Best Places to Visit in Mainland Greece: The Destinations Most Tourists Miss
By Panos • 2/4/2026
Here's a confession that might get me in trouble with the Greek tourism board: some of my absolute favorite places in Greece don't involve a ferry, a Cycladic sunset, or a whitewashed village. They involve a rental car, a winding mountain road, and the slow realization that mainland Greece might be the most underrated travel destination in all of Europe.
Most people who visit Greece go straight to the islands. And I get it — the islands are extraordinary (I've written an entire guide to the best ones). But the mainland? That's where Greece gets deep. We're talking about monasteries balanced on 300-meter rock pillars, medieval fortress towns that most tourists have never heard of, gorges deeper than the Grand Canyon, and archaeological sites where you can stand in the same spot where ancient civilizations shaped Western thought — often with nobody else around.
The best places to visit in mainland Greece span three distinct regions, each with its own character: the Peloponnese (history, coastline, romantic towns), Northern Greece (mountains, gorges, food culture), and Central Greece (ancient sites, monasteries, mountain villages). Together, they offer a side of Greece that's more authentic, more affordable, and more varied than the islands — and almost nobody is writing about it.
So if you've already done the islands, or you want a trip that goes beyond the postcard, or you just want to understand what Greece is really about when you peel back the tourist layer — this guide is for you.
Related Post
Best Places to Visit in Greece: Ultimate Guide (Islands + Mainland)
Why Mainland Greece Deserves Your Attention — A Quick Answer
You want...
Go to...
Region
The most romantic mainland town
Peloponnese
Jaw-dropping monasteries
Central Greece
Greece's best food city
Northern Greece
Wild, untouched mountain villages
Zagori
Northern Greece
Ancient history that gives you chills
Delphi or Mycenae
Central / Peloponnese
Beaches rivaling the islands
Halkidiki or Mani
Northern / Peloponnese
A medieval time-travel experience
Peloponnese
Off-the-beaten-path road trip
Peloponnese
Mountain villages with fireplaces
Pelion or Metsovo
Central / Northern
The single best piece of advice I can give for mainland Greece: rent a car. Unlike the islands, where ferries and walking handle most transport, the mainland rewards drivers. The roads are good, the distances manageable, and the drives themselves — coastal switchbacks, olive grove valleys, mountain passes with monastery views — are genuinely part of the experience.
The Peloponnese: Ancient History, Romantic Towns & Wild Coastline
The Peloponnese is the massive peninsula hanging off the bottom of mainland Greece, connected by the narrow Corinth Canal. If mainland Greece is underrated, the Peloponnese is the most underrated part of the underrated part. It has everything — ancient ruins, stunning coastal towns, wild beaches, and a food culture rooted in centuries of tradition — at a fraction of the island prices.
A 7–10 day Peloponnese road trip is one of the best trips you can do in Greece, full stop.
1. Nafplio
Greece's first capital and its most charming town
I've already written about Nafplio in my couples guide, but it deserves prime position here too because it's the single best entry point to the Peloponnese and arguably the most beautiful small town on the Greek mainland.
The old town is a labyrinth of neoclassical mansions, bougainvillea-draped lanes, and tiny squares with fountains that betray the town's Venetian and Italian past. Above it all sits Palamidi Fortress — 999 steps of pure determination rewarded with panoramic views across the Argolic Gulf. The tiny Bourtzi fortress floating in the harbor looks like it was placed there specifically for photographs.
For couples, this is mainland Greece's most romantic destination. For families, the beaches at Tolo and Karathona are nearby and calm. For everyone, the old town's restaurants punch far above their weight for the price.
Best for: Romantic getaways, families, history lovers, Peloponnese road trip base
Don't miss: The sunset from Palamidi's walls, gelato in the old town (yes, it's better than most gelato in Italy), and the short drive to Epidaurus for an evening performance in the ancient theater.
