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.

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.

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.

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.

Rhodes rises from the sea like a jewel, a gift from Zeus to Helios. Sun-kissed and steeped in history, it echoes with Cicero and Caesar in the UNESCO-listed Old Town and stone lanes. Follow the Knights of St. John and Turkish conquerors past monuments, fountains, and squares. Visit Suleiman Mosque, Byzantine churches, hilltop white houses, and Mandraki Harbour, where bronze deer stand in place of the legendary Colossus.

Explore an old-world fishing town with high-society charm on the sunlit Peninsula of the turquoise coast. Enjoy breathtaking views, lively streets, shopping, dining, and relaxation. Pay respect to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, then savor fresh fish, meze, and strong coffee. Discover Bafa Lake, olive groves, bougainvillea, and rich birdlife. Set sail on a private gullet to crystal-clear Aegean coves and make lasting memories.

A tiny island with a big reputation. Visit discreet Patmos, a secluded paradise for discerning travelers: sun-kissed beaches, clear coves, warm hospitality, and classic Greek beauty-mountain views and white houses dotting the hills. Known as the Land of Legends, it's said St John wrote Revelation here. Quiet yet powerful, Patmos was once called "Letois," linked to Artemis, daughter of Leto, and believed to exist through her divine intervention.

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.

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.