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.

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.

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.

Explore Istanbul's east-meets-west charm: the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Turkish baths, and the old city's vine-shaded streets. Haggle for gold, linen, and antiques, feast on meze, bluefish, kebabs, baklava, and olives, then sip raki. Cross to Asia for street food, browse the Spice Bazaar, and party late by the Bosphorus until dawn.

Explore Istanbul's east-meets-west charm: the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Turkish baths, and the old city's vine-shaded streets. Haggle for gold, linen, and antiques, feast on meze, bluefish, kebabs, baklava, and olives, then sip raki. Cross to Asia for street food, browse the Spice Bazaar, and party late by the Bosphorus until dawn.

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.

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.

Sheltered by pine-covered hills, Split is a spellbinding Adriatic city of terracotta roofs and sea views. Explore Diocletian's seafront palace: its colonnaded courtyard, cathedral, busy streets, cafés, shops, and lived-in alleyways. Then linger over coffee on the Riva promenade, climb to the hilltop park past small churches for sunset, or head to sandy Bacvice beach to swim, watch picigin, and practice fjaka, the Dalmatian art of doing nothing.

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.