2. Mycenae & Epidaurus
Two of Greece's greatest archaeological sites — and they're 30 minutes apart
Mycenae is Bronze Age Greece at its most dramatic. Walking through the Lion Gate — the same entrance used 3,300 years ago by the warriors who (according to legend) sailed to Troy — hits different from most archaeological sites. This citadel sat at the center of a civilization that dominated the Mediterranean world, and the massive stone walls, beehive tombs, and mountain setting make it feel powerful rather than just old.
Epidaurus is famous for its ancient theater, and for good reason — the acoustics are genuinely supernatural. Someone drops a coin on the center stage and 14,000 people can hear it perfectly. But if you can, visit during the Athens & Epidaurus Festival (June–August), when ancient Greek plays are performed here under the stars. Watching Sophocles in the theater built for Sophocles is about as close to time travel as you'll get.
Best for: History enthusiasts, day trips from Nafplio, families with older kids who appreciate ruins
Book a Mycenae & Epidaurus guided tour
3. Monemvasia
A Byzantine fortress hidden behind a rock
I keep coming back to Monemvasia in these guides because it genuinely surprises every single person I send there. From the road, you see nothing — just a massive rock jutting from the sea. Then you walk through a tunnel in the medieval walls and emerge into a perfectly preserved Byzantine town that's been hiding there for a thousand years.
Stone lanes, candlelit restaurants, rooftop terraces with sea views, churches older than most European countries. And when the day-trippers leave and the gates close in the evening, couples who've been smart enough to book a night inside the walls get one of the most atmospheric experiences in all of Greece.
Best for: Couples, history lovers, photographers, anyone who wants a "hidden gem" that actually delivers
Combine with: Nafplio (2 hours north) and the Mani Peninsula (1 hour south) for a Peloponnese southern loop
4. The Mani Peninsula
Stone towers, empty beaches, and the mythical entrance to the underworld
The Mani is for travelers who find beauty in wildness. This rugged peninsula at the southernmost tip of mainland Greece is where the Taygetus mountains meet the sea in a collision of dramatic cliffs, stone tower villages, and a landscape that feels like it belongs in a different century.
Kardamyli — where the great British travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor lived and wrote — is the northern gateway: a beautiful coastal village with pebble beaches, hiking trails into the gorges above, and tavernas where the fish came in that morning. Further south, the landscape becomes increasingly stark and striking. Areopoli has the best-preserved tower houses. Vathia is a haunting cluster of abandoned stone towers on a cliff. The Diros Caves — an underground river you explore by boat through chambers of stalactites — are genuinely otherworldly.
Cape Tainaron (Cape Matapan), at the very tip, was where ancient Greeks believed souls entered the underworld. Today, it's a lonely lighthouse at the end of a wild trail, with nothing between you and Libya except water.
Best for: Road-trip couples, off-the-beaten-path explorers, hikers, anyone bored of conventional tourism
How long to spend: 2–3 days for the full peninsula. You need a car — there's no meaningful public transport here.
Rent a car for the Mani | Find hotels in Kardamyli
5. Ancient Olympia
Where the Olympic Games began — and you can still run the original track
Ancient Olympia doesn't get the foot traffic of the Acropolis, which means you can explore the birthplace of the Olympic Games without fighting through tour groups. The site itself is atmospheric: ruins scattered through a pine forest, the Temple of Zeus (which once housed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), and the original Olympic stadium where you can still stand at the starting blocks.
The Archaeological Museum here is outstanding — far better than most visitors expect — with detailed sculptures and artifacts that bring the ancient games to life.
Best for: History lovers, families with kids (what child wouldn't want to race on the original Olympic track?), Peloponnese road trip stops
Combine with: Pylos and Voidokilia Beach (1.5 hours south) for a spectacular combination of ancient history and one of Greece's best beaches.
Book an Ancient Olympia guided tour
6. Pylos & Voidokilia Beach
Ancient harbor town meets one of Greece's most perfect beaches
Pylos is a handsome harbor town on the western Peloponnese with a Venetian fortress, excellent seafood tavernas around the port, and a pace of life that suggests nobody told it tourism was a thing. The nearby Palace of Nestor is one of the best-preserved Mycenaean palaces in Greece, with a brilliant new museum.
