Dispatch: Greece (Land & Sea)
- donnaramadishes
- Nov 18
- 14 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
When people dream of visiting Greece, a cruise often comes to mind. Afterall, Greece is a peninsula which is surrounded by the Aegean Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, with over 200 inhabited islands. But there are plenty of places to visit on the mainland, and numerus modes of transportation to get you around the islands beyond a Greek cruise. If you are motivated by beautiful islands, mountain vistas, ancient ruins which are important in Christianity, Greek Mythology, and Western Civilization, and/or delicious eats, a Greek vacation (with or without a cruise) might be for you. I chose to explore some places on the mainland before and after a Silversea cruise (aboard the Silver Muse in late October 2025). There are cruises for every type of traveler and nearly every budget, and for those who don't want to cruise the Greek Isles, there are inter-island flights and ferries to get you wherever you want to go.
In this Dispatch, I discuss cruising considerations (for Greece and in general), what to visit on mainland Greece, as well as insights on ports visited, food take-aways, and finally some interesting tidbits of information I learned. Read it all if everything I mentioned is of interest, or choose whatever bit(s) you want.
Some Thoughts on Cruising (in general or in Greece)
Even if your main objective is to enjoy beaches and relax, a little homework on each port of call is a good idea. Afterall, you have limited time in each port, and you'll want to make the most of it. Things to consider include determining which beach has the vibe you're looking for if you're a beach person (gay vs family vs nude vs posh vs image-focused vs relaxed, sand/pebble, if there is a place to eat nearby, distance from your port, etc), where to dine ashore (if you want to get a taste (pun intended) of the local culture), what to shop for locally, and anything else there is to do there like wine tasting, sightseeing, or hiking. As I always say, knowledge is power. So do some research.
If you're not sure what you should see/ do in a specific port, here are some ideas:
Ask friends who have been there what they liked and didn't like!
Go to Viator (group and private tours) or ToursByLocals (private tours) and see what they offer as shore excursions in each of the ports. You can sort based on things you enjoy and you can see the most popular things to see and do. [I look to these sites pretty much anytime I travel to get ideas and determine what I don't want to miss.]
See what excursions your cruise line offers for your itinerary, and then decide if it is a good value (now that you have seen what is available through the companies above).
Ask AI -- but don't forget to be as specific as you can in your query. Include date, times, interests (hiking, food tasting, sitting on a family beach, etc), and how to get there from the port. Then be sure to double-check the output to confirm it is real and feasible.
If you want to set up a non-cruise line offered excursion (which I almost-always suggest), make sure to find out whether your ship will be tendering to shore or not in each port, as you may be delayed disembarking if so (lesson learned the hard way).
Don't Ignore Mainland Greece!
Just because you're taking a cruise doesn't mean you should ignore Greece's mountainous and impressive mainland! Most Greek cruises depart from Piraeus, the port nearest Athens. Aside from the fact people should never plan to arrive by plane the morning of their cruise (you never know what can happen on your voyage there), there are certain places I strongly recommend you at least consider visiting before and/or after your cruise.
Athens
The Acropolis (with its Parthenon and other sites) & other ancient ruins/ archaeological museums are absolutely worth your time.
The Acropolis (arguably Greece's most famous site) is an ancient citadel with parts dating back to the 4th millennium BC, 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.
Acropolis means highest point in Greek, and many towns have their own acropolises.
Hadrian's Gate
Ancient Greek and Roman Agoras (in ruins, mostly, but impressive nonetheless)
I took a wonderful 1/2 day private tour (pick-up at airport upon arrival, drop off at hotel)
A food tour if you are a foodie
If you're a food person and want to explore on your own, be sure to visit the meat and fish markets, located near/ in the Plaka neighborhood.
Plaka -- old part of the city at the foot of the Acropolis. The Plaka is actually built on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens, and is known as the "Neighborhood of the Gods" due to its proximity to the Acropolis and its many archaeological sites
Changing of the guard -- very, very cool, especially if you realize that the soldiers' shoes, alone, weigh roughly 12 pounds (6 per shoe) and the pom pom at the toe used to hide a knife!
Panhellenic Olympic stadium
Meteora
Amazing monasteries set atop tall mesas in the mountains
Delphi: One of Greece's most important archaeological sites, and once considered the center of the ancient world.
Home to the Oracle of Delphi, where the priestess Pythia provided guidance to city-states and individuals. (Her fortune-telling was apparently quite cryptic -- think Magic Eight Ball cryptic from what I gather.)
