6 Incredible Historic Greek Landmarks on the Mainland (Outside of Athens!)

When you think of Greece, I’m sure your mind wanders to the breathtaking island of Santorini or the iconic ancient wonder of the world, also known as the Acropolis. And while these places shouldn’t be missed, Greece is replete with more historic landmarks than you can even imagine. If you’re a history buff or travel enthusiast, it is important to know that there are plenty of incredible historic Greek landmarks that are worth visiting outside of Athens.

If you’re looking for something a bit off the beaten path, here are 6 incredible historic Greek landmarks outside of Athens that you must visit. These sites will fill you with an insane sense of awe as you bask in their presence, surrounded by centuries-old ruins and artifacts from Greece’s glorious past.

Epidaurus

Let’s start off by visiting one of the greatest ancient theaters in all of Greece. Located about two hours away from Athens, ancient Epidaurus is one of the most important historic Greek landmarks in the country. It’s most famous landmark is the ancient theater due to its incredible conservation and amazing acoustics. Only steps away from the theater is the Sanctuary of Asklepios, which was a popular healing center in ancient times. What makes this site so unique are the stunning views of the surrounding greenery and majestic valley.

Cost: €12 from April to October and €6 from November to March.

Delphi

Now we head to one of the most popular archeological sites in all of Greece: Delphi. This sacred ancient site lies on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, and offers breathtaking views of the valley below. This site ranks as a top tourist attraction of the Classical period of ancient Greece, and once you visit, you’ll easily see why. See the remains of the Temple of Apollo, wander around the treasury of the Athenians, take in the same views ancient citizens had when attending a theater performance, and marvel at the athletic stadium, which lies at the highest point of the site.

I could have wandered around Delphi for hours, but because I came with a tour from Athens (about 2 hours away), I only had about an hour before our bus was to leave. So that meant I had to run to the museum nearby to see some incredible artifacts and art pieces I had only learned about in school. You’ll definitely want to make some time to see the museum so you don’t miss seeing the Charioteer of Delphi! It is one of the most famous bronze sculptures in the world, because the rider is fully intact and is one of the few surviving bronze statues of antiquity.

Cost: €12 for the archeological site and €12 the museum (€6 from November to March).

Temple of Apollo, Corinth

This site isn’t particularly well-known but it’s definitely one worth seeing! Located about an hour outside of Athens, this historical Greek landmark is one of the earliest examples of Doric temples on the Greek mainland. The Temple of Apollo, itself dates back to about 560 BC, was renovated to house the cult of the Emperor in Roman times, transformed into a basilica during the Byzantine era, and then was partly destroyed during the Ottoman occupation to make room for residency of important Turkish officials. Phew, this site has seen a lot.

But it’s still incredible to walk the same paths that people have for thousands of years and to imagine the hustle and bustle of the ancient city. Today, the Temple of Apollo at Corinth is one of the few standing archaic temples in the world.

Cost: €8 from April to October and €4 from November to March.

The Trophy of Marathon

Here is another historical Greek landmark you might have overlooked! Now, we head to the coast in a town called Marathon (yes, this is the same town that our modern day marathon race is named after). In 490 BC, the outnumbered Athenian army defeated the powerful force of the Persians. This was a huge victory that prevented the invading army from subjugating Greece, which would have altered the entire course of history! To honor the victory, the winning army erected a wooden trophy, which was then replaced about thirty years later with a stone column. They even say that a statue of Nike was placed on top of the column.

You can see where the original column once stood with a modern day replica and then head over to the nearby Archaeological Museum of Marathon to see the original statue!

Cost: The site of the trophy is free, the Archaeological Museum of Marathon costs €15 from April to October and €6 from November to March.

Archaeological Site of Mycenae

Ooookay, this site is hands down one of the BEST historic Greek landmarks I have ever visited! Not to mention one of the oldest! Here, you will find the ruins of one of the greatest ancient cities of the Mycenaean civilization (ruled from the 15th to 12th century BC) and this site played a vital role in shaping classical Greek culture. It was this culture that inspired Homer to compose his greatest epic poems (The Iliad and The Odyssey, anyone?). The mythical king, Agamemnon, is said to have ruled and was buried at this site, while Cyclops was said to have built the massive walls of Mycenae, according to mythology, of course.

Today, you can wander inside the Treasury of Atreus/ the Tomb of Agamemnon, although it is unknown who was actually buried here as Atreus and Agamemnon were definitely mythical. And you can explore the Acropolis of Mycenae after walking through the more than 3000 year old entrance, more commonly known as the Lion Gate. This site is a must-see for all wandering history buffs and mythology enthusiasts!

Cost: €12 from April to October and €6 from November to March or you can buy a €20 combo ticket that will get you a total of eight nearby historical sites and museums!

Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio

At the southernmost point of Attica, you’ll find the incredible Temple of Poseidon. Located about an hour and a half from Athens, this temple is made entirely of white marble and was built in the 5th century BC to honor the god of the sea, Poseidon. British poet, Lord Byron, was so entranced with the temple, he wrote poems inspired by the site and even graffitied his name onto one of the ancient pillars.

And you guessed it, the site has many ancient myths and legends surrounding it. Mythical king of Athens, Aegeus, threw himself from these cliffs when he saw the black sails of his son, Theseus’, ships returning from sea. Theseus forgot to switch the black sails (symbolizing death) with white ones, leading to the king’s death (come on Theseus…). And according to The Odyssey by Homer, Sounion is the site where King Menelaus buried his helmsman.

There are day trips and tours you can easily take from Athens, as this is an amazing site not to be missed! I definitely recommend taking the short hike up to the temple just before sunset, so you can watch the colors of the sky change with the setting sun. The views of the Aegean Sea and the Temple at sunset are indescribable and will take your breath away.

Cost: €10 from April to October and €5 from November to March.

This is just the start of some of the incredible ancient sites you can still see today on the Greek mainland. As I continue to explore more of this beautiful country, there is no doubt that this list will grow! If you can’t get enough of ancient Greek sites, don’t miss my latest post about historical Greek landmarks in Athens!

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