Greece | World Heritage Explorer

Greece has been a State Party to the World Heritage Convention since 1981. With 20 inscribed properties, the country is one of the more prominent contributors to the World Heritage List. The majority of its sites are cultural properties, reflecting a strong emphasis on historical and architectural heritage.

Greece as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: July 17, 1981

Status: Ratification

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 1985-1991, 1997-2003, 2021-2025

Total of Mandate Years: 16

Total of Mandates: 3

WHC Electoral Group: I (Western Europe/North America)

World Heritage Sites in Greece (20)

Cultural: 18 | Natural: 0 | Mixed: 2

Acropolis, Athens · Cultural
Archaeological Site of Aigai (modern name Vergina) · Cultural
Archaeological Site of Delphi · Cultural
Archaeological Site of Mystras · Cultural
Archaeological Site of Olympia · Cultural
Archaeological Site of Philippi · Cultural
Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns · Cultural
Delos · Cultural
Medieval City of Rhodes · Cultural
Meteora · Mixed
Minoan Palatial Centres · Cultural
Monasteries of Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios · Cultural
Mount Athos · Mixed
Old Town of Corfu · Cultural
Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika · Cultural
Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos · Cultural
Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus · Cultural
Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae · Cultural
The Historic Centre (Chorá) with the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Pátmos · Cultural
Zagori Cultural Landscape · Cultural

Map of World Heritage Sites

This interactive map shows the location of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece.

Tentative World Heritage Sites (12)

Late Medieval Bastioned Fortifications in Greece · submitted: January 16, 2014
National Park of Dadia - Lefkimi - Souflion · submitted: January 16, 2014
Ancient Lavrion · submitted: January 16, 2014
Petrified Forest of Lesvos · submitted: January 16, 2014
Archaeological site of Ancient Messene · submitted: January 16, 2014
Archaeological site of Nikopolis · submitted: January 16, 2014
The broader region of Mount Olympus · submitted: January 16, 2014
The Area of the Prespes Lakes: Megali and Mikri Prespa which includes Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments · submitted: January 16, 2014
Gorge of Samaria National Park · submitted: January 16, 2014
Fortress of Spinalonga · submitted: January 16, 2014
Ancient Towers of the Aegean Sea · submitted: January 16, 2014
Ancient Greek Theatres · submitted: January 16, 2014

Source: UNESCO Tentative Lists

Country Profile Greece

Official Name: Hellenic Republic

Continent: Europe

Subregion: Southern Europe

UNESCO Region: Europe and North America

Capital: Athens

Population (2024): 10,388,805

Land Area: 128,900 km²

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: State Party Greece

About States Parties

States Parties are countries that have joined the World Heritage Convention. They commit to identifying, nominating, and protecting properties of outstanding cultural or natural value on their territory. States Parties are also expected to monitor and report on the condition of inscribed sites.

World Heritage Insights

How Politics and Institutions Shape the UNESCO World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage List is usually seen as a catalogue of the world’s most important cultural and natural places. Yet behind every inscription there is a structured decision process: countries must first join the Convention, run for a seat on the World Heritage Committee, prepare nominations through a fixed procedure, and finally obtain enough votes for inscription.

World Heritage Info

Background

Learn about UNESCO, the World Heritage Convention, Tentative Lists, and how World Heritage Sites are selected and preserved. Explore the history, structures, and processes that protect humanity’s cultural and natural treasures.

Portions of this page are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset. Changes made. Original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE) is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Commission. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.