The site played a crucial role in ancient Greek politics and religion, which makes it a fascinating destination for history enthusiasts. Walking through the site, visitors can see significant structures such as the Temple of Apollo, the ancient stadium, and the Treasury of the Athenians.
There's also the Delphi Archaeological Museum, which houses important artifacts, including the famous Charioteer of Delphi.
Situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, Delphi offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The dramatic mountain backdrop enhances the site's mystical atmosphere. Expect a mountainous drive there (roughly 2 hours from Athens), and plenty of hilly walking at the archaeological site.
Mount Parnassus is one of the ski mountains of Greece.
More than other ancient sites, I would strongly recommend you get take a guided tour when visiting Delphi. The signage was less informative and less present than at other sites, and I felt we missed some key learnings by only having a driver take us there rather than having someone walk us around and explain things.
Peloponnesus Peninsula, home to ancient ruins, excellent Greek wine, and the Corinth Canal -- easily visited as a day trip from Athens (if not a port of call on your cruise).
Nafplion was Modern Greek's first Capital. It has a compact harbor which sits at the base of the old city. Views atop the city wall of the sea (and the city's fortress n the harbor) are lovely, but know that the walk will work up an appetite! It's a nice town for shopping, lunch, or ice cream (gelato, actually) and can be visited on a day tour from Athens (if your cruise does not stop there).
If Nafplio(n) is a stop on your cruise, as it was on ours, you can find shore excursions there. We did a private tour to Mycenae, with a Wine Tasting and visit to the Corinth Canal (through GetYourGuide), which was excellent. Viator also offers many shore excursions here, but none matched what we wanted so we went on a private tour.
Mycenae is the hilltop citadel of Agamemnon (think: Homer's Iliad and Aeschylus' Orestea) and the heart of the ancient Mycenean civilization (flourished during the Bronze Age -- 1750-1050 BC). The Lion's Gate entrance to Mycenae is considered the oldest example of monumental sculpture in Europe (built in 1250 BC). This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you know it's important.
Epidaurus is an ancient city near Mycenae and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is renowned for its ancient theater (with exceptional acoustics and stunning architecture). Also, Epidaurus was a significant healing center dedicated to Asclepius, the god of medicine, offering insights into ancient medical practices and a rich historical experience.
Nemea is the home to the mythical Nemean Lion, with whom Hercules battled, and also has some excellent wines.
Greece's wines are, in my opinion, vastly underrated, and a visit to a winery is a great idea if you're into wine. We went to Ktima Bairaktaris, which was very good.
Corinth has an ancient ruin site as well as the canal which connects the Ionian Sea to the Aegean Sea. The canal is not wide enough for large ships, and the low bridge which spans it actually SINKS into the water when ships pass through. (The other bridges are quite high, so do not pose a problem to the passing ships.) I am fascinated by canals, so to me this was a very interesting visit.
The Ports On Our Cruise (and what we did there)
Nafplion: Visited Mycenae, Nemea (wine tasting), Corinth Canal (not Epidaurus because I had already been on a previous trip) on a private tour. Since this port is located on the mainland, I wrote about it above.
Patmos: A small island paradise for those who like beaches, windmills, or who have an interest in St. John.
The island is known as the Jerusalem of the Aegean due to it being where the Apostle Saint John is said to have written the book of Revelations (in a cave), and where he prophesied the end of the world (aka the apocalypse).
The windmills of Chora, a town in the middle of the island, are the windmills you think of if/when you think of Greek windmills.
The beaches are beloved by many and the island's population grows ten-fold (from roughly 3,000 to 30,000) in the summer.
Rhodes: beaches, medieval architecture, and another Acropolis
Visiting the Acropolis of Lindos is well worth the 250+ uneven steps if you are able. The views from this Acropolis, which was built a century before the Athens Acropolis, is one of my favorite places in all of Greece. I was there roughly 40 years ago, and the views still don't disappoint (but the crowds do, a little bit).
Old Town Rhodes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it includes the cobbled streets within the gothic medieval stronghold of the 14th century palace of the grand masters of the Knights of Rhodes. It is located along the harbor where many cruise ships (and ferries) dock, and while the architecture is impressive within this walled city with a moat and impressive gates, it is very much a tourist trap, filled with souvenir shops and mediocre tourist restaurants (menues in multiple languages always scare me). That said, within that city is evidence of a peaceful co-existence between Christians, Muslims, and Jews (reminiscent of Old Jerusalem).
The beaches of Rhodes are very beautiful, and Anthony Quinn Beach is arguably the most beautiful of them all.
