10 Most Beautiful Cities in Greece | The Mediterranean Traveller

Greece is known for its islands and beaches, first and foremost. There are relatively few urban centres beyond the capital city Athens, where the majority of the population lives. So where should you head if you’re looking for a dose of city living and urban vibes amidst beautiful surroundings?

Most of Greece’s larger conurbations (Thessaloniki, Kalamata, Patras, Larissa, and yes Athens too) are post-war concrete explosions with endless apartments. That said, there are a number of cities with atmospheric historic quarters worth checking out on your travels.

We may have slightly stretched the definition of city with a few of these in order to include a few large towns that are particularly appealing to visitors and still have that urban feel.

Check your expectations at the door though – if you picture Greek cities to be immaculately preserved in the way that history Italian towns and cities often are then you might be disappointed. Best to come with an open mind (and an empty belly).

ATHENS

Athens – the capital city and largest urban area in Greece. It’s not known as the most beautiful of cities – yes there is a lot of urban sprawl, but for sure Athens has its beautiful parts.

Just take a walk around the pretty flower-filled streets of Plaka with its pastel-coloured neoclassical buildings. The pedestrianised walk around the base of the Acropolis hill takes in the many ancient ruins of the Agora, as well as the twinkly fairy-lit restaurants of Adrianou, the outdoor cafes along Apostolou Pavlou, and the serene green park on Filopappou Hill – with Acropolis views everywhere you look.

RHODES TOWN

Rhodes Town, with it’s famous and unique Old Town, is surely a strong contender for most beautiful city in Greek. The medieval quarter with its Crusader legacy is home to colossal historic sites such as the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Street of the Knights. In fact it’s one of the most intact and well-preserved medieval towns in Europe thanks to heavy reconstruction during the Italian occupation. Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques grace its skyline, and the fortified harbour is packed with tourist boats, fishing boats – and windmills.

The pedestrianised old town is understandably popular with tourists and heaves with restaurants, bars and tourist shops. But Rhodes Town is also a working port and university town which stops it feeling like a set piece, and there are enough narrow alleys to lose yourself in for a day or two.

You can also take a stroll around the outside of the city walls which is a pleasant green walk in the hot summer sun.

CORFU TOWN

Also featuring on the UNESCO World Heritage list is the beautiful old town of Corfu Town, which displays its Venetian heritage in its warren of narrow streets, ochre buildings and green shuttered balconies. It has a distinctly Italianate feel.

But there are also glimpses of French, Russian and British occupations here – most obviously in the elegant Liston arcade and green-lawned cricket pitch. The waterfront fortress offers amazing views across the channel to Albania.

CHANIA

It’s may not be the capital of Crete, but the historic city of Chania is the most popular with tourists thanks to its pretty Venetian old town. It’s long attracted beach lovers thanks to the fabulous beaches in the wider region, but over the past decade Chania has grown into a chic city break destination and has a smorgasbord of boutique accommodations lining the waterfront and romantic restaurants tucked away in ruined buildings.

NAFPLION

Nafplion is less well known with foreign visitors, but locals flock here for its atmospheric streets (it’s a short drive from Athens). Nafplio was the original capital of modern Greece before it was moved to Athens.

With neoclassical buildings similar in vibe to Plaka, it has a romantic, stately air but also benefits from being on the coast. It boasts several beaches as well as a Venetian fortress on an small island and the iconic hilltop Palamidi castle. There are some great day trips nearby too – don’t miss the ancient sites of Epidaurus and Mycenae, and the islands of Poros, Hydra, and Spetses

RETHYMNON

The Cretan city of Rethymnon is similar in charm and appeal to its neighbouring city Chania. It’s a bit smaller, a bit less well-known, and a bit further from the airport, but its compact Venetian old town and harbour area is just as picturesque. And, if anything, the beach options close by are even better – just 1km from the centre is a vast sandy beach which goes on for miles and miles.

ERMOUPOLI

Ok so it’s a bit of a stretch to include Ermoupoli in this list as it’s technically a town rather than a city. However, the main town of Syros island is the administrative capital of the Cyclades islands and substantially bigger than most towns in the islands. Historically, Syros was a wealthy trading island at the centre of the Aegean and its patrons left a rich legacy of fancy mansions and a strong arts scene (most obvious in the Apollon Theatre, modelled on the opera houses of Italy).

Despite not being on the typical tourist route, Ermoupoli has got bags of appeal for visitors – it’s a handsome and elegant place with neoclassical buildings cascading down from two hills to the sea. The beaches and ferry connections are excellent too.

MYTILENE

Did you know that historic Mytilini (also spelt Mytilini), the capital city of the island of Lesvos, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with evidence of settlement dating back to the 11th century BC?

Lesvos is just a few miles from the Turkish mainland and the ongoing refugee crisis has unfortunately dented Lesvos’ appeal as a tourist destination, but Mytilini is also a university city and continues to attract volunteers and NGOs as well as intrepid tourists (and stalwarts who have been visiting the island for years).

The city spreads amphitheatrically around the natural harbour that granted it strategic importance as a trading and naval town. It’s replete with fortifications, churches, and villas, and small museum. Like Ermoupoli, it is dense, diverse, and full of culture. It’s particularly good for foodies – Lesvos is the spiritual home of ouzo and is also famous for its salted sardines.

AGIOS NIKOLAOS

Another entry for Crete here, this time Agios Nikolaos which is on the other side of the island, east of capital Heraklion. Ag Nik, as it is affectionately referred to by its legion fans, is also technically a town rather than a city however it’s the capital of the Lasithi region of Crete and it sports many urban attractions. Popular with expats, it has a laid-back and international atmosphere. It is known in particular for its lively waterfront bars and nightlife scene, and proximity to excellent beaches.

Its setting is also stunning – in the Bay of Mirabello, with the Voulismeni Lake at its centre.

KASTORIA

Kastoria might well be the least-known entry on this list. It’s located in the north of Greece not far from the Albanian border, in a region known as West Macedonia. And despite how it appears in the above picture, it’s not coastal but rather perches on the edge of Lake Orestiada, surrounded by mountains.

Kastoria is the place to go if you’re interested in Byzantine history – its old town is home to dozens of old mansions and churches with the typical wooden balconies and tiled roofs.

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