One Week in Athens & The Peloponnese

Although it's hard to not keep craning your head to take in the spectacle of the Acropolis at the center of town (especially when it's lit up at night), there's more to Athens than its dense concentration of ancient ruins. Athens is a center for contemporary art, with modern galleries sitting beside museums stuffed with art dating back millennia. This combination of the old and new is especially clear at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a spectacular open-air theater that has hosted concerts and plays for nearly 2,000 years. The city's culture is also reflected in its diverse food and drink, which combines traditional Greek favorites with influences from across the Mediterranean, and the world, as fitting Athens' deep history as a humming harbor hub. While Athens' variety is enough to keep you busy, from the hidden back alleys of the center, to the city's showy coast, the city works well as a base for day trips, whether down the coast, or to the Peloponnese. Head to oracular Delphi, or hunt for where Lord Byron's carved his name into the monumental Temple of Poseidon at the tip of Cape Sounion.

Steeped in history and almost unbearably romantic, Nafplio is one of the most picturesque seaside towns in Greece. Nafplio's dramatic fortresses, neoclassical mansions, and nearby ancient ruins narrate the town's diverse history, a pivotal moment of which was when Nafplio became the first capital of modern Greece. While in Nafplio, you can take long seaside walks, savor authentic cuisine at quaint traditional restaurants, and visit UNESCO-listed archaeological sites, only a short drive away.

The birthplace of the Olympic Games, Olympia is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Greece. The UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Ancient Olympia was where people from all over Greece met every four years to take part in the famous games that helped shape the identity of the Greek nation. History aside, Olympia boasts a unique location in the heart of Western Peloponnese, an authentic region where you can sample the divine products the Greek land yields, such as honey, olive oil, and wine, in a setting of unparalleled natural beauty.

Lying graciously on the slopes of the pristine Mount Parnassus, this magnificent UNESCO-listed archaeological complex is a sanctuary which the ancient Greeks believed to be the “navel of the world”. According to Greek mythology, Zeus set two eagles free to determine the center of the world. When their paths crossed at Delphi, its status as the center of the world was proven. It is here that oracles channeled the prophecies of Apollo to those seeking his guidance, including great heroes, statesmen, and generals. Athenians, Spartans, Macedonians and Romans brought their offerings, to show off their glory and power, and in thankfulness to the divine wisdom they received. These gifts, many of which you can see today, are clear reminders of Delphi's importance, and past wealthy and prestige. With its central location, Delphi also played host to important competitions, from music and poetry to athletics. Its Pythian Games were equal in prestige to those at Olympia. Even after Delphi fell into the hands of the Romans, its cult and competitions flourished until the rise of Christianity.

Although it's hard to not keep craning your head to take in the spectacle of the Acropolis at the center of town (especially when it's lit up at night), there's more to Athens than its dense concentration of ancient ruins. Athens is a center for contemporary art, with modern galleries sitting beside museums stuffed with art dating back millennia. This combination of the old and new is especially clear at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a spectacular open-air theater that has hosted concerts and plays for nearly 2,000 years. The city's culture is also reflected in its diverse food and drink, which combines traditional Greek favorites with influences from across the Mediterranean, and the world, as fitting Athens' deep history as a humming harbor hub. While Athens' variety is enough to keep you busy, from the hidden back alleys of the center, to the city's showy coast, the city works well as a base for day trips, whether down the coast, or to the Peloponnese. Head to oracular Delphi, or hunt for where Lord Byron's carved his name into the monumental Temple of Poseidon at the tip of Cape Sounion.