Map of Greece
Greece is a country in Europe with its capital at Athens, home to about 10.41 million people across 131,957 km². The interactive map below plots 30 cities and towns, 3 rivers, 2 mountain summits and 56 ports recorded for Greece in YearMaps.
- Population
- 10.41 million
- Area
- 131,957 km²
- Capital
- Athens
- Continent
- Europe
Interactive Map of Greece
Centred on Athens at 37.9853° N, 23.7314° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
Wonders & Great Monuments of Greece
The Parthenon & Acropolis, Statue of Zeus at Olympia and Colossus of Rhodes are marked on the map above. Click a pin or use "Show on map" to fly to each one.
The Parthenon & Acropolis
Classical Greece (Golden Age of Pericles) · Classical Antiquity
The Parthenon (; Ancient Greek: Παρθενών, romanised: Parthenōn [par.tʰe.nɔ̌ːn]; Greek: Παρθενώνας, romanised: Parthenónas [parθeˈnonas]) is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, that was dedicated to the goddess Athena. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of classical Greek art, and the Parthenon is considered an enduring symbol of ancient Greece, Western civilisation, and democracy.
The Parthenon was built in the 5th century BC in thanksgiving for the Greek victory over the Persian invaders during the Greco-Persian Wars. Like most Greek temples, the Parthenon also served as the city treasury. Construction started in 447 BC when the Delian League was at the peak of its power. It was completed in 438 BC; work on the artwork and decorations continued until 432 BC. For a time, it served as the treasury of the Delian League, which later became the Athenian Empire.
In the final decade of the 6th century AD, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. After the Ottoman conquest in the mid-15th century, it became a mosque. In the Morean War, a Venetian bomb landed on the Parthenon, which the Ottomans had used as a munitions dump, during the 1687 siege of the Acropolis. The resulting explosion severely damaged the Parthenon. From 1800 to 1803, the 7th Earl of Elgin controversially removed many of the surviving sculptures and subsequently shipped them to England where they are now known as the Elgin Marbles or Parthenon marbles. Since 1975, numerous large-scale restoration projects have been undertaken to preserve remaining artefacts and ensure its structural integrity.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Parthenon (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Built by
- Classical Greece (Golden Age of Pericles)
- Built
- 438 BCE
- Era
- Classical Antiquity
- Type
- Classical Sanctuary
- Status
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Coordinates
- 37.9715° N, 23.7266° E
Architectural Significance
Pioneered subtle optical corrections: no straight horizontal lines exist; columns tilt inward and taper with entasis curves to eliminate visual distortion.
Photos of The Parthenon & Acropolis
Lawrence Alma-Tadema · Public domain 
Ad Meskens You are free to use this picture for any purpose as long as you credit its author, Ad Meskens . Example: © Ad · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Tom Corser · CC BY-SA 3.0
History & architecture of The Parthenon & Acropolis
Architecture
The Parthenon is an octastyle peripteral Doric temple with an Ionic hexastyle amphiprostyle two-chambered cella. It was built on the euthynteria and krepis of its precursor building, the Older Parthenon. In common with other Greek temples, the Parthenon is built using the post and lintel construction, surrounded by columns ('peripteral') carrying an entablature. The gable-end of the Parthenon features eight columns instead of the traditional six found in typical Doric temples. Although octastyle temples were not entirely unknown, their presence in mainland Doric architecture, along with the wider inner masonry structure, the cella, makes the Parthenon unique in its design. There are seventeen columns on the sides. A ratio of 4:9 proportion is found in the elevation and the relationship of the columns to their spacing (the interaxial). There is a double row of columns at both the front and rear. The cella is divided into two compartments. The opisthodomos (the back room of the cella) contained the monetary contributions of the Delian League. The hexastyle pronaos replaced the typical distyle in antis porch to the naos. At either end of the building, the gable is finished with a triangular pediment originally occupied by sculpted figures.
The choice to design the Parthenon as an octostyle temple likely stemmed from the challenge of scale: creating a larger naos required a proportionally larger overall structure. Maintaining the traditional hexastyle layout would have necessitated wider spacing between columns, which could have compromised structural stability. Moreover, expanding the temple while adhering to the established Doric proportions would have disrupted their harmony. Consequently, the architects made a series of design decisions that ultimately broke with mainland Doric conventions to achieve both the desired size and aesthetic integrity.
