When you see photos of Greece, they are usually of the island idylls. But for some reason, apart from Athens, mainland Greece often gets overlooked on the glam Grecian holiday spreads. And yet, this is where the real drama lies. Just look at Mount Olympus – known as the home of 12 Greek Gods, it is also home to over 12 peaks, canyons, gorges and all round hiking heaven. Or the Peloponnese Peninsula, which has a panoply of peninsularettes, each as beautiful as the next, poking out into the Aegean or some gorgeous unknown gulf.
![]()
Greece isn’t just a cradle of civilisation. It takes us all back to the cradles of our youth – feeling slightly feral and free, having fun in the sun and, after a day of hiking on Olympus, sleeping like a baby.
![]()
It’s as if this country, with all its classical drama, has kept the main players in the wings all the time. And yet that is where some of the best action is happening. From bears in the Pindos to lovers in Laconia. So don’t see mainland Greece as the prologue to island retreats. Here lies the main narrative of the drama, and it’s an epic that has to be experienced.
See our Mainland Greece travel guide for more details.