But the real draw is Voidokilia Beach — a perfect omega-shaped crescent of golden sand that routinely appears on "best beaches in Europe" lists. The water is shallow, the setting is wild (no development, just a lagoon behind and a Venetian fortress above), and it's gloriously uncommercial. No beach bars, no sunbed rentals. Just one of the most beautiful natural beaches in the Mediterranean.
Best for: Beach lovers who want something uncommercial, nature enthusiasts, Peloponnese road trip highlights
7. Mystras
A ghost city of Byzantine frescoes on a Spartan hillside
Fifteen minutes from modern Sparta, the abandoned Byzantine city of Mystras cascades down a hillside beneath a Frankish castle. This was the last great flowering of Byzantine civilization before Constantinople fell, and the churches here contain some of the finest medieval frescoes in all of Greece — vivid, detailed, and hauntingly beautiful in their half-ruined settings.
Mystras is a climb (bring water and good shoes), but the combination of crumbling palaces, painted churches, and sweeping views across the Laconian plain makes it one of the most atmospheric historical sites in the country. It sees a tiny fraction of the visitors that Delphi or Mycenae gets, which makes the experience feel like genuine discovery.
Best for: Byzantine history enthusiasts, off-the-beaten-path explorers, photographers
Northern Greece: Mountains, Gorges & the Best Food in the Country
Northern Greece is where the country stops looking like the postcards and starts looking like the Balkans — forested mountains, stone villages, deep gorges, and a food culture that could hold its own against any region in Europe. It's dramatically underserved by tourist infrastructure and content, which means lower prices, fewer crowds, and more authentic encounters.
8. Thessaloniki
Greece's true food capital — and it knows it
Athens gets the international fame, but ask any Greek where to eat and they'll tell you: Thessaloniki. Greece's second city has a food scene built on centuries of Ottoman, Jewish, and Balkan influence — the result is a cuisine that's richer, spicier, and more diverse than anything you'll find further south.
Beyond the food, Thessaloniki has a spectacular waterfront promenade that stretches for kilometers, Byzantine churches scattered throughout the city (several are UNESCO sites), the imposing White Tower, and a bar scene concentrated in the Ladadika district that rivals Athens for energy.
The Ano Poli (Upper Town) is Thessaloniki's atmospheric highlight: Ottoman-era wooden houses, Byzantine walls, winding lanes with panoramic views, and a calm that contrasts sharply with the buzzing city below.
Best for: Foodies, culture lovers, base for Northern Greece exploration, city-break alternative to Athens
Don't miss: Bougatsa (custard-filled phyllo pastry) for breakfast — it's a Thessaloniki institution. And the Central Market (Modiano) for the full sensory overload.
9. Meteora
Monasteries floating on rock pillars — Greece's most surreal landscape
Meteora is one of those places that makes you question whether what you're seeing is real. Enormous sandstone pillars — some over 300 meters tall — rise from the plains of Thessaly, and perched on top of them, seemingly defying physics, are Byzantine monasteries built by monks who were either deeply devout or deeply unafraid of heights. Probably both.
Six monasteries are still active and open to visitors. The combination of the geological drama, the spiritual atmosphere, and the sheer improbability of the architecture makes Meteora unlike anything else in Greece — or Europe, for that matter.
Sunset and sunrise are when Meteora is at its most powerful. The light shifts across the rock faces, the valleys fill with mist, and the monasteries glow above it all. It's one of those rare sights that's genuinely better in person than in photographs.
Best for: Every type of traveler — history, nature, spirituality, photography. This is a non-negotiable mainland stop.
How long to spend: 2 full days to see the monasteries properly and catch both sunrise and sunset. Base yourself in Kalambaka or the quieter village of Kastraki.
