Athens doesn't live in the past. Glamorous and forward-looking, it blends galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques, and museums with the wonders of the Acropolis and Parthenon. Wander lively streets and markets, dance at bouzoukia, sing in tavernas, then head to the harbour for dimly lit bars and cold beer. With salty air and fishing boats setting out at dawn, Athens feels both ancient and progressive.

Syros lies just across from Mykonos, but feels a world away from its hedonism. Far from sleepy, its capital Ermoupoli-once the Aegean's mercantile heart-is an elegant neo-classical city buzzing with Greek life. Explore marble boulevards to Vaporia, with preserved merchant palaces, waterfront cafes, and the Apollo Theatre. Also visit Ano Syros, a Venetian hilltop village crowned by San Giorgio, plus fishing villages, sandy shores, and quiet coves.

Start early to have Mykonos to yourself. Wander narrow streets of Cycladic whitewashed cubes, boutiques, churches and windmills. Mix with glitterati at beach events, saltwater pools, vineyards and bars. In the afternoon, visit sacred Delos for ruins, temples, squares and shrines. Dine in Chora on local dishes, filo, Greek salad, halloumi and sea urchin with freddo, then watch sunset over the ocean and end the night at legendary bars and clubs.

Sail into Santorini when others leave. Romantic and exuberant, explore one of the world's most enchanting islands: whitewashed cliffside houses, paved paths, sugar-white and black beaches, terracotta cliffs, blue-domed churches, an active volcano, and the caldera between Oia and Fira. Cruise sapphire seas, taste local wine and fresh seafood, shop boutiques, then end with a moonlit hilltop dinner and the world-famous sunset.

Set along the sheltered curve of Navarino Bay, Pylos blends quiet elegance with deep history. Steeped in myth and linked to Nestor of Homeric legend, this sunlit corner of the Peloponnese has been shaped by centuries of seafaring. Wander its shaded square, visit the hilltop fortress above sapphire waters, or explore nearby beaches, dunes, and lagoons. In Pylos, time slows and Greece shows its most peaceful beauty.

Kotor Bay, a less-travelled amphitheatre on Montenegro's Adriatic coast, shimmers with jade waters and emerald slopes. In the fjord-like shelter, Kotor Old Town feels fairy-tale: fortified walls, Romanesque churches and medieval bastions recall masked carnivals and earthquakes. Italian and Mediterranean influences shape the cuisine, with gelato, brodetto and fresh Adriatic seafood. Above town, the Church of Our Lady of Remedy offers sweeping views of Kotor's red-tiled UNESCO rooftops.

Gallipoli has it all: prosecco and Salentine wine, bohemian lido beach clubs, Purity Beach, snorkelling in craggy caves and grottoes, and trattorias serving zuppa di pesce and fresh fish. History lovers can cross the bridge to the tiny fortified island within 14th-century walls, while gourmands explore Salento's underground olive mills and picturesque villages.

Welcome to carefree Hvar: a historic island of Venetian stone houses and monuments above a palm- and superyacht-lined harbour. Visit the Grand Piazza with its baroque cathedral and Venetian castle, plus the oceanback monastery and its legendary 'Last Supper' painting. Head to the pine-covered Pakleni islets for seclusion, enjoy Carpe Diem by the sea, and explore lavender-scented Humac and Stari Grad.

This pearlescent Croatian Riviera town sits on a narrow strand between the Julian Alps and the Adriatic. Baroque beauty, youthful energy, and a lively February carnival define it. Stroll the Korzo for Habsburg waterfront grandeur, then discover Italianate villas, Roman ruins, and cafe-lined old squares. Pebbled beaches and clear waters invite swims, while the stone steps to Trsat Castle reveal views over hillside trees, monastery gardens, rooftops, and Kvarner Bay.

Explore Venice's ancient palaces, galleries, and modern exhibits; walk among masterpieces, catch an opera, admire medieval buildings, and blow Murano glass. Drift the Grand Canal by gondola past churches, convents, and campi, cross hump-backed bridges, and reach Piazza San Marco, the Basilica, and the Doge's Palace. From palazzos to perfumeries and the Bridge of Sighs, beauty is always moments away in this liquid-gold city.

