Best places to visit in Greece on a Road Trip

Greece is the ideal country in which to take a road trip. Incredible food, UNESCO World Heritage sites, great beaches, and clear warm waters – what more could you ask for?! Here are the best places to visit in Greece on a road trip.

Best places to visit in Greece

I've been living in Greece for a couple of years now, and during that time, taken quite a few road trips around the country. Each time I think I have seen all there is, I realise I have barely scratched the surface. It seems that there is an endless amount of things to see and do here!

I love it when people ask me what are the best places to visit in Greece on a road trip. I always reply with ‘how long have you got'? And this answer applies to both how long it will take me to answer, and the length of the road trip the person has in mind. I like a challenge though, and so I have put two lists and four road trip itineraries together.

The first list is for people visiting mainland Greece for the first time. The second list is for people planning to visit Crete. I'm not including any of the other Greek islands for these road trip ideas. Beneath the lists, I have included four Greek road trip itineraries that cover some of the best places to visit in Greece.

Best places to visit in Greece – Mainland Greece

Planning a two week road trip in Greece? It's your first time, and you might not get the chance to return again? Here are the best places to visit in Greece on the mainland:

• Athens – See my 2 days in Athens itinerary
• Corinth canal, and Ancient Corinth
• Nafplion
• Mycenae – Read my article on Mycenae here
• Ancient Olympia
• Delphi – Discover more about Delphi here
• Meteora – You can find out more about Meteora here

Best places to visit in Greece – Crete

Don't underestimated Crete. Even 2 weeks is not really enough to do it justice, and you are going to want time to enjoy those great beaches! If it's your first time, and you are not sure when you will be back, here are the best places to visit in Crete.

• Knossos – Check out my article on the Palace of Knossos 
• Spinalonga
• Dikteon Cave and Lasithi plateau
• Matala Caves
• Samaria Gorge
• Preveli Beach
• Chania
• Elafonisi
• Rethymnon

A Road Trip in Greece

Whilst I have covered some of what I consider to be the best places to visit in Greece above, it's really only a small part of what a road trip should be about. For me, it's about getting to know a country a little better through its people, food, culture, traditions, and way of life.

So, whilst you could probably blast through and cover the main points of interest in a few days, I don't think you would get much actual depth. I guess you feel the same, if you are planning a road trip in the first place, right?

Here then, are four Greek road trip itineraries that cover some of the best places to visit in Greece, and give you time to experience the country on a more authentic level.

Ancient Greece Road Trip Itinerary

This Greek road trip starts in Athens. It loops through the Peloponnese, over the bridge at Patras, goes through Delphi, and then finishes in Athens. It would make a nice 2 week road trip itinerary, and would even give you some spare days to go and spend time on the beach and soak up the sun. Let's begin!

• Athens – I suggest spending 2 full days in the city to see the major attractions such as the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and museums. My Ultimate Guide to Athens can help you plan your time in Athens.
• Drive out of Athens, and head for Corinth Canal for the obligatory photos!
• Visit Ancient Corinth.
• Wine tasting – The Peloponnese is famous for its wine. There are many vineyards all through the region. Consider visiting a few, taste the different types, and pick up some bottles along the way.
• Nafplion – Often considered to be one of the most picturesque towns in Greece, it is a relaxing place to stay for a few days. You can also make side trips out to other places of interest such as Epidavrous.
• Mycenae – Legend has it that this ancient city was home to Agamemnon of Trojan War fame. This is a must-see site.
• Ancient Olympia – Home of the first Olympic games. An interesting complex to visit, and the chance to run on a running track thousands of years old!
• Nafpaktos – An interesting town that is a secret even amongst Greeks it seems! It has all the tourist facilities you want though, and has a lovely port, beaches, and scenic mountain areas. A good place to enjoy outdoor activities, or simply relax. Read my article on the best things to do in Nafpaktos here.
• Delphi – Navel of the world, and home to the famous Oracle.
• Back to Athens

For extra information, check out my articles below:

My Big Fat Greek road trip

Peloponnese Tour

Best places to visit in Greece – Peloponnese Road Trip

The Peloponnese seems purposefully designed with road trips in mind! It has several regions within it, all with their own unique characteristics such as Mani. There are ancient archaeological sites, great beaches, Venetian castles, mountains, and even shipwrecks! Here is a rough road trip itinerary for the Peloponnese based on my own experiences there.

• Again, start in Athens where you should spend a couple of days seeing the sights.
• Drive on to Corinth Canal and Ancient Corinth.
• Epidavrous for the magnificent theatre
• Nafplion – A beautiful coastal town with a romantic feel
• Mycenae – An ancient Greek city where myth and history collide
• Monemvasia – A small town in a medieval fortress
• Diros Caves
• Mani Peninsula – Peculiar tower like house
• Mystras – A huge Byzantine castle town, and a UNESCO World Heritage site few people know about
• Kalamata – Famous for its olives and olive oil, it is a pleasant coastal town. Base yourselves here, and explore the coastline in search of a perfect beach. My favourite is Foinikounta
• Ancient Messene – One of the largest and most impressive ancient sites in Greece.
• Koroni and Methoni Castles – Two amazing Venetian castles which don't seem to be given the prominence they deserve.
• Ancient Olympia – Home of the original Olympic games thousands of years ago!
• Back to Athens

For extra information, check out my articles below:

Peloponnese road trip – A more in-depth look at my road trip around the Peloponnese.

