12 Beautiful Medieval Cities and Towns in Greece That Transport You Back in Time
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Greece is a world-famous summer vacation destination that draws tourists worldwide with the promise of soft white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, long sunny days, and delicious cuisine. However, the country is arguably best known for its rich history, making it a must-visit destination for history buffs.
While popular places like Athens are loved for their ancient Greek history, Greece is known for its medieval history. As such, beautifully preserved settlements, fortified towns, and historical medieval centers exist all over Greece, waiting to be explored. We’ve compiled a list of 12 beautiful medieval cities and towns in Greece to show you what you’re missing. Stick around to learn more.
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If you had to time-travel to one medieval Greek gem for a date with history, which would you choose?
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Athens
We’ll start our list with Athens, the capital of Greece. Athens, Greece’s most visited tourist destination, is a fascinating city renowned for its rich history, culture, and traditional cuisine. However, while Athens is famous for its ancient history, few tourists know much about its medieval past.
Most tourists flock to the iconic Acropolis of Athens to get their fill of history when, in reality, there is so much more to see. Beautiful examples of Greece’s medieval past remain inside the modern city of Athens, including the Little Metropolis, the Holy Church of Saint Nicholas Rangavas, and the Church of Agios Eleftherios. The best way to explore Athens’s medieval architecture is to get lost and explore the narrow streets. Of course, make sure you visit the Acropolis, too.
Read more: Best Hotels in Athens
Rhodes Town
Rhodes Town, with its breathtaking medieval Old Town, fortified walls, and medieval palaces, is perhaps Greece’s most famous medieval location. It has a multi-millennium history and is home to world-famous historical sites, such as the Street of the Knights and the Palace of the Grand Masters of the Knights of Rhodes.
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It is one of my absolute favorite places to explore in Greece; you’ll enjoy meandering the narrow cobblestone streets, walking the medieval ramparts, and admiring the picturesque coastal views. Once you’ve explored the Old Town, stop by the harbor, where you’ll find the two pillars marking where once Colossus of Rhodes stood, sunbathe on Elli Beach, and pick up souvenirs from one of the floating stalls.
Read more: Most Expensive Cities to Live in Greece
Monemvasia
Monemvasia is easily one of Greece’s most spectacular towns. It’s located in mainland Greece but sits on a rocky island only connected to the mainland via a small path. Besides its apparent beauty, this fortified town in Southern Greece has a rich history that is begging to be explored. The Byzantines founded the town in the sixth century.
Its main highlight is an imposing castle that looks down on the town below, surrounding it with tall stone walls. Inside the vast wall system, you’ll find many examples of medieval houses, narrow winding streets, and a fascinating archaeological museum inside a 16th-century Ottoman mosque. Other noteworthy points of interest in the town include Galeazza Cistern, the Lighthouse of Monemvasia, and Zentrales Tor der Akropolis von Monemvasia.
Read also: Surprising Facts About Greece
Corfu Town
Corfu Town, the capital of Corfu Island, is a historic city loved for its beautiful harbor, historic landmarks, and vibrant architecture. If you’re looking for authentic Greek charm, picturesque walks, and endless historic sites to admire, this is the place for you. You’ll want to start your adventure in Corfu Town at the Old Fortress of Corfu, a 15th-century fortress that dominates the city’s skyline.
Here, you can learn more about Venetian architecture and take in panoramic views of the Old Town. The Old Town is jam-packed with impressive buildings, traditional pastel-colored houses, and authentic tavernas. Other landmarks that will keep you busy during your visit include the Achilleion Palace, the Old Castle, and the Anemomilos Windmill.
Read more: Seaside Greek Towns That Are Not on Islands
Hydra Town
Hydra Town is a gorgeous medieval town dominated by multi-colored mansions. Built in the shape of an amphitheater on the rocky slopes of Hydra Island and surrounded by steep hills, it’s declared a traditional and protected settlement. It’s an excellent place to escape the daily grind and explore an authentic medieval Greek town.
A walk along the harbor waterfront will allow you to get close to the town’s mansions, traditional houses, and luxury yachts. Aside from the town’s laid-back lifestyle and relaxed atmosphere, one of the things we love most about Hydra is the lack of cars. The entire island is car-free, so you can explore without the noise of revving engines. As such, boating, hiking, and cycling are popular here.
Read also: Digital Nomad Destinations in Greece
Mystras
The following medieval town on our list is Mystras, a fortified town located on mainland Greece famed for its intriguing architecture, rich history, and beautiful natural scenery. Dubbed the “wonder of Morea,” the town was built as an amphitheater around a fortress in the 13th century. After being ruled by the Byzantines, Turks, and Venetians, Mystras was abandoned in 1832.
