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.

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.

Discover picturesque Paros: ancient ruins, traditional tavernas, sweet villages, blue-domed churches, and blonde-sand beaches. Visit Parikia's AD326 Byzantine monastery, explore Antiparos's caves, browse the tiny archaeological museum, and wander the lanes of Náoussa's old Venetian port. Relax on sunloungers, feast on home-cooked mezze, or windsurf, kitesurf, dive, swim, and hike. Paros keeps the soft spirit of the Cyclades.

Skiathos, one of 24 islands on an ancient Aegean trade route off Greece's east coast, is part of the Sporades ("scattered"). It's a Greek island idyll: sandy beaches, pine forests reaching the water, whitewashed townhouses, hillside monasteries, tree-hidden lagoons, and bayside fish restaurants. By boat, explore inlets, capes, sea caves, and Lalaria, a picture-perfect rock arch only reachable from the sea.

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.

Explore history, culture, and carpets in western Turkey: walk in Cleopatra's steps to the Roman ruins of Ephesus, dedicated to Artemis, amid monuments, shrines, columns, and ruins. Then visit Pamukkale's sacred thermal pools, where pilgrims seek healing and reflection. Travel to Orthodox villages blending Turkish-Greek culture, taste organic filo, feta, and spinach, and learn about Turkish weaving, natural dyes, looms, and the making of carpets and kilims.

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.