The Parthenon's interior displays several unusual and innovative features. The northern peristyle contained an archaic naiskos and altar, preserved to maintain religious continuity on the site. The Parthenon's porticos are unusually shallow, and the naos includes a second step. The rear room (opisthodomos) was wider, a Cycladic trait, and held four columns, likely Ionic or Corinthian. Large doors connected the rooms, and the only pronaos had tall windows (about 3 m high and 2.5 m wide), a rare feature in Greek architecture. The north window also served as a landing for a staircase within the thick wall leading to the attic. Other irregularities include varying abacus lengths, deliberate interaxial differences of up to 4.8 cm, and uneven architrave blocks are misaligned and differ by as much as 18 cm. Scholars interpret these changes variously—as adjustments for corner contraction (Dinsmoor), evidence of a mid-construction design change (Wesenberg), or signs of improvisation when an Ionic frieze replaced an intended Doric one (Korres).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Parthenon (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Classical Greece (sculptor Phidias) · Classical Antiquity
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a giant seated figure, about 12.4 m (41 ft) tall, made by the Greek sculptor Phidias around 435 BC at the sanctuary of Olympia, Greece, and erected in the Temple of Zeus there. Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus.
The statue was a chryselephantine sculpture of ivory plates and gold panels on a wooden framework. Zeus sat on a painted cedarwood throne ornamented with ebony, ivory, gold, and precious stones. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The statue was lost and destroyed before the end of the 6th century AD, with conflicting accounts of the date and circumstances. Details of its form are known only from ancient Greek descriptions and representations on coins and art.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Statue of Zeus at Olympia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Built by
- Classical Greece (sculptor Phidias)
- Built
- 435 BCE
- Era
- Classical Antiquity
- Type
- Ancient Wonder
- Status
- UNESCO World Heritage Site (Archaeological Site of Olympia)
- Coordinates
- 37.6379° N, 21.6301° E
Architectural Significance
Ivory flesh and gold drapery plated over a wooden frame, kept from cracking with an olive-oil pool in the temple floor.
Photos of Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Jacob van der Ulft · Public domain 
Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0 
Maarten van Heemskerck · Public domain
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History & architecture of Statue of Zeus at Olympia
History
The statue of Zeus was commissioned by the Eleans, custodians of the Olympic Games, in the latter half of the fifth century BC for their newly constructed Temple of Zeus. Seeking to outdo their Athenian rivals, the Eleans employed sculptor Phidias, who had previously made the massive statue of Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon.
The statue occupied half the width of the aisle of the temple built to house it. The geographer Strabo noted early in the 1st century BC that the statue gave "the impression that if Zeus arose and stood erect he would unroof the temple." The Zeus was a chryselephantine sculpture, made with ivory and gold panels on a wooden substructure. No copy in marble or bronze has survived, though there are recognizable but only approximate versions on coins of nearby Elis and on Roman coins and engraved gems.
The 2nd-century AD geographer and traveler Pausanias left a detailed description: the statue was crowned with a sculpted wreath of olive sprays and wore a gilded robe made from glass and carved with animals and lilies. Its right hand held a small chryselephantine statue of crowned Nike, goddess of victory; its left a scepter inlaid with many metals, supporting an eagle. The throne featured painted figures and wrought images and was decorated with gold, precious stones, ebony, and ivory. Zeus' golden sandals rested upon a footstool decorated with an Amazonomachy in relief. The passage underneath the throne was restricted by painted screens.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Statue of Zeus at Olympia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Colossus of Rhodes
Hellenistic Rhodes (sculptor Chares of Lindos) · Hellenistic
The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek sun god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes, on the Greek island of the same name, by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was constructed to celebrate the successful defence of Rhodes against an attack by Demetrius I of Macedon, who had besieged it for a year with a large army and navy.
According to most contemporary descriptions, the Colossus stood approximately 70 cubits, or 33 metres (108 feet) high—approximately two-thirds of the height of the modern Statue of Liberty from feet to crown—making it the tallest statue in the ancient world. It collapsed during the earthquake of 226 BC, although parts of it were preserved. In accordance with the Oracle of Delphi, the Rhodians did not rebuild it. John Malalas wrote that Hadrian in his reign re-erected the Colossus, but he was mistaken. According to the Suda, the Rhodians were called Colossaeans (Κολοσσαεῖς), because they erected the statue on the island.
Since 2008, a series of proposals to build a new Colossus at Rhodes Harbour have been announced, although the actual location of the original monument remains in dispute.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Colossus of Rhodes (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Built by
- Hellenistic Rhodes (sculptor Chares of Lindos)
- Built
- 280 BCE
- Era
- Hellenistic
- Type
- Ancient Wonder
- Status
- Destroyed by earthquake (226 BCE); exact site unknown
- Coordinates
- 36.4510° N, 28.2278° E
Architectural Significance
Bronze plates fixed over an iron framework weighted with stone, built up in stages from an earthen ramp — one of the tallest statues of the ancient world.
