Charming old-world towns in Greece off the beaten path.
Less-touristed old-world towns in Greece, for travelers seeking fewer crowds but all the beauty.
Nafpaktos
Known in the West as Lepanto, this modest Greek town on the north shore of the Gulf of Corinth was the site of the 1571 Battle of Lepanto, the decisive Holy…
Sikinos
This quiet Cycladic island between Ios and Folegandros was known in antiquity as Oenoe — Island of Wine — and carries an unusual density of religious archite…
Elassona
This tiny Greek town at the foot of Mount Olympus, Elassona sits alongside a river with a compact centre of cafés and restaurants.
Stemnitsa
A tiny mountain village in Arcadia, on the Peloponnese, Stemnitsa sits high on the western edge of the Mainalo mountains above the Lousios river gorge, with…
Mithymna
This waterfront village on the northwest coast of Lesbos, Mithymna — still widely known by its older name Molyvos — sits beneath a medieval fortress that ris…
Koroni
This little Peloponnese town on the Gulf of Messinia, Koroni is known for its Venetian castle rising above the waterfront, the olive oil variety Koroneiki, a…
Sigri
This pocket-sized fishing village at the western tip of Lesbos with a natural harbour sheltered by the islet of Nissiopi, Sigri sits right on the water and h…
Mystras
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989, Mystras is a fortified Byzantine town in the Taygetus range above ancient Sparta, preserving an exceptional concentr…
Florina
A walkable town in the wooded highlands of Western Macedonia, Florina sits alongside the Sakoulevas River, whose banks are lined with listed buildings and ca…
Xylokastro
Modest seaside town on the Gulf of Corinth in the Peloponnese, Xylokastro draws weekend visitors from Athens with a long white-pebbled beach, a marina, and a…
Kymi
This small coastal town on the island of Euboea, built on a hill above its port village of Kymi Beach, has an unusual concentration of churches for its size…
Vonitsa
Small beach town on the south coast of the Ambracian Gulf in northwestern Greece, Vonitsa has a café and restaurant scene that punches above its size, a conc…
Preveza
This walkable port town on the northern tip of the Ambracian Gulf in Epirus, northwestern Greece, Preveza has a dense food-and-drink scene along its promenad…
Livadeia
A compact town in the mountains of central Greece, Livadeia has a walkable centre with a concentration of historic churches, cafés, and restaurants, and scen…
Nea Moni of Chios
Founded in 1042 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990, Nea Moni is an 11th-century Greek Orthodox monastery complex in the mountain interio…
Acrocorinth
A monolithic rock high above the plain of ancient Corinth, Acrocorinth served for centuries as a fortress commanding the Isthmus of Corinth and controlling l…
Platamonas
Well-preserved medieval castle with crenellated walls and a round tower crowns a wooded headland above the Aegean in this small Greek seaside resort, where f…
Parga
This tiny Ionian coast resort town in Epirus, northwestern Greece, Parga sits on a hillside above the sea between Igoumenitsa and Preveza, with an unusually…
Lefkada
Sun-warmed Ionian island capital with colourful Venetian-influenced townhouses lining a cobbled central square, a church bell tower steps away, and a café an…
Stamna
This hillside village in western Greece's Aetolia-Acarnania region, Stamna sits on low hills between the Acheloos river and a coastal bay, with stone-built h…
Arta
Arta's medieval stone bridge over the Arachthos River — the subject of a well-known Greek folk poem — is the most recognisable landmark of this northwestern…
Sidirokastro
A pocket-sized Greek town on the Krousovitis River with a café and restaurant scene that punches above its size, Sidirokastro also holds a medieval stone cas…
Chalcis
The tidal strait of Euripus, which reverses direction roughly every six hours with a brief pause between each turn, runs directly through Chalcis, the main c…
Kastro
Extensive stone battlements with crenellated walls overlook a wide sea strait and a distant mountain peak, making this small hilltop village in Greece's Ilia…
Aigio
A port town on the Gulf of Corinth in the northern Peloponnese, Aigio pairs a walkable centre dense with historic churches and a lively food-and-drink scene…
Elateia, Phthiotis
A cobblestoned pedestrian street lined with low-rise Greek buildings and local shops gives this central Greece town a relaxed, walkable feel, with upland cou…
Paramythia
A modest town in Epirus built on the slopes of Mount Gorilla, Paramythia overlooks the Valley of Paramythia and holds a Byzantine-era castle, open to visitor…
Gastouri
Small village on the eastern side of Corfu, Gastouri is best known as the site of the Achilleion palace, built by Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Zeli
A compact hillside village in central Greece's Phthiotis region, Zeli spreads across rolling upland terrain with red-tile rooftops, terraced fields, and open…
Didymoteicho
This pocket-sized town in Greek Thrace with a hilltop medieval fortress that has drawn attention since antiquity, Didymoteicho carries an unusual historical…
Panagia
A hillside village on the Greek island of Thasos, Panagia sits above its coastal resort of Skala Panagia — known in English as Golden Beach — with freshwater…
Kardamyli
A modest waterfront village on the Mani Peninsula in the southern Peloponnese, Kardamyli carries an outsized café and restaurant scene for its size, along wi…
Servia
A tiny town in West Macedonia, Greece, Servia sits beside the Aliakmon River with the Kamvounia mountains rising above it, and carries an unusually dense Byz…
Sofiko, Evros
This pocket-sized Greek village in Thrace's Evros region, Sofiko sits at the water's edge beneath surrounding hills, with a striking striped-stone Orthodox c…
Domokos
A compact mountain village in Phthiotis, Greece, with several historic churches for a settlement of its size, Domokos sits on the northern slopes of Mount Xe…
Chios
The port capital of the Greek island of Chios sits on the eastern coast facing the Turkish shore, with a walkable centre dense with cafés, restaurants, and h…
Amaliada
This town in the Elis region of the western Peloponnese with a compact centre of cafés and restaurants, Amaliada sits a short distance from the Ionian Sea, w…
Nea Flogita
Coastal village in Chalkidiki founded in 1923 by refugees from Anatolia, Nea Flogita sits on a hill above the Thermaikos Gulf with views across the water to…
Aridaia
This tree-lined main street with café awnings and potted greenery gives this Greek Macedonian town a relaxed, walkable centre, backed by upland country near…
Pella
The archaeological site of ancient Pella, once the capital of the Macedonian kingdom and a centre of political, military, and cultural life, sits just outsid…
Katerini
A town in northern Greece's Pieria region with a walkable centre dense with cafés, restaurants, and historic churches, Katerini sits between Mount Olympus an…