Athens is a majestic, ancient city where elegance meets grit: highways wrap around ruins, museums and galleries stand beside street art, and its legacy spans philosophy, drama and democracy. See the Acropolis and Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, Mount Lycabettus views, and the Old Olympic Stadium. Beyond the center, beaches and temples line the coast. Slow down for Greek coffee and souvlaki.

Discover the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, Santorini! Set sail on our Cruise ship to discover the dazzling white towns of this distiguishly gorgeous city.

Heraklion (Iraklio) may not be Crete's prettiest spot, but its mix of history, culture and energy makes it a great change of pace and a smart base for exploring the island. Greece's fifth-largest city offers excellent museums, ancient ruins, good shopping and a lively waterfront. Highlights include the Venetian fortress and seawall, nearby Knossos, the Archaeological Museum, and the pedestrian Daidalou district for cafés, fountains and local food like dakos and raki.

Explore Ephesus from Kusadasi, on the Turkish coast, just 10 miles inland. This UNESCO World Heritage site was once home to 150,000 people and is only about 20% excavated. See the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders, and the Library of Celsus, plus atmospheric ruins that host evening concerts. The museum displays 25,000 treasures. Afterward, enjoy kebabs or dolma, and Kusadasi's lively Aegean beaches, restaurants, and cafes.

Istanbul is a vast, high-energy city straddling Europe and Asia, shaped by Byzantine and Ottoman history. Its skyline mixes minarets, palaces and bazaars, with Aya Sofya as the essential landmark: built as a 6th-century Greek Orthodox church, later an Ottoman mosque, and now a museum. See the Blue Mosque's İznik tiles, climb Galata Tower for panoramic views, and get lost in the Grand Bazaar. Finish with Turkish coffee, Turkish delight or baklava.

Istanbul is a vast, high-energy city straddling Europe and Asia, shaped by Byzantine and Ottoman history. Its skyline mixes minarets, palaces and bazaars, with Aya Sofya as the essential landmark: built as a 6th-century Greek Orthodox church, later an Ottoman mosque, and now a museum. See the Blue Mosque's İznik tiles, climb Galata Tower for panoramic views, and get lost in the Grand Bazaar. Finish with Turkish coffee, Turkish delight or baklava.

Thessaloniki, at the crossroads of East and West, has passed through Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Jewish, and modern Greek hands. A 1917 fire destroyed much of the old city, but its colorful past remains. Rebuilt partly by Ernest Hébrard, it now has a broad, easy layout, with UNESCO-listed early Christian and Byzantine monuments, lively Ladadika, and walkable neighborhoods full of churches, squares, mansions, cafes, and views toward the White Tower and bay.

Volos, between the Pagasetic Gulf and Mount Pelion, is a Greek seaside town linked to Jason, the Argonauts, and the "Land of the Centaurs." Much of its 19th-century architecture was lost in the 1955 earthquake, but some neoclassical buildings remain. The archaeology museum is excellent, with finds from Ancient Greece and the Neolithic sites of Dimini and Sesklo. The flat city is easy to explore on foot or by bike. For views, cycle up Mount Pelion; for food, visit Palia for tsipouradika and meze.

Mykonos is a dazzling Greek island known for lively nightlife, superb food and wine, turquoise seas, whitewashed buildings, and iconic windmills. Explore Mykonos Town's narrow streets, artisan studios, bars, beaches, coves, and Little Venice sunsets. Rich in culture, legend, and enduring glamour, it remains a sought-after escape.

Athens is a majestic, ancient city where elegance meets grit: highways wrap around ruins, museums and galleries stand beside street art, and its legacy spans philosophy, drama and democracy. See the Acropolis and Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, Mount Lycabettus views, and the Old Olympic Stadium. Beyond the center, beaches and temples line the coast. Slow down for Greek coffee and souvlaki.