Book a Meteora sunset guided tour | Find hotels near Meteora
10. Zagori Villages & Vikos Gorge
Stone bridges, 46 villages, and Europe's most dramatic canyon
This is my pick for the single most underrated destination in all of Greece. The Zagori (or Zagorochoria) is a cluster of 46 traditional stone villages in the mountains of Epirus, connected by arched stone bridges over rushing rivers, surrounded by forests, and perched above the Vikos Gorge — which holds a Guinness record as the deepest gorge in the world relative to its width.
The villages themselves — Monodendri, Papingo, Dilofo, Kipi — are beautifully preserved: grey stone houses, cobblestone paths, and guesthouses where the evening routine involves a fireplace, mountain tea, and views you won't believe. The hiking here is world-class: the Vikos Gorge trail is Greece's answer to a national park trek, and the Drakolimni (Dragon Lake) hike on Mount Tymfi is one of the most rewarding day hikes in the Balkans.
The catch: Getting here requires a car and some planning. The nearest airport is Ioannina (40 minutes away). Public transport is minimal.
Best for: Hikers, nature lovers, couples seeking mountain romance, anyone who's tired of crowds, autumn and spring travelers
How long to spend: 3–4 days minimum. You'll want to hike at least one major trail and explore several villages.
11. Ioannina
Lake city with Ottoman history and the gateway to Epirus
Ioannina is the unexpected gem of Northern Greece — a university city built on the shores of Lake Pamvotis, with a medieval castle, Ottoman-era mosques, and a misty, atmospheric energy that feels nothing like the sun-and-sea Greece you see in the brochures.
The castle (Kastro) is still a functioning neighborhood: people live inside the Byzantine and Ottoman walls, alongside museums, mosques, and the former palace of Ali Pasha — the notorious Ottoman governor whose story reads like a historical thriller. Take the boat across the lake to the tiny island of Ioannina (Nisi) for fresh eel in one of the lakeside restaurants — a local tradition.
Best for: History buffs, gateway to Zagori and Metsovo, off-the-beaten-path city lovers
Combine with: Zagori (40 min), Metsovo (1 hour), and Parga (2 hours) for a comprehensive Epirus road trip
12. Halkidiki
The three-pronged peninsula where Greeks actually vacation
If you want island-quality beaches without taking a ferry, Halkidiki is the answer. This three-pronged peninsula south of Thessaloniki has crystal-clear water, pine-fringed coves, and beach bars that wouldn't look out of place in the Cyclades — and it's where half of Northern Greece goes on summer holiday.
The three "fingers" each have a distinct character: Kassandra (the westernmost) is the most developed, with resorts, nightlife, and family beaches. Sithonia (the middle) is quieter, with better beaches and more natural beauty — think turquoise coves backed by pine forests. Athos (the easternmost) is home to the autonomous monastic state of Mount Athos, accessible only by boat and only to men — one of the most extraordinary places in Europe, if you can get a permit.
Best for: Families (Kassandra), couples (Sithonia), beach lovers who don't want to take a ferry
13. Mount Olympus
Home of the gods — and some seriously good hiking
You don't need to be a mountaineer to enjoy Olympus, though summiting Mytikas (2,917m, Greece's highest peak) is a legitimate achievement. Even a day hike to the Prionia trailhead or the overnight to Refuge A gives you pine forests, dramatic rocky landscapes, and the bragging rights of having hiked on the mountain where Zeus supposedly held court.
The town of Litochoro at the base is a charming spot to spend a night — good tavernas, mountain views, and a gorge that starts right from the edge of town.
Best for: Hikers, mythology enthusiasts, adventure travelers
14. Metsovo
A mountain village that feels more Alpine than Mediterranean
Tucked into the Pindus Mountains at 1,160 meters, Metsovo looks and feels nothing like the rest of Greece. Stone mansions with wooden balconies, a ski resort nearby, cheese-making traditions, wine from the highest vineyards in the Balkans, and a culinary culture built around hearty mountain food — think pies, grilled meats, and smoked cheese rather than grilled octopus and feta.