Photos of Colossus of Rhodes
Maarten van Heemskerck / Philip Galle · Public domain 
Jebulon · CC0 
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
History & architecture of Colossus of Rhodes
Construction
Construction began in 292 BC. Ancient accounts, which differ to some degree, describe the structure as being built with iron tie bars to which bronze plates were fixed to form the skin. The interior of the structure, which stood on a 15-metre-high (49-foot) white marble pedestal near the Rhodes harbour entrance, was then filled with stone blocks as construction progressed. Other sources place the Colossus on a breakwater in the harbour. According to most contemporary descriptions, the statue itself was about 70 cubits, or 32 metres (105 feet) tall. Much of the iron and bronze was reforged from the various weapons Demetrius's army left behind, and the abandoned second siege tower may have been used for scaffolding around the lower levels during construction.
Philo of Byzantium wrote in De septem mundi miraculis that Chares created the sculpture in situ by casting it in horizontal courses and then placing "...a huge mound of earth around each section as soon as it was completed, thus burying the finished work under the accumulated earth, and carrying out the casting of the next part on the level."
Modern engineers have put forward a hypothesis for the statue's construction (based on the technology of the time), and the accounts of Philo and Pliny, who saw and described the ruins.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Colossus of Rhodes (CC BY-SA 4.0).
About Greece
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country located mostly on the Balkan peninsula of Southeastern Europe, with thousands of islands extending geographically to Asia Minor. It has a population of around 10 million. With nine regions and up to 227 inhabited islands, it has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean. The Ionian Sea is west of the mainland, Albania northwest, and North Macedonia and Bulgaria north. Turkey is east both by land and the Aegean Sea. The capital, Athens, is the largest Greek city, followed by Thessaloniki and Patras.
At the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, Greece is often considered the cradle of Western civilisation, Western philosophy, and Western literature, but also had a profound influence on the Eastern world, including on Egypt, Iran, Anatolia, India and later on the Islamic world. Through the Ancient Greeks, Greece is the birthplace of democracy, historiography, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, theatre, and the Olympic Games. The Ancient Greeks were organised into independent city-states, or poleis (singular polis), that spanned the Mediterranean and Black seas. Philip II of Macedon united most of present-day Greece in the fourth century BC, with his son Alexander the Great conquering much of the known ancient world from the Near East to northwestern India. The subsequent Hellenistic period saw the height of Greek culture and influence in antiquity. Greece was annexed by Rome in the second century BC and became an integral part of the Roman Empire and its continuation, the Byzantine Empire, where Greek culture and language were dominant. The Greek Orthodox Church helped shape modern Greek identity and transmitted Greek traditions to the wider Orthodox world.
After the Fourth Crusade in 1204, Greece and the rest of the Byzantine empire were fragmented into several Latin and Byzantine successor polities, with most Greek lands finally coming under Ottoman control by the mid-15th century. Following a protracted war of independence in 1821, Greece emerged as a modern nation state in 1830, but was challenged by most Greeks living outside its borders. The Kingdom of Greece pursued territorial expansion during the Balkan Wars (1912–1913) and World War I (1914–1918), until its defeat in the Greco-Turkish War in 1922. A short-lived republic was established in 1924 but faced civil strife and the challenge of resettling refugees from Turkey, culminating in a royalist dictatorship in 1936.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Greece (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Greece
Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830 and became a kingdom. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels. The communists were defeated in 1949, and Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a military coup forced the king to flee the country. The ensuing military dictatorship collapsed in 1974, and Greece abolished the monarchy to become a parliamentary republic. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. From 2009 until 2019, Greece suffered a severe economic crisis due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Beginning in 2010, Greece entered three bailout agreements -- the first two with the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the IMF; and the third in 2015 with the European Stability Mechanism -- worth in total about $300 billion. The Greek Government formally exited the third bailout in 2018, and Greece's economy has since improved significantly. In 2022, the country finalized its early repayment to the IMF and graduated on schedule from the EU's enhanced surveillance framework.
- Location
- Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey.
- Climate
- Temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers.
- Terrain
- Mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands.
- Highest point
- Mount Olympus 2,917.
- Lowest point
- Mediterranean Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 13,676 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 1,110 km; border countries: Albania 212 km; Bulgaria 472 km; North Macedonia 234 km; Turkey 192 km.
