldest section of Athens and filled with jewelry stores, trendy boutiques, antiques, paintings, cafes, leather handmade designer sandals and picturesque ruins from the city’s Roman era.
STAY
New Hotel, Athens
New Hotel is an arty pad in central Athens, housed in a modernist fifties building, but completely cutting edge inside. This hip hotel is walking distance of the main sights: the Roman ruins of Plaka, the Acropolis, stylish cafes and boutique shopping district of Kolonaki. The hotel’s cool vibe and modern design décor attracts a trendy clientele.
Melenos Lindos, Lindos
The Melenos Lindos Hotel is the unique creation of Michalis Melenos who dreamed of building a small luxury hotel that reflected the intricate history of Lindos on the island of Rhodes. This sophisticated whitewashed boutique hotel is nestles within the high rocky flank of the ancient Lindos Acropolis and offers a panorama of the Aegean Sea and distant coastline. The hotel offers luxury accommodation with 12 rooms containing a unique selection of fabrics, ceramics and special items from the owner’s personal collection. Offering direct access to the beach, this Lindos hotel is steps from Tomb of Cleobulus and Acropolis of Lindos.
