Shannon O'Brien Travel Itineraries

The best destinations

Oia town on Santorini island, Greece. Traditional and famous white houses and churches with blue domes over the Caldera, Aegean sea
Oia town on Santorini island, Greece. Traditional and famous white houses and churches with blue domes over the Caldera, Aegean sea

The Best of Greece

#3 best destination in the world

Map view

Parthenon, Athens

Parthenon temple on a bright day. Acropolis in Athens, Greece

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • The Parthenon is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, that was dedicated to the goddess Athena
  • Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of classical Greek art
  • The Parthenon is considered an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, democracy, and Western civilization

Acropolis Museum, Athens

ATHENS, GREECE - OCTOBER 19, 2016: The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece.

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens
  • The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece
  • The museum also lies over the ruins of part of Roman and early Byzantine Athens
  • Opened in 2009, more than 4,250 objects are exhibited

#3 in Best Museums in the World

Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis of Athens, Greece, with the Parthenon Temple during sunset

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens
  • It contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being the Parthenon
  • During ancient times the Acropolis of Athens was also more properly known as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man Cecrops, the supposed first Athenian king

#24 in Best Attractions in the World

#4 in Best Landmarks in the World

Plaka, Athens

Traditional houses in Plaka area under Acropolis ,Athens,Greece

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • Pláka is the old historical neighborhood of Athens, incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture
  • Plaka is built on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens

Panathenaic Stadium, Athens

Panathenaic stadium in Athens, Greece

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • The Panathenaic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Athens
  • One of the main historic attractions of Athens, it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble
  • A stadium was built on the site of a simple racecourse by the Athenian statesman Lykourgos (Lycurgus) c. 400 BC, primarily for the Panathenaic Games
  • It was rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus, an Athenian Roman senator, and by 144 AD it had a capacity of 50,000 seats
  • After the rise of Christianity in the 4th century it was largely abandoned

Mount Lycabettus, Athens

Beautiful cityscape of the Greek capital - Athens city against the backdrop of Mount Lycabettus and blue sky on a sunny afternoon. Lycabettus. Greece

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • Mount Lycabettus, also known as Lycabettos, is a prominent limestone hill located in the center of Athens, making it the highest point in central Athens
  • It offers 360-degree panoramic views of Athens, including notable landmarks like the Acropolis and the coastal city of Piraeus
  • Many visitors hike or take a funicular railway to the summit to enjoy the scenery, especially at sunset

Myrtos Beach, Cephalonia

Best beaches of Kefalonia (Cephalonia) island - Mirtos (Myrtos) with turquoise sea. Greece
  • Myrtos Beach is in the northwest of Kefalonia island, in the Ionian Sea of Greece
  • Myrtos beach lies between the feet of two mountains
  • It has been described as one of the most dramatic beaches in Greece, with its mile and a half of long arc of dazzling white pebbles

#12 in Best Beaches in the World

Falasarna Beach, Crete

Aerial shot of beautiful turquoise beach Falasarna Falassarna Crete Greece

Best time to visit: mid-May-June, Sept-Oct

  • Falasarna beach is located within a Greek harbor town at the west end of Crete that flourished during the Hellenistic period
  • The currently visible remains of the city include several imposing sandstone towers and bastions, with hundreds of meters of fortification walls protecting the town, and a closed harbor, meaning it is protected on all sides by city walls
  • Notable finds in the harbor area include public roads, wells, warehouses, an altar, and baths
  • Most of these structures were revealed by excavations that began in 1986

#11 in Best Beaches in the World

Elafonisi Beach, Crete

Elafonissi beach with pink sand on Crete, Greece
  • Elafonisi is an island and beach located close to the southwestern corner of the island of Crete
  • When the weather is fine it is possible to walk to the island through the shallow water
  • The island is a protected nature reserve, known for its pink sand beaches, created by tidal and wave-induced deposits of pigmented microorganisms living in a symbiotic relationship with native seaweed

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

Sculptures from Classical Greek and Greco-Roman periods/Heraklion Archaeological Museum/Crete island, Greece/16.05.2019
  • The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is a museum located in Heraklion on Crete
  • It is one of the largest museums in Greece and the best in the world for Minoan art
  • The museum holds the great majority of the finds from the Minoan palace at Knossos and other Minoan sites in Crete

Domaine Sigalas, Oia

Santorini, Greece: 26 May 2017:The quaint, intimate winery of Domaine Sigalas on the island of Santorini. Because of the lack of rainfall, the vines rely on the humidity in the air to survive.

Best time to visit: April-May, Sept-Oct

  • Domaine Sigalas is a renowned winery located in Oia, Santorini, founded in 1991 by Paris Sigalas and his partners
  • It has gained a reputation as one of the leading producers of Assyrtiko, a white grape variety that thrives in the volcanic soils of Santorini
  • The winery is noted for its high-quality wines and has become a benchmark for contemporary winemaking in the region

Lindos, Rhodes

Rhodes, Greece. Lindos small whitewashed village and the Acropolis, scenery of Rhodos Island at Aegean Sea.
  • Lindos is an archaeological site, a fishing village and a former municipality on the island of Rhodes
  • Its fine beaches make it a popular tourist and holiday destination
  • Lindos is situated in a large bay and faces the fishing village and small resort of Charaki

Oia, Santorini

Oia town on Santorini island, Greece. Traditional and famous white houses and churches with blue domes over the Caldera, Aegean sea

Best time to visit: April-May, Sept-Oct

  • Oia is a small village and former community in the South Aegean on the islands of Thira (Santorini) and Therasia, in the Cyclades
  • Oia typifies the white-painted houses of the Cyclades, in many cases built directly into niches which are cave houses used by crew of the ships, on the lip of the volcanic crater, between which are narrow alleys and blue-roofed churches with cupolas
  • The wealthy ship captains of the late 19th century built neo-classical mansions, each built in succession one above the other

#14 in Best Landmarks in the World

Fira - Oia Trail, Santorini

View from a cafe of Fira's famous 587 steps and old town. Santorini Greece

Walk difficulty: moderate

Best time to visit: April-May, Sept-Oct

  • The Fira - Oia trail is a hiking route on the island of Santorini
  • This scenic trail connects the two main towns, Fira and Oia, and is renowned for its views of the Aegean Sea, volcanic landscapes, and the whitewashed buildings characteristic of the island

Ladadika, Thessaloniki

THESSALONIKI, GREECE, MAY 6, 2018: View of a narrow street in the old town of Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Ladadika is the name of a historic district and a landmark area of the city of Thessaloniki, Greece
  • It is located near the Port of Thessaloniki and for centuries was one of the most important marketplaces of the city
  • Ladadika forms the entertainment district of the city, hosting bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and pubs in what used to be old olive oil stores and merchant warehouses, which spill out into a network of pedestrianized streets and small squares

Meteora, Trikala

Monastery Meteora Greece. Stunning summer panoramic landscape. View at mountains and green forest against epic blue sky with clouds. UNESCO heritage list object.
  • Meteora is a rock formation located in the region of Thessaly
  • It is renowned for its monasteries, which are perched atop towering vertical cliffs, creating a landscape that appears almost suspended in the air
  • The Meteora monastery complex consists of six active monasteries, which were built between the 14th and 16th centuries
  • The monasteries served as places of refuge and spiritual retreat for monks seeking solitude and connection with God