- Natural resources
- Lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 41.7% (2023 est.); arable land: 14.4% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 8% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 19.2% (2023 est.); forest: 36.9% (2023 est.); other: 21.3% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Severe earthquakes volcanism: Santorini (367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are also classified as historically active.
- Geographic note
- Strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, with an archipelago of about 2,000 islands.
- Languages
- Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%.
- Religions
- Greek Orthodox 81-90%, Muslim 2%, other 3%, none 4-15%, unspecified 1% (2015 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Greek 91.6%, Albanian 4.4%, other 4% (2011 est.)
- Economy
- High-income EU and eurozone economy; growth above euro average, supported by private consumption and EU fund investments; structural reforms strengthening public finances and enhancing resilience within banking system; declining unemployment but low labor productivity and skill shortages.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Greece in Numbers
- Population
- 10.41 million
- GDP
- US$280.6 billion
- GDP per person
- US$26,948
- Life expectancy
- 81.8 years
- Population growth
- 0.09% a year
- Population density
- 81 per km²
- Urban population
- 79.2%
- Surface area
- 131,960 km²
- Forest cover
- 37.0%
- Arable land
- 14.2%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 86.3%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Greece in Depth
History
The Apidima Cave in Mani, in southern Greece, has been suggested to contain the oldest remains of early modern humans outside of Africa, dated to 200,000 years ago. However others suggest the remains represent archaic humans. All three stages of the Stone Age are represented in Greece, for example in the Franchthi Cave. Neolithic settlements in Greece, dating from the 7th millennium BC, are the oldest in Europe, as Greece lies on the route by which farming spread from the Near East to Europe.
Greece is home to the first advanced civilisations in Europe and is often considered the birthplace of Western civilisation.
Geography
Located in Southern and Southeast Europe, Greece has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean basin, spanning thousands of islands and nine traditional geographic regions: Macedonia, Central Greece, Peloponnese, Thessaly, Epirus, Aegean Islands, Thrace, Crete and Ionian Islands. Greece consists of a mountainous, peninsular mainland jutting out into the sea at the southern end of the Balkans, ending at the Peloponnese peninsula (separated from the mainland by the canal of the Isthmus of Corinth) and strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its highly indented coastline and numerous islands give Greece the 11th longest national coastline in the world, with 13,676 km (8,498 mi); its land boundary is 1,160 km (721 mi).
Economy
As of 2025, the economy was the 54th largest by purchasing power parity (PPP) at $467.590 billion. In per person income, Greece is 47th in the world at $45,048. Greece is the 15th largest economy in the 27‑member European Union. The economy is advanced and high-income.
Greece is a developed country with a high standard of living and high ranking in the Human Development Index. Its economy mainly comprises the service sector (85%) and industry (12%), while agriculture makes up 3%.
Demographics
Greek society has changed significantly over recent decades, coinciding with the broader European trend of declining fertility and population aging. The fertility rate of 1.4 children per woman is well below the replacement rate of 2.1, and one of the lowest in the world, considerably below the high of 5.5 children in 1900. The crude birth rate in 2023 was 6.8 per 1,000 inhabitants, a significant decline from 8.5 per 1,000 in 2016 and 14.5 in 1981. The mortality rate in 2025 is 11.53 per 1,000 compared to 11.2 in 2016 and 8.9 in 1981.
Greece's median age is 44.2 years, the seventh highest in the world. In 2001, 17% of the population were 65 years old and older, 68% between the ages of 15 and 64 years old, and 15% were 14 years old and younger.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Greece (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Greece: Key Facts
| Official language | Greek |
|---|---|
| Head of state | Konstantinos Tasoulas |
| Head of government | Kyriakos Mitsotakis |
| Form of government | parliamentary republic |
| Calling code | +30 |
| Internet domain | .gr |
| Highest point | Mount Olympus |
| Lowest point | Calypso Deep |
| Established | 25 March 1821 |
Facts from Wikidata Q41 (CC0).
