Athens, cradle of Western democracy, offers a living link to antiquity. Climb the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, Temple of Nike, and Erechtheion caryatids, then visit the Acropolis Museum for original statues and artifacts. The National Archaeological Museum is also outstanding. In the Agora, follow the footsteps of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Hippocrates, and Pericles. Finish in Plaka with its winding lanes and lively tavernas.

Mykonos is a charming, fashionable Greek island known for golden beaches, blue-domed churches, and windmills. Its capital, Chora, is a whitewashed maze of alleyways built to deter pirates, with boutiques, galleries, and top restaurants. Explore hidden corners by 4x4 or take a short boat trip to nearby Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage site of ancient ruins and the mythic birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.

Chania, Crete's former capital, sits beneath the Lefka Ori mountains. Its heritage spans Byzantine monasteries, medieval churches, and Turkish baths. In the Old Town, the Venetian harbor features a lighthouse and colorful waterfront palazzos, with nearby alleyways full of cafés, galleries, bars, and restaurants. Visit the Archaeological Museum or the ruins of ancient Aptera above Souda. In the evening, try Cretan tavernas or the lively harbor bars.

Taormina, on Sicily's coast, is famed for the 3rd-century Teatro Antico, a dramatically sited Greek theater. Its old center has 15th-century palaces and churches, and pedestrian Corso Umberto is ideal for strolling, shopping, dining, or gelato. Below lies Giardini Naxos, a seaside resort on Sicily's oldest Greek colony. Nearby are Mount Etna, a UNESCO site, and the scenic Alcantara Gorge for hiking and cooling off.

Amalfi charms with its sunlit Piazza del Duomo, winding alleys, Byzantine-influenced cathedral, and small beach. Nearby Atrani, one of Italy's most beautiful villages, offers ancient churches and whitewashed lanes for a quiet day. Visit the magical Grotta dello Smeraldo for its emerald waters, and don't miss Pompeii, where you can walk Roman streets and enter ancient houses and temples.

Loved by Italian urbanites and little known outside Rome, this Monte Argentario harbor has bobbing megayachts, excellent restaurants, steep cliffs, crystalline seas, secret coves, and the 17th-century Spanish-built Fortezza Spagnola. Explore hidden bays and headlands, with Roman villa ruins, views to distant islands, and access to the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.

Monte Carlo is a glamorous port built for luxury yachts, with some of the world's finest vessels in its harbor. Luxury cars line the winding streets during the Grand Prix, while steep green mountains rise behind the bay. On the cliff stands the Prince's Palace, where the Changing of the Guard draws crowds at 11:55 a.m. Nearby are Monaco Cathedral, with Princess Grace's tomb, the oceanographic museum founded by Prince Albert I, and the Monte Carlo Casino, created by Prince Charles III.