Visit the Averoff Gallery (a surprisingly excellent art museum), walk through the village's cobblestone lanes, and eat at one of the tavernas around the central square. In autumn, when the forests turn gold and red, Metsovo is genuinely magical.
Best for: Off-season travel, food lovers, anyone driving between Zagori and Meteora (it's right on the route)
15. Pelion Peninsula
Where the centaurs roamed — forest, sea, and stone villages
The Pelion is where mainland Greece feels most like a secret. This mountainous peninsula east of Volos has dense chestnut and plane tree forests, stone villages connected by cobblestone paths called kalderimi, hidden beaches at the bottom of winding forest roads, and traditional guesthouses with fireplaces and views.
Tsagarada, Vizitsa, and Makrinitsa (the "balcony of Pelion," overlooking the Pagasetic Gulf) are the standout villages. The beaches on the eastern Aegean side (Fakistra, Mylopotamos, Papa Nero) are spectacular and rarely crowded. And the food — fresh pasta, spoon sweets, local pies — reflects centuries of distinct Pelion tradition.
Best for: Couples seeking mountain romance, autumn and spring travel, nature lovers
Central Greece: Ancient Oracles, Floating Monasteries & Mountain Escapes
Central Greece connects Athens to the north and holds two of the country's most visited mainland sites — Delphi and Meteora — along with some lovely smaller stops that most travelers drive straight past.
16. Delphi
The center of the ancient world — and it still feels powerful
The ancient Greeks considered Delphi the navel of the world, and when you stand in the Theater looking down at the Temple of Apollo with the valley plunging below and the sea glinting in the distance, you understand why they chose this spot. The energy here is palpable — call it spiritual, call it atmospheric, call it whatever you want, but Delphi has something most archaeological sites don't.
The Archaeological Museum is outstanding (the Charioteer bronze alone is worth the visit), and the site itself benefits enormously from its mountainside location — you're climbing through ruins with views that keep expanding as you ascend.
Best for: History lovers, day trip from Athens (2.5 hours), combined with Arachova
Combine with: Arachova (10 minutes away) — a picturesque mountain town sometimes called "the Aspen of Greece" for its stone buildings, fur shops, and proximity to ski slopes. It's a great overnight stop with excellent food and a cosmopolitan energy that's unusual for a mountain village.
Book a Delphi guided tour from Athens
17. Galaxidi
A colorful port nobody knows about
If you're driving between Delphi and the Peloponnese, stop in Galaxidi. This tiny former shipbuilding town on the Gulf of Corinth has a gorgeous harbor lined with colorful captain's mansions, a couple of beautiful churches, and tavernas where the seafood is fresh and the tourists are almost nonexistent.
It's the kind of place where you plan to stop for lunch and end up staying the night.
Best for: Road trip stopovers, couples, anyone who appreciates quiet beauty
18. Parga & Syvota
The Ionian coast — mainland beaches that rival the islands
On the western coast of mainland Greece, facing the Ionian Sea, Parga is a colorful town cascading down a hillside to a small harbor, with a Venetian castle on top and turquoise bays below. It's often compared to the Italian Riviera, and the comparison isn't unreasonable.
Nearby Syvota has fjord-like bays with water so turquoise it looks photoshopped. The boat trips here — weaving between tiny islands and hidden beaches — are some of the best value experiences on the Greek mainland.