History of Greece: Empires and States
The atlas records 39 polities whose mapped territory included part of Greece, from Mycenaean Greece in 1500 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Mycenaean Greece | 1500–1101 BCE | A large part |
| Greek Dark Ages | 1100–801 BCE | A large part |
| Greek City-States | 800–88 BCE | A large part |
| Peloponnesian League | 550–367 BCE | A small part |
| The Macedonian Empire of Alexander | 550–292 BCE | A large part |
| Achaemenid Empire | 540–451 BCE | A small part |
| Achaemenid Persian Empire | 540–451 BCE | A small part |
| Sacred Band of Thebes | 366–351 BCE | A small part |
| Second Athenian League | 366–338 BCE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Lysimachus | 323–282 BCE | A small part |
| Athenian Coalition | 323–257 BCE | A small part |
| Antigonid Dynasty | 291–278 BCE | A large part |
| Ptolemaic Kingdom | 291–31 BCE | Most |
| Antigonid Macedonia | 277–165 BCE | A large part |
| Greek Colonies | 271–226 BCE | A small part |
| Roman Republic | 164–32 BCE | Most |
| Kingdom of Pontus | 87–78 BCE | A small part |
| The Roman Empire | 30 BCE – 476 CE | Most |
| Eastern Roman Empire | 395–632 CE | Most |
| The Byzantine Empire | 395–1467 CE | Most |
| Visigoths | 396–401 CE | A large part |
| First Bulgarian Empire | 990–1002 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Thessalonica | 1206–1226 CE | A large part |
| Duchy of Athens | 1206–1313 CE | A small part |
| Despotate of Epirus | 1206–1430 CE | A large part |
| Empire of Thessalonica | 1236–1249 CE | A small part |
| Second Bulgarian Empire | 1236–1249 CE | A small part |
| Nicaean Empire | 1250–1278 CE | A large part |
| Thessaly | 1272–1332 CE | A small part |
| Catalan Company | 1314–1362 CE | A small part |
| Serbian Empire | 1352–1374 CE | A small part |
| Crown of Aragon | 1363–1458 CE | A small part |
| The Ottoman Empire | 1375–1911 CE | Most |
| Republic of Venice | 1395–1717 CE | A small part |
| First Hellenic Republic | 1822–1940 CE | Most |
| Principality of Bulgaria | 1912–1944 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Greece | 1945–1966 CE | Most |
| Greek junta | 1967–1975 CE | Most |
| Third Hellenic Republic | 1976–2024 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of Greece
Greece on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Greece
Greece (Greek: Ελλάς Ellás or Ελλάδα Elláda) is a country with a captivating history and culture that has influenced the world for thousands of years.
Ancient Greece, home to one of Europe's first urban civilizations, was the origin of Western culture. Travellers from all over the world visit Greece to view its rich cultural past and magnificent natural settings, which include majestic mountains and beaches.
Greece offers everything, whether you're a history buff, a sun seeker, or just searching for an amazing trip.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Greece (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Greece
30 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Athens | 3.24 million | Attiki | National capital |
| 2 | Thessaloniki | 828,000 | Kentriki Makedonia | Populated place |
| 3 | Piraeus | 466,065 | Attiki | Populated place |
| 4 | Patra | 163,360 | Dytiki Ellada | Populated place |
| 5 | Iraklio | 137,154 | Kriti | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Larissa | 128,758 | Thessalia | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Volos | 110,632 | Thessalia | Populated place |
| 8 | Ioanina | 86,304 | Ipeiros | Admin-1 capital |
| 9 | Hania | 78,728 | Kriti | Populated place |
| 10 | Agrinio | 75,233 | Dytiki Ellada | Populated place |
| 11 | Chalkida | 71,842 | Stereá Elláda | Populated place |
| 12 | Kalamata | 71,823 | Peloponnisos | Populated place |
| 13 | Kavala | 59,240 | Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki | Populated place |
| 14 | Rodos | 56,969 | Notio Aigaio | Populated place |
| 15 | Seres | 55,886 | Kentriki Makedonia | Populated place |
| 16 | Katerini | 53,293 | Kentriki Makedonia | Populated place |
| 17 | Alexandroupoli | 52,979 | Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki | Populated place |
| 18 | Xanthi | 50,570 | Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki | Populated place |
| 19 | Lamia | 47,246 | Stereá Elláda | Admin-1 capital |
| 20 | Komatini | 45,631 | Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki | Admin-1 capital |
| 21 | Kerkira | 38,517 | Ionioi Nisoi | Admin-1 capital |
| 22 | Mitilini | 29,328 | Voreio Aigaio | Populated place |
| 23 | Tripoli | 28,970 | Peloponnisos | Admin-1 capital |
| 24 | Hios | 26,891 | Voreio Aigaio | Admin-1 capital |
| 25 | Pirgos | 22,399 | Dytiki Ellada | Populated place |
The other 5 (population, region, role)
- Kos · 19,244 · Notio Aigaio · Populated place
- Sparti · 16,187 · Peloponnisos · Populated place
- Ermoupoli · 12,260 · Notio Aigaio · Populated place
- Sitia · 8,833 · Kriti · Populated place
- Polygyros · 5,258 · Kentriki Makedonia · Admin-1 capital
Highest Mountains in Greece
2 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Olympus | 2,917 m | 9,570 ft | Europe |
| 2 | Psiloritis | 2,456 m | 8,058 ft | Europe |
Mount Olympus
Mountain · 2,917 m
Mount Olympus is a mountain rising to 2,917 metres (9,570 ft) in Greece, in the Europe region.
