Greece The Road To Ruins

In Greece, it’s harder to avoid ruins than to find them. Since they survive in a broad spectrum of importance, quality of preservation, and overall impressiveness, you may find yourself bored unless you’re a Classicist or an archaeologist. Some ancient sights, however, are not to be missed. The perfectly proportioned columns of Athens’ Parthenon haven’t looked so good in years, thanks to the views from the top floor of the new, $200 million Acropolis Museum. Near Athens is Cape Sounion, where the seaside Temple of Poseidon sits on a 60m promontory overlooking the Aegean. If you can spare a day from partying on Mykonos, head to the floating island of Delos, birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, where you will find an island-wide archaeological site. A voyage through the Peloponnese will take you back to the era of nymphs, satyrs, and gods in disguise. Sprint across the well-preserved stadium on the way to the original Olympic fields at Ancient Olympia; wander through watery, fresco-covered tunnels at Ancient Corinth; peer into Agamemnon’s tomb at Mycenae; or witness Byzantine times standing still at Mystras, the former center of Constantinople’s rule in the Peloponnese. After traversing mountain roads, visitors can seek wisdom at the ancient Delphic Oracle or learn about endurance at Marathon. The Minoan palaces of Knossos and Phaistos on Crete come straight out of mythology. Finally, heal all of your aches and pains at the Asclepion on Kos, the ancient home of Hippocrates and the world’s first medical school.

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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.