It's important to mention that the Colossus of Rhodes was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. It no longer exists, although there are 2 columns in the old harbor with deer on top of them where the Colossus once stood. It was a gigantic -- colossal-- statue of the Greek sun god Helios under whose legs ships entering the harbor sailed.
The Acropolis of Rhodes is far less well-preserved than other archaeological sites, but there is still visible an Odeon and a couple of columns from the original temple.
Crete: Knossos (King Midas' palace and heart of the ancient Minoan Civilization) & olive oil tasting. It is a very mountainous and rocky island, which marks the southern tip of Europe. It is also the birthplace of Zeus (in a cave).
Knossos is the palace of King Minos, leader of the Minoan Civilization.
This nearly 4,000 year old archaeological site is a must-see and includes the city surrounding the palace.
Plumbing -- washing (stone) & drinking (ceramic) "pipes" were made from different materials.
Underground cellar-type storage for vats of wine, olive oil, and the like (so they wouldn't spoil in the heat).
Mostly reconstructed, especially above shoulder-height.
Most cruises dock in Heraklion, which is near the port (from which you can find numerous tours). Our ship docked on the other side of the island, so the best way to tour the site was with an organized ship excursion.
Crete is home to some of the oldest olive trees in the world (some are 2,000 years old) and pretty much everyone on Crete presses their olives for their own supply of olive oil. It's reputation for its olive oil is not undeserved. A great place to learn about olive oil production and get some tastes of oil and local grapes is the Vassilakis Estate.
For the active-minded, Crete offers hiking and ATV tours, as well. For the beach bums, there are many beaches to meet your needs.
FYI, Crete has been named one of Europe’s top three destinations for 2026 by Condé Nast Traveler.
Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Turkey: Ephesus is the real attraction for this seaside/port city along the Aegean. At one time Ephesus had a population of over 150,000 and aside from its Greco-Roman significance, it's an important site for Christianity as well.
The apostles John and Paul spent time here, and with the bustling population and market activity, they found receptive audiences for their teachings of Jesus.
Its Temple of Artemis is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but it was destroyed and only foundation blocks are visible today.
The Library of Celsus has a double layered facade of columns which is mightily impressive, as are the toilets (and plumbing system). These are the two parts of Ephesus that all visitors recall later (which I can attest to, having visited the site many decades prior and thinking that back then those were the only two parts which had been open to us -- oops!).
The Greeks were in the area first, with their relatively simple columns (Ionic, Doric, Corinthian) and architecture. The Romans came later and created structures and pediments with far more intricate and ornate designs, making apparent the provenance of the structures you see there.
Mykonos: walking tour of town. Mykonos is known for its nightlife and shopping (in season -- we were post-season and not much was open), and has wonderful food and views.
Like other Greek island communities, the structures, and streets, are white-washed. Why? Because the Greeks realized that lime (the mineral, not the fruit) had protective qualities, was naturally mold-resistant, and was a low maintenance finish. The limewash turns things white.
Mykonos town is laid out in a labyrinth so that the pirates would have a hard time finding (and looting) the residents.
By the end of October, most shops, restaurants, and clubs have closed for the season. You've been warned...
Large ships will likely dock at the new port, which requires transportation into Mykonos town. Our ship anchored near the old port, and we were tendered in to town on smallish boats.
Mykonos has been extremely popular for decades due in large part to their tolerance -- they don't care about how people look, what they wear, who they love, etc. Anything goes here!
As it is extremely windy on Mykonos, buildings have rounded corners (less wind sounds).
This cruise did not stop at Santorini, arguably the most popular cruise port in Greece. Having been there, I can attest to its beauty and blue waters (it's in a caldera) and if you can handle crowds and hills, I enthusiastically recommend it.
Interesting tidbits
The evil eye: The 'mati' is a small-sized piece of colored glass depicting an eye, and is meant to protect you from anyone giving you the evil eye. It is a traditional good luck charm. While it has become commonplace to dismiss the notion of the ‘mati’ as a superstition, the tradition of the charm persists, for new babies, new businesses, housewarmings and even new cars – any occasion when a ‘good luck’ wish is called for. Most souvenir and gift shops in Greece stock at least one version. The striking colors mirror the distinctive blue and white accents of Aegean island architecture, and offers visitors a tangible reminder of the blue seas and skies of Greece.
The Pythagoras Cup, or Greedy Cup: A practical joke device in the form of a drinking cup. When it is filled beyond a certain point (delineated by a line on the inside of the cup), a siphoning effect causes the cup to drain its entire contents through the base. The cup has been used to make statements about greed.
