7 wonders of Greece: from hot springs frequented by Aristotle to the magical Meteora monasteries

It’s hard to find only seven wonders when it comes to Greece. With Europe’s longest coastline strewn with bleached blonde sands, secret coves and bijou harbours where brightly coloured kaiki fishing boats bob at anchor next to waterside tavernas serving seafood fresh from the net, it’s hardly surprising that Greece is a magnet for beach-lovers and sunseekers, but also history buffs and foodies always looking for new culinary delights to discover.

I've long adored Greece, and I can't wait to be back on my next trip, whether that'll be spent relaxing for the week by the sea in Paros, hikes and cycling adventures in Crete, or days spent hopping between galleries and restaurants in Athens.

But away from the (admittedly hard to resist) lure of mirror-clear seas and sumptuous strands, there’s plenty more to discover in this spellbinding southeastern European country, which stretches from culturally rich Macedonia in the north to the rugged landscapes and pristine seascapes of the Peloponnese peninsula in the south. Beyond the familiar postcard scenes lie ancient monasteries perched on seemingly impossible cliffs, remarkable feats of engineering and archaeological treasures hidden beneath the waves. From ancient shipwrecks to mineral-rich springs that have been drawing visitors for centuries, these are seven wonders of Greece that deserve a place on your itinerary.

Rio–Antirrio Bridge

With its triangular sections like giant sails, the world’s longest multi-span cable-stayed bridge seems to float above the wave-riffled waters of the vast Rion Strait like a magnificent ship. Bridging the 2,880-metre-long gap between the town of Rio on the Peloponnese peninsula and Antirrio in mainland Greece, this miracle of modern engineering, which took five years to build and cost around €800 million, was finally opened in 2004.

Once upon a time, it took 50 minutes to cross the strait in a ferry; nowadays, you can whizz back and forth between the Peloponnese and mainland Greece in minutes. You’ll probably want to drive at a dawdling pace, however, because the views over the strait’s indigo depths to the mighty mountain ranges beyond are almost as spectacular as the bridge itself.

Corinth Canal

Stand on one of the banks of the Corinth Canal watching a boat passing through the impossibly narrow, 21.3-metre-wide cleft between sheer limestone rock walls, and you can’t fail to be wowed by this mammoth project that involved cutting through several kilometres of solid rock. Back in the 7th century BC, when notorious tyrant Periander first conceived his idea of creating a pathway between the Ionian and Aegean Seas, he was considered crazy.

Over the centuries, historical figures including the Roman emperors Caligula and Nero toyed with the idea – in 67 AD, Emperor Nero set a team of thousands of labourers to work on the mammoth task, but the project was abandoned following his death in 68 AD. Work finally began in 1882, and after a slew of financial and technical issues, the 6.4-kilometre canal connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf opened in 1893.

Following months of closure for landslide prevention and restoration works, the canal reopened to navigation in June 2026, allowing smaller vessels and tourist boats to once again make the spectacular passage between its towering walls. For a more adventurous way to see it up close, you can even do a bungee jump.

Mani Towers

Starting south of Kalamata and stretching to Cape Tainaron, the fabled entrance to the Underworld, the Mani sits on the middle digit of the Peloponnese.

Backed by the mighty Taygetus mountains, the thyme-spiked landscapes of this rugged region, which remained relatively isolated until the expansion of its road network in the 20th century, are dotted with pyrgospita, unique stone towers as narrow as church belfries, where belligerent locals hid out as they flung cannonballs at each other during the endless feuds that rocked these hillsides for centuries.

With feuds long gone, you should explore picturesque pyrgospita villages such as Vathia or Pyrgos, sample smoked pork sygklino, myzithra cheese and other traditional treats in the taverna tower of Barba Petros, and then spend the night in your very own pyrgospiti, hopefully without throwing cannonballs at your neighbours.

Hot Springs, Edipsos

For centuries, visitors have flocked to the seaside resort of Edipsos on Evia’s northern gulf to wallow in mineral-rich spring waters, long celebrated for their therapeutic properties. The town's bathing tradition dates back to antiquity, with famous visitors over the years including Aristotle and Maria Callas. Bubbling out of the ground at temperatures that can reach 80°C, hot springs criss-cross the entire town: streaming through the centre in narrow canals, or gushing in steaming waterfalls from cliffs near the beach. Where the thermal waters meet the cooler sea, visitors can enjoy a natural open-air bathing experience.

If you fancy a tad more luxury, there are several hotels that have harnessed the hot waters. The best is grand dame hotel Thermae Sylla, which has an award-winning medical spa complex with indoor and outdoor spring-fed pools.

Parthenon of Shipwrecks, Alonissos

Home to the Mediterranean’s first underwater museum, Alonissos is one of the remotest islands of the Sporades island chain, which includes Mamma Mia island, Skopelos and party-loving Skiathos. Greece’s so-called ‘Parthenon of shipwrecks’ is a merchant vessel that sank off this coastline with several thousand wine amphorae on board sometime in the fifth century BC.

It lies some 25 metres down, beneath glass-clear waters in Alonissos’ 2,260 sq km national marine park where endangered monk seals find refuge. Opened to visitors in 2020, the underwater museum allows certified divers to explore the ancient wreck alongside experienced guides. You'll need an Advanced Open Water Diver qualification to take the plunge, but those who prefer to stay on dry land can discover the shipwreck through a virtual experience at the Visitor Information Centre in Patitiri. Away from those mesmerising waters, grab a seat at Hayiati, a cliff-perched café in island capital Hora’s cobbled streets where they serve delicious cinnamon-dusted galatopita milk pie.

Teriade Museum Lesvos

One of my favourite Greek islands, Lesvos, has plenty of hidden gems, but the Teriade Museum, in the village of Varia, just outside Mytilene, is the one not to miss. Teriade, who studied art in Paris, rubbed shoulders with many of the 20th century’s greatest artists, and he managed to persuade them to collaborate with him on his celebrated art publication, Verve, which he published from 1937 right up to 1960.

The museum's collection includes beautifully illustrated artists' books, original prints and works by Chagall, Picasso, Matisse and other 20th-century ‘greats’. In any major city, this museum would be packed; in Lesvos, you’ll probably have it almost all to yourself.

Meteora Monasteries

It’s hardly surprising that the magical Meteora monasteries have inspired filmmakers and artists alike, with their extraordinary landscape even providing the backdrop for the Eyrie in Game of Thrones: perched on top of their lofty stone pinnacles, these medieval sanctuaries rise out of Thessaly’s dramatic landscape like colossal sponge fingers.

The six monasteries, whose name derives from the Greek word meaning 'suspended in the air', are among Greece's most extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While they can get busy during the summer months, particularly with day-trippers from Athens, visiting early in the morning or outside peak season offers a quieter experience. Kalambaka, the town at the foot of the towering rocks, is around a four-hour drive from the capital.

It’s well worth making the effort to visit, however, for the thrill of visiting Agia Triada (Holy Trinity), which starred in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, or seeing the historic hoisting mechanisms once used to transport monks and supplies up to Moni Varlaam, a 16th-century monastery perched on a precipitous cinnamon-coloured swirl of rock which is now reached by clambering up 195 steps.