Greece's World Heritage Sites

Greece Travel Secrets lists Greece's UNESCO World Heritage Sites from the first, Bassae, to the latest, Zagori, plus the Acropolis, Delphi, Mycenae and more.

Delphi is one of Greece's World Heritage SitesDelphi is One of Greece's World Heritage Sites

How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites there are in the whole of Greece? A quick look at the UNESCO website shows that there are 18 of them. Reading down the list made us appreciate how lucky we’ve been to have seen almost all of them, in our years of travel around Greece.

Greece's World Heritage Sites in Date Order

Bassae

Bassae is one of Greece's World Heritage SitesBassae

The first to be included on the list, which began in 1978, was the remarkable Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae (or Vassae). This was added in 1986. It’s in a remote spot in the Peloponnese, and we were fortunate enough to see it while researching a guidebook to Mainland Greece. It’s covered in a huge canopy to protect it during restoration work, but you can peek inside it. See our full page about the Temple of Bassae.

Acropolis

Hand-written sign pointing the way to the Acropolis in Athens

The Acropolis in Athens was added to the list in 1987. We’ll never forget our first visit to Athens, and to the Acropolis. We had lunch at a taverna in the back streets of the Plaka. When we left we asked the owner how to get to the Acropolis, which isn’t straightforward if you come from the Plaka side. He gave us directions, and then said, with a laugh: ‘I must go and see it myself some time. I’ve never been!’

Delphi

Delphi is one of Greece's World Heritage SitesDelphi

Delphi was also added to UNESCO’s list in 1987. Nor will we ever forget our first visit to Delphi, on the same research trip when we visited Bassae. We're sure no-one ever forgets their first sight of Delphi, and the magnificent views all around. No wonder the Ancient Greeks thought it was the centre of the universe. We stayed in the nearby mountain town of Arachova, rather than in Delphi itself, and we highly recommend it.

Medieval City of Rhodes

The Palace of the Grand Masters in the Medieval City of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage SiteThe Palace of the Grand Masters in the Medieval City of Rhodes
A UNESCO World Heritage Site

This was added in 1988, along with Meteora, Epidavros, Mount Athos, and the Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki. See our Walk In the Old Town of Rhodes, which you can download as a PDF to print out.

Our Pick of the Guides to Greece

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Mystras and Ancient Olympia

Mystras in Greece, a UNESCO World Heritage SiteMystras

These were both added in 1989. Check our pages on Mystras (or Mystra) and Ancient Olympia.

Delos and Chios

The ruins of Delos, one of Greece's UNESCO World Heritage SitesDelos

In 1990 it was the turn of Delos and the monasteries of Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni on Chios to join Greece’s ever-growing list of World Heritage Sites.

Samos

The island of Samos in GreeceSamos

In 1992 UNESCO recognised the ancient sites of Pythagoreion and Heraion on Samos.

Vergina

Entrance to one of the royal tombs at Vergina in Macedonia, GreeceEntrance to One of the Royal Tombs at Vergina

In 1996 the Archaeological Site and Royal Tombs at Vergina joined the list.

Patmos, Mycenae, and Tiryns

Beehive Tomb at Mycenae, One of Greece's World Heritage SitesBeehive Tomb at Mycenae
One of Greece's World Heritage Sites

1999 saw three more places in Greece added to UNESCO’s list. They were the archaeological sites of Mycenae and Tiryns, along with the Historic Centre (Chorá), the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian, and the Cave of the Apocalypse all on Patmos.

Old Town of Corfu

The Narrow Streets in Corfu Old TownThe Narrow Streets in Corfu Old Town

2007 was the year that the lovely Old Town of Corfu was added to UNESCO’s list. Anyone who’s spent time wandering round its streets will understand that. As with Rhodes Old Town, we’ve devised a Walk in Old Corfu Town that you can download as a PDF.

Philippi

The archaeological site at Philippi, one of Greece's World Heritage SitesPhilippi

The most recent addition to UNESCO’s list in Greece was in 2016, when the archaeological site of Philippi was included. And yes, we went there on our Mainland Greece research trip.

Zagori

zagoria-stone-bridge-pixabay-2.jpgZagori Stone Bridge

Added in September 2023, the area of Zagori (or Zagoria) has been included for its architectural treasures, including the mix of Byzantine and Ottoman styles.

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