27. Acropolis

What is the Acropolis?

The Acropolis is a rocky outcrop that sits above Athens. There is evidence that people lived and/or worshipped on the rock from the 6th millenium BC but many of the famous remains that we see today (the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike) were constructed 460-406 BC. The Parthenon and the other buildings were seriously damaged during the 1687 siege by the Venetians when gunpowder being stored in the Parthenon was hit by a cannonball and exploded.

What's the Acropolis like? 

The Acropolis is stupendous. The sheer size of each of the pillars in the Parthenon is mind-blowing when you consider how many pillars there are. Athens is also a fantastic city to visit and I highly recommend it.

Where is the Acropolis? 

Athens, Greece

When did we go to the Acropolis?

October 2020

How did we get there?

I flew to Athens and stayed for two nights, giving myself a whole day to see the main sights. The Acropolis is very much part of the city and only a short walk from the centre. I walked up early (it opens at 8am) to beat the crowds - it was lovely and quiet but I was still surrounded by a coach party. 

Worth noting:

A modern new Acropolis Museum was opened in 2009 and is located a few minutes' walk from the main entrance to the Acropolis. It contains a lot of the sculptures from the site and is well worth a visit.

What was the Acropolis's position in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist?

28. It moved up one place.

Does the Acropolis deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet top 500?

Definitely -  I'd put it higher up.

62. Cyclades

What are the Cyclades?

The Cyclades are a group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. They include Santorini and Mykonos, both very well known tourist destinations, as well as less famous islands of Naxos, Milos and Folegandros and around 200 other smaller islands.

What are the Cyclades like: 

The Cyclades are stunningly beautiful. Santorini and Mykonos are probably my favourite Greek islands - they're very different in personality but both are wonderful.

Where are the Cyclades? 

Greece 

When did we go?

September 2008

How did we get there?

We went to Santorini, staying in Perissa for a week, having booked with a tour operator. We stopped using tour operators the year after and started booking our own flights and hotels.  

Worth noting: 

You can travel by ferry between the islands - it takes around 3 hours maximum to get from one to the other.

Where were the Cyclades in the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist? 

Santorini was on the list in its own right at number 18.

Do the Cyclades deserve their place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500? 

Without a doubt, yes. The Greek islands have to be seen.

71. Knossos

What is Knossos?

Knossos in Crete has been referred to as 'Europe's first city'. Inhabited since Neolithic times (around 7000 BC), a building resembling a palace was first constructed at Knossos around 2000 BC. It was damaged and rebuilt until it was finally destroyed in the 1300s BC. At its peak (around 1700 BC), the area surrounding the palace was home to 100,000 people. Historians refer to this period of history in Crete as 'Minoan' - Minos was the king of Crete in Greek mythology, although there were likely two King Minoses, one good and one bad. The bad one is known for sacrificing young people to the Minotaur who lived in the labyrinth built by Daedalus.  

What is Knossos like?

It's relatively compact and easy to cover in a couple of hours. I actually preferred the Archaeological Museum in nearby Heraklion - this contains many of the artefacts from Knossos. The size of some of the huge pieces of pottery and the craftsmanship of the jewellery are incredible. 

Where is Knossos?

Crete, Greece

When did we go?

October 2021 - it would have been Pete's 60th birthday and he'd definitely have wanted to celebrate with a trip to Greece.

How did we get there? 

We flew to Heraklion airport and stayed in a hotel in Heraklion before getting a bus out to Knossos.

Worth noting: 

The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is a few miles away in the city centre. It's well worth a visit. There had been a big earthquake the week before I visited and the first floor was shut so I only saw half of it, but it was still highly impressive.

Where was Knossos on the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

It was not featured in 2015. It was added to the list in 2020.

Does Knossos deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500?

It doesn't have the spectacular impact of the Pyramids or Karnak or other sites - I would not have put it so high up.  

Santorini

What is it: Santorini is a Greek island. It's special for a number of reasons; it was once a volcano that erupted and collapsed in on itself, so it forms an unusual crescent shape today; there is a theory that Santorini is Atlantis; if you want picture-postcard Greece with blue roofs and white buildings, then Santorini is the place to come.
What's it like: It's stunningly beautiful.
Where: Santorini, Greece
When: September 2008
How: We stayed in Perissa for a week, having booked with a tour operator. We stopped using tour operators the year after and started booking our own flights and hotels. 
Worth noting: It's not a huge island and there's a bus that goes between the main towns, so definitely go to Oia and Fira.

Place in the 2015 edition: 18
Did it deserve to lose its place in the top 500: It didn't lose its place exactly - the Cyclades appear at 62 in the list and Santorini is one of the Cyclades along with Mykonos and others. 

Rhodes Old Town

What is it: Rhodes is a Greek island mainly known for its tourist/wedding destination of Lindos. Rhodes Old Town is a beautiful, historic part of the city of Rhodes itself. Surrounded by medieval walls, it offers nine gates to the city with little streets, shops, and cafes inside, as well as museums.
What's it like: Every Greek island has its archaeological site (Delos in Mykonos for example) but Rhodes Old Town is something completely different. It's a living, breathing place that offers a glimpse of centuries of history.
Where: Rhodes, Greece
When: September 2014
How: We stayed in nearby Lindos for a week - Lindos is extremely touristy but it has retained a lot of charm. We got the bus to Rhodes Town for an afternoon. I'd actually recommend spending a day there and maybe joining a tour of some sort - there's a lot to see and we didn't cover half of it.
Worth noting: The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was built in 280 BC somewhere in Rhodes harbour (nobody is exactly sure where). It fell down only 54 years later during an earthquake. It was a mind-boggling 33 metres high. 
Place in the 2015 edition: 255

Did it deserve to lose its place in the top 500: No. It's very sad.