Lying between the Greek world and the Italian peninsula, the jewel of the Ionian islands charms visitors with its green hills carpeted by olive groves, sandy beaches, old town and lovely climate, making it a popular destination all year round. Popu..

The Lycabetus, or Wolves' Hill, 277 m high, is crowned by Saint George's Chapel. From the neighbouring terraces, a wonderful panorama embraces the city of Athens, the Acropolis, and the Piraeus coast, together with the main surrounding peaks: to th..

One of Greece’s finest, the Archaeological Museum houses ceramics and object from Macedonia and Thrace, notably masterpieces discovered in tombs in northern Greece illustrating the high level of civilisation attained in the region at the time of Phil..

The road up to the gorge (16km long) crosses the Omalós Plateau (1 050m). After passing through Omalós, the road ends in Xilóskalo on the edge of the gorge. First a flight of wooden steps and then a twisting path lead down into the depths of the ..

Santorini is the most spectacular of the Cyclades; arriving by boat in its ancient crater overwhelmed by the sea thousands of years ago is an unforgettable experience. The natural circle is surrounded by giant cliffs in a variety of hues resulting fr..

The theatre, built in the 4C BC by Polykleitos the Younger, was the most outstanding in the ancient world due to its magnificent lines, harmonious proportions and beautiful setting. The cavea could accommodate up to 14 000 spectators. It is worth c..

This Doric temple was built in the epoch of Pericles by Iktinos, under Phidias . His statue, dedicated to Athena, decorated the sanctuary. In the Byzantine epoch this statue taken to Constantinople, was destroyed during the siege of the city by the ..

This old quarter of the Macedonian city of Véria has around sixty churches (12C-15C). Ágios Hristos , the church of the Resurrection, is decorated with frescoes by Giorgos Kaliergis (early 14C); Saint Savvas of Kiriotissa has a decorative ceramic ..

This medieval settlement of steep little streets is the Catholic district of Ermoupoli, comprising houses, alleys, little squares and tiny gardens. The main entrance, Portara, leads to the Plaka quarter with shops and tavernas. Note the memorial to t..

A little way inland, this small town extends between the river and a high reddish cliff. Its timeless charm is somewhat diluted, but fine architectural remains are evident: a 12C fortified residence and old roughcast houses with “Saracen” chimneys an..

From Sami, the Argostoli road crosses the island over the mountain. Walkers will enjoy tackling Mount Ainos (1 628m), a giant by the standards of Greek islands. Within a protected national park, it rises from a thick forest of dark Cephalonian firs. ..

Sithonia is rich in natural beauty: umbrella pinewoods fringing long sandy beaches nestling in isolated bays and inlets, some of which jut fjord-like deep into this jagged coastline (perfect for spear-fishing). Often hugging the shore, the coast road..

Bordered by eucalyptus tree is a vast beach stretching along the shore of a gently curving bay in which sits a small island. From the heights nearby there are views of Palamedes Fort and Acronauplia.

At the eastern end of Crete’s desert landscape, Vai’s beaches are renowned for their natural palm groves (unique in Europe), white sand, ochre rocks and clear waters. The first beach encountered, covered by parasols and sunbeds in summer, is the la..

A thin rocky island, Folegandros is an austere but much visited destination. It has all the charm of the Cyclades with white houses, high churches, olive terrraces and a small fishing port. Passing below Hora and then from inlet to inlet, the boat t..

Dotted by countless chapels and fringed by white sandy beaches, the granite island of Mikonos is one of the most popular islands in the Cyclades – and understandably so, given the beauty of its town and beaches. People come from all over the world to..

The north coast of Milos offers some unique scenery. East of Plaka lies a beautiful natural landscape: bright white volcanic tufa carved by the sea into cones, domes and terraces, all lapped by turquoise waters. Swimming is feasible on calm days (in ..

The largest island in the Cyclades remains relatively unknown despite its fine beaches, wild coastline, little valleys with fragrant trees, imposing mountains and lovely villages. Hora is known for its old citadel: atop a hill, its little streets a..

The most beautiful beach on Sifnos and its little fishing port lie in a bay ringed by hills where olives and scrub predominate. On the shoreline, the 16C Taxiarch monastery is an all-white building topped by two domes standing on a jetty. The beach..

Peaks, inlets and long sandy beaches lie along the east coast. Coming from Pigadia, a track on the right before Aperi leads to lovely Achata beach. The Aperi-Spoa track (4wd or on foot) offers amazing views. The beaches of Kira Panagia, Apela and d’..