Explore Zadar: historic walls and city gates, a treasure of architecture and natural beauty. Hike, ride, or climb through national parks; cruise pine-lined rivers, swim beneath cascades, and spot dragonflies over emerald pools. Walk the Monument to the Sun, follow paths to turquoise shallows, and hear the Sea Organ. See Venetian towers, old wells, and the Romanesque Cathedral, or climb the bell tower for wide views. Sunlit, Venetian, and famed for a glorious sunset, Zadar is a true cultural gem.

Marvel at this chic walled city of palazzi, ancient forts and epic Adriatic views. Enter Pile Gate to wander alleys, squares, museums and baroque churches. Kayak around the ramparts, taste Dalmatian wines in Konavle, and visit Cavtat and Mostar. Escape to cacti-clad Lokrum for yoga and walks, or dine on the rocks. No wonder the glitterati flock to this charming medieval Dalmatian marvel.

Revel in Ionian landmarks and spirit-lifting views. Sit beneath Liston's iconic arches in Corfu Old Town, cross Spianada Square and the moat to the Old Fortress, and wander lanes past churches. Dine in homey tavernas, take a caique, mountain bike or horse ride, and shop ceramics. Seek Paleokastritsa's views, birdwatch lush wetlands, and climb Mount Pantokrator for rare icons. A scenic jaunt through an eternal Greek classic.

Volos blends architectural gems, scented landscapes, and salty bays. Discover the mythical home of Jason and the Argonauts, then head to Pelion, homeland of the Centaurs. Explore cobbled donkey tracks, quiet Pagasitic waters, gorge and bridge crossings, sea caves, and the Secret School. Visit Damouchari, Tsagarada's ancient plane tree, and Milies' murals and acoustics. A quiet, timeless corner of Greece, well protected by the Centaurs.

Thessaloniki blends vintage and modern, rich in art, culture, and history. Explore museums, 15 UNESCO sites, the Galerius Palace, the Rotunda, Byzantine churches, and the White Tower. Visit the Archaeological Museum, Ladadika, the Market, and the waterfront. Nearby, see Heptapyrgion, Aristotelous Square, Pella, and Vergina.

Start early to have Mykonos to yourself. Wander narrow streets of Cycladic whitewashed cubes, boutiques, churches and windmills. Mix with glitterati at beach events, saltwater pools, vineyards and bars. In the afternoon, visit sacred Delos for ruins, temples, squares and shrines. Dine in Chora on local dishes, filo, Greek salad, halloumi and sea urchin with freddo, then watch sunset over the ocean and end the night at legendary bars and clubs.

This horseshoe-shaped Cycladic island, where the Venus de Milo was found in 1820, blends major history with striking landscapes. See the Hellenistic marble amphitheatre and 1st-century catacombs, or explore hot springs, mines, volcanoes, and hillsides in russet, pink, and orange. Of 78 beaches, Sarakiniko's wind-carved white rocks feel lunar; others offer volcanic sand, sea caves, arches, and clear water. End with sunset from Plaka's castle ruins.

Neat Nafplio, one of Greece's most romantic cities, leads us to the UNESCO dotted Peloponnese Peninsula. Namesake of Poseidon's son, this rakish retreat is a dream to discover with its medieval old town, castle ramparts, and cafés lining Syntagma Square. Further afield, we vault into vestiges belonging to Bronze Age kings: colossal Mycenae fortress with its 14m (46ft) wide walls; the perfectly acoustic Epidaurus amphitheatre; and wedge-like Corinth Canal which was 2,500 years in the making.

Athens doesn't live in the past. Glamorous and forward-looking, it blends galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques, and museums with the wonders of the Acropolis and Parthenon. Wander lively streets and markets, dance at bouzoukia, sing in tavernas, then head to the harbour for dimly lit bars and cold beer. With salty air and fishing boats setting out at dawn, Athens feels both ancient and progressive.