Mount Olympus (, Greek: Όλυμπος, romanized: Ólympos, IPA: [ˈoli(m)bos]) is an extensive massif near the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, between the regional units of Larissa and Pieria, about 80 km (50 mi) southwest from Thessaloniki. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks and deep gorges.
The highest peak, Mytikas (Μύτικας Mýtikas), meaning "nose", rises to 2,917.727 metres (9,572.60 ft) and is the highest peak in Greece, and one of the highest peaks in Europe in terms of topographic prominence.
In Greek mythology, Olympus is the home of the Greek gods. The mountain has exceptional biodiversity and rich flora. It has been a National Park, the first in Greece, since 1938. It is also a World Biosphere Reserve. In July 2026, the wider area of Mount Olympus was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a mixed World Heritage Site, in recognition of its natural and cultural significance.
Olympus remains the most popular hiking summit in Greece, as well as one of the most popular in Europe. Organized mountain refuges and various mountaineering and climbing routes are available.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Olympus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 2,917 m (9,570 ft)
- Global rank
- #257 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Europe (#17)
- Country
- Greece
- Coordinates
- 40.0832°, 22.3501°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Mount Olympus ranks #257 by elevation, below Musala (2,925 m) and above Mount Paget (2,915 m).
- Ranges:
- Pindus Mountains (Europe), Balkan Mountains (Europe)
- Settlements below:
- Katerini (25 km), Larissa (51 km), Thessaloniki (82 km)
More about Mount Olympus
Geography
The shape of Olympus was formed by rain and wind, which produced an isolated tower almost 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) above the sea, which is only 18 kilometres (11 mi) away from Litochoro. Olympus has many peaks and an almost circular shape. The mountain has a circumference of 80 kilometres (50 mi), an average diameter of 26 kilometres (16 mi), and 500 square kilometres (190 mi2) of area. To the northwest lies the Aromanian village of Kokkinopilos. The Makryrema stream separates Olympus from the massif of Voulgara. The villages Petra, Vrontou and Dion lie to the northeast, while on the eastern side there is the town of Litochoro, where Enipeas bisects the massif of Olympus.
Geology
Mount Olympus is formed of sedimentary rock laid down 200 million years ago in a shallow sea. Various geological events that followed caused the emergence of the whole region and the sea. Around one million years ago, glaciers covered Olympus and created its plateaus and depressions. With the temperature rise that followed, the ice melted and the streams that were created swept away large quantities of crushed rock in the lowest places, forming the alluvial fans, that spread out all over the region from the foothills of the mountain to the sea. The Geological Museum of Mount Olympus, located in Leptokarya, provides detailed information about the geological structure of the mountain.
History
In antiquity, the Olympus massif formed the border between Thessaly and Macedon. The history of the surrounding area is consequently of interest in the context of the Rise of Macedon, the Chremonidean War and the Macedonian Wars during the 4th to 2nd centuries BC.
In the period of the Ottoman Empire the mountain was a hiding place and base of operations for klephts and armatoloi. In Olympus, the second armatoliki was founded, led by Kara Michalis in 1489. The action of the klephts in Olympus led the Turks to visit their outrage on the klephts' ally-village of Milia (in the late 17th century), which they destroyed. In that period Livadi in Olympus became the seat of the armatoliki of Olympus and Western Macedonia, with their first renowned commander Panos Zidros.
Climate
Generally speaking Olympus's climate can be described as Mediterranean with continental influence. Its local variations are the result of the impact of the sea and the rugged terrain of the region. In the lower locations (Litochoro and the foothills) the climate is typically Mediterranean, i.e. hot and dry in the summer, but humid and cold in the winter. Higher it is more humid, warm and sometimes severe, with more intense meteorological phenomena; in these locations it often snows throughout winter, while rain and snow is not unusual even in the summer.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Olympus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Mount Olympus: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,355 m |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q80344 (CC0).