Best for: Families, beach lovers, anyone driving through Epirus, Ionian island feel without the ferry
Best Mainland Destinations at a Glance
Destination
Region
Best for
Days needed
Budget
Nafplio
Peloponnese
Couples, history, base camp
2–3
€€
Mycenae/Epidaurus
Peloponnese
Ancient history
1 (day trip)
€
Monemvasia
Peloponnese
Atmosphere, couples
1–2
€€
Mani Peninsula
Peloponnese
Road trips, wild beauty
2–3
€€
Olympia
Peloponnese
History, families
1
€
Pylos/Voidokilia
Peloponnese
Beaches, nature
1–2
€
Mystras
Peloponnese
Byzantine history
Half-day
€
Thessaloniki
Northern
Food, culture, nightlife
2–3
€€
Meteora
Central
Everyone — non-negotiable
2
€€
Zagori
Northern
Hiking, nature, villages
3–4
€€
Ioannina
Northern
History, gateway to Epirus
1–2
€
Halkidiki
Northern
Beaches, families
3–5
€€
Mount Olympus
Northern
Hiking, mythology
1–2
€
Metsovo
Northern
Mountain culture, food
1
€
Pelion
Central
Nature, couples, villages
2–3
€€
Delphi
Central
Ancient history
1
€
Parga/Syvota
Western
Beaches, families
2–3
€€
Sample Mainland Itineraries
7-Day Peloponnese Loop (from Athens): Day 1: Athens → Mycenae → Nafplio | Days 2–3: Nafplio (Epidaurus day trip) | Day 4: Monemvasia | Day 5: Mani Peninsula (Kardamyli) | Day 6: Pylos & Voidokilia | Day 7: Olympia → return to Athens
10-Day Grand Mainland Tour: Days 1–2: Thessaloniki | Day 3: Drive to Meteora | Days 4–5: Meteora + Metsovo | Day 6: Zagori (Vikos Gorge) | Day 7: Ioannina → Parga | Day 8: Drive south → Delphi | Day 9: Nafplio | Day 10: Athens
5-Day Northern Greece Road Trip (from Thessaloniki): Day 1: Thessaloniki | Day 2: Drive to Meteora | Day 3: Meteora → Metsovo | Day 4: Zagori villages & Vikos Gorge | Day 5: Ioannina → return
Quick 3-Day Escape from Athens: Day 1: Drive to Nafplio via Corinth Canal | Day 2: Nafplio + Epidaurus | Day 3: Monemvasia → return to Athens
Read the full Greece trip planning guide → | Check Greece trip costs →
Practical Tips for Mainland Greece
Rent a car — it's essential. Unlike the islands, where ferries and walking cover most needs, mainland Greece is built for driving. Roads are generally good, fuel is reasonable, and many of the best destinations are simply inaccessible without a car. Book through Booking.com Cars for the best rates and full insurance options.
The mainland is significantly cheaper than the islands. Expect to pay 30–50% less for hotels, food, and activities in the Peloponnese and Northern Greece compared to Santorini or Mykonos. A comfortable double room in Nafplio or Zagori runs €70–120/night versus €150–300+ on popular islands.
Shoulder season is even better on the mainland. The Peloponnese is gorgeous in April–May (wildflowers, mild weather, empty ruins) and September–October (warm, golden light, grape harvest). Northern Greece and Zagori are stunning in autumn when the forests change color. Meteora is beautiful year-round except mid-summer, when the heat can be intense.
Don't underestimate distances. Greece is mountainous, and roads wind. A destination that looks 100km away on a map might take 2 hours. Build in more drive time than you'd expect, and enjoy the views rather than rushing.
Learn a few words of Greek. In mainland villages, English is less widely spoken than on the tourist islands. Even basic Greek (kalimera, efharisto, parakalo) opens doors, earns smiles, and gets you that extra glass of tsipouro on the house.
FAQ
Is mainland Greece worth visiting, or should I just stick to the islands?
Mainland Greece is absolutely worth visiting — and for many travelers, it's actually the more rewarding experience. While the islands offer stunning beaches and that iconic Cycladic scenery, the mainland delivers Greece's most important archaeological sites (Delphi, Mycenae, Olympia), the extraordinary monasteries of Meteora, the country's best food city (Thessaloniki), and wild natural beauty in places like Zagori and the Mani Peninsula. It's also significantly cheaper and less crowded than the popular islands. The ideal Greece trip combines both — but if you're forced to choose, the mainland offers more variety, more depth, and more authentic encounters with Greek culture.
