Greece, Europe
Athens is the base for some of the most legible sites in the ancient Greek world. A cliff-top temple, a Saronic island, a Byzantine monastery, and the oracle at Delphi are all reachable, though Delphi rewards an overnight.
| Where | Getting there | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Sounion | About 2 hr each way on the KTEL X80 coastal bus | The Temple of Poseidon on a headland above the Aegean. The late-afternoon slot for the sunset is the photograph everyone takes. |
| Aegina | 40 min to 1 hr by ferry from Piraeus | A Saronic island known for its pistachios and the well-preserved Temple of Aphaia. Take the morning ferry from Piraeus. |
| Daphni Monastery | Metro M3 to Agia Marina, then a short bus | An 11th-century monastery with some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in Greece. UNESCO-listed and free to enter. |
| Delphi | About 3 hr each way by KTEL bus | The oracle sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, with its theater, stadium, and museum. Better as an overnight than a rushed single day. |