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.

Milos boasts over 70 beaches in red, pink, and orange against turquoise seas, plus Sarakiniko's lunar white limestone and Kleftiko's arches and sea caves. In whitewashed Plaka, see a museum with a replica of the Venus de Milo, found on Milos in 1820. In Pollonia, sample wines and cheeses aged in cool volcanic caverns.

Chania wears its past on its sleeve. Spend the day in museums, from those uncovering the ancient history buried beneath the rocky soil to those celebrating Greece's magnificent maritime history and the region's unique folklore. Visit the ruins of the city-state of Aptera, a powerhouse in Minoan and Hellenistic times and eventually a Roman stronghold.

Renowned as the site of the former Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Rhodes was home to the Knights of St. John from the 12th to 16th centuries. Their famous Palace of the Grand Masters remains a "must-see," as are many of the inns occupied by the Crusaders and the replica of the old church. For a more in-depth look at the city, visitors can take in the Archeological where the Acropolis of Rhodes and the ancient stadium offer perfect photo opportunities.

Discover this ancient town and its treasures: superb museum artifacts, Ottoman mansions, Byzantine churches and mosques, Hadrian's Gate, and the restored Roman harbor with cafés and pleasure boats. Visit Perge and Aspendos to see Roman ruins, a huge theater, and an aqueduct. Browse the old town for carpets, copper ware, jewelry, leather goods, and textiles. Enjoy kebabs, dolmas, beurrek, Turkish coffee, beer, or wine.

Marmaris is a popular resort town with azure sea, golden beaches, yacht-filled marinas, and pine-covered hills. Visit Marmaris Castle (1522) for views and its museum of artifacts from nearby archaeological sites and bay shipwrecks. Then explore Old Town and the waterfront for Greek and Turkish food, perhaps with ouzo.

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.

The Dardanelles, one of the world's most historically significant waterways, have seen countless civilizations. Visit Troy, where Homer's Iliad comes alive among ancient ruins, see the imposing Çanakkale Fortress overlooking the strait, and enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine-savory kebabs and sweet baklava.