Ancient Ruins of Greece — Rick Steves' Europe Travel Guide
Ancient Ruins of Greece — Rick Steves' Europe Travel Guide
Notable moments
- 00:56 Terrace of the Lions on Delos
A row of iconic marble lion statues stands along the Terrace of the Lions guarding the ancient precinct of Delos. These sphinx-like sculptures were carved in the 7th century BC to herald the holy birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.
Terrace of the Lions, Delos, Greece - 01:46 Drawing water from ancient Delos well
A local guide demonstrates one of Delos's 200 ancient stone wells by lowering a small orange bucket down into the shaft. He pulls up fresh, drinkable water from the subterranean aquifer and pours it over Rick Steves' hands to show it still functions after 2,000 years.
Ancient Delos, Delos, Greece - 02:24 Hiking to the summit of Delos
Hikers walk up a steep stone staircase passing ruined stone walls to reach the top of Mount Kynthos. From the peak, visitors enjoy a 360-degree view over the Aegean Sea and the surrounding Cyclades islands.
Mount Kynthos, Delos, Greece - 03:38 Acoustics test at Epidavros Theater
Rick Steves stands in the center of the ancient circular stage at Epidavros and recites a speech to test the amphitheater's remarkable acoustics. Sitting dozens of stone rows high, tourists hear his voice clearly without any electronic amplification.
Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, Epidaurus, Greece - 05:26 Exploring the Sanctuary of Olympia ruins
Tour guide Niki Vlachou leads Rick Steves through the grassy ruins of Olympia framed by towering stone columns and pine trees. She explains that the site served primarily as a sacred religious sanctuary to Zeus where pilgrims gathered long before sports were introduced.
Archaeological Site of Olympia, Olympia, Greece - 07:36 Running at the Ancient Olympic Stadium
A group of modern tourists lines up shoulder-to-shoulder on the ancient marble starting stone blocks inside the Olympic stadium. At the signal, they sprint down the wide dirt track where ancient Greek athletes competed starting in 776 BC.
Stadium of Olympia, Olympia, Greece - 08:26 The Parthenon atop the Acropolis
The 5th-century BC Parthenon temple stands atop the Acropolis plateau overlooking modern metropolitan Athens. Detailed camera shots highlight the massive Doric columns and restoration scaffolding surrounding the classical marble structure.
Parthenon, Athens, Greece - 09:01 Porch of the Caryatids at Erechtheion
The Erechtheion temple on the Acropolis features its famous southern porch held up by six carved marble maiden statues called Caryatids. The camera zooms in on the detailed drapery and hair carved into the stone draped figures.
Erechtheion, Athens, Greece - 10:16 Visiting the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos
Visitors walk along the marble-paved floor of the Stoa of Attalos, a colonnaded two-story building in the Ancient Agora reconstructed in the 1950s. The long covered hallway is lined with classical statues and now serves as the site's museum.
Stoa of Attalos, Athens, Greece - 10:43 The well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus
Standing on a low hill above the Agora, the Temple of Hephaestus is showcased as one of the best-preserved Doric temples in the Greek world. The camera captures its intact roofline, relief friezes, and grand marble columns surrounded by lush green garden grounds.
Temple of Hephaestus, Athens, Greece
Travelnetic independently curates publicly available videos and matches them to similar bookable experiences — it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Rick Steves' Europe.