What is the best way to get around mainland Greece?
A rental car is by far the best option. Mainland Greece's most rewarding destinations — the Mani Peninsula, Zagori villages, Pelion, Monemvasia — are virtually inaccessible by public transport. Roads are well-maintained, driving is straightforward (outside Athens), and fuel costs are reasonable. KTEL buses connect major cities (Athens–Thessaloniki, Athens–Nafplio, Athens–Kalambaka for Meteora), so budget travelers can reach key destinations by bus, but you'll miss the smaller villages and scenic detours that make the mainland special. For the Peloponnese specifically, driving gives you the freedom to stop at hidden beaches, roadside tavernas, and viewpoints that no bus route covers.
How many days do you need for mainland Greece?
It depends on what you want to cover. A focused 5-day trip can do the Peloponnese highlights (Nafplio, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Monemvasia). A 7-day trip adds either Meteora and Delphi or extends into the Mani Peninsula. A 10–14 day grand tour lets you combine the Peloponnese, Meteora, Thessaloniki, and Northern Greece (Zagori, Ioannina) into one comprehensive road trip. Even a quick 3-day escape from Athens hitting Nafplio and Monemvasia is deeply worthwhile. The mainland rewards slow travel, so build in more time at fewer stops rather than rushing to see everything.
Final Thoughts
The islands will always be Greece's headline act — and rightfully so. But mainland Greece is where the depth is. It's where you stand in an ancient stadium where Olympic athletes competed three millennia ago, where you eat a meal in a mountain village where tourism hasn't changed the recipe, where you hike through a gorge that makes the Grand Canyon look tame (relative to its width, at least), and where a medieval fortress town hidden behind a rock wall makes you question why every travel guide isn't screaming about this place.
The mainland doesn't need to compete with the islands. It offers something entirely different: a connection to the deep, layered, complicated history and landscape that made Greece what it is. The islands are the dessert. The mainland is the meal. And you shouldn't leave the table without tasting both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is mainland Greece worth visiting, or should I just stick to the islands?
Mainland Greece is absolutely worth visiting — and for many travelers, it's actually the more rewarding experience. While the islands offer stunning beaches and that iconic Cycladic scenery, the mainland delivers Greece's most important archaeological sites (Delphi, Mycenae, Olympia), the extraordinary monasteries of Meteora, the country's best food city (Thessaloniki), and wild natural beauty in places like Zagori and the Mani Peninsula. It's also significantly cheaper and less crowded than the popular islands. The ideal Greece trip combines both — but if you're forced to choose, the mainland offers more variety, more depth, and more authentic encounters with Greek culture.
What is the best way to get around mainland Greece?
A rental car is by far the best option. Mainland Greece's most rewarding destinations — the Mani Peninsula, Zagori villages, Pelion, Monemvasia — are virtually inaccessible by public transport. Roads are well-maintained, driving is straightforward (outside Athens), and fuel costs are reasonable. KTEL buses connect major cities (Athens–Thessaloniki, Athens–Nafplio, Athens–Kalambaka for Meteora), so budget travelers can reach key destinations by bus, but you'll miss the smaller villages and scenic detours that make the mainland special. For the Peloponnese specifically, driving gives you the freedom to stop at hidden beaches, roadside tavernas, and viewpoints that no bus route covers.
How many days do you need for mainland Greece?
It depends on what you want to cover. A focused 5-day trip can do the Peloponnese highlights (Nafplio, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Monemvasia). A 7-day trip adds either Meteora and Delphi or extends into the Mani Peninsula. A 10–14 day grand tour lets you combine the Peloponnese, Meteora, Thessaloniki, and Northern Greece (Zagori, Ioannina) into one comprehensive road trip. Even a quick 3-day escape from Athens hitting Nafplio and Monemvasia is deeply worthwhile. The mainland rewards slow travel, so build in more time at fewer stops rather than rushing to see everything.