10 Places in Greece That Look Like They’ve Been Taken Out Of Fairy Tales

Greece – what a captivating word (I am not referring to the economic situation!). Greece is a mountainous country surrounded by the Greek seas – seas that only lead to most spectacular islands in the world. Greece and the Greek islands, each of these words represents a whole world of landscapes and personality that make us feel like the gods of Olympus. Greece was,  is,  and will always be a paradise for travelers who want to experience the essence of Western civilization.

The highest mountain in Greece is Mount Olympus – its very steep rock walls make it nearly impossible to climb. It is so high, that you can hardly see the top , which is always surrounded by clouds. The Greeks had countless gods who represented the force of nature. Enough with the Gods though and let step up to fairytales, since I gathered up 10 photos from Greece that look like they have been taken by the Gods of Olympus!

10. The Rousanou monastery, Meteora.

Rousanou monastery, Meteora
Rousanou monastery, Meteora
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Can a monastery be suspended from heaven? The answer is yes and it is located in Greece, in the region of Thessaly, we speak of the Monasteries of Meteora. It is about six Orthodox Christian monasteries, World Heritage Sites (1988) by UNESCO, built on the summit of rocky masses of sandstone beautifully carved by erosion, at a height of 600 meters and inhabited since the 14th century. The first monks, hermits, reached those peaks (Meteoras, in the Greek language means body fallen from heaven) from their caves driven by an irrepressible desire to be closer to God.

9. Elafonisi Beach, Crete.

Balos Beach
Elafonhsi Beach
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Elafonisi, in southwestern Crete, has become a very popular destination for hikers who reach this corner of paradise by car, bus or boat. Its main attraction for most tourists is the unique sensation of being in a South Sea lagoon while enjoying a vacation in the Mediterranean.

8. Melissani Cave, Kefalonia.

Melissani Cave, Kefalonia
Melissani Cave, Kefalonia
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Melissani cave, a natural treasure discovered in the middle of the 20th century. Its interior lake with beautiful turquoise waters invites us to a tour with small boats, a ride full of magic between the impressive rocks and the games of light that access through the open areas that the cave ceiling presents.

7. Santorini, Cyclades islands.

Oia, Santorini
Oia, Santorini

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Santorini (or Thira) is one of those Greek islands that you have to visit yes or yes. The only downside to it is the overcrowding, although almost all tourism is concentrated in Oia (especially at sunset). Otherwise, it is a small, pleasant island, with long beaches, charming villages and good communications both by sea and by air.

6. Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia.

Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia
Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia

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Located at the beginning of the northern peninsula of Kefalonia (Kefalonia), Myrtos (Mirthos) beach is often considered the most beautiful on the island. The beach is located at the base of a high rock wall along which the coastal path passes. The beach can be reached via a secondary road that leads to a parking lot near the beach. On Mirthos beach you can rent umbrellas to protect you from the sun. The sea after a few meters from the shore becomes deep.

5. Balos beach, Crete.

Balos Beach
Balos Beach

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Balos is perhaps the most famous beach in Crete, the one that appears in all the advertising brochures. The beach is famous for the colors of the sea and the impressive view from the point where you leave your car (or rather, off-road vehicle). From this point you go down, with a half hour walk, to the beach.

4. Methoni Castle, Peloponnese.

Methoni Castle, Peloponnese
Methoni Castle, Peloponnese

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The shield of Venice with the winged lion still shines on the walls of the wall in front of the moat -now dry- of the fortress of Methoni. On this side, access to the enclosure is extremely complex and was only possible with a wooden bridge. By sea its attack is no less costly, and at the same time it allows a supply as happened in its siege.

3. Navagio Beach, Zakynthos.

Navagio Beach, Zakynthos
Navagio Beach, Zakynthos

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Navagio Beach in Greece is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The electrifying turquoise color of its waters falls in love and impresses all who visit it. I am lucky to have visited this wonderful place and I can give faith that it is a unique place. She had seen many photos about Navagio Beach and its famous turquoise blue waters. However, I was a little scared, as I thought it was not as spectacular as it looked in the photos. You know, photoshop, the app that leaves you photos in a minute like the best photographer, well, I was afraid that my expectations were too high for a place that, perhaps, was not how it looked in the photos.

2. Papigo, Epirus.

Papigo, Epirus
Papigo, Epirus

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Considered one of the most beautiful towns in Zagoria, Papigo is made up of two districts: Megalo and Mikro. It is located in the Vikos gorge and is reached by crossing the Voidomatis River Bridge. The main characteristic of this town is that it is built entirely of stone and that its alleys are narrow and zigzagging. Some of the most interesting points in Megalo Papigo are the natural sources and the library of Micheal Anagnostopoulos with more than 1,250 volumes. Mikro Papigo is designed as an amphitheater on the steep slopes of the mountain. From there you can reach the Dragon Lake, located on a limestone cliff and overlooking the Aoos Valley.

1. Mouse Island (Pontikonisi).

Pontikonisi
Pontikonisi

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Within the Kanoni peninsula is the islet of Pontikonisi, which can be reached by boat. It is a green island, covered with cypress and pine trees where there is also a beautiful Byzantine chapel, the small church of Pantokratora, which dates back to 1100. According to Greek mythology, the islet is actually Odysseus’s ship, which was transformed into rock by the god Poseidon. This secluded and beautiful place was a favorite of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.