5 Archaeological Sites on the Greek Islands

Holidays on the Greek islands don't just mean beautiful beaches and swimming, but also a great opportunity to explore the rich culture and civilisation of the island-dwelling Ancient Greeks. We've selected and present 5 of the most significant archaeological sites on the Greek Islands.

What are you waiting for? Book your ferry or flight tickets and discover the incredible beauty of our country! 

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Archaeological sites in Santorini

One of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece is located in Santorini. The settlement at Akrotiri, situated on the southern tip of Thera, covers an area of approximately 200,000 square metres. You can admire unique examples of impressive architecture with multi-storey buildings, a sewage system, and exquisite frescoes that bear witness to a remarkable social organisation and the great development of the settlement.

However, the great eruption of the Santorini volcano around 1700 – 1600 BC forced the inhabitants of Akrotiri to migrate.

Find cheap flights to Santorini and experience the island's unique beauty!

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Delos

Nowhere else in the world will you find a natural island archaeological site of such great importance.

It is used exclusively as an archaeological site and hosts numerous monumental relics from the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods.

Delos, a rocky islet 5km long and 1300m wide, was a sacred island in antiquity, as Apollo and Artemis were born here. It lies a few miles from Mykonos and is the island that gave the Cyclades their name, as they form a circular dance around it.

 

Ancient sites in Crete

6km from Heraklion, you'll find the famous archaeological site of Minoan civilisation, the Palace of Knossos.

According to tradition, it was the seat of King Minos and simultaneously the administrative and religious centre of the wider region. It is a vast complex of buildings covering 22,000 square metres, which many identify with the mythical Labyrinth.

Book cheap flights to Crete now and discover the entire Minoan civilisation combined with the emerald beaches of the island!

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Samos

Samos is renowned for its tourist attractions, as well as for the personalities it contributed to Greek history. Samos was the birthplace of the mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras, as well as the great ancient astronomer Aristarchus, who was the first to declare that the Earth moves in an elliptical orbit around the sun, while simultaneously rotating on its axis.

See the Eupalinian aqueduct, a tunnel 1036 metres long near Pythagoreio, which was constructed in the 6th century BC to serve as an aqueduct. Pythagoras' Cave is located at the foot of Mount Kerkis, and according to tradition, the philosopher sought refuge here when he was pursued by the tyrant Polycrates.

The most significant archaeological site on the island includes the enormous (109m long, 55m wide, and 25m high) Ionic temple of Hera (commonly known as Kolona, due to the single column still standing today), the great altar, and the Sacred Way (the road that led from the city, modern-day Pythagoreio, to the sanctuary).

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Rhodes

It is known as the island of the Sun God, and the most cosmopolitan island of the Dodecanese. Rhodes is a crossroads of civilisations with an ancient history that satisfies even the most discerning visitor, as it combines everything. Expansive sandy beaches, lush vegetation, and centuries of history, evidenced by its ancient and historic monuments.

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Visit one of Rhodes' most beautiful villages, Lindos. Built by the sea and beneath the imposing rock of the acropolis of the great ancient and medieval city of Lindos. At the back of the village is the small harbour of Agios Pavlos.

The people of Lindos maintain that Apostle Paul disembarked at this spot when he arrived in Rhodes to preach Christianity. Ancient Kamiros is a place of great historical importance for the Dodecanese.

Exploring the Hellenistic ruins of Kamiros, unearthed in 1929, one discovers the city often referred to as the “Pompeii of Greece”.