Stray cats are common and they appear content and well-fed. They originally were kept on ships to help eradicate rats, and then disembarked once the ships came into ports.
Why Greek is written left to right: Greek is written left to right because it was originally written in clay and would smudge if written right to left. Ancient Hebrew and Arabic were written right to left because they were chiseled in stone and with a dominant right hand, that was easier. Knowledge is power!
And a few words about the food & drink
Greek food is delicious. Because of its geography, the cuisine is steeped in olives/ olive oil, fresh seafood, vegetables, sheep, goat, and lamb. The terrain is so hilly that it is unfriendly for cows so you won't find much butter or cow-based cheese in Greek cooking; goat & sheep cheeses rule. We took a food tour in Athens, and had a couple of olive oil tastings as well. Here are some insights for those interested...
Olive Oil
In Greece, the "best" olive oils are the more acidic ones -- they should make your throat slightly scratchy... For maybe the only time in my life, I preferred the not-most-expensive varieties as I prefer my olive oil to be smooth.
I didn't see ANY olive oil which wasn't extra virgin.
Ripe olives are pressed for oil within a day (often less) of their picking.
A shot of olive oil is a healthy way to start your day!
Food
Greek salad, a TRUE Greek salad, has no lettuce
Souvlaki is a catch term for pretty much any type of wrapped sandwich; typically either a kebab (chunks of meat) or skewer, which is a sausage-looking piece of ground meat (uncased). In Athens, souvlaki is often served with a mustard sauce rather than tzatziki.
A gyro refers to meat cut off a vertical spit. You choose the protein.
All meat is cooked well done (or more). Stews and grilled meats are the norm.
This is good to know since meats in the meat market are not refrigerated (and it is often quite warm)!
Baklava is actually a TURKISH dessert, and the ones we had in Turkey and Greece were made with pistachios (in the US, they are often made with walnuts). It is a honey-infused sweet pastry made with phyllo-dough.
Loukamedes is a delicious cinnamon-honey-soaked ball (think donut hole) which almost squirts the delicious elixir when you take a bit. (You've been warned -- keep your mouth closed and don't try to eat only half at a time.)
A mezze is a typical appetizer. A platter often consists of a variety of small portions of Greek dips (fava bean, garlic, tzatziki, taramasalata, etc), stuffed grape leaves (dolma), olives, pita bread, meatballs, vegetables, etc.
Pita bread in Greece is much smaller than the ones I've seen elsewhere.
Moussaka is a hot lamb, eggplant, and bechamel comfort food often cooked in a crock and finished under a broiler. It is delicious always if that's your thing (in Greece and elsewhere).
Interesting, according to our food tour guide, the yogurt Greeks typically consume for breakfast is actually imported (often from the Netherlands) as there are few if any cows in Greece, and it is consumed in quantities that the local sheep can't supply. Some folks are lucky enough to have access to fresh goat yogurt, which if consumed with the skin and unfiltered local honey, is a very healthy and satisfying treat.
Drink
Ouzo is the national drink of Greece. It is an anise-based drink which, when mixed with water (or ice) turns a cloudy white. It is produced exclusively in Greece, made from grapes, and is often consumed seaside, accompanying mezzes &/or fish. Ouzo has been around for a long time -- possibly earlier, but definitely by the time of the Byzantine Empire.
(Cretan) Raki & Tsipouro are two popular alcoholic drinks made from grapes that are often confused. Raki comes from Crete and consumed on many of the islands while the tsipouro originates from mainland Greece. While raki is made from a single distillation and served chilled, tsipouro requires two, and is not consumed with ice cubes.
Mastiha (mastic) liqueur is a widely consumed digestif in Greece, served very cold in small glasses at the end of a Greek meal, and has a pine-y flavor. The Mastiha tree only grows on one island in the world, the island of Chios. Its bark is scraped off and the sap flowing from it produces what are called Mastiha‘s tears, which fall from the tree and dry naturally in the sun. The tears are then scraped off and cleaned by hand. It is from these tears that resemble nuggets that the Mastiha liqueur is produced, making it a rare, traditional Greek liqueur with a unique flavor in the world.
In Sum
Cruising the Greek Isles is a great way to get a taste of several islands and cultures while only unpacking one time. For those who are looking for more immersive experiences or for those who are uncomfortable on a ship, it probably makes more sense to visit mainland Greece and possibly choose just a couple of destinations to explore (using a ferry or flight to travel to them) beyond that.
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