In the 14th century, these hermit monks built 20 different monastaries to get away from Turkish occupation. The tall cliffs were the perfect escape for these monks. At first only ladders and ropes were the only way to reach these monestaries. During the 1920s steps were carved out making it more accessible. Today only six monestaries remain.

Best times to go May and June, it has the most comfortable weather. Acquaint yourself with Greek Orthodoxy to get the most enjoyment.

How to go: use buses from Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Trikala, and Athens. Lots of lodging options in Kalampaka at the base of Meteora.

Over the years, a multitude of conquerors occupied Athens, and erected unique, splendid monuments – a rare historical palimpsest. In 1834, it became the capital of the modern Greek state and in two centuries since it has become an attractive modern metropolis with unrivalled charm.
A large part of the town’s historical centre has been converted into a 3-kilometre pedestrian zone (the largest in Europe), leading to the major archaeological sites (“archaeological park”), reconstructing – to a large degree – the ancient landscape.

The tour starts at the temple of Olympian Zeus (6th c. B.C.), one of the largest in antiquity and closeby Hadrian’s Arch (131 A.D.), which forms the symbolic entrance to the city. From there, walking along Dionysou Areopaghitou Street (on the south side of the Acropolis) you pass the ancient Theatre of Dionysos (5th c. B.C.) where most of the works by Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylos and Aristophanes were performed. Continuing, you will reach the ruins of the Asklepieion (5th c. B.C.) and the Stoa of Eumenes (2th c. B.C.) and from there the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, which was built in 161 A.D. and is nowadays the venue of the performances of the Athens Festival.

From there you climb up to the sacred rock of the Acropolis, the site of some of the most important masterpieces of worldwide architecture and art, the most renowned of which is the Parthenon temple. Apart from this, also impressive are the Propylaea, the temple of the Athene Nike and the Erechtheion, while you must not skip a visit to the Museum, located close to the Parthenon. Moreover, from the rock you have an impressive view of the city.

Coming down from the Acropolis you arrive at the Areios Pagos, the most ancient law court of the world. Opposite it is Philopappou Hill, with its beautiful cobbled little roads and the Roman monument by the same name on its top, while closeby is the Pnyx, where the citizens of ancient Athens used to assemble and exert their democratic rights.

Walking farther along the pedestrian road you arrive at the Ancient Agora, which was the commercial, political and religious centre of ancient Athens. A visit to the archaeological site will give you the opportunity to become acquainted with the workings of Classical Athenian democracy.

From there, via Ermou street, you arrive at the Kerameikos, the largest cemetery of the ancient city, with impressive tomb sculptures and stelae. The Iridanos river, sacred in antiquity, runs through the archaeological site.

What brings in most of the tourists on a vacation to the Greek port town of Piraeus are the marvels of Greece. Its old world architectural marvels and sights have since centuries bought in tourists.

Classical buildings such as the Parthenon which can be very easily considered to be the iconic landmark of Ancient Greece is one such wonder that manages to bring in tourists.

Natural beauty in the form of hills, mountains and other scenic structures too form an integral part of the beauty that a tourist cruising to the Piraeus cruise destination is on the lookout for.

Tourist Locations:

The famed and very popular flat-topped hill of the Acropolis which is home to the 2,400-year-old Parthenon attracts the maximum share of visitors who come on a  holiday to Athens. Located below the Acropolis is the ancient town of Plaka, which too is very popular with tourists on a visit to the Piraeus cruise destination who find time to explore this old settlement for its rustic taverns, souvenir shops and picturesque narrow alleys.

There are also several museums located around the Piraeus cruise destination which manage to catch a fancy with the tourists. These include The National Archeological museum, The Benaki Museum, The Byzantine Museum and the New Acropolis museum. The tower of winds as well as the Temple of the Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch are also popular spots which feature on the travel itinerary who visit the Piraeus cruise destination.