Psiloritis
Mountain · 2,456 m
Psiloritis is a mountain rising to 2,456 metres (8,058 ft) in Greece, in the Europe region. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
Mount Ida (Greek: Ἴδα), known variously as Idha, Ídhi, Idi, and Ita (the massif including the mountain is called Psiloritis, Greek: Ψηλορείτης), is the highest mountain on the island of Crete, with an elevation of 2,456 metres (8,058 ft). It has the highest topographic prominence of any mountain in Greece. A natural park which includes Mount Ida is a member of UNESCO's Global Geoparks Network.
Located in the Rethymno regional unit, Ida was sacred to the Titaness Rhea in Greek mythology. On its slopes lies one of the caves, Idaion Antron, the Idaean Cave, in which, according to legend, the god Zeus was born. Other legends, however, place his birthplace in Psychro Cave on the Lasithi Plateau.
An archaeobotanical study was conducted that looked at the different plant bases in Minoan villas during the Neo-palatial time period in Crete. There was a rich range of food plants that were found to contain essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein and sources of vitamins. The study took place on Mount Ida, at the Minoan villa of Zominthos.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Ida (Crete) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 2,456 m (8,058 ft)
- Global rank
- #343 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Europe (#31)
- Subregion
- Mediterranean Sea
- Country
- Greece
- Coordinates
- 35.2300°, 24.7700°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Psiloritis ranks #343 by elevation, below Jebel Tidirhine (2,456 m) and above Gora Ledyanaya (2,453 m).
- Ranges:
- Al Jabal al Akhdar (Africa), Pindus Mountains (Europe)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Mount Olympus (2,917 m), Selvili Tepe (1,023 m), Musala (2,925 m)
More about Psiloritis
Psiloritis: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,456 m |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q83659 (CC0).
Rivers in Greece
3 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in Greece
56 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stilis | 53 m | Very Small | Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara | medium vessels |
| 2 | Yithion | 53 m | Very Small | Eastern Mediterranean | medium vessels |
| 3 | Lagos | 53 m | Very Small | Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara | medium vessels |
| 4 | Samos | 53 m | Very Small | Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara | medium vessels |
| 5 | Lavrio | 49.4 m | Very Small | Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara | medium vessels |
| 6 | Mesolongion | 49.4 m | Very Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | medium vessels |
| 7 | Pilos | 49.4 m | Very Small | Adriatic & Ionian Seas | medium vessels |
| 8 | Navplio | 49.4 m | Very Small | Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara | medium vessels |
| 9 | Yerakini | 49.4 m | Very Small | Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara | medium vessels |
| 10 | Pithagorion | 49.4 m | Very Small | Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara | medium vessels |
The other 46 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
- Mikonos · 49.4 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · large vessels
- Dhiavlos Steno · 49.4 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · large vessels
- Limin Kos · 49.4 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Aspropirgos · 42.1 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Preveza · 42.1 m · Very Small · Adriatic & Ionian Seas · medium vessels
- Kerkira · 42.1 m · Minor · Adriatic & Ionian Seas · medium vessels
- Sitia · 42.1 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Ayios Nikolaos · 38.4 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · point_of_interest
- Itea · 38.4 m · Very Small · Adriatic & Ionian Seas · medium vessels
- Katakolon · 38.4 m · Very Small · Adriatic & Ionian Seas · medium vessels
- Kalamata · 38.4 m · Small · Adriatic & Ionian Seas · medium vessels
- Alexandroupoli · 38.4 m · Minor · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Perama · 34.7 m · Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · large vessels
- Ormos Aliveriou · 34.7 m · Minor · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Aigio · 34.7 m · Very Small · Adriatic & Ionian Seas · medium vessels
- Larimna · 34.7 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Tsingeli · 34.7 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Gavrio · 34.7 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Andros · 34.7 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Nisos Naxos · 34.7 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Kalimnos · 34.7 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Kavala · 34.7 m · Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Kali Limenes · 31.1 m · Very Small · Eastern Mediterranean · large vessels
- Soudha · 27.4 m · Minor · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · large vessels
- Vrakhonisis Kallonis · 20.1 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Limin Sirou · 12.8 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Milos · 9.1 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Miliana · 5.5 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Pakhi Oil Terminal · 5.5 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Spetses · 5.5 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Stratoni · 5.5 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Plomarion · 5.5 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Lakki · 5.5 m · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Megara Oil Terminal · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · large vessels
