This is the only Greek destination on the New York Times travel list for 2026. It is neither Athens nor a famous island.
The New York Times has once again published a list of 52 places to travel, selecting destinations from every corner of the world, for every type of traveler. The recommendations by the New York Times include classic favorites as well as «unexplored» destinations coming into the spotlight, from Iceland and Italy to Japan and Australia. In 38th place on the list we find a mainland Greece destination that takes on special interest this year.
Messinia among the 52 top destinations for 2026
The Greek destination on the «52 Places to Go in 2026» list by the New York Times is Messinia, a choice linked to the new film «The Odyssey» by Christopher Nolan. The New York Times writes about Messinia: «Messinias beauty - its cliffs, castles and caves - will be in the global spotlight when the film «Odyssey» by Christopher Nolan, part of which was filmed along its shores, premieres this summer. Methoni Castle, Nestors Cave and Voidokilia Beach were all filming locations».
However, the New York Times notes that Messinia is more than a simple film set. It is a destination that preserves its authenticity, with villages that still produce world class olive oil, tavernas that serve recipes unchanged for centuries and a coastline that is not swamped with people, especially compared to the busier Greek islands.
«Here, travelers can walk on trails with wonderful views of the sea, wander through villages that have not been affected by mass tourism or swim in the crystal clear waters of the Ionian. This year offers a rare opportunity to see ancient myth, living culture and the spectacle of Hollywood converge in one place».