Today, only the nuns of Pantanassa Monastery live in this designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Points of interest in Mystras you don’t want to miss include the Acropolis and Fortification Castle of Mystras, the Constantine XI Palaeologus statue, and the Archaeological site of Mystra.
Read also: Stunning Greek Islands
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Lamia
In central Greece, in the foothills of Mount Othrys, Lamia is a relatively unheard-of and lesser-traveled city. That’s a shame because the ancient city has many things to do, a beautiful natural landscape, and some of Greece’s most well-preserved medieval architecture. To top things off, the town is named after a mythical child-eating figure.
The standout attraction in Lamia is Lamia Castle. This castle stands proudly above the city, dominating the hillside and offering spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. You can see the Malian Gulf and the peaks of Kallidromo, Oiti, Parnassus, and Kallidromo from the fortress. Lamia’s city center also has much to offer, including the Statue of Athanasios Diakos, the Mansion of the Central Greece Administration, and Eleutheria’s Square.
Read also: Budget Beach Towns in Greece
Mykonos Town
People often associate Mykonos with daylong parties, vibrant nightclubs, and luxury vacation resorts. While that is true in most parts, the island is also home to many charming seaside towns and villages that offer a more authentic experience. One place that offers the best of both worlds is Mykonos Town.
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When you’re not partying the night away at Super Paradise Beach or sipping cocktails at a bar, you can discover the island’s medieval past by exploring the town’s historic streets. The town’s winding cobbled streets are lined with architectural masterpieces from the medieval period, traditional whitewashed houses, and Venetian-era buildings. Significant points of interest in the town include Manto Square, the Manto Mavrogenous Monument, the Maritime Museum, and Little Venice.
Read also: Charming Greek Villages
Chania
History buffs searching for the ultimate history lesson in Greece often head straight to Athens. While Athens is great, we can’t help but think Chania deserves more attention. This beautiful small city on the northwest coast of Crete has a diverse history that dates back to 3650 B.C. As a result, as you walk through the city, you’ll come across many exciting buildings and landmarks from different periods, including medieval.
However, you’ll find most of the action in the vibrant 14th-century Venetian harbor. The narrow streets of the harbor are a joy to behold. You’ll find colorful houses, quaint cafes, Greek restaurants, and quirky souvenir shops. Other places you don’t want to miss include the 16th-century lighthouse, the Nautical Museum, and Küçük Hasan Pasha Mosque.
Read also: Tips To Save Money While Traveling Greece
Kastoria
The next city on our list is Kastoria, a scenic city on the western shore of Lake Orestiada in Central Greece. The city’s rich history has seen it ruled by the Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians, and Normans. Therefore, you can expect many ancient and medieval architecture examples, including 54 Byzantine and medieval churches.
That might sound like a lot of churches, but the city once had 72. Admittedly, you’ll likely spend most of your time in Kastoria hiking or sailing, but you should leave plenty of time to admire the city’s historical landmarks, too. Notable points of interest include the Holy Church of Saint Stephen, the Byzantine Museum, and the Holy Church of Elijah the Prophet.
Read also: Avoid These Mistakes in Greece
Oia
You’ll likely already have seen Oia before because it’s the location of Santorini’s iconic Instagram sunset spot. Located in northwestern Santorini, this famous town is renowned for its traditional white-washed architecture with blue roofs, impressive cliffs, and deep blue seas. However, most people don’t realize the town also has a medieval history.
In the medieval period, the Castle of Agios Nikolaos was built in Oia to protect the island from pirates. Locals would live inside the castle walls for protection. Over the years, houses were constructed outside the castle walls, leaving us with the town we see today. This is certainly something interesting to consider when photographing the famous viewpoint. You can still visit the castle, too, so stop by.
Read also: Most Beautiful Cities in Greece
Nafplion
Once the capital of modern Greece, Nafplion City has a rich history, beautiful architecture, and picturesque beaches perfect for sunbathing, making it the ideal summer vacation destination. However, it’s a surprisingly lesser-traveled place than other cities in Greece. In Nafplion, you can step into Greece’s fascinating medieval past.
During medieval times, Nafplion was occupied by the Venetians, who were responsible for making the city a crucial naval base in the Peloponnese. Today, we can see what they left behind in the form of the impressive Palamidi Fortress. This fortress was designed to protect the town from attackers. The Venetians also built the stunning 15th-century Bourtzi Castle, which you must take a boat to see.
Read also: Essential Tips for Greek Island Hopping
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