Top Attractions in South Aegean

South Aegean Essentials

The South Aegean region encompasses the Cyclades and Dodecanese islands, featuring a dense concentration of ancient and medieval history. This selection highlights the 14th-century Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes, the sacred Monastery of St. John on Patmos, and the Minoan settlement of Akrotiri on Santorini. Architectural landmarks include the windmills of Mykonos and the rock-carved Chozoviotissa Monastery on Amorgos, while natural sites like the volcanic lunar landscapes of Sarakiniko on Milos and the red cliffs of Santorini complement these cultural treasures.

South Aegean Essentials — Map

Norbert Nagel, Mörfelden-Walldorf,… / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Rhodes Old Town

The fairytale-like historic centre of Rhodes features both medieval as well as ancient landmarks - palaces, churches, castles and more.

Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Lindos acropolis

Lindos is an archaeological site, a fishing village and a former municipality on the island of Rhodes, in the Dodecanese, Greece.

Olaf Tausch / CC BY 3.0

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Ancient Akrotiri

Akrotiri is a village on the island of Santorini in Greece. It is located 15 kilometers south of the capital Fira, built on the slopes of a…

Christian Tavío / CC-BY-SA

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Byzantine Castle Ruins

If you want to see the most beautiful sunset at Santorini, come to the ruins of a 15th century castle. The view will take your breath away!

Kalogeropoulos / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Monastery of St. John on Patmos

The Monastery of Saint John the Theologian is a Greek Orthodox monastery founded in 1088 in Chora on the island of Patmos.

Olaf Tausch / CC BY 3.0

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Portara

The ruins of the ancient temple situated on a tiny islet connected by a narrow walkway to the shore are especially beautiful during sunsets.

Mstyslav Chernov / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Windmills

The Mykonos windmills are an iconic feature of the Greek island of the Mykonos.

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Chozoviotissa Monastry

The iconic sight of Amorgos island. The gleaming white monastery carved into the stone walls of the island's mountains is a truly…

Arkoudes / CC BY 3.0

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Sarakiniko

A volcanic landscape on Milos characterized by bone-white, wind-sculpted rock formations and turquoise waters. The smooth cliffs and natural inlets resemble a lunar surface, providing unique spots for swimming and cliff jumping.

//www.reserv-a-rt.de / Copyrighted free use

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Our Lady of Tinos

Our Lady of Tinos is the major Marian shrine in Greece. It is located in the town of Tinos on the island of Tinos.

Viktoria Grocholl / CC-BY-SA

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Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes

A 14th-century Gothic citadel built by the Knights Hospitaller on the site of a former Byzantine fortress. The palace features grand halls, pebble-mosaic floors, and a museum housing ancient sculptures and medieval artifacts.

James Prince / CC-BY-SA

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Panagia Paraportiani

A unique 15th-century church complex in Mykonos town composed of five separate chapels merged into one asymmetrical structure. Its smooth, whitewashed exterior is a prime example of traditional Cycladic architecture.

Geraki / CC BY-SA 3.0 gr

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Church of Our Lady of a Hundred Doors

Panagia Ekatontapiliani; literally the church with 100 gates) or Panagia Katapoliani is a historic Byzantine church complex in Parikia town…

Navin75 / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Blue dome view point

Located in Firostefani, this vantage point overlooks the Three Bells of Thira, a blue-domed Catholic church. It offers an iconic view of the Santorini caldera and the Aegean Sea.

Gene Hiew / CC-BY-SA

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Red Beach

The most famous and probably most beautiful beach on the island enclosed by a marvelous red stone cliff.

Vladimir Boskovic / Public domain

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Cave of the Apocalypse

The Cave of the Apocalypse is located approximately halfway up the mountain on the Aegean island of Patmos, along the road between the…

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