History and culture are etched into every corner of Greece. Beginning with its language, the oldest written language still in existence, and moving from the traces of passing civilizations and religions to pre-historic findings and works from many movements, there’s a wealth of culture to discover on your next trip to Greece.

Museums

Some of the world’s finest museums beckon you to learn more. Here’s a sampling of some must-sees for your Greece itinerary:

• Acropolis Museum: One of the most important museums in the world, the Athens Museum houses the archaeological findings from the site of the Acropolis.
• National Archaeological Museum: The largest archaeological museum in Greece, in Athens, is dedicated to ancient Greek art.
• Museum of Byzantine Culture: A top choice in Thessaloniki, the Museum of Byzantine Culture boasts more than 3,000 Byzantine objects.
• Cinema Museum: Also in Thessaloniki, take a journey through the magic of Greek cinema.
• Museum of Modern Greek Culture: Four buildings comprise this museum that tells the story of Greek culture and traditions through the centuries.

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites

With such a deep, rich history, it’s no wonder Greece is chock full of important historical sites. These are just a few of Greece’s 18 UNESCO World Heritage sites to add to the agenda:

• Acropolis: Marvel at the greatest architectural and artistic complex of Greek antiquity left to the world.
• Delos: In Greek mythology, this tiny island was the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and today there remains an extensive archaeological site here.
• Medieval City of Rhodes: The Palace of Grand Master of the Order, The Knights’ Hospital, the Street of the Knights and Old Town comprise one of the best urban ensembles of the Gothic period.
• Archaeological Site of Delphi: Sixth-century Delphi was the cultural and religious center and symbol of unity for the ancient Greek world.
• Archaeological Site of Olympia: Olympia was the birthplace of the Olympic Games. No ancient archaeological site in the world is more relevant in today’s world.

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Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

UNESCO established Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage to protect and raise awareness of important cultural heritages worldwide. In Greece, these four important traditions allow travelers to soak in the Greek culture:

• Cultivating Mastic: On the island of Chios, mastic is cultivated from a shrub and renowned for its numerous properties.
• Tinian Marble Craftmanship: Marble carving is part of the cultural identity of Tinos, and produces a range of traditional motifs.
• Rebetiko: Rebetiko is a musical and cultural expression linked to song and dance that spread among working-class populations in the early 20^th
• Momoeria: Dec. 25–Jan. 5 in Kozani, dancers, actors and musicians perform in the village streets to celebrate the coming year.

That’s only a taste of the cultural tourism on offer: There’s also art galleries, film festivals, dance, theater, music, folk traditions and more. Plan your cultural immersion today.