Greece is a country built by tectonic violence and shaped by water. The land fractures into thousands of islands, each with its own geology of limestone cliffs and volcanic bays. Meteora presents pillars of rock that seem to float above the plains, monasteries perched on their summits like afterthoughts. The Vikos Gorge cuts so deep that the river at its bottom is barely visible from the rim. Caves open into underground lakes, and beaches are backed by vertical cliffs that plunge straight into the Ionian Sea. Every corner of this country tells a story written in stone and salt water.
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Greece offers an array of opportunities to explore the country and the culture. There is food, arts, and festivals, but traveling to Greece can also offer an opportunity to explore various geographical features that vary widely within one country. It is not often that one may see such an array of land features all in one country that covers no more than 131,940 sq km (50,942 sq mi) and is roughly the size of Alabama in the United States.
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\nPhoto licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Leonora Enking
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Mountains
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Over 80% of Greece consists of mountains. It is one of the most mountainous regions in all of Europe, third only to Norway and Albania. It is located in South-Eastern Europe at the convergence of three continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa. What makes this country unique is the view of the sea from almost any mountain top. The mountains are not very high, the tallest being just less than 3,000 meters, but the sea is never more than 100 km away. Mount Olympus is the tallest mountain and contains over 52 peaks. It also is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including rare species such as the Balkan chamois. The mountain range of Pindus runs through the centre of the country, creating a natural spine that separates the eastern plains from the western coastline.
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Peninsula
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Greece offers a unique combination of largely mountainous regions, but also a peninsula. Peninsulas are characterized as being projected into a large body of water but connected to a mainland. Often a peninsula is surrounded by almost 75% water. Greece is located at the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula on the Peninsula of Haemus. This peninsula is connected to the mainland by the canal of Corinth Isthmus. The Peloponnese is the most famous Greek peninsula, a large landmass connected to the mainland by the narrow Isthmus of Corinth. Its landscape ranges from the snowy peaks of Taygetus to the sandy beaches of the Mani Peninsula, offering dramatic contrasts within a small area.
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Islands
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Greece includes over 1,600 islands and islets that are grouped into clusters. There are only 227 of the islands that are actually inhabited though. Five of the most popular and well known are: Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, the Dodecanese and the Cyclades. An entire vacation alone could be spent exploring this vast region of islands. Potentially the most famous is Crete. It is the largest island in Greece and fifth largest in the Mediterranean. It serves as a large tourist hub so much of the economy and business caters to travellers. The other islands are lesser known than Crete but still have much to offer, with less tourism traffic making it easier to explore their beauty.
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\nPhoto licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Ronald Saunders
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Hot Springs and Caves
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One significant hot spring has been the site of many battles of centuries due to its valuable location on the Balkan Peninsula that is a necessary passage route from the north to the south. This was the site where the Persians and Spartans battled and the oft repeated saying “Go tell it to the Spartans” was ignited. Thermopylae remains one of the most historically significant hot springs in the world. Beyond the hot springs, Greece is home to thousands of caves, many of which contain underground lakes and stunning stalactite formations. The Diros Caves in the Peloponnese are among the most spectacular, where visitors explore subterranean chambers by boat through crystal clear waters.
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Forests of Greece
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Up to one quarter of the land area of Greece is covered by forests. They are considered to be of significant value to the natural landscape and tourism industry so they are widely protected. Housed within these forests are many national parks where afternoons picnicking can be a delightful treat. These parks tend to be located deep within valleys in between gorges so an afternoon dining provides quite a sight. The forests of Greece range from the oak and beech woodlands of the north to the pine forests of the Peloponnese and the unique palm forest of Vai on Crete, which is the largest natural palm grove in Europe. These habitats support a wealth of wildlife, including brown bears and wolves. The Vikos-Aoos National Park protects one of the deepest gorges in the world, carved by the Voidomatis River over millions of years.
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\nPhoto licensed under the Creative Commons, created by musarium
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Coastline and Beaches
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With over 13,676 kilometres of coastline, Greece has one of the longest in the world. The indented coast creates countless coves and headlands offering a beach for every taste. From the black sand beaches of Santorini to the white pebble shores of Zakynthos, the variety is remarkable. The coastline is dotted with sea caves, such as the Blue Cave on Kastellorizo, where sunlight filters through underwater openings.
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View Experience the Amazing Geographical Features of Greece in a larger map
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Which Greek landscape would you most want to explore up close: a gorge, a cave, or a sea cliff? ⛰️
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Explore more Greece travel guides.
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