Peloponnese Tour – A 2 day tour to Olympia and back Athens.

Best places to visit in Greece – North Greece Road Trip

Apart from the obvious places such as Delphi and Meteora, the the North of Greece doesn't receive as many visitors as other parts of the country. I guess this is understandable, as people rush to the islands for their two weeks of sun, but it's a shame, as there is a lot to see and do there.

In some sense, I am also guilty of this, as I haven't spent as much time exploring the areas as I would like. In a similar fashion to the Peloponnese, it is ideal for a road trip. There is a sense of adventure and discovery, and arguably you are going to see more of the authentic rural Greece here than anywhere else in the country. Here's an example road trip itinerary for the north of Greece:

• Begin with a couple of days in Athens.
• Drive north to Arachova, a pretty mountain town. In the winter, this is a popular destination for skiing.
• Delphi – This ancient site seems to have a sense of calm due to its location. It's easy to see why the Ancient Greeks though that this was the centre of the world!
• Nafpaktos – A small coastal town which many people overlook. History was made here in the naval battle of Lepanto, a significant encounter which may have altered the course of European History.
• Missolonghi – An historic town with connections to pirates, the War of Independence and Lord Byron
• Lefkada – A little known Greek island which is accessible via a bridge. This has some wonderful beaches, and is a popular destination with Greeks.
• Nicopolis – A massive archaeological site that rarely features in the marketing and promotion campaigns of Greece. Why? Probably because it is of Roman origin, but it is one of the largest and most interesting sites to visit in Greece.
• Parga – This coastal town is a popular destination with British families, and is situated on the west coast. I visited Parga when cycling from Greece to England.
• Ioannina – I have still to visit this city! By all accounts I should, and so I included it on the itinerary for you!
• Kalambaka – You are going to want to stay here when you visit the astounding Meteora region. I would suggest spending at least a couple of days exploring the area to fully appreciate the monasteries and rock formations.
• Mount Olympus – Home of the Ancient Greek Gods, and a National Park area. Spend a couple of days hiking, visit a monastery, or just breathe in that cool, clean mountain air!
• Vergina – The burial site of Philip, King of the Macedons and father of Alexander the Great.
• Thessaloniki – The second largest city in Greece, and it has a more laid back vibe than Athens. There is plenty to see and do here over a 2 day break.
• Pelion – If you want to experience a more authentic side to Greece that few foreign tourists visit, then spend a little time in the Pelion region. Mountains, outdoor sports, beautiful beaches, quaint villages… What more do you want?
• And back to Athens

For extra information, check out my articles below:

My Big Fat Greek Road Trip – A road trip from Athens to Thessaloniki and back.

2 Days in Pelion – What to see and do with 2 days in Pelion.

Meteora at Sunset – Where to take the best photos in Meteora.

Best places to visit in Greece – Crete Road Trip

Crete can be described as almost a country in itself. It has its own culture and traditions, and Greeks have an admiration for the people who seem to have a natural ability to live life on their own terms. There is of course plenty to see and do here. This is a suggested road trip itinerary for Crete that will take in some of the highlights.

• Heraklion – This road trip in Crete will start and end in Heraklion, the capital of the island. Plan to stay here 2 or 3 days, where you will want to visit the Palace of Knossos, archaeology museum, walk around the Venetian Walls, and enjoy what the town has to offer. Why not take a food tour in Heraklion whilst you are there?
• Dikteon Cave and Lasithi plateau – Visit the cave where Zeus was hidden as a child from his father Kronos! The plateau itself is also pleasant to drive around.
• Spinalonga – A popular day trip in North Crete, this island is reached after a short boat journey. Spinalonga itself was once a leper colony. 
• Gortyna and Phaestos – I wasn't fully aware of these sites before embarking on my own road trip, although I knew that the famous Phaestos Disc was obviously found at one of them. Both are worth visiting, and I personally felt that they were better than Knossos.
• Matala Caves – These famous caves on Matala beach have been used for thousnads of years, most recently by hippies in the 60s who set up home there! Now a protected area, you can visit this almost Flintstone like cave system, and then sunbathe and swim in the sea after.
• Preveli Beach – Crete has some amazing beaches, and I won't gointo them all here. It's probably worth an article by itself!
• Chania – A quaint port town which people rave about. Personally, I found it a little too geared towards tourism and very crowded. It probably looks and feels better in quieter off season months.
• Elafonisi – Another one of those beaches you have to visit! Famous for its pink sands. Kedrodasos Beach is a short drive away down a dusty track. In my opinion far more relaxing, beautiful, and fewer people!
• Rethymnon – An coastal city with an old harbour, fortress, and plenty of museums. Stay for a night or 2, or even base yourselves here to explore the north of the island.
• Back to Heraklion!

For extra information, check out my articles below:

Highlights of a 2 week road trip in Crete – A more detailed look at my own road trip around Crete.

Wow – I never figured that this article on the best places to visit in Greece on a road trip would end up being so long! I'm also aware, that I have left out tonnes of potential things to see and do. As I told you, there is a lot here in Greece!

If you found this article useful, would like any advice for a trip you are planning, or would like to contribute some thoughts on the best places to visit in Greece on a road trip, please leave a comment below! For more information on travelling in Greece, sign up for my newsletter!