Greece Cities by Population 2024

Known as the cradle of Western civilization, Greece has thousands of islands in the Ionian and Aegean seas and is known for its beautiful beaches and landscapes, as well as for being the birthplace of democracy and Western philosophy. Its capital city of Athens has been a powerful city as far back as the fifth century BC, and the city is still dominated by its ancient landmarks, such as the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Today, Athens is the largest city in Greece, with a population of over 650,000. This increases to more than three million in the greater urban area of Athens. The city is a key economic center in southeastern Europe and is also the southernmost capital on the European mainland.

Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece and has more than one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area. It is regarded as the cultural capital of Greece due to its famous festivals and wide range of cultural activities. Like Athens, Thessaloniki also has many ancient monuments; its Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city also has monuments that date back to Roman and Ottoman Empires. The western city of Patras is Greece's third-largest city, with a population of 213,984. As a port city and important commercial hub, Patras is often referred to as the 'Gate to the West'.