Things to See in Greece

Spectacularly perched atop a 116m (383ft)-high rock is the Acropolis. It's about a 10-minute climb to the well-signposted entrance gate. Once inside, a flight of steps leads to a large square. On the left is a warship hewn out of the rock by the sculptor Pythocretes. A statue of Hagesandros, priest of Poseidon, originally stood on the deck of the ship.

This is one of the world's great museums, housing the most important finds from archaeological sites around the country. The museum's tour de force is its fabulous collection of Mycenaean antiquities, including the celebrated Mask of Agamemnon unearthed at Mycenae, and the Warrior Vase, depicting men leaving for war and a woman waving them goodbye.

The site of Vergina (pronounced ver-yee-nah) is ancient Aigai, the first capital of Macedon. The capital was later transferred to Pella, but Aigai remained the royal cemetery. Philip II was assassinated here in 336 BC at his daughter Cleopatra's wedding. One of Greece's most famous (and costly) archaeological sites, Vergina is known generically as the Royal Tombs.

Of all the ancient sites in Greece, Delphi is perhaps the fairest of them all - the one with the most potent 'spirit of place'. Built on the slopes of Mt Parnassos, overlooking the Gulf of Corinth and extending into a valley of cypress and olive trees, this World Heritage-listed site's allure lies both in its stunning setting and its inspiring ruins.

Athens exists because of the Acropolis, the Western world's most important ancient monument. Crowned by the Parthenon, it's visible from almost everywhere within the city, with monuments of Pentelic marble gleaming white at midday and taking on a honey hue as the sun sinks. An unexpected glimpse of this magnificent sight can't fail to lift your spirits.

Santorini is regarded by many as the most spectacular of the Greek islands. Thousands come to marvel at its sea-filled caldera, a vestige of what was probably the world's largest volcanic eruption. Its landscapes of blue-domed roofs, dazzling white walls and black-sand beaches contrast the charming with the unearthly.

Knossos (k-nos-os) was the capital of Minoan Crete and is now Crete's major tourist attraction. The ruins, home of King Minos' mythical Minotaur, were uncovered in 1900 by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. Evans was so enthralled by his discovery that he spent 35 years and 250,000.00 of his own money excavating and reconstructing sections of the palace.

The monasteries of Meteora are one of the most extraordinary sights in mainland Greece. Built into and on top of huge pinnacles of smooth rock, the earliest monasteries were reached by climbing articulated removable ladders. Later, windlasses were used so monks could be hauled up in nets, a method used until the 1920s.

The Panhellenic Camping Association publishes an annual booklet listing all the camping grounds, their facilities and months of operation.