Piraeus is the gateway to Athens, the "Cradle of Western Civilization," famed for its lasting cultural and political influence. Driven by tourism and the 2004 Olympics, Greece has redeveloped many sites. Athens remains a historian's delight, with the Acropolis, Parthenon, Plaka's winding streets, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Archaeological Museum's renowned ancient artifacts.

Nauplion is one of Greece's most beautiful towns, with narrow streets, elegant Venetian houses, and neoclassical mansions. In the 13th century, after Byzantine rule, Franks, Venetians, and Turks each held it, leaving monuments and cultural traces. Visit the reopened Archaeological Museum in Constitution Square, with pottery, jewelry, and Mycenaean terracotta idols, and the National Gallery-Alexandros Soutzos Museum, with paintings of the Greek War of Independence and rotating local exhibits.

Santorini's dramatic views-whitewashed houses clinging to the caldera, plus white, red, and black-sand beaches-make it one of the world's most photographed places. Visit Ancient Akrotiri, a town preserved by ash from an eruption 3,600 years ago, and take a day trip to Palea (Old) Kameni and Nea (New) Kameni, two black-lava islands in the center of the Santorini basin.

Europe's classical metropolis, Ephesus, was one of the largest cities in all of the Roman Empire, boasting one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis. Explore the ruins of its massive Theater, the Temple of Hadrian and the magnificent Celsus Library.

Discover Patmos, a small but significant town with a walled monastery and whitewashed houses perched above winding alleys. Visit the Monastery of St. John the Divine and the cave where he received his revelation in 95 AD, then explore the nearby convent. Enjoy sweeping views of the sparkling Aegean, relax on public beaches or in a private cove, and shop for sacred icons, jewelry, leather goods, ceramics, and artwork. Finish with local wine or a tour of an olive grove.

Crete's eastern corner is home to the resort of Agios Nikolaos, a port that leads the way to the island's most significant ancient ruins. The ancient Minoans lived on Crete as far back as 2500 BC in a society that was by far the most advanced at the time. The ruins of the Minoan palaces at Knossos date from 1700 to 1500 BC and reveal remarkable achievements.

Piraeus is the gateway to Athens, the "Cradle of Western Civilization," famed for its lasting cultural and political influence. Driven by tourism and the 2004 Olympics, Greece has redeveloped many sites. Athens remains a historian's delight, with the Acropolis, Parthenon, Plaka's winding streets, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Archaeological Museum's renowned ancient artifacts.