- Elevsis · Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · large vessels
- Argostolion · Very Small · Adriatic & Ionian Seas · large vessels
- Astakos · Small · Adriatic & Ionian Seas · point_of_interest
- Kymassi · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · point_of_interest
- Achladi · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Neon Karlovas · Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Akra Kavonisi · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Rethimnon · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Ayios Nikolaos · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Thessaloniki · Minor · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · large vessels
- Mitilini · Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
- Khios · Very Small · Aegean Sea & Sea of Marmara · medium vessels
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece
21 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temple of Apollo Epicurius in Bassae | 1986 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iii) |
| 2 | Acropolis of Athens | 1987 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (vi) |
| 3 | archaeological Site of Delphi | 1987 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (vi) |
| 4 | Medieval City of Rhodes | 1988 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) (v) |
| 5 | Meteora | 1988 | Mixed | (i) (ii) (iv) (v) (vii) |
| 6 | Mount Athos | 1988 | Mixed | (i) (ii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) |
| 7 | Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki | 1988 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iv) |
| 8 | Sanctuary of Asclepius, Epidaurus | 1988 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (vi) |
| 9 | Mystras | 1989 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (iv) |
| 10 | Olympia | 1989 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (vi) |
Largest Islands of Greece
6 islands recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cyclades | 26,035 km² | Island group |
| 2 | Ionian Islands | 10,588 km² | Island group |
| 3 | Crete | 8,286 km² | Island |
| 4 | Rhodes | 1,429 km² | Island |
| 5 | Lesbos | 10 km² | Island |
| 6 | Pelopónnisos | 4 km² | Island |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Greece
3 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Europe | 11.24M km² | Continent | Europe |
| 2 | BALKAN Peninsula | 189,639 km² | Pen/cape | Europe |
| 3 | Pindus Mountains | 271 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
Pindus Mountains
Range/mtn · 271 km²
Pindus Mountains is a range/mtn in Europe, covering an estimated 271 km².
The Pindus, Pindos or Pindhos is a mountain range located in Northern Greece and Southern Albania. It is roughly 160 km (99 mi) long, with a maximum elevation of 2,637 metres (8,652 ft) (Mount Smolikas). Because it runs north to south along much of mainland Greece, the Pindus range is known colloquially as the spine of Greece. The mountain range stretches from near the Greek-Albanian border in southern Albania, entering the Epirus and Macedonia regions in northern Greece down to the north of the Peloponnese. Geologically, it is an extension of the Dinaric Alps, which dominate the western region of the Balkan Peninsula.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Pindus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Range/mtn
- Mapped extent
- 271 km²
- Size rank
- #196 of 216 mountain ranges
- Region
- Europe
- Coordinates
- 38.9632°, 21.0782°
- Summits:
- Mount Olympus (2,917 m), Korab (2,764 m), Daravica (2,656 m)
- Adjacent ranges:
- Balkan Mountains (Europe), Al Jabal al Akhdar (Africa)
More about Pindus Mountains
History of the name
According to John Tzetzes (a 12th-century Byzantine writer), the Pindos range was then called Metzovon.
When Anastasios Gordios translated (between 1682/83 and 1689) to a more conversational (colloquial) language the initial praise to St. Vissarion, which was drafted in 1552 by Pahomios Rousanos, he wrote: “A mountain called by the Greeks Pindos is the same mountain which is called Metzovon in Barbarian” and further down the same text he adds “this mountain, Metzovon, separates the Ioannina region from the Thessaloniki region.”
By the eighteenth century, there had been identification of the name Metsovo with the Pindos mountain range (in a French encyclopedia of 1756).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Pindus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Pindus Mountains: Key Facts
| Length | 180 km |
|---|---|
| Highest point | Smolikas |
Facts from Wikidata Q201582 (CC0).
States and Provinces of Greece
2 first-level divisions with their own map.
Countries Bordering Greece
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Europe
Greece: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Greece?
- The capital of Greece is Athens.
- What is the population of Greece?
- Greece has a population of about 10.41 million, the #94 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Greece?
- Greece covers 131,957 km², ranking #98 by area, with about 79 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Greece in?
- Greece is in Europe.
- Which countries border Greece?
- Greece shares a land or maritime border with Turkey, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania.
- What is the largest city in Greece?
- Athens is the largest city in Greece, with a metropolitan population of about 3.24 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Greece?
- The highest summit recorded for Greece in YearMaps is Mount Olympus at 2,917 m (9,570 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What are the famous wonders and monuments of Greece?
- Greece's great monuments in YearMaps are The Parthenon & Acropolis, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Colossus of Rhodes. Each